Our Soft Landings network ensures that businesses entering or expanding into a new country are provided with an accelerated introduction to that country’s business practices, regulations, and culture. Soft Landings designees help make contacts in a new country more quickly and efficiently while providing access to the resources necessary to meet their business goals.

Accelerating the expansion of foreign companies

We recognize the rapid growth in the need for entrepreneurship centers that have the capacity to serve foreign companies interested in expanding outside of their domestic markets. In order to serve these foreign companies, we have developed a global network of Soft Landings-designated centers that have been validated through a rigorous application and peer-review validation process.

A Soft Landings designation recognizes entrepreneurship centers that excel in providing companies with various services. Ultimately, Soft Landing designees ensure that foreign companies experience a “soft landing” when entering a new country.

The Soft Landings designation is available to any entrepreneurship center who clearly demonstrate they have the resources and programming to meet the needs of foreign/non-domestic companies that want to enter their markets.

Designees are able to attract new clients by differentiating their programs as specially designed to work with foreign companies interested in international expansion.

Examples of some of these services include:

Translation services
Language training
Domestic market research and entry assistance
Access to capital and potential investors
Intellectual property protection assistance
Help meeting government regulations
Help with import/export laws
Patent assistance
Help obtaining business and driver’s licenses
Cultural training
Immigration and visa assistance
Housing assistance

Designation Benefits

Credibility

A Soft Landings designation provides global credibility and exposure that enables entrepreneurship centers to attract new clients and differentiate their programs as being specially equipped to work with foreign companies.

It also proves program quality to prospective inbound companies, potential partners, and available funding sources.

Visibility

InBIA will provide promotion and marketing support through a program listing in our Soft Landings directory, social media and press coverage, special badges at the InBIA conference, and a Soft Landings plaque to hang at your facility.

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Global Participation

Designees are offered preferred consideration to host InBIA Global Connector cohort companies and are provided exclusive opportunities to collaborate with InBIA on international projects and grant proposals.

Eligibility

To apply for a Soft Landings Designation, your center must meet the following criteria:

Proven track record of serving foreign companies
On-site management that specializes in helping foreign companies entering the center’s regional market
A full range of business services addressing the needs of international firms

A committee of InBIA members with deep experience in hosting foreign companies will review all Soft Landings applications. To maintain the globally-recognized credibility of the Soft Landings program, the selection committee will be looking for a proven track record of success in serving foreign firms. If your entrepreneurship center meets all criteria except for having direct hosting experience, you may be eligible for a one-year provisional designation. By hosting at least one foreign company during that year, your center will be able to continue on to full designation for the next two years without reapplying.

The designation is valid for two years from the date of approval. The renewal process takes up to six weeks, so plan to submit your application two months before the expiration date.

Program Fees

Fees

InBIA Members

Non-InBIA Members

2-Year Soft Landings Designation Fee

Billed after acceptance into program
Renewal required every 2 years

$2000

$3000

Initial Soft Landings Application Fee

$500

Soft Landings Directory

U.S. Designees

Emerging Technology Centers of Baltimore

1101 E 33rd St 3rd Floor
Baltimore, MD 21218

Accelerating the expansion of foreign companies

Examples of some of these services include:

Designation Benefits

Credibility

Visibility

Global Participation

Eligibility

Program Fees

Soft Landings Directory

U.S. Designees

International Designees

Madayn

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation

Innovation to Industry Co., Ltd.

Application Process

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