Background
On this page: Bolivia | Brazil | Chile | Colombia | Costa Rica | Dominican Republic | Ecuador | Mexico | Panama | Paraguay | Peru | Uruguay
Bolivia
Grantee: Bolivian ICT Incubator and Contest Quipus Cultural Foundation
Grant: Capacity Building Grant Grant Amount: $ 100,000
Contact: Peter McFarren, President
Email: McFarren@entelnet.bo
The Quipus Foundation aims to strengthen national competitiveness through training, and the research and development of ICT. The infoDev funded work program will enhance the Foundation’s capacity to serve as an incubator for new projects that can contribute to the development of Bolivia, and the reduction of the digital divide. The Quipus Foundation will upgrade the ICT center for emerging businesses to provide access to computers with internet and office facilities, and also organize a contest with financial awards for university students and private firms. The goal of the contest is to identify, support and launch new business proposals that are from the ICT sector. Lastly, Quipus Foundation will form consulting teams to assist the emergence of SMEs, and host training workshops about developing business plans, financial modeling, marketing, strategic planning, and entrepreneurship.
Brazil
Joint Grantees: (1) Minas Gerais Incubators’ Network Information and Communication Technology Program, (Rede Mineira de Incubadoras); (2) Technological Incubator of Popular Cooperatives of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; (3) Genesis Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Action
Grant: Capacity Building Grant. US $300,000
Contact: Christiano Gonçalves Becker, President, RMI
Email: becker@dcc.ufmg.br
Through a grant to Rede Mineira de Incubadoras (RMI), infoDev is supporting three incubator operations in Brazil: one in Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais and two in Rio de Janeiro. The RMI Incubators Network Information and Communication Technology Program is a non-profit organization created in 1998 in the state of Minas Gerais. The mission of RMI is to contribute to regional and national economic and social development by supporting organizations that promote technology-based companies. RMI focuses on incubators, technology parks and technopoles. RMI comprises 15 technology incubators in Minas Gerais, all non-profit organizations connected to public or private managerial institutions including universities, foundations and mayoralties.
Technological Incubator of Popular Cooperatives of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
(ITCP) supports cooperatives that aim to create livelihoods and income generating opportunities for poor and disadvantaged people, particularly women. The program is managed by Fundação COPPETEC (COPPETEC Foundation) and the Technology Transfer Office of COPPE/UFRJ. ITCP was founded in 1996 with an agreement between COPPE/UFRJ, FINEP (Brazilian Innovation Agency) and the Fundação Banco do Brasil (Bank of Brazil Foundation). Since its creation, ITCP has contributed to creating more than 1,200 new livelihoods, and jobs in Rio de Janeiro. ITCP has 400 square meters of building space located on the university campus. There are eight offices, an auditorium, a classroom, a telecenter and a conference room.
Genesis Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Action is a private, non-profit foundation of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro [PUC-RIO]). PUC-RIO is focused on promoting innovation by transferring research results, and training entrepreneurs. PUC-RIO was founded in June 1997. The infoDev funded work program will lead to the creation of an audiovisual park in the Rio de Janeiro municipality in the region comprising Rocinha slum, Gávea, Jardim Botânico and Humaitá. The goal of the program is to increase social and human development and foster economic and technological development through ICT and business incubation.
Grantee: ANPROTEC
Grant: Capacity Building Grant Grant Amount: $ 150,000
Contact: José Eduardo Fiates, President
Email: anprotec@anprotec.org.br – paulomiranda@anprotec.org.br
Additional Websites: http://www.redeincubar.org.br, http://www.relapi.org
The main goal of the infoDev funded work program is to strengthen the recently established Latin America Network of Science Parks and Business Incubators Associations (RELAPI) by supporting the consolidation of its mission and advancement of its objectives in the region. It may be noted that the original designation of the network in Spanish is Red Latino Americana de Asociaciones de Parques Tecnológicos e Incubadoras de Empresas. In Portuguese, it's Rede Latino-Americana de Associações de Parques Tecnológicos e Incubadoras de Empresas.
