In 2010, infoDev, the government ofFinland, and Nokia launched the Creating SustainableBusinesses in the Knowledge Economy (CSBKE) program toderive and test new approaches to advancing innovation andentrepreneurship in developing countries. Based on the vastgrowth of mobile content and access technology, a large partof the program focused on support for innovation in mobileapplications and software (orapps ). Through CSBKE, theconcept ofmobile entrepreneurship enablerswas developed,of which two forms were tested: Mobile ApplicationLaboratories (mLabs) and Mobile Social Networking Hubs(mHubs). mLabs are specialized mobile app businessincubation and acceleration service providers; mHubs focuson mobile tech community building by convening stakeholdergroups at informal gatherings. mLabs were intended to reacha region comprising several countries, whereas mHubs serveonly a single city. Underpinning the mLab and mHub modelswas the conviction that the enhancement of local innovationecosystemscharacterized by effective partnerships andcoordination amongst stakeholderswould improve the enablingenvironment for mobile entrepreneurship. infoDev also ran anumber of global projects (such as innovation competitions)and training sessions, complemented by analytical products,such as qualitative evaluations, a major report on user andapp ecosystems in developing countries, and a genericbusiness model for mLabs.
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