NJIT Enterprise Development Center Receives International Honor

The National Business Incubation Association has once again awarded the NBIA Soft Landings International Incubator designation to the Enterprise Development Center, a business incubator operated and sponsored by the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark. This was the Center’s first renewal of the designation they earned in 2010.

Through its Soft Landings program, NBIA recognizes incubation programs that are especially capable of helping nondomestic companies enter the incubator's domestic market. The Enterprise Development Center was selected for the program because of its slate of business services for nondomestic firms and its demonstrated success at helping these firms enter the U.S. market, said Randy Morris, NBIA director of member services.

Business incubation programs like the Enterprise Development Center catalyze the process of starting and growing companies by providing entrepreneurs with the expertise, networks and tools they need to make their ventures successful. Incubating nondomestic firms takes more than the standard set of incubation services, however. "The Soft Landings designation recognizes an incubator's focus on welcoming nondomestic firms into its domestic market with translation services, help cutting through governmental red tape, access to capital, domestic market research and other programs," Morris said.

A panel of experienced incubator managers evaluated the Soft Landings applications. According to Morris, the judges were impressed with the Enterprise Development Center’s unique support for nondomestic firms.

The Enterprise Development Center accentuates its standard incubation services with assistance tailored specifically to nondomestic firms, including introductions to key contacts in the United States, assistance with government contracts and grant applications, immigration and visa assistance, and help finding suitable housing.

NBIA’s Soft Landings designations are effective for two years; programs must reapply biennially for continuing designation. There is no cap on the number of designations available in a given year or over time. The Enterprise Development Center is one of just 25 business incubation programs from around the world that have earned the designation since NBIA began the program in 2005.

The National Business Incubation Association is the world’s leading organization advancing business incubation and entrepreneur support. For more information about the NBIA Soft Landings program, visit www.nbia.org/member_services/soft_landings/.