The members' meeting of the Beijing Business Incubation Association concluded recently at the Beijing Hi-tech Innovation Service Center. Over 100 people including 71 formal members and those from non-member organizations attended the meeting. The members' meeting deliberated and approved the work report made by the general secretary and the finance report made by the chief supervisor of last executive council.

The meeting also commended some excellent incubators, incubating enterprises and outstanding researchers on incubation theories. According to the appraisal results based on 26 incubation bases, the following enterprises won awards:

Haidian Innovation Service Center of Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park (2003 Best Quality Award for Incubating Enterprises), Beijing IBI (2003 Best Incubation Performance Award), Beijing Biological Medicine Hi-tech Incubator (2003 Best Technological Service Award), Beijing Zhongguancun International Incubation Ltd (2003 Best Development Capability Award for Incubating Enterprises), Tsinghua Innovation Park (2003 Best Incubation Environment Award), Beinei Hi-tech Incubation Base for Manufacture Industry (2003 Best State-owned Incubator Award),
Beijing Aeronautic Huike Incubator (2003 Best Sustainable Development Ability Award), Beijing Hi-tech Innovation Service Center (2003 Best Intermediary Service Award)
 
Commendations for excellent incubating enterprises were divided into three categories: the 2003 Shining Star commending excellent enterprises with the highest score, the 2003 Growing-up Star commending incubating enterprises of fastest development, the 2003 Future Star commending excellent enterprises with greatest potential. Incubating enterprises were respectively commended according to different industries and 13 enterprises were honored. 500 incubating enterprises joined in the appraisal.

Haidian Innovation Center for Overseas Chinese Scholars won many awards. Vice general manager Liu Daochun of Beijing 863 Software Professional Incubator won 2003 Outstanding Explorer on Incubation Theory.

The Beijing incubator industry has entered into a period of fast growth over the past three years, since the Beijing municipal government proposed the Capital 248 Significant Innovation Project in 1994. The number of incubators doubles each year. The incubation environment undergoes great changes with each passing day. So far, Beijing has 61 incubators for sci-tech enterprises, of which 31 were granted the accredited title, Beijing High and New Technology Industry Incubation Base.

The ratio of incubators for sci-tech enterprises in Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park has increased rapidly. By the end of 1999, incubating enterprises accounted for 4.4 percent of the total number of enterprises (6,690) in Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park. The ratio jumped to 9.6 percent (1,150/12,000) in 2002; the ratio of employees had increased from 1.5 percent (3,600/243,000) in 1999 to 4.3 percent (17,416/406,000) in 2002; the ratio of the total income of technological and industrial trade jumped from 0.9 percent in 1999 to 3.3 percent (80.3/2,404.8) in 2002.

The distribution of incubators has also gradually extended from Haidian District to other districts and counties. The first batch of incubators were mainly located in the Haidian District. With resource integration of various districts, the increase of incubators in the next phase will occur in Xicheng, Changping, Daxing and Shijingshan districts.

With the development of incubators and experience accumulation of incubation work at various levels, the incubation environment will be gradually perfected. With the development of incubation business, incubation management companies occurred, which are the outcome of market survival of many incubator companies. The original incubator network which plays a big role in communication and connection has developed into standardized industrial association -- Beijing Business Incubation Association.

The members' meeting also selected and approved the new executive council of Beijing Business Incubation Association. Zhao Xinming, director of Haidian Innovation Service Center of Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park was elected as the new chairman of the executive council. Liu Shaohua, director of Beijing IBI was elected as the new chief supervisor. Liu Zhengang, deputy director of Beijing Municipal Science Committee attended this yearly meeting and made an important speech.

(China.org.cn by Wang Qian August 29, 2003)