Chile
Grantee: Fundación para la Transferencia Tecnológica
Grant: Operational Grant. US $400,000
Contact: Mr. Antonio Holgado, Tel 56-2-678-4816
Email: aholgado@dii.uchile.cl
Access Nova Incubación is a Santiago based, state run, technology-based business incubator. Access Nova Incubación is funded and managed by the University of Chile’s Technological Transfer Foundation which is part of the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. Access Nova Incubación operates in strategic alliance with the OCTANTIS Incubator that is managed by a consortium comprising the privately run Adolfo Ibañez University (Valparaiso Business School), the Invertec IGT export business group, and Organized Enterprising Environment (CEO), an innovative private network for enterprise promotion in Chile. Access Nova Incubación was established in 1996, and is cited as a model for other South American business incubators. Access Nova Incubación ranks in the top ten of Chile’s incubators in terms of the quality of consultancies and training services. In addition to the grant from infoDev’s Incubator Initiative, Access Nova’s sources of financing include the Innovation and Development Fund (FDI), a state entity under the Corporación de Fomento de la Producción (CORFO), and monthly fees from the incubating companies.
Colombia
Joint Grantees: Innovar and Incubadora Parquesoft
Grant: Operational Grant. US $500,000
Contact: Adolfo J. Naranjo, Executive Director, Corporacion Innovar
Humberto Pradilla, Executive Director, Corporacion Bucaramanga Emprendedora
Email: innovar@innovar.org, pradilla@bucaincu.org.co,
The infoDev-funded work program in Colombia covers two incubator operations. The first is the joint work program of Corporación Innovar (Innovar) and Corporación Bucaramanga Emprendedora (CBE) in Bogota and Bucaramanga, and the second is the work program of Parquesoft: Incubadora Parque Tecnologico del Software de Cali (PSTC). Innovar is a non-profit organization, and technology incubator based in Bogota, that serves ICT-enabled tenant clients, and offers regional and virtual ICT services. Innovar currently has an incubator building with an area of 2,200 square meters and 25 on-site and 20 off-site tenants. Graduate companies to date number 43. CBE is a technology business incubator that creates new knowledge companies and employment, and increases the competitiveness of Colombia's private sector. CBE offers basic and complementary support services to the entrepreneurial community. CBE was established by academic institutions and organizations from the private and public sectors, including the industrial university of Santander. PSTC was founded in December 1999 at an industrial estate located in the north of the city [NOTE: Bogota?]. PSTC created its own methodology for approaching incubation by working at the national level. PSTC's methodology is based on alliances with key actors in the economy. The products and solutions developed by the entrepreneurs include business solutions and applications in the education, health, security, transportation, government, services, agro-industry, environment and industrial sectors. The incubator provides entrepreneurs with infrastructure and complementary professional services that support the development of ICT products and solutions.
Grantee: Corporación para el Desarrollo de Tunía (Corpotunía)
Grant: Planning Grant. US $100,000
Contact: William Cifuentes Alvarez, Corregimiento de Tunía Municipio de Piendamó
Email: corpotunia@caucanet.net.co
Corporación para el Desarrollo de Tunía (Corpotunía) is a non-profit organization that serves rural communities in the central and northern parts of Colombia’s Cauca state. Corpotunía was established in 1986 by a group of community leaders with financial assistance and support from the Fundación Carvajal in Cali. Corpotunía’s headquarters is in Tunía in the municipality of Piendamó, which is about 500 km south of Bogotá. The buildings occupy about 400 square meters of floor space, and provide a reasonable amount of office space and space for training activities. The organization is legally recognized by the government and by the Chamber of Commerce. Corpotunía conducts integrated development projects aimed at organizing and supporting local producers of tropical agricultural products. A central aim of these projects is to link producers with growth markets as a means of reducing poverty in this neglected, predominantly rural region of the country. Drawing on experience in Colombia and elsewhere, this project will consolidate an agro-enterprise incubator in the southwest.
