12/17/2008 11h11

Support to the innovation parks

Agência FAPESP - 12/17/2008

The governor of São Paulo, José Serra, signed this Tuesday (12/16), in the capital of São Paulo the decree that creates the Program of Support to the Technological Parks (Pró-Parques) that grants tax incentives to innovative companies that install themselves in Technological Parks that are part of São Paulo System of Technological Parks (SPTec). "This program signals São Paulo is focused on the future. It will be nearly R$ 16 or R$ 17 million (US$ 7 or 7.4 million) to stimulate seven technological parks, company incubators and laboratories of technological development, which will facilitate the investment and the offer of jobs", said Serra. In the same event, agreements were entered into by the Secretariat of Development to provide support to the technological parks in the municipalities of Piracicaba, São José dos Campos, Sorocaba, São Carlos and Campinas. These agreements cover the construction of company incubators, laboratories and feasibility studies for the installation of parks. Also, a letter of intent was signed with Municipal Administration of São Paulo which aims at the cooperation for the creation, organization and implementation of two technological parks in the capital. Technological parks are undertakings aimed at the promotion of science, technology and innovation. They are spaces that offer the chance of turning knowledge into wealth, getting the centers of knowledge (universities, research centers and schools) close to the productive sector (companies in general). They are environments that favor the development of technology-based companies and the diffusion of science, technology and innovation of the centers of knowledge. Developed by the government of São Paulo, the SPTec is a group of parks with the purpose of encouraging and promoting the economic development in the state by means of the attraction of investments and the generation of new knowledge- or technology-based companies. Currently, there are 11 municipalities discussing the implementation of technological parks with the Secretariat of Development: São Paulo (two initiatives: Jaguaré and Zona Leste), São Carlos (Parq Tec and EcoTec), Campinas, Ribeirão Preto, Americana, São José do Rio Preto, Sorocaba, Piracicaba, Santos, Araçatuba and Guarulhos. The park in São José dos Campos is already working.