PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Business Incubation Association has again awarded the NBIA Soft Landings International Incubator designation to the University City Science Center Port Business Incubator in Philadelphia. This was the Science Center’s first renewal of the designation it first received in 2011.
Through its Soft Landings program, NBIA recognizes business incubation programs that are especially capable of helping nondomestic companies enter the incubator’s domestic market. “The University City Science Center Port Business Incubator program was selected for the program because of its slate of business services for nondomestic firms and its demonstrated success at helping these firms enter the U.S. market,” said Randy Morris, NBIA director of member services.
Business incubation programs like the Science Center’s Port Business Incubator catalyze the process of starting and growing companies by providing entrepreneurs with the expertise, networks and tools they need to make their ventures successful. Incubating nondomestic firms takes more than the standard set of incubation services, however. “The Soft Landings designation recognizes an incubator’s focus on welcoming nondomestic firms into its domestic market with help cutting through governmental red tape, access to capital, domestic market research and other programs,” Morris said.
“The Science Center is dedicated to helping international companies gain a foothold in the U.S. market,” says Science Center President & CEO Stephen S. Tang, Ph.D., MBA. “The Soft Landings designation validates the work we do to connect the 15 international residents of our Port Business Incubator with the U.S. resources that can help them thrive.”
A panel of experienced incubator managers evaluated the Soft Landings applications. According to Morris, the judges were impressed with the Science Center Port Business Incubator’s unique support for nondomestic firms.
The University City Science Center Port Business Incubator Program accentuates its standard incubation services with programs tailored specifically to nondomestic companies, such as working with the Science Center’s Scientific Advisory Committee to offer nondomestic clients collaborative, advisory and consultative support, including market analysis, access to core research facilities and clinical resources through regional academic health systems.
NBIA’s Soft Landings designations are effective for two years; programs must reapply biennially for continuing designation. There is no cap on the number of designations available in a given year or over time. The University City Science Center Port Business Incubator Program is one of 24 business incubation programs from around the world that have earned the designation since NBIA began the program in 2005.
The National Business Incubation Association is the world’s leading organization advancing business incubation and entrepreneur support. For more information about the NBIA Soft Landings program, visit www.nbia.org/member_services/soft_landings/.
About the Science Center
The University City Science Center is a dynamic hub for innovation, and entrepreneurship and technology development in the Greater Philadelphia region. It provides business incubation, programming, lab and office facilities, and support services for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and growing and established companies. The Science Center was the first, and remains the largest, urban research park in the United States. Since it was founded in 1963, graduate organizations and current residents of the University City Science Center’s Port business incubators have created more than 15,000 jobs that remain in the Greater Philadelphia region today and contribute more than $9 billion to the regional economy annually. The Science Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2013. For more information about the Science Center, go to www.sciencecenter.org.
