This is how universities and companies will work with the Innovation Voucher
The Innovation Vouchers have already been assigned to the universities that will solve a total of 20 innovation challenges presented by 16 SMEs, which involve process validations, product improvements and technical and/or commercial feasibility studies, among others.
The selected research groups from the Pontifical Javeriana University Cali, the Autonomous University of the West, the University of San Buenaventura Cali, the University of Valle, and Icesi University have begun contractual or implementation activities with the assigned companies. Each project will have a maximum completion time of six months.
“The solutions will be developed collaboratively, taking into account the work plan and the proposals made by the universities. Throughout the process, there will be ongoing interaction between the companies and the higher education institutions, through activities such as progress presentations, facility visits, access to information, and product validation, depending on the specific case,” said Eliana Briceño Clavijo, coordinator of Objective 3: Strengthening SMEs.
This is a valuable networking opportunity for universities partnered with Fusióni3 Valle and companies, especially those that did not receive funding from the Maturation Fund. Many of them have expressed their enthusiasm for this first experience of working together with the research groups.
What are the university-business partnerships of the Innovation Voucher?
The Autonomous University of the West will partner with Bioagro Technology to develop more efficient water treatment technologies that reduce energy consumption. This will be the first time the two institutions have collaborated.
The Business Administration program at the University of San Buenaventura Cali will support two companies: Grupo North and K-Listo Productos Alimenticios SA, the latter recently linked to the project.
For its part, the University of Valle will work with three companies. Two of them, Industria de Alimentos Encanto and IGT, are participating for the first time in a partnership within the project, and Implameq, with which it is carrying out another project in the Maturation Fund.
Icesi University will address three innovation challenges from two companies in the food sector: one from Alimentos La Cali and two from Nutrimezclas, with which it also collaborates on the Maturation Fund. The projects focus on validating healthy proteins and gluten-free blends.
Finally, the Pontifical Javeriana University in Cali is the institution with the most assigned challenges: eleven in total. Five of these were proposed by SMEs that had not previously participated in the Maturation Fund, such as Porcícola La Regina, Ofiproyectos, Grupo Odontológicas, Malú del Campo, and K-Listo. The other companies with which it will work are Pacífico Snacks, Prompack, Colbits, Inversiones Duque Espinosa, and Implameq.
These alliances mark the beginning of a new phase of collaboration between academia and the productive sector at Fusióni3 Valle. This was stated by the coordinator of Objective 3:
“It’s very interesting to see how, with this initiative, we continue to connect businesses with universities, leveraging the capabilities of the universities and the real needs of the businesses. Throughout the process, we will continue to support and share the progress and impact of the voucher program in the region.”
