Home topics technology Starting Tech Starting Business Start Up Guest Author April 1, 2007 If you’re looking for ways to ease the start-up phase or grow your business through innovation, technology parks and business incubators are a good place to start. The start-up or early phase of a business can be tough. Sometimes new kids on the block are isolated from the expertise and resources provided by technology parks and business incubators . Overheads can be overwhelming, particularly when there is a long period between research, development, and commercialising products or services. Technology parks provide a space to conduct research and development (R&D). Many are attached to universities, which means tenants can draw on the expertise of staff and students and use facilities such as laboratories and libraries. Incubators provide the next step for small or home-based businesses looking for new premises, often providing office space (sometimes for a specific period of time) with rent designed to be more affordable for start-ups. Tenants usually have access to shared facilities, such as meeting rooms, photocopier, fax and receptionist services. Entry to both is usually via an application process. Technology parks may require entrants to come from a particular industry or field of technology. Entering incubators often involves a consultation with the management to determine if the business is viable. The benefits to businesses involved with technology parks and incubators include being surrounded by, and learning from, other businesses in similar industries or fields, and assistance with commercialising innovation. There are many