The year of 2017 has arrived with great news for Feevale Techpark, which had already ended 2016 with a positive balance, by setting up a total of 50 companies. In a complete reverse scenario of the national political and economic worldwide crisis, Feevale University, via its technological park, has already been sourced with over R$3.2 million of resources coming from approved projects by the Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico, Ciência e Technologia (SDECT). That amount value is to be added to approximately R$199 thousand deposit from Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas (Sebrae) exceeds in about R$600 thousand the support received the whole last year. The received assets, together with the private sector and Feevale financial counterpart, will be invested in different sectors.
Investing in structure for innovation
Among the approved proposals by SDECT is to set up a Multissetorial Centre of Development of Advanced Technologies of Feevale Techpark in Campo Bom unit. ‘For that project, the highest investment resource was approved, of almost R$2 million, which will be directed to two big laboratories installation, focused on providing service for the companies besides product development’, details Cleber Prodanov, the university pro-rector of innovation. One of those spaces, a fab lab, will be equipped with 3D printers that allow to complement the work already done with existing equipment, so that the companies based in the Park may project, develop, moreover, prototype products inside the laboratory. The partnership with regional enterprises is going to help to develop a second proposal.
‘Formas Kunz, SS Engenharia and Ekobio integrate a project that has two main action focus: the development of polymeric materials for footwear industry and wood profiles shapes for civil construction, incorporating residual wet blue and sawdust of acacia wood’ he details. According to Prodanov, the university Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUC-RS) is working together in this initiative. ‘While both universities, each of them, develop products and methodologies in the laboratory, the companies will perform the practices’, he states. Besides, at the unit of the Park in Campo Bom, a third approved project contemplates the Feevale’s Technological Incubator. ‘It is all about a platform to develop enterprises in the areas of games and healthcare, making use of virtual and augmented reality technology, the pro-rector points out.
Education for enterpreneurship
Sebrae provided a financial contribution for other initiative providing that it aims to stimulate entrepreneurship, aligning community and University. ‘Provided with a R$199,880 financial resource, the amount will be applied in subjects and events related to entrepreneurship directed to the community and academics of the Institution’, he states.
