The National Competitiveness Council (CNC) negotiated for the implementation of an incubator business network that would facilitate the coordinated development of highly competitive companies based on the availability of intellectual capital and continuous innovation.

Currently, the DR works with PROINCUBE which provides assistance to people interested in starting their own businesses. It provides technical assistance and necessary consultation to assure their successful business endeavor...

Andrés van der Horst Álvarez, Executive Director of the CNC, made the proposal in a dissertation at the Graduate Course on the Management of New Businesses and Incubation of Business Plans. This is an initiative of the National Competitiveness Council and the Jaycees 72, in coordination with the Industrial Property Office, the Business Competitiveness, Innovation and Development Center and PROINCUBE.

Van der Horst Álvarez said concerted action is required of the country’s incubators in order to contribute to the integration of the added-value chain with the strategic sectors in order to make them more efficient mechanisms to create jobs, according to a CNC press release.

Currently, the DR works with PROINCUBE which provides assistance to people interested in starting their own businesses. It provides technical assistance and necessary consultation to assure their successful business endeavor. This is an effort of PROINDUSTRIA, an autonomous organization that promotes Dominican industrial development.

In addition, there is EMPRENDE, the first incubator of technology-based businesses, which supports entrepreneurs throughout the process of their creation, growth and consolidation. EMPRENDE is located in Santo Domingo’s Cyber Park.

There are processes to consolidate pre-incubation or incubations centers in six universities which will provide fundamental support in the building of social and institutional capital to strengthen future incubator networks.

The creation of a network of system of business incubators is part of the National Plan for Systemic Competitiveness launched by President Leonel Fernández in March of last year. Later, in April of this year, the president mandated decree 190-97 institutionalizing the National System of Innovation and Technological Development which will be comprised of the network as well as two other pillars.

It will help participants to comprehend the financial and tax structures necessary for all businesses and how to obtain the necessary operational financing.

The course began on Monday April 28 and will be held Mondays and Thursdays at the UNIBE Graduate School. This course runs for a total of 80 hours.

This educational initiative seeks to channel, in a structural and supervised way, such business initiatives as creation, management and the functioning of a business while taking into consideration the numerous variables it may require. It seeks to promote the business spirit, leadership and perseverance to implement projects.

The course will develop strategic thought, action and abilities for decision-making that will satisfy the needs of the market and clients. It will help participants to comprehend the financial and tax structures necessary for all businesses and how to obtain the necessary operational financing.

The hope is that the grad students will be prepared to seek and gain financing and the continuation of technical assistance and that newly-formed companies will contribute to a reduction of unemployment, especially among young people.

Andrés van der Horst Álvarez as he delivers his speech.