The Unicamp Challenge, the main program for disseminating the University's entrepreneurial culture, was recognized as the best innovative practice in the country by the 2019 Ranking of Entrepreneurial Universities. The award took place in a Solemn Session in the Chamber of Deputies last Tuesday, 22nd, in Brasilia.
The program, which ran its ninth edition in 2019, is an initiative of the Inova Unicamp Innovation Agency and its main results are the creation of eight technology-based startups and a network of more than 120 mentors interested in helping the university in its activities innovations, in addition to training more than 2,5 people. Inova's executive director, professor Newton Frateschi, represented Unicamp at the ceremony and commented on the value of the Unicamp Challenge for the University.
“The Challenge is a program that has Unicamp’s DNA. Through the Challenge, we publicize our patent portfolio and encourage the creation of companies not only among students, but also throughout the community. It is a program with national reach and its positive point is the dissemination of entrepreneurial education within the University”, celebrated Frateschi.
In addition to highlighting Good Innovation Practices, Unicamp also had a positive result in the Ranking of Entrepreneurial Universities. This year, the university rose one position compared to 2018, ranking 2nd. The Ranking is prepared over 9 months by Brasil Júnior with the participation of 15.000 university students and 123 Universities from the 27 federative units. 1st place went to USP (University of São Paulo).
The Unicamp Challenge is a business modeling competition in which participants must transform Unicamp technologies into startups. To this end, during the program training is provided in entrepreneurship, innovation, Canvas methodology, pitch training and academic and business mentoring. Find out more at: www.inova.unicamp.br/desafio
About the Ranking
The Ranking of Entrepreneurial Universities is an initiative of Brasil Júnior, the Brazilian Confederation of Junior Companies, and has been carried out for 15 years. Held every two years, the ranking lists the most entrepreneurial universities in the country based on evaluation criteria such as entrepreneurial culture, innovation, extension, infrastructure, internationalization and financial capital. The survey aims to understand which practices encourage innovation in higher education institutions. “We want public authorities and the entire population to take advantage of the results and insights from this ranking to boost the emergence of a more entrepreneurial country”, declares Lucas Martins, General Coordinator of the Ranking.
