UCF Business Incubation Program Wins International Award

ORLANDO, Fla. – The National Business Incubation Association based in Athens, Ohio named the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program the 2013 Incubator Network of the Year today during NBIA’s International Conference on Business Incubation in Boston. “This is the first year for this new award category,” said Dr. Tom O’Neal, executive director of the UCF Business Incubation Program. “We are extremely pleased to be honored with this prestigious award.” The UCF Business Incubation Program is a university-driven community partnership that includes nine business incubators in Central Florida. Its mission is to provide early-stage companies with the tools, training and infrastructure to create financially stable, high-growth enterprises that lead to positive economic impact within local communities. Business incubation programs like those in the UCF network catalyze the process of starting and growing companies by providing entrepreneurs with the expertise, networks and tools they need to make their ventures successful. NBIA estimates that in 2011 alone, North American incubators assisted about 49,000 start-up companies that provided full-time employment for nearly 200,000 workers and generated annual revenue of almost $15 billion. Approximately 7,000 business incubators operate worldwide. The National Business Incubation Association is the world's leading organization advancing business incubation and entrepreneurship. Each year, the NBIA Incubation Awards honor the business incubation programs, graduates and client companies that exemplify the best of the industry.