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Five Catalan universities form Europe's first inter-university network of business angels

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10.10.2006

The UAB participates in the UniBA network, the first inter-university network of its kind in Europe. This network will bring private investment to business initiatives that emerge from under the umbrella of Catalan universities. UniBA is linked to the North American Keiretsu Forum.

This agreement between the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, the University of Barcelona, the University of Girona, the Technical University of Catalonia and the Parc d'Innovació La Salle-URL will put the innovative projects incubated in these centres in contact with the "business angels", that is, private investors who can provide them with business know-how, experience and financial support. Five Catalan universities form Europe's first inter-university network of business angels.

UniBA aims to promote and broadcast the concept of business angels and to boost the economy of the region. The network puts technology-based start-up and spin-off businesses that are seeking capital investment in contact with potential private investors that are willing to provide their business know-how, experience and financial support.

UniBA is supported by the Catalan Ministry of Economy and Finance and Ministry of Employment and Industry and the Centre for Innovation and Business Development (CIDEM), as well as a series of strategic partners: "la Caixa" Emprendedor XXI, Chamber of Commerce and 22@Barcelona.

L'UniBA is open to membership from other Catalan universities, some of which have already expressed their interest in joining, and it is hoped that they also will soon participate.

What is a business angel?

A natural or legal person whose business experience and relational capital is made available to newly created businesses. Business angels are prepared to invest in enterprises that are seeking investment, providing what is known as Smart Money, that is, investment + experience and business knowledge. They also provide new networking contacts.

What will UniBA do?

Through events at the universities and other places agreed with the member partners, UniBA will make itself known to the Catalan economic and business fabric through seminars, forums and cooperative acts. UniBA will publicise and promote business angels as a vital booster a of Catalan economics. UniBA will bring the investors together on the second Wednesday of every month to present the different projects chosen by the Selection Committee.

Contact with the Keiretsu Forum

From next October, the UniBA Network will initiate the cooperation agreement with the Keiretsu Forum, the business angels network with the highest level of investment in the United States. This will make it possible for innovative projects from the five Catalan universities to be supported also by business angels in Silicon Valley and San Francisco and vice versa.

Octavi López Coronado | Source: alphagalileo
Further information: www.uab.es

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