Innovation Spaces - Mauritius
Innovation Spaces currently supported by the Government of Mauritius include: StartMe Up; NCB Technopreneurship Unit (2011, rebranded 2017) and La Plage (initiated in 2016). These Innovation spaces offer a mix of Pre-Incubation, Incubation (physical and virtual) and Accelerator services.
StartMe Up is a public private partnership initiative launched by the Mauritius Research Council (MRC) in September 2017, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED), and six Accredited Private Sector Business Incubators (Ceridian App Factory, La Plage Factory, Mauritius Startup Incubator, Turbine, Ventures AA and Verde Ventures) to create a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem in Mauritius.
The scheme is funded by the National SME Incubator Scheme (NSIS). It provides pre-incubation, incubation and acceleration, support, co-financing, business advice and training for: individuals with innovative business ideas; pre-startups/early start ups willing to establish themselves and well established start-ups and or SMEs willing to exploit new markets and accelerate their business activities. Previously MRC had an Incubator.
Ceridian Learning Centre provides ICT training courses. La Plage Factory provides incubation services and co-working space. Mauritius Startup Incubator provides mentoring services and office space. Turbine provides incubation and acceleration services and co-working space. Ventures AA provides office space, mentoring and financial support. Verde Ventures provides a mix of pre-incubation, incubation and acceleration services, including sourcing financing.
The National Computer Board (NCB) is supporting entrepreneurship through the Technopreneurship Programme , Microsoft BizSpark Program and NCB/MICT TechIdeaSpace Programme launched in November 2014. In 2017 the ICT Incubator Centre was rebranded as the Technopreneurship Unit to promote and inspire start-ups with Innovation ICT solutions and services, develop a community of ICT Enterpreneurs and encourage Ideation, Innovation and Creativity among ICT start ups and Technopreneurs. It provides business planning support, mentoring and guidance in relation to different financing schemes available to fund ICT projects in Mauritius.
In 2016 the Government initiated "La Plage " as an Incubator/Accelerator project under a Public-Private Partnership. It aims to create a conducive 'ecosystem' for high-tech entrepreneurship; boost the quality of competencies available; promote Mauritius as an international ICT destination and attract more investment and obtain the suitable visibility and accountability by demonstrating the ability of the Mauritian ICT sector to deploy technologies able to challenge international contracts. It provides incubation services and co-working space.
The Ebene Cybercity near Port Louis is home to the Ebene Accelerator, which was established by the Ministry of Finance and the Orange Mauritius Group in 2013. Located in Orange Tower, the accelerator provides free hosted space for four months with the next four months at a 50% discount.
Launched by ENL Group in 2015, Turbine is a not-for-profit co-working space and start-up incubator in Mauritius. Turbine is a national incubator accredited by the Mauritius Research Council (MRC) and takes a 10% equity stake in supported enterprises for incubation services.. Turbine works closely with Sting, the leading Accelerator in the Nordics, and seed funding of up to Rs 1 million is available on a competitive basis from Compass Venture Capital, and associated company.
