Seminar discusses strategies for technology parks to encourage innovation and the development of the State of São Paulo
With over 400 participants, event promoted by Investe SP brought together government, experts, associations and entrepreneurs in discussion panels and forums focused on innovation and entrepreneurship
Investe São Paulo
More than 400 people gathered, on October 27, to attend the four panels of the seminar “Investe SP and Technology Parks – Innovation accelerating development”, organized by Investe São Paulo at its headquarters. Entrepreneurs, experts, scholars, associations and government representatives discussed strategies for technology parks to contribute, through innovation and technology, to the generation of innovation and wealth in the state of São Paulo.
“We were assigned to be a permanent link between entrepreneurs and academia and centers fostering technological progress. This seminar is important for us to approach these sectors and define public policies and government actions to foster the ecosystem of innovation and economic development in the state,” said Juan Quirós, president of Investe SP.
Associated with the Department of Economic Development, Science, Technology and Innovation (SDECTI), the investment promotion agency was given the task by Governor Geraldo Alckmin to manage technology parks in the first half of this year. Since then, Investe SP has been having a more active role in the economic development of the state by encouraging innovation and research.
During the opening, the state representative Itamar Borges highlighted the agency’s role in this process of integration. “This seminar is just one more step taken by Investe São Paulo to offer the best alternative for innovation to many companies,” said the state representative.
The member of the advisory board of the International Association of Scientific Parks and Areas of Innovation, Guilherme Ary Plonski, made the opening speech of the event. He explained how the clusters adapted to innovation and technological development work, by outlining a timeline from the emergence of the first technology parks in the world up to their arrival in Brazil. “Each park has its history and vocation, and we need to respect that during the stimulation of development,” he said.
Debates
The first panel was moderated by Ana Abreu, Subsecretary of Science, Technology and Innovation of the State of São Paulo, with the theme “Public policies and the role of governments in the implementation of Technology Parks and technological progress.” “It is good to know that we can rely on so many partners to create and support innovative environments,” said Ana. The debate was also attended by the Technical Director of the Technology Park of São José dos Campos, Elso Alberti Junior; the vice dean of Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Antonio Saraiva, and the Deputy Coordinator of Technological Innovation of FAPESP and Associate Professor of the Department of Scientific and Technological Policy of Unicamp.
The second panel discussed how technology parks could help in the development of innovative companies and R&D centers. The theme was moderated by Desireé Zouain, Project coordinator at the Center of Policy and Technology Management, USP. The debate was conducted between Erly Domingues de Syllos, Director of Technology and Innovation of Ciesp and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Inova Sorocaba, the director of R&D&I of GE Health Care, and the CEO of Cietec, Cláudio Rodrigues.
With the theme “Barriers in the selection process of companies in the Brazilian venture capital industry,” the third panel was moderated by Leonardo Pereira, head of BNDES investment fund department. This panel featured the participation of Robert Binder, Board member of ABVCAP, Magnus Arantes, president of HBS Alumni Angels of Brazil and Anderson Thees, partner of Redpoint Ventures.
“In the past, the preference of young people was to work at multinationals, followed by working for the government and now the focus is on entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurial spirit must begin within the university. Young people who have good ideas must be stimulated and motivated towards entrepreneurship,” said Thees, complementing the discussion on how to stimulate innovation through academia.
The fourth and final panel brought together representatives of three public institutions, moderated by Juliano Seabra, general director of Endeavor: Eduardo Saggiorato, Superintendent of Business and Operations at Desenvolve SP, Oswaldo Massambani, director of the Innovation Agency INOVA Paula Souza and Douglas Zampieri, coordinator of the Department of Research and Innovation at FAPESP.
Saggiorato and Zampieri made a brief explanation on how entrepreneurs and researchers could have access to the resources of both institutions from São Paulo, while Oswaldo Massambani talked about how innovation is encouraged in schools and colleges of Paula Souza education system. “We want to allow students to become successful entrepreneurs,” said Massambani.
The event relied on the institutional support from the following institutions: Brazilian Association of Private Equity & Venture Capital (Abvcap); National Association of Research and Development of Innovative Companies (Anpei); National Association of Entities Promoting Innovative Enterprises (Anprotec); Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology (Cietec); Endeavor Brazil; São Paulo Research Foundation (Fapesp); Institute of Technological Research (IPT); Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp); Financier of Studies and Projects (Finep); Harvard Business School; Inova Unicamp; Institute for Research and Development of Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (IPDFarma); Center for Policy and Technology Management (TMP), Universidade de São Paulo (USP); Brazilian Society Pro-Technological Innovation (Protec); Agência USP de Inovação; Desenvolve SP – São Paulo Development Agency.