infoDev has supported incubation in the Caribbean for a number of years, assisting the development of EU supported incubators in the Eastern Caribbean and with analytic work investigating competitiveness and ICT in the region. In 2009 infoDev provided funds for the development of the Caribbean Business Incubator Network, recognising the Caribbean as a specific region, capitalising upon existing incubator developments and responding to growing interest in incubation in the region and the need for models relevant to the needs of small island states.

CBIA Areas of Focus
The issues that face incubators / incubation in the Caribbean regions and which an association of incubators needs to address will be as follows:

• Promotion of good business incubation practices
• Identification and support from stakeholders
• Assist in finding funding
• Assist in building capacity
• Mentoring for incubatees
• Foster collaboration: The CBIA will facilitate collaboration using the Association as a medium for pooling of resources in seeking support from development partners and appropriate regional entities. Furthermore the Caribbean Business Incubation Association (CBIA) will work to  reduce barriers to cross-border trade) by (a) building inter-island / country relationships, (b) lobbying for incubation and (c) for incubation friendly legislation and pushing uniform incubation good practice. This will also benefit inter-islands trade in goods and services.