Jonathan Sandoval, coordinator of the University and MSME Connection objective of the project, highlighted the importance of this articulation.

These seven workshops brought together key stakeholders, including professors and researchers from our partner universities, business leaders, government agencies, trade associations, and representatives from consulting firms. Together, we identified the needs and opportunities of each sector and facilitated connections between the supply and demand for innovation services .

Among the participants in the Health sector workshop was Amadeus Uribe, CEO of the company benefiting from the Fusióni3 Valle Innhealth Maturation Fund, who expressed his satisfaction with the event.

I feel that we proposed solutions and left a roadmap to generate alternatives from the Cauca Valley .

Miguel Ángel Hidalgo Salazar, a professor in the Faculty of Engineering and Basic Sciences at the Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, who participated in the Manufacturing workshop, also praised the methodology used: ” It was an excellent experience because we all interacted and shared our experiences. We are interested in continuing to collaborate and believe that this interaction can be very beneficial for our colleagues.”

For her part, Stephanie Ordóñez, director of the Biomedical Engineering program at UAO, highlighted the importance of understanding the dynamics of other institutions and continuing to open spaces for exchange between companies and academia.

The workshop provided excellent guidance in reviewing aspects that we sometimes don’t take the time to analyze in academia. It was fantastic to have someone from a micro, small, or medium-sized enterprise (MSME) share their needs with us and learn from each other.

In this way, Fusióni3 Valle seeks to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among the various stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem. The information gathered during the seven workshops will be fundamental in developing strategies to improve innovation services in the region and to boost the economic and social development of Valle del Cauca.