Companies in Santander strengthened their capacity for growth, innovation, and competitive edge thanks to CONECTATECH, an initiative developed under the cooperation agreement between the Industrial University of Santander (UIS), the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Korea Technology Park Association (KTPA), aimed at establishing the Guatiguará Technology Park as a benchmark for innovation, technology transfer, and business development in the region.
Over the course of seven months, technology-based companies in the department participated in a comprehensive program of specialized training, strategic support, and mentoring with national and international experts, focused on strengthening business models, commercial strategies, financial management, and the identification of new expansion opportunities.
In total, the program accepted 45 companies, of which 20 were selected to receive specialized support and five gained access to working capital to drive their growth and consolidation. The beneficiaries were startups with business models based on information and communications technologies (ICT), demonstrating progress in validation and commercialization, high growth and impact potential, and a presence or plans for expansion in Santander.
In addition to the training process, CONECTATECH enables participating companies to remain connected to an ecosystem of innovation and business development. In this regard, Vanessa Quiroga Arciniegas, Director of Knowledge Transfer at the UIS, noted that “the growth of these companies continues through their connection to the specialized spaces and services at the Guatiguará Technology Park,” thereby strengthening their competitiveness and long-term sustainability.
A technological boost for the region
CONECTATECH is part of a strategic partnership between the UIS, the IDB, and KTPA to position the Guatiguará Technology Park as a driver of innovation, technological development, and business growth for the region and the country.
As part of this vision, the project is moving forward with the development of new coworking spaces and highly specialized labs in technologies such as artificial intelligence, user experience, cybersecurity, Agrotech, and Healthtech—capabilities that will serve Santander’s business and innovation ecosystem.
