When he joined Unicamp as a student in 1989, Cesar Gon had no idea that, 31 years later, he would be one of the businesspeople who actively contributed to the creation of the Lumina Unicamp Patrimonial Fund, an initiative that will guarantee sources of financing for the production of science, technology and innovation by the University. Alongside Unicamp alumni Fabrício Bloisi, CEO of iFood, and André Penha, CTO of QuintoAndar, Cesar is part of the Administrative Council of Lumina Unicamp and will participate in the management of the fund and its approach to the business sector, attracting new partners for University projects.
To Portal Unicamp, Cesar Gon commented on the importance of creating the Lumina Unicamp Patrimonial Fund to generate gains for Brazilian society. He also recalled how the university experience provided by Unicamp was decisive in his scientific and entrepreneurial training.
"It's a reciprocal education"
In addition to being a way of guaranteeing the continuity of science and technology projects and offering new opportunities in the areas that reflect the foundations of the university, Cesar believes that the creation of the Lumina Unicamp Patrimonial Fund is an opportunity to promote a change in the relationship between companies and universities in the country. As in other countries, where university endowments are common, the initiative allows businesspeople to recognize the value of investing in the development of innovations and talents that will contribute to the generation of wealth in the country.
"I believe that the fund is an important step towards starting a change, so that the wealth generated by the education and training of students also begins to contribute to the University's own excellence. I think it is an important piece for this change to happen also from an economic perspective ", analyzes Cesar.
The businessman also points out that this initiative by Unicamp to create the endowment fund is part of a positive movement towards bringing the University closer to the business sector in which he participates and highlights, among other achievements, the formation of Unicamp Ventures, a relationship and collaboration network formed by entrepreneurs linked to the University. With this, he highlights that the opportunity also brings important lessons for university management.
"It is a reciprocal education. Companies can understand this extended value that universities can generate and the University understands that a way of connecting with society's challenges is the creation of professionals and enterprises in this environment. The fund is, then, a element that brings concepts of management, compliance, a market rule that will be good for the University", he comments.
From Support to the World
Graduated in Computer Engineering from the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering (FEEC) at Unicamp, Cesar Gon attributes to the University not only the scientific knowledge that transformed him into a professional, but also the worldview that encouraged him to fully explore his potential. : "I consider Unicamp a fundamental moment in the construction of my professional career and as an entrepreneur. There I was able to make intellectual and social connections that were decisive later. Unicamp was where I was able to see what the world was like in its diversity, in a much broader way than was possible in Amparo, my city".
Cesar is currently CEO of CI&T, a reference company in the development of digital solutions created in 1995 in partnership with colleagues also from Unicamp. With more than 2.500 employees and units in Brazil and five other countries, Cesar remembers that the first 100 employees of the then newly created company were recruited from Unicamp itself. He comments that this encouraged the formation of an innovative culture in the company from its first steps.
According to the businessman, the unique experience of being a student at Unicamp provides a rich exchange of experiences with people from different areas and profiles. "I studied computing, but you make friends in all areas. Whether in Dance, which was the building in front, or in Physics, Medicine, Engineering. This creates skills that are unique for those who live the university experience in the way they do Unicamp provides it. This is the beginning of a network, everyone there will leave and become important professionals", recalls Cesar.
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