The National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) hosted the 28th International Conference on Business Incubation in New Orleans, La. May 18-21, 2014. This year's conference themed ‘Entrepreneurship, Energizing Economies’, featured focused networking opportunities and a programming track of over 60 sessions. Attendees interested in improving programme services, increasing client funding opportunities or developing new revenue streams, were able to learn about these and other topics. The annual conference brought together over 600 professionals in the incubation industry to learn new business model techniques, visit and benchmark area incubators, reconnect and renew long-standing relationships with members and NBIA partners and form new professional relationships. Attendees also had the opportunity to experience the New Orleans French Quarter and its famed history and local culture while exploring winning strategies for entrepreneurial support. NBIA’s 28th International Conference on Business Incubation was supported by the following sponsors: BCC Research, Cybergroup, GrowthWheel International, LegalZoom, Symantec, Traklight, Turnstone and WKI-wendykennedy.com, Inc.

The 25th Global Summit of Business Incubation Associations was also held at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, New Orleans Louisiana, USA on Sunday, May 18, 2014 in conjunction with NBIA’s International Conference on Business Incubation. The Summit is an annual event by invitation only for leading representatives (presidents, executive directors, board members) of regional, national and international associations of business incubators and selected country representatives. The Summit provided excellent opportunities to meet and network with international business incubation experts. Follow @NBIA and the Global Summit hashtag (#GSBIA) on Twitter.

NBIA held its third annual Latin American Conference on Business Incubation together with the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon in Mexico December 2-6, 2013. Incubator managers from all over Mexico attended the yearly event and 11 participants completed their requirements and received NBIA’s Incubator Manager Certificate. The event included 12 sessions presented by practitioners from Mexico and the US. As part of the Conference, attendees visited local incubators including one of Mexico’s first programmes at the Technological Institute of Monterrey, where attendees witnessed how incubators are incorporating co-working into their programmes. The group also visited a unique programme from the University of Texas at Austin, the Center for Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship as part of a tour of Monterrey’s renowned Technology Research and Innovation Park. NBIA also co-hosted the 3rd Russian-American Business Incubation Forum in Moscow, Russia, in partnership with Moscow State Institute of International Relations. The event took place the 18th and 19th of November and included NBIA members from the US and Europe who spoke on various topics. Amanda Parris, Business Centre Manager of Rotherham Investment and Development Office, Ana Greif, CEO of Varela Consulting, Tom Strodtbeck, director of NBIA International Programs, and the Chairman of NBIA’s Board of Directors and President & CEO, Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, Karl LaPan participated in a two-day programme with more than 200 entrepreneurial professionals representing incubators, research parks, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, government officials, university professors and tech-transfer professionals.