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

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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.

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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 $500

 

Soft Landings Directory

U.S. Designees

 


Emerging Technology Centers of Baltimore

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


ETSU Innovation Laboratory

2109 West Market Street, Suite 120
Johnson City, TN 37604


Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians

One Penn Center, Suite 555, 1617 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19103


Enterprise Development Center

211 Warren Street, Suite 109 Newark NJ. 07103

University of North Dakota Center for Innovation

4300 James Ray Dr.
Grand Forks, ND 58203

OU INC

419 Golfview Lane
Rochester, MI 48309

Rutgers EcoComplex

1200 Florence-Columbus Rd
Bordentown, NJ 08505

Rutgers University Food Innovation Center

450 East Broad Street
Bridgeton NJ 08302

University City Science Center

3711 Market St Ste 800
Philadelphia, PA 19104

STLVentureWorks

7733 Forsyth Boulevard, Suites 2200 & 2300
St. Louis, MO 63105

University of Central Florida Business Incubator

12201 Research Parkway
Orlando, FL 32826

Innovation Depot

1500 First Avenue North
Birmingham, AL 35203

Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute

75 5th Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30308

Innovation Center

340 W. State St.
Athens, OH. 45701

Enterprise Development Center

211 Warren Street, Suite 109 Newark NJ. 07103

Automation Alley

2675 Bellingham
Troy, Michigan 48083 USA

Idea Foundry

4551 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

UF Innovate | Accelerate

12085 Research Drive
Alachua, FL 32615

VelocityTX

1422 E Grayson, 3rd Floor
San Antonio, TX 78208

University of Arizona Center for Innovation

9040 S Rita Rd #1270
Tucson, AZ 85747

International Designees

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation

Innovation to Industry Co., Ltd.

Application Process

A review committee that consists of InBIA members with deep experience in hosting foreign companies will review Soft Landings applications. The selection committee will be looking for a proven track record of success in providing services to foreign firms to increase their success rate in entering regional markets.

The Soft Landings Committee uses the following criteria to review and judge Soft Landings application

  • Best Practices
  • International Strategy
  • International Support
  • Program Results
  • Financial Stability

If your entrepreneurship center meets the rigorous Soft Landings designation criteria, but is declined due to not having direct experience in hosting a foreign company, your center may be eligible for a one-year grace period to identify and host at least one foreign company without having to reapply.

 

Let's Get Started!

Initial application or renewal requires a credit card.  Once processed, you will receive an email confirmation containing a link to start the application process. If you are unable to apply with a credit card, please contact us at [email protected].

 

Apply

 

Renew Your Designation