The staff of stp have gathered extensive experience and capacity in fulfilling the role of the national programme responsible for technology and business incubation and technology transfer in South Africa. There are five main areas in which stp provides support. These are:

Establishment of Technology Business Centres

stp has established ten TBCs to date, and is currently in the process of establishing another five centres, as well as incorporating three incubators currently operating directly under the dti.

During establishment the special focus areas include the facilitation of consortium formation, determining the key focus areas, facilitating access to national policy makers and providing support in accessing international business
and market linkages.

The term TBC is used by stp to refer to one of three models deployed in supporting small enterprises. These are classified as either Incubators, Technology Demonstration Centres and Hybrid Centres.

Advising on Appropriate Business Models to be Adopted

stp provides support in the identification of appropriate business models for managing and delivering on the mandate for TBCs. Support will be provided when it comes to drafting and implementing business models for income generation; drafting and implementing business strategies to achieve sector support as well as for identifying, developing and implementing various revenue models.

Support will also be provided on finding early stage venture capital, SEED capital and Angel Funds for the centre clients. Assistance will also be provided with the drafting and preparation of funding applications and proposals for donor agencies and government departments.

Development and Implementation of Operating Systems

When considering the drafting and implementation of operating systems, stp provides support for the following: management information; knowledge management; operating policies and procedures; financial reporting, performance reporting and performance management systems as well as the drafting of client and/or tenant management plans and procedures.

Advisory and Consultancy Services

The advisory and consultancy services of stp include assistance to municipalities and corporates in the establishment of TBCs, as well as providing advice and support on incubator planning, policies, strategies, governance and management.

Clients will also receive direct exposure to international best practices in TBC establishment, governance and operations.

Technology Transfer and Diffusion

stp provides a range of services that enables industry, and in particular small enterprises in the 2nd Economy, to access and transfer technology. stp has defined the "2nd Economy", as broadly referring to the mainly informal, marginalised, unskilled to semi-skilled, and those unemployable in the formal sector, who cannot afford appropriate technology to propel them into the mainstream economy. The Technology Transfer Division (TTD) of stp manages a Technology Transfer Fund (TTF) that provides funding for small enterprises to acquire the necessary technology and technical support for effective technology transfer transactions.