Representatives from Unicamp, Campinas City Hall and PUC-Campinas met this Thursday morning (14), at the University Rectory, to discuss matters of common interest. The main theme of the meeting was the creation of the International Hub for Sustainable Development (HIDS), which would bring together universities, research centers, companies, public bodies, among other actors, with the purpose of developing collaborative projects aimed at achieving the Development Goals. Sustainable, agenda proposed in 2012 by the United Nations. Among those present at the meeting were the rector Marcelo Knobel; the general coordinator of Unicamp, Teresa Atvars; the mayor of Campinas, Jonas Donizette; vice-mayor Henrique Magalhães Teixeira; the rector of PUC-Campinas, Germano Rigacci Júnior; and the vice-rector of PUC-Campinas, Father José Benedito de Almeida David.
At the meeting, Knobel explained to those present that the idea of creating HIDS was born at Unicamp, but the University quickly realized that it would not make sense to develop a project of this importance without the participation of partners of great relevance to Campinas. “Our willingness is to implement something new and bold, which will later serve as a reference for the entire city and, who knows, for the State and Brazil”, stated the rector. The intention is to install the hub in the area of the former Fazenda Argentina, acquired in 2014 by Unicamp and where the headquarters of the Inova Unicamp Innovation Agency (Inova) is being transferred.
Knobel informed that CPFL Energia has already shown interest in participating in HIDS, building a research center there, together with Chinese partners. “We need to race against time. We need to define the concept of the hub, that is, what activities we intend to bring together in this common space”, pondered the dean of Unicamp. The head of Unicamp's Integrated Planning Executive Board (DEPI), Marco Aurélio Pinheiro Lima, clarified that there are different concepts that can be adopted to guide the creation of HIDS.
One of the possibilities, according to him, is to establish a Knowledge Free Zone. Lima presented examples of hubs created by other cities, such as in Surrey, Canada, which transformed a neighborhood into a space focused on promoting the health of the population, where highly advanced technologies are used, some considered disruptive. Lima also cited the example of Kalundborg, a city in Denmark, which implemented a successful model of circular economy, a concept that advocates, among other measures, the reuse and transformation into raw materials of what would otherwise go to waste.
The head of DEPI-Unicamp informed the meeting participants that Unicamp is in negotiations with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to release resources in the order of US$ 1,5 million, which will be applied to the formulation of a Master plan, an instrument that will provide all the details of the HIDS. “That’s why we need to define what we want to be as soon as possible,” she noted.
The meeting participants decided that they will draw up an agreement to formalize the partnership. The document must be signed by next July. The parties' agreement is that the Master Plan, which must be executed by a specialized company hired by the IDB itself, is completed by the end of the administration of rector Marcelo Knobel. The mayor of Campinas said he was enthusiastic about the hub idea. He ordered his technical team to collaborate in whatever way possible so that the project can actually be implemented. “We already have legislation and tax rules that will contribute to the creation of HIDS, as they favor the installation of high-technology companies in the city”, he assured.
In addition to the creation of HIDS, those present also discussed two other issues. One of them refers to the building owned by Unicamp located in the center of Campinas, where the Technical College of Campinas (Cotuca) was located, linked to the University. Rector Marcelo Knobel told Mayor Jonas Donizette that Unicamp is talking to the management of Campinas Decor, so that the 2020 architecture exhibition can be held in that property, which is unoccupied. At the end of the exhibition period, the building would be returned fully restored to the University.
“We would like to suggest that the City Council study the possibility of carrying out a project or program in that region, in order to attract people and revitalize the area”, pointed out the rector. The mayor said he will ask his team to look into the issue. The other topic discussed at the meeting was the Unicamp Cultural Center for Inclusion and Social Integration (CIS-Guanabara), installed at Guanabara Station. Both the rector and the mayor demonstrate a willingness to work for the renewal of the lease of the space to the University, given that it belongs to a private company.
