The Scientific and Technological Park of Unicamp, has just become a member of International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (Iasp).
Also known as the International Association of Science Parks and Innovation Areas, the non-profit organization was created with the aim of coordinating managers of units related to the topic.
The newly acquired membership title allows the Unicamp Scientific Park to join the broad map of participating institutions. In Brazil, there are another 15 entities in this framework, including science and technology parks from other science and technology institutions (ICTs).
Partnership and expectations for the Unicamp Scientific Park
The partnership with the Unicamp Scientific and Technological Park was signed this year, after the University participated in the 40th Iasp World Conference. Marina Luciana da Silva Polozi, innovation and administrative manager at Unicamp Innovation Agency (Inova Unicamp), represented the agency at the event.
In practice, the association of the Unicamp Scientific Park with Iasp should bring benefits in terms of visibility and future connections. As a result, it is expected that there will be an increase in opportunities.
The partnership could also bear fruit in terms of internationalization. This is because, in addition to coordinating the parks, Iasp also represents parks and innovation areas in international forums and institutions.
This aspect is highlighted by professor Ana Frattini, executive director of Inova Unicamp, the body that manages the Unicamp Scientific and Technological Park.
“The Park's association with Iasp is accompanied by a series of actions that we are developing to boost partnerships and strengthen our ties with international partners, with a focus on technological entrepreneurship characteristic of the activities of our Scientific Park”, comments Frattini.
Iasp: concept and performance
Created to coordinate an active network of science, technology and innovation park managers, Iasp has two physical offices: a main one, located in Málaga (Spain), and a branch, located in Beijing (China). The association's Administrative Council, however, expands the geographic range of its activities by including members of 14 nationalities.
What's more: with the help of several members of its staff, Iasp is able to be present in around 80 countries around the world. Together, the units spread across the globe total more than 115 thousand companies and 350 members, divided between full members, affiliates and associates.
Among the services performed by Iasp and offered to members are: International networking; Strategy and performance analysis tool; Information and knowledge sharing channels; Events for training and consultancy.
These and other fronts seek to stimulate the flow of knowledge between universities and companies and also facilitate communication between them. Still regarding the association's activities, it is worth mentioning the support for startups as a way to facilitate the creation of new businesses via incubation, spin off and acceleration.
In general, it is possible to say that Iasp's actions envisage in their scope the stimulation of environments that foster a culture of innovation, creativity and quality.
Unicamp Scientific and Technological Park
The novelty will add visibility to Unicamp's Scientific and Technological Park, which has a robust structure and has grown over the last ten years of operation.
As an example of this, it is possible to mention the most recent numbers, from the 2022 Annual Report, indicating that the space brings together 44 companies installed in its area, covering 350 thousand square meters, of which 100 thousand square meters are built area.
As has been happening with entrepreneurial initiatives, the physical space of the Scientific Park must also expand, with a project approved by the Studies and Projects Financier (Finep) to build a new area called the Startup Village. With the work, it is expected to expand the business and start to house more startups and scientific and technological-based companies.
