The Sustainable Community Startups Initiative brings together An-Najah National University’s centers, facilities, experts, and students in one integrated support system for community entrepreneurship. Whether you are a student with an idea, a woman starting a home-based business, a young graduate creating your own job, or a small business owner looking to grow, the initiative gives you access to the knowledge, tools, people, and networks you need to build a venture that is profitable, socially responsible, and sustainable.
InnoPark: Incubation & Entrepreneurship Support
InnoPark, An-Najah’s innovation hub, turns ideas into ventures. It offers a full package of services:
- Incubation: A supportive environment for early-stage startups to refine their ideas and build their first products.
- Acceleration: Intensive programs that help promising startups scale up, enter new markets, and become ready for investment.
- Mentorship: Ongoing guidance from experienced mentors and industry experts.
- Co-working space: Shared, equipped workspaces that reduce startup costs and encourage collaboration.
InnoPark links entrepreneurs with industry partners, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and financiers in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, health, and technology. By connecting academic research with market needs, it makes sure university innovations reach the community as real businesses.
Business relevance: Entrepreneurs get end-to-end startup support, from the first idea and prototype through securing investment to growing the business.
Mentorship Programs
Successful startups need more than funding: they need knowledge, expertise, and ongoing support. The university draws on its academic and professional expertise in engineering, economics, business administration, development, and other fields to mentor community members, entrepreneurs, and startups at every stage: idea development, feasibility study, planning, launch, management, and long-term growth.
Business relevance: Expert mentoring lowers the risk of early-stage failure and builds the management and technical skills entrepreneurs need to keep their businesses running and growing.
Continuing Education & Professional Training
An-Najah’s Center for Training and Rehabilitation and Continuing Education Center, together with participating faculties, offer short courses, workshops, and professional certifications designed for entrepreneurs and job seekers. Key topics include:
- Digital transformation and artificial intelligence
- Marketing and digital marketing
- Financial literacy and business management
- Environmental sustainability and green practices
- Entrepreneurial leadership and soft skills
Programs are practical and flexible, so participants can apply what they learn directly to their projects while continuing their work or studies.
Business relevance: Entrepreneurs build the practical, future-ready skills needed to launch viable projects and keep them competitive.
Access to Facilities & Research Units
An-Najah opens its research facilities and laboratories to community innovators, including:
- Energy, Environment & Climate Change Research Unit: For projects in renewable energy, water, agriculture, and climate solutions.
- Computer and digital labs, including specialized labs for visually impaired users, which support inclusive entrepreneurship.
- Medical and clinical research facilities: For health-related products and services.
- The University Library: Access to research, market data, and knowledge resources.
Entrepreneurs can use these spaces to test, validate, and improve their products with the support of academic and technical staff.
Business relevance: Local ventures gain access to equipment, applied research, data, and technical expertise they could not afford alone, which makes new businesses more innovative and evidence-based.
Volunteerism & Community Placement
An-Najah’s Volunteer Program and community service courses engage thousands of students each year in community projects. Students from different faculties support pilot projects, awareness campaigns, educational initiatives, and social services. For entrepreneurs, students can help with market surveys, product design, branding, social media marketing, and simple accounting systems, while gaining real-world experience themselves.
Business relevance: Startups get low-cost implementation support, wider outreach, and community credibility by piloting their initiatives with motivated student volunteers.
Financial & In-Kind Support
The initiative connects entrepreneurs with seed funding, donor programs, and small grants. Through its Interest-Free Small Projects Fund, the university finances income-generating projects for low-income families, such as agricultural greenhouses, sewing workshops for women, bakeries, and small grocery shops. Beneficiaries pay back the original amount after five years with no interest.
Business relevance: Entrepreneurs with limited resources can access startup capital without the burden of interest.
Who Can Benefit?
- Students and recent graduates
- Women entrepreneurs, especially home-based and rural
- Low-income families seeking a stable source of income
- Persons with disabilities
- Existing small businesses seeking to develop or expand
How to Get Involved?
Entrepreneurs and community members can contact the Community Service Center to discuss their idea or project. The team assesses each applicant’s needs and directs them to the most suitable services: incubation at InnoPark, mentorship, training, access to facilities, volunteer support, or financing.