Companies from various sectors across the region partnered with local technology providers to boost their competitiveness. During the business matchmaking event of the Santander Conectatech program, held at the UIS Bucarica campus, business leaders gained access to customized technical solutions and formed strategic alliances aimed at addressing the real needs of their organizations.
The Santander Conectatech program, operated by CONNECT, is carried out within the framework of technical cooperation between the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Korea Technology Park Association (KTPA), and the Industrial University of Santander (UIS), with the aim of strengthening the ecosystem of the Guatiguará Technology Park and revitalizing the country’s IT sector.
Through a comprehensive support pathway, the program boosts the competitiveness of innovative companies and startups, from the validation of their business models to access to productive capital.
As a result of this immersion and scaling process, 18 beneficiary companies from Santander presented their digital offerings to 35 client organizations. The event was designed to foster effective connections that promote the creation of digital businesses and the development of high-impact technological solutions.
In this regard, Vanessa Quiroga Arciniegas, Director of Knowledge Transfer at the UIS, emphasized that this initiative helps strengthen the IT sector by facilitating companies’ access to markets that demand their services and fostering their growth in the region.
“We are promoting information technologies from Santander for Colombia. Our expectation is that business deals will be finalized that drive the growth of companies. This business roundtable marks the conclusion of the current phase of Conectatech, paving the way for new calls for proposals that will be funded by the Government of Korea, through the KTPA and the IDB,” she explained.
The technical assistance, network management, and knowledge transfer components have enabled companies to strengthen their technological offerings through specialized training programs and access to financial resources. This approach is complemented by platforms that connect specialized offerings with regional demand.
Omar Leonardo Peña, manager of Diamond Group S.A.S., highlighted the comprehensive support provided by the program.
“We have received a $2,500 grant that we will use to strengthen our marketing strategies and integrate artificial intelligence to optimize our products. Additionally, these platforms allow us to build relationships with companies that need our solutions, which strengthens our position as a technology leader in the region,” he said.
For her part, Andrea Juliana Hernández Villamizar, manager of SLC Association S.A.S., highlighted the program’s impact on her company’s market positioning.
“Conectatech has provided us with specialized mentoring to identify opportunities for improvement and key tools to strengthen our competitiveness as a technology-based company in Santander,” she said.
Santander, a leader in IT industry development
This initiative is part of an investment of nearly $4.85 million aimed at consolidating the Guatiguará Technology Park as a hub for the country’s technological business development.
Currently, progress is being made in adapting spaces for interaction and collaborative work, as well as in implementing specialized infrastructure in areas such as Big Data, artificial intelligence, agrotech, healthtech, and cybersecurity. These environments will enable the department to lead the creation of high-impact digital solutions for strategic sectors in Colombia.
