The new project of TAGES, ‘Business Incubator Management Training Institute (SUMMIT II)’ has been launched on February 2008. The project which will last 24 months is funded by the European Commission under the Life Long Learning-Leonardo da Vinci Programme.
SUMMIT II project is based on the SUMMIT project, ended in October 2006 and aimed at providing the incubator sector with the vocational training and practical management tools needed to successfully design and operate business incubators. SUMMIT II project will complement the first project and will further develop and disseminate the Training and Information Resource for the personnel of business incubators in order to enhance their business performance. SUMMIT II project is developed in response to the existing lack of a training programme for business incubators.
The project targets the business incubators; that is to say the managers and staff in business incubators, personnel of business innovation centres, technology parks and consultancy agents, employees and managers from entities and companies introducing or willing to introduce the idea of incubation, or public sector bodies responsible for funding incubation etc., and stakeholders in general (local and regional authorities, social partners, academic institutions etc.).
SUMMIT II project aims to adapt, promote, disseminate, and improve the training resources in as many organizations as possible. With the project, the contribution of vocational training to the process of innovation will be promoted and reinforced and the skills and competences of people working in Business Incubators and other supporting organizations will be improved.
The project will support participants in training and further training activities, support improvements in quality and innovation in vocational education and training systems, institutions and practices. The project will also enhance the attractiveness of vocational education and training and mobility for employers and individuals and to facilitate the mobility of working trainees.
SUMMIT II project consortium consists of 7 partners from 6 different European countries. TAGES and Technobee are the two Turkish partners of the project. Technobee takes part in the project in the name of Istanbul Technical University Ari Teknokent.
In the first project ten web-based modules were developed. More modules will be developed in this project and the case studies will be added to the modules. An online community of Business Incubators and other Business Support Organizations will be facilitated. This will be a platform through which the Business Support Organizations can share information and increase their knowledge.
Within the project TAGES will set up an e-learning management platform and it is responsible for the e-learning software modules, hosting, operation and maintenance of the e-learning website.
SUMMIT II will fill the existing vacuum in business incubator management training, which has also been identified by the European Commission and will promote life long vocational training in the industry.
