Collaboration and learning are big proponents of what helps the Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center (Innovation Center) grow and reach the entrepreneurial community in the Coastal Bend region. Because of this it is not uncommon for the staff of the Innovation Center to go on trips to gain more knowledge in the world of entrepreneurship.
In the month of Oct. 2014, David Fonseca, Incubator Manager, visited Denmark to explore collaborative and soft-landing opportunities with Danish companies. He met with five companies interested in the Texas market and gave a presentation on the soft-landing program at the center.
Fonseca also attended the IV Russian-American Forum on Business Incubation, which was held at Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO). One of the strategic partners of the forum was the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA).
According to the forum’s website, rafbi.ru, “The Forum brings together experts on business incubation from Russia, Europe and the United States, the authorities of the largest business incubators and technoparks from US and Europe as well as representatives of the Russian business incubation society, financial institutions and venture funds.”
According to that same website, some topics that were covered include:
- Business Incubator with an Attitude: How to Become a Leader in Your Region
- Going Digital: Is Your Business Incubator Online?
- Innovative Society: Everyone is Talking, Few are Doing
Fonseca also participated as a speaker at the forum and gave a presentation on “Attracting and Retaining a Strong Customer.”
His speech drew a lot of positive responses stated Olga Khotyasheva, Ph.D. and Associate Professor in the Department of Management and Marketing (University) MFA of Russia and Director of both the Development Fund for Innovation and Business Incubators and the Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) “Business Incubator” MGIMO.