Unicamp's daughter companies broke a record for annual revenue, reaching R$25,9 billion in 2023. This represents an increase of 32% compared to the previous year (mapping carried out from October/2022 to September/2023). In addition to the increase in revenue, an increase in the number of direct jobs created was also observed, with the 1.156 active daughter companies creating 47.156 jobs in 2023, that is, 2.532 new jobs compared to 2022.
The data are from Inova Unicamp Innovation Agency, raised based on questions from the voluntary registration of daughter companies. The agency has just released the Unicamp's 2023 Daughter Companies Report.
The document brings together consolidated data from daughter companies with analyzes and success stories of some ventures founded by students, former students, teachers or employees of Unicamp, as well as companies created using University technologies, known as spin-offs academic, or incubated and graduated by Unicamp Technology-Based Business Incubator (Incamp).
“The mapping of Unicamp’s daughter companies began in 2006 and, since then, Inova Unicamp has followed the progression and continuous maturation of this entrepreneurial ecosystem, represented mainly by revenue and job generation indicators”, comments professor Ana Frattini , executive director of Inova Unicamp, referring to the mapping and results.
This year, Inova's survey mapped a total of 1.387 registered daughter companies, 1.156 of which are in activity and generating income and jobs, the majority of which are close to cities where are Unicamp's teaching units (Campinas, Paulínia, Limeira and Piracicaba).
It is noted that 93,1% of company headquarters are in the Southeast region. Within this group, 95% of the companies have their headquarters located in the State of São Paulo, especially in the metropolitan regions of Campinas (57,6%) and Piracicaba (3,1%). The second largest concentration of daughter companies is in the São Paulo Metropolitan Region (23%).
“For us, this location indicator is very important for several reasons, such as the fact that income and jobs are generated close to the University and also the fact that many of these companies continue their relationship with Unicamp, participating in events or even having research and development (R&D) with the University”, analyzes professor Renato Lopes, associate executive director of Inova Unicamp.
Among the daughter companies that continue to maintain relationships with Unicamp is SDAMed, graduated by Incamp operating in the veterinary sector and its own line of products. The company is located in the city of Paulínia, in the interior of São Paulo, and licensed this year a technology developed by professor Antônio Augusto Fasolo Quevedo and researcher Carlos Alexandre Ferri, both from Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering (Feec) from Unicamp. It is a neurolocalizer for applying regional anesthesia to patients. With the needle of this device, the professional reduces the electrical current until he knows where the nerve is and, thus, applies the anesthetic.
“My relationship with Unicamp helps us a lot. When we have a problem, I look for colleagues, teachers and recommendations for students who can help us. As a former student and former incubator, I believe that this relationship will generate even more good results”, argues Glauco José Rizzanti Pereira, co-founder and development director of SDAMed and former student of Feec.
Read more about SDAMed at: With its own line, Unicamp's daughter company offers equipment for the veterinary area.
Diversity, governance and socio-environmental impact in Unicamp’s daughter companies
This year, the mapping of Unicamp's daughter companies, conducted by Inova Unicamp, incorporated a new category of analysis: environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) actions by companies.
A total of 101 companies responded to this question after including the new question in the voluntary register. Of them, 58% said they already have at least one initiative related to ESG, while 16,8% are currently developing projects to implement practices in this area.
“We are following the demand in the entrepreneurial world to encourage more companies to have good ESG practices, and the first step is to know and publicize success stories of these companies, even so that they can inspire others to incorporate these practices. This has been an interesting activity, even to get to know companies that were created to meet socio-environmental demands”, explains Mariana Zanatta Inglez, coordinator of entrepreneurship and innovation environments at Inova Unicamp and responsible for mapping and analyzing the University's daughter companies.
One of the companies that was created with the aim of solving problems and positively impacting the environment and society is Environmental Act, founded by anthropologist Leslye Bombonatto Ursini, who completed her undergraduate, master's and doctorate degrees at Institute of Philosophy and Human Sciences (IFCH) from Unicamp. The company provides advisory and consultancy services on environmental projects and studies involving indigenous and quilombola peoples.
“We are called to think together about solving social problems. Some time ago, for example, it was common to think that communities present in places where projects would be implemented would be removed and to consider that anthropologists could help in this process. Today, the attitude is very different in the way of treating traditional communities and the increase in legislation is related to this. Our role is to get to know the communities and find the best solution. Traditional communities are stronger, they have conquered more spaces”, explains Ursini when talking about the company’s work.
Read more about the Environmental Act in: Anthropologist works in the area of socio-environmental consultancy.
More data in the 2023 Unicamp Daughter Companies Report
These are some of the data and daughter companies highlighted in this year's Unicamp Daughter Companies Report. The report brings together the main data generated by the annual mapping carried out by the Inova Unicamp Innovation Agency.
It is possible to delve deeper into this data and access other results on, for example, investment, internationalization and the relationship of daughter companies with each other and with Unicamp in the full report.
Access the full report in ebook format.
What are Unicamp's daughter companies?
The ecosystem of Unicamp's daughter companies can comprise ventures founded by people who have or had ties with the University, such as students, former students, teachers and employees or former employees, as well as companies that were incubated at Incamp or created based on technology developed at the University, the so-called companies spin-offs academics.
Inova Unicamp has open registration to map new companies in its ecosystem. Registration is free.
About Inova Unicamp
Inova Unicamp is the University's Technological Innovation Center (NIT) and serves all campuses. The Unicamp Innovation Agency was created in 2003, with the aim of identifying opportunities and promoting activities that stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship, expanding the impact of teaching, research and extension in favor of sustained socioeconomic development.
The agency supports the community in protecting Unicamp's intellectual property, transferring technology, and consolidating research and development agreements between Unicamp and the business sector. She is also responsible for managing the Park Unicamp Scientific and Technological and Incamp, in addition to promoting communication and a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation with institutional relationship and training programs.
