The Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá, its subsidiary Corferias, the Mayor’s Office of Bogotá, the National Government and the Government of Cundinamarca signed a memorandum of understanding in which all the entities commit to work to carry out the project District of Science, Technology and Innovation of Bogotá-Region. The act was attended by President Iván Duque.
The designated space is close to Corferias. There will be 40,000 square meters that will seek to promote and articulate the high-impact innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
This initiative complements the first District of Fairs, Events and Conventions in Latin America, of which Corferias, the Hilton Bogotá Corferias hotel and Ágora Bogotá form part.
To make the District of Innovation a reality a total investment of close to $300,000 million is required. This amount includes $11,000 million for the feasibility studies provided by the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce, Corferias and the District and another $286,570 million for the acquisition of the property, the construction of the headquarters building and the first phase of the office building.
Of the latter, 51% would be contributed by the CCB and its subsidiary Corferias, and 49% by allied public sector entities between MinCIT, Government of Cundinamarca and District.
As explained by the Chamber of Commerce, for this year they have contemplated the master design Plan for Orange Development Areas; comprehensive structuring feasibility; detailed studies and designs; social and property management.
There, laboratory services of minimum viable products, a center for understanding the environment, an entrepreneurship landing, articulation of the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem will be provided; Knowledge Transfer and Training Center, Data and Information Center; coworking and networking spaces; auditorium and showrooms for dissemination of initiatives in CTI + i and services based on 5G technologies.
The Innovation District will have two types of business models: a real estate business, which will generate income by renting spaces, and a business related to science, technology and innovation activities, ACTI, and R+D+i, which will generate income from the provision of CTI services.
As of today, the project will have at the entrance of the Corferias arch an information and service point for those interested in learning more about the project and a new service point for entrepreneurs with the offer of services from the National and District Government, the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce and the C Emprende strategy that connects the programs of INNpulsa Colombia.
Nicolás Uribe Rueda, president of the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce, stated that “This initiative will help consolidate the Bogotá Region as the capital of entrepreneurship and innovation in Latin America, providing opportunities for entrepreneurs and businessmen to access investment capital and services that will promote business around the DCTI. We celebrate the signing of this memorandum that formalizes the interest of all entities to promote and accelerate this megaproject that will boost the competitiveness of Bogotá and the region”.
For his part, Andrés López Valderrama, president of Corferias, assured that “At Corferias and as a BIC company, we are convinced that we must be agents of change, generators of opportunities and progress through projects such as the District of Science, Technology and Innovation, which will synergize with the District of Fairs, Events and Conventions as city commitments that promote development, encourage investment and generate collective value by translating into economic, social and sustainable benefits for the country and the region”.
BRIEFCASE
