Supporting the Development of a Technology-Based Innovation Ecosystem in Argentina
Argentina & UK, May 2021. Camnexus is one of the key partners of the 3C Programme, a UK – Argentina consortium led by the University of Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing and sponsored by the Global Challenges Research Fund. This programme aims to support the development of an early-stage technology innovation ecosystem in Cordoba, Argentina.
THE 3C PROGRAMME
|
The 3C Programme is led by the Institute for Manufacturing of the University of Cambridge and is sponsored by the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) Research England. It is the result of knowledge exchange collaborations that started in 2018 between Argentinian and Cambridge-based organisations leading innovation and tech transfer.
OUR AIM Through 3C Programme the consortium is accelerating the commercialisation and social impact of a group of technologies developed in Córdoba; supporting the creation of commercial networks between Cordoba and the UK; increasing skills and technology transfer capacity; and sharing experiences with other regions of the country and with other countries with similar economic profiles. |
|
THE PARTNERS: AN INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIUM TO TACKLE THE GLOBAL CHALLENGES
This international consortium involves the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), Camnexus, St John's Innovation Centre, Cambridge Enterprise, Global Shapers Córdoba and Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. 3C Programme brings in the expertise of Cambridge Enterprise in training international technology transfer teams, and an extensive network of commercial contacts through Camnexus, specialising in technology development and transfer with Latin America, St John’s Innovation Centre, who has supported the growth of the Cambridge ecosystem for many years and Amy Weatherup, the director of i-Teams in Cambridge.
This international consortium involves the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), Camnexus, St John's Innovation Centre, Cambridge Enterprise, Global Shapers Córdoba and Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. 3C Programme brings in the expertise of Cambridge Enterprise in training international technology transfer teams, and an extensive network of commercial contacts through Camnexus, specialising in technology development and transfer with Latin America, St John’s Innovation Centre, who has supported the growth of the Cambridge ecosystem for many years and Amy Weatherup, the director of i-Teams in Cambridge.
How it all started
|
In 2018, the British Council funded a visit of Cambridge innovation experts and entrepreneurs (Camnexus and St John’s Innovation Centre, Dr Jessica Ocampos, Dr Jelena Aleksic and Mr David Gill) to Córdoba, Argentina. The region is characterised by manufacturing capacity (particularly in the car industry), agricultural production and a growing software development sector.
|
Visit to National University of Córdoba by Cambridge innovation experts and entrepreneurs, Dr Jelena Aleksic, Dr Jessica Ocampos and Mr David Gill, Nov 2018.
|
A THRIVING ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM LOOKING TO STRENGTHEN THE LINKS BETWEEN ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY
One of the main challenges they identified was the lack of connection between academia and the private sector. Despite having a thriving early-stage entrepreneurial ecosystem, local universities perceived that research commercialisation is incompatible with academia. Consequently, other than publishing academic papers, there is a low level of participation of academic researchers in technology transfer activities addressing societal needs.
One of the main challenges they identified was the lack of connection between academia and the private sector. Despite having a thriving early-stage entrepreneurial ecosystem, local universities perceived that research commercialisation is incompatible with academia. Consequently, other than publishing academic papers, there is a low level of participation of academic researchers in technology transfer activities addressing societal needs.
ADDRESSING THE GAPS WITH EFFECTIVE KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE: I-TEAMS PROGRAMME
In a first attempt to address this gap, Amy Weatherup, director of the i-Teams programme of the University of Cambridge, and Dr Jessica Ocampos, Cambridge Enterprise IOP associate, scientific entrepreneur and director of Camnexus, supported a trial implementation of the Cambridge i-Teams programme in Córdoba in 2019. This aimed to stimulate the local technology cluster by supporting the commercialisation of scientific innovations from the region’s universities with focus on entrepreneurial scientists. The trial was implemented successfully in partnership with Global Shapers Córdoba (NGO member of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers network) and Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC, the main university in Córdoba and third in Argentina). This helped to identify some of the structural challenges faced by the local ecosystem. A second virtual edition was performed during 2020, with the support of more alliances (Ministry of Science and Technology Córdoba and CONICET Córdoba, among others). And, currently, a third version of i-Teams Córdoba is being run as part of the 3C Programme with the support of this international consortium.
In a first attempt to address this gap, Amy Weatherup, director of the i-Teams programme of the University of Cambridge, and Dr Jessica Ocampos, Cambridge Enterprise IOP associate, scientific entrepreneur and director of Camnexus, supported a trial implementation of the Cambridge i-Teams programme in Córdoba in 2019. This aimed to stimulate the local technology cluster by supporting the commercialisation of scientific innovations from the region’s universities with focus on entrepreneurial scientists. The trial was implemented successfully in partnership with Global Shapers Córdoba (NGO member of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers network) and Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC, the main university in Córdoba and third in Argentina). This helped to identify some of the structural challenges faced by the local ecosystem. A second virtual edition was performed during 2020, with the support of more alliances (Ministry of Science and Technology Córdoba and CONICET Córdoba, among others). And, currently, a third version of i-Teams Córdoba is being run as part of the 3C Programme with the support of this international consortium.
3C PROGRAMME - MAIN ACTIVITIES
CAMBRIDGE ENTERPRISE TRAINING IN TECH TRANSFER: A GLOBAL AND INCLUSIVE APPROACH
As part of the 3C Programme, in March 2021 Cambridge Enterprise delivered a training in the Principles of Research Commercialisation, Negotiation Skills and the Role of Impact through Research drawing on the learning from international experiences and contextualising to the local context. The training aimed at professionals involved in technology transfer management, business incubators, technology engagement programmes, academia-industry linkage, and policy making in science, technology and innovation.
As part of the 3C Programme, in March 2021 Cambridge Enterprise delivered a training in the Principles of Research Commercialisation, Negotiation Skills and the Role of Impact through Research drawing on the learning from international experiences and contextualising to the local context. The training aimed at professionals involved in technology transfer management, business incubators, technology engagement programmes, academia-industry linkage, and policy making in science, technology and innovation.
|
In a six-day programme, Cambridge Enterprise team of associates delivered sessions in both Spanish and in English. The online virtual delivery of the programme allowed the participation of 30 professionals from eight Argentinian provinces, nine universities, four ministerial organisations in science, technology and industry, and three private organisations (incubators and chambers of commerce).
|
|
Technology transfer is essential to achieve greater articulation between the public and productive sectors, and in this sense, the Cambridge Enterprise course proposes a highly innovative approach. It was especially interesting to recognise that there are common problems in every technology transfer process, beyond the context where the innovation takes place. In a public institution like INTI (National Institute of Industrial Technology), whose mission is to promote the productive development of Argentina, the potential impact of this course is enormous, and we will continue working with the University of Cambridge and the 3C Programme consortium to exploit new mechanisms for collaboration and mutual learning.”
Silvina Talamoni, PhD Candidate in Public Politics. Technology Engagement, INTI Córdoba. Participant of Cambridge Enterprise Training, 3C Programme, March 2021.
During 2021 a series of activities related to this project have been developed, some open to the university community and others closed to professionals in the entrepreneurship and technology transfer sector.