Costa Rica
Grantee: Comisión Asesora en Alta Tecnología de Costa Rica (CAATEC)
Grant: Capacity Building Grant. US $250,000
Contact: Dr. Ricardo Monge
Email: rmonge@caatec.org
The infoDev funded work program in Costa Rica supports the Comisión Asesora en Alta Tecnología de Costa Rica (CAATEC) and the Centro de Incubación de Empresas-Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (CIE-TEC). CAATEC is a private, independent, non-profit organization that supports social and economic development in Costa Rica by leveraging advances in ICT. CAATEC is made up of individuals from the academic sector, including the presidents of the four national universities, the private sector and representatives of the largest multinational high-tech corporations operating in the country. The mission of the CAATEC Foundation is to increase the competitiveness of Costa Rica by strengthening strategic infrastructure, supporting human resource development, and encouraging the use of science and technology by SMEs. CIE-TEC was created in 1994 with the objective of promoting innovative start-up firms with the potential to make substantial contributions to national productivity. CIE-TEC’s facilities are located at an industrial park in the province of Cartago. The current facilities allow CIE-TEC to support the incubation of eight companies, and provide assistance to incubating firms outside the premises. CIE-TEC currently offers logistic and strategic services to tenants.
Dominican Republic
Grantee: Cyberpark of Santo Domingo
Grant: Operational Grant. US $150,000
Contact: Eddy Martinez
E-mail: emartinez@cei-rd.gov.do
The Cyberpark of Santo Domingo’s Westport Applied Technology Incubator (WATI) is the first applied technology business incubator in the Dominican Republic. WATI’s mission is to enhance the competitiveness of SMEs by promoting the effective use of applied ICT. WATI also focuses on easing access for these enterprises, and fostering the development of intellectual property projects, while also respecting these rights.
Ecuador
Grantee: Incoval, Emprender, Stratega Bds, Ecuadorian Network of Incubators, Ministry of
Production, and Foundation E.dúcate
Grant: Capacity Building Grant Grant Amount: $125,000
Contact: Ivan Hernandez, CEO, Stratega BDS
Email: ihernandez@stratega.com.ec
Stratega BDS is one of the leading consulting companies in Ecuador, specializing in business development services, and competitiveness. Stratega BDS’s mission is to facilitate the creation and growth of SMEs that have potential, and strong management. Stratega BDS also has a brokerage house, which has seats in both the Quito Stock Exchange and Guayaquil Stock Exchange. The mandate of the infoDev funded work program is to strengthen the national incubator network by training members through an on-line platform that will allow procurement of incubators services and knowledge sharing, as well as strategic research on export sector demands, and new financial models. Based on lesson learned, and new information acquired by this project, it is expected that the business model of the Incoval and Emprender incubators will be enhanced. The work program will also focus on designing and implementing a competitive fund to finance the incubation of enterprises. The fund will seek to finance at least 10 new business plans.
Mexico
Grantee: Technology Based Business Incubator (IEBT), University of Guadalajara
Grant: Capacity Building Grant Grant Amount: $ 125,000
Contact: Mr. Juan Villalvazo, Head IEBT
Email: jvillalv@newton.dip.udg.mx
The infoDev funded work program will accelerate the Technology Based Business Incubator (IEBT), located at the University of Guadaljara, Mexico. IEBT hopes to create new ICT focused SMEs companies that can effectively compete in the global economy. The infoDev funded work program is expected to further strengthen linkages with institutions of higher education, and enhance the capacity of universities to teach and conduct research in a manner that not only benefits existing firms, but also poor and unemployed within the region.
