IT Challenge
Science and Technology in PYMES (Small and Mid-Sized Businesses): A Strategy for Development
Cali – Colombia
November 8, 2002

CONCLUSIONS
The businesses that participated in the processes of improvement should consider the option of formulating projects of technological innovation in order to solicit the aid of the National (Colciencias – SENA) and International (World Bank) Programs.

They should learn from the experience of the Technological Center of Eco-friendly Metallurgy of Medellín and apply a similar model to the “Sesentazo” (SOFASA) of import-substitution, at the level of the Cauca Valley.

The process of enterprise support that was accomplished within the agreement ACOPI-ANDI-ECOPOETROL-Universities is a key point for the creation of a Center of Excellence (COE) at the Corporación Universitaria de Autónoma de Occidente (CUAO), with the idea of generating a framework for regional PYMES, taking advantage of the dynamics of the agreement with ISTEC.

This encounter among University-Business-State-Financial Institutions (national and international) is the beginning of a phase of multilateral confidence and cooperation with views set on development and competition of PYMES that will produce capital goods in the region.

For the development of conjunctive projects between businesses and universities, it is necessary to implement a training workshop (with Participation’s Certificate) and the continuation that systematically approaches and supercedes the problems and weaknesses detected in the tie of PYMES to universities.

OBSERVATIONS

Businesses participation in the IT Challenge was outstanding, with the inspiration of making effective the integration University-Business to face up the challenge of competiveness and productivity that the PYMS face.

Highly visible was the integration of various universities (Universidad del Valle, Icesi; Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, CUAO) in order to act conjunctively and support the business sector (metallurgical) that includes PYMES. The experiences presented in Medellín on how to work in a team were very illustrative of what could be achieved within the system in the region of the Cauca Valley.

The presentation of financing alternatives to projects within the National System of Innovation allowed the participants to have a better understanding of the different options they can implement to seek assistance related to projects of research, innovation, and technological development in PYMES.

To emphasize the possibility of working in teams, integrating positions from different areas in support of the businesses of the region.

To know the development of A Center of Excellence (University of Monterrey) as a legitimate option of support for institutional processes.