The rector of Unicamp, Antonio José de Almeida Meirelles, participated in the opening ceremony of the 9th edition of the Inova Trade Show, held this Thursday morning (3/11), at the Campinas Agronomic Institute (IAC). The traditional event, which connects companies and research institutions to new business opportunities, resumed its in-person format. Held by the Fundação Fórum Campinas Inovadora (FFCi), the expectation is that more than 1,2 people will participate in this edition.
In his speech during the opening, the rector highlighted the event's ability to bring together companies, academia and the political sector in promoting innovation. “The issue of innovation in our country is something that exists through cooperation between these actors. The business sector is capable of placing products and services on the market, and educational and research institutions contribute through the training of people and the generation of science, technology and innovation. Finally, the political world is a catalyst that has a role in creating infrastructure and spaces that generate great dynamism,” he stated.
Meirelles highlighted the importance of agendas based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the UN (United Nations), which articulate the joint actions of these actors. “Innovation must take advantage of the great advantages in environmental and sustainability issues, but also social, so that innovation overcomes the country's needs. The Inova Trade Show has this virtue of bringing together these actors and promoting this convergence”, she assessed.
Inova Trade Show
For the president of FFCi and director of the Scientific and Technological Park at Unicamp, Eduardo Gurgel do Amaral, the Inova Trade Show aims to connect the actors that make up the innovation ecosystem to present projects, ideas and actions within the scope of Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) and in favor of sustained socioeconomic development.
“The Forum Foundation’s main objective is to promote and expand the use of Science, Technology and Innovation. The Inova Trade Show is an initiative in this direction, bringing together experts who debate topics of great relevance and presenting what is developed in the ecosystem”, he states.
The program includes panels and lectures that total more than 14 hours of content. On Thursday, it brought guests to address sustainability and innovation, metaverse applied to industry and commerce, female leadership in technology and innovation and the legal framework for startups.
This Friday (4/11), the program includes topics such as agribusiness, with a focus on open innovation, climate change and sustainability in food production. The closing will be held with the 11th Campinas Startups Conference, promoted in partnership with Campinas Tech.
Unicamp Scientific and Technological Park
As soon as they enter the event space at the Instituto Agronomic de Campinas (IAC), participants will find at the first stand the technologies and services developed by companies hosted at the Unicamp Scientific and Technological Park or incubated at the Unicamp Technology-Based Business Incubator (Incamp ), both under the management of the Inova Unicamp Innovation Agency.
During the two-day event, eight companies from Unicamp Park will share, in a rotating exhibition counter system, the stand space with a management team, as well as technology teachers from Unicamp and the partnership team with the business sector at Unicamp. Innova Unicamp.
The potential to connect with partners and new customers for companies during the fair is one of the main benefits presented by Mariana Zanatta Inglez, manager of the Scientific Park at Unicamp and Incamp. “We know that many companies choose to stay in our Park and receive our mentoring in incubation programs because of the relationship network we make possible. A network that involves other research institutes, as well as investors and partners. Participating in events like this is one of the forms of connection that provides visibility for these companies, who will train in each interaction how to make a good pitch for their business”, explains Zanatta Inglez.
About the Forum Campinas Inovadora Foundation
The Innovative Campinas Forum Foundation (FFCi) is an entity that brings together all the most relevant Science and Technology Institutions in the Campinas region, in addition to the main business associations and government bodies, which have direct action or influence on the region's innovation ecosystem. FFCi's main objective is to promote and expand the use of Science, Technology and Innovation (S,T&I), aiming to contribute to a significant increase in competitiveness and to strengthening regional and national socioeconomic development.
