One of the near
term objectives of the Broward County Crime Commission is to establish one of
the first Public Safety Technology Incubators in the United States. The Crime Commission feels that there is a
significant need for such a facility to showcase and streamline the best
technology that assist law enforcement in better deterring crime.
Business
incubators are programs designed to support the successful development of
entrepreneurial companies through an array of business support resources and services,
developed and orchestrated by incubator management and offered both in the
incubator and through its network of contacts. Incubators vary in the way they
deliver their services, in their organizational structure, and in the types of
clients they serve..
In 2005 alone,
North American incubation programs assisted more than 27,000 companies that
provided employment for more than 100,000 workers and generated annual revenues
of $17 billion
More than half
of all business incubation programs are "mixed-use" projects; that
is, they work with clients from a variety of industries. Technology incubators
account for 39% of incubation programs.
Business
incubation has been identified as a means of meeting a variety of economic and
socioeconomic policy needs, which may include
• Creating jobs
and wealth
• Fostering a
community's entrepreneurial climate
• Technology
commercialization
• Diversifying
local economies
• Building or
accelerating growth of local industry clusters
• Business
creation and retention
• Encouraging
women or minority entrepreneurship
• Identifying
potential spin-in or spin-out business opportunities
• Community
revitalization
About one-third
of business incubation programs are sponsored by economic development
organizations. Government entities (such as cities or counties) account for 21%
of program sponsors. Another 20% are sponsored by academic institutions,
including two- and four-year colleges, universities, and technical colleges.
The Crime
Commission feels it has an adherent responsibility to provide the best
perspective and resources of information to best assist law enforcement and
protect the general public. A
technology incubator assisting law enforcement can also stimulate the local Broward County economy.