Panama
Grantee: City of Knowledge Foundation
Grant: Operational Grant. US $300,000
Contact: Jorge Arosemena, Director of City of Knowledge Foundation, Panama Technology Business
Accelerator
Email: anavarro@ciudaddelsaber.org.pa
The Panama Technology Business Accelerator (PTBA) was established in Panama City in 2000. PTBA is a non-profit organization, and focuses on ICT and biotechnology. PTBA is the only incubator in Panama. PTBA provides a comprehensive range of services to tenants and graduate clients, including: pre- and post-support center incubation through mentoring, assistance with finance through local banks, private investors and angel investor networks, and technology incubation services. PTBA also provides business plan development, management, and virtual entrepreneur development training courses. The incubator has a total of 2,896 square meters of building area with 11 tenants; 10 clients have graduated. PTBA faces some significant challenges, including limited entrepreneurship within Panama, and a lack of financing available for clients and other enterprises. The incubator aims to become financially self-sufficient by 2008 by upgrading its revenue base through new rental, equity and royalty arrangements, as well as new service fees, and private donor funding based on tax credits. PTBA's approach to incubation came out of approaches learned at United States National Business Incubation Association (USNBIA) conferences. These approaches were further adapted to Panamanian conditions. The foundation is seeking further assistance in mentoring and consulting, financing, establishing supportive networks, and accessing other incubators through exchanges and study tours.
Paraguay
Grantee: Fundación Enlace
Grant: Planning Grant. US $100,000
Contact: Marcos Tatijewski, Project Executive Director
Email: proyectos@cedial.org.py
Fundacion Enlace is part of the IPORA Project. Designed to be a catalyst for incubators, technological parks and entrepreneurial support organizations, Fundacion Enlace focuses on developing and implementing inter-institutional business incubation programs. Fundaction Enlace seeks to use ICT as a tool for production, management, marketing, and knowledge network formation. The incubator project includes an initial phase of investigation, diagnosis and benchmarking, followed by the implementation of networks, participant training, dissemination, and promotion of resouces aimed at creating a culture supportive for entrepreneurs. Additionally, ICT-based tools will be offered that enable incubators to provide high-value services, improve the chances for success among new incubators, and stimulate the exchange of best practices between incubators and their businesses.
Peru
Grantee: Centro de Innovación y Desarrollo de la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Grant: Operational Grant. US$ 350,000
Contact: Joaquín González Mavila, Manager, Centro de Servicios y Transferencia Tecnológica,
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Email: jgonzal@pucp.edu.pe
Additional website: http://www.peruincuba.net/
The Centro de Innovación y Desarrollo de la Pontificia Universidad Católica (CIDE-PUCP) is a non-profit organization and technology incubator based in Lima. A part of the University Catolica, CIDE-PUCP was established for the purpose of promoting an entrepreneurial culture and ICT projects. CIDE-PUCP offers training for entrepreneurs, business planning for incubators, and access to national and global networks that can assist Peruvian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). CIDE-PUCP also provides training and consulting services, and networking that help further develop small ICT companies. The university incubator has 30 off-site tenants and one on-site tenant in an area of 30 square meters. 15 clients have graduated from CIDE-PUCP.
Uruguay
Grantee: Ingenio–Incubadora de empresas (LATU–ORT)
Grant: Operational Grant. US $300,000
Contact: Ing. Miguel Brechner, President, Laboratorio Tecnologico del Uruguay (LATU)
Email: mbello@latu.org.uy
Additional Website: http://www.latu.org.uy/incubadora/
The Ingenio-Incubadora de empresas (LATU-ORT) is the first non-profit technology incubator to be established in Uruguay. Based in Montevideo, LATU-ORT was developed with funding from the government, academia and private sector. LATU-ORT provides tenants a range of services, such as: marketing support, ICT and e-business infrastructure and training, support for regional and international networking and exchanges with other incubators in Latin America. The incubator’s total building area is 580 square meters, which serves eight on-site tenants, and 23 off-site tenants. The work program includes the development of an incubation support network, including incubators in other developing countries, and online forums to improve global networking opportunities for clients.