Small Business Center/Incubator Takes Second-Place Honors In National Competition
May 14, 2008
The A-B Tech Small Business Center/Incubator won second place in the 2008 Outstanding Incubator Innovation Awards program of the National Business Incubation Association at a conference May 6 in San Antonio.
The incubator was honored for its International Student Business Growth Coalition, created to meet clients' need for low-cost, innovative ways to enter global markets and compete successfully against foreign competition. Russ Yelton, A-B Tech's executive director of Entrepreneurial Ventures and Business Incubation, also wanted to connect students with companies on an international level.
The International Student Business Growth Coalition partners academia and business both in the United States and abroad. It helps businesses lower market entry barriers and allows A-B Tech and Western Carolina University students to conduct international market research along with students at international schools. Currently, the coalition has six partners in five countries. "This program takes companies that have technologies with international applications and allows them to have research performed as a case study at domestic and foreign institutions," Yelton said.
Participating businesses receive the student research, along with a final report, free of charge. By working with businesses in international markets and learning to manage associated challenges, students get real-world experience.
The Incubator Innovation Award recognizes incubators that have developed and implemented innovative activities that help them better serve their clients or more effectively accomplish their missions.
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