The Palestine Polytechnic University Business Incubator (PPUBI) is one of the most qualified and effective business incubators in Palestine and the region. Since 2008, it has served as the university’s executive arm for entrepreneurship, innovation, and self-employment. Established to bridge the gap between academia and the market, the incubator provides a dynamic platform where students, graduates, and young entrepreneurs can transform ideas into viable businesses.
As a leading pillar of Entrepreneurial Polytechnic and capacity building in Palestine, PPUBI delivers an integrated package of services and creates equal opportunities in education, training, entrepreneurship, and social services. These opportunities are accessible to all, regardless of age, gender, residence, or physical ability, with special attention given to individuals from marginalized communities, high-poverty zones, and those with special considerations.
The incubator plays a strategic role in fostering a culture of innovation, offering mentorship, training, and access to networks of investors, experts, and industry leaders. Each year, PPUBI supports at least 500 entrepreneurs (around 7,000 in total to date), aged 18–35, with a strong commitment to gender equality—some initiatives achieving up to 73% female participation. By empowering youth and women to establish, improve, and sustain their businesses, the incubator contributes to income generation, GDP growth, and improved quality of life.
The incubator’s comprehensive methodology includes awareness campaigns, training, and capacity-building programs such as Passport to Success (PTS), Build Your Business (BYB), the ILO Business Simulation Game, Pitching Skills, Idea Generation and Validation, Green and Social Business Model Canvas (BMC), Business Plan Development, Demo Days and Competitions, mentoring and coaching, branding, legal services, technical assistance, and access to finance (seed funding and zero-interest loans).
PPUBI applies the UNI-LED methodology, which focuses on Unlocking potential, Nurturing creativity, and Implementing practical solutions to transform ideas into market-ready businesses through research commercialization methodologies. This structured framework ensures that entrepreneurial projects are innovative, market-oriented, and sustainable.
Beyond startup creation, UNI-Led reinforces academia–industry linkages, fostering knowledge transfer, applied research commercialization, and long-term partnerships between universities and the private sector. This approach not only generates sustainable enterprises but also drives innovation-led economic growth and development in Palestine.
Programme Phases
Pre-Incubation Phase: Focused on training, capacity building, and skills development. Activities include Passport to Success (PTS), Idea Generation and Validation, Build Your Business (BYB), ILO Business Simulation Games, Pitching Skills Workshops, Green & Social Business Model Canvas (BMC), Business Plan Writing, Demo Days, and Competitions. Tailored services such as mentoring, prototype development, IP and legal assistance, graphic design, programming, and technical support ensure that each idea is refined and ready for the market.
Incubation & Acceleration Phase: Selected business concepts—particularly those grounded in research—are transformed into startups. This phase strengthens MVP quality, branding, and market readiness, while offering access to finance through seed funding or zero-interest loans. Collaboration with stakeholders and the private sector supports commercialization, scalability, and sustainability.
Impact & Outcomes
UNI-Led contributes directly to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 1 & 8: Creating jobs and income to fight poverty and foster decent work.
SDG 5: Promoting gender equality through strong female participation.
SDG 9: Advancing innovation and infrastructure by supporting research-based startups.
SDG 10: Reducing inequalities by prioritizing marginalized groups.
SDG 12: Encouraging responsible, green, and socially impactful businesses.
