The Itaipu – Brazil Technology Park Incubator (PTI-BR) is the first in Paraná and the third in Brazil to receive the highest label of maturity in incubator management: Cerne 4 certification from the Association National Organization of Entities Promoting Innovative Businesses (Anprotec). Recognition sanctions the qualification of work aimed at the development and growth of startups, with participation in the network and investment opportunities.
The result, according to the Director of Business and Innovation of PTI, Rodrigo Reges Galvão, comes from the sum of the efforts and partnerships, present since the creation of the incubator.
“Over the years, in the western region of Paraná, especially in Foz do Iguaçu, we have seen a great lack of human capital and technological capital. The incubator was therefore born with this mission, focused on training, education and the promotion of innovative entrepreneurship, giving a different chance to development and regional growth. It took many years of work to obtain Cerne 4, which is a collective success”, he underlines.
Entrepreneur Anisio Ramos is co-founder of Evah, one of the startups incubated at PTI-BR. The partnership with the incubator began after the approval of a selection process that took unpredictable paths.
“We were approved to incubate a business idea, but the project failed halfway. Nevertheless, we ask you to finalize the process and learn best practices. In this context, we came up with another idea , we have evolved the entire Evah chain, our organization is linked to the incubator, training, courses, travel, mentoring and organization”, he specifies.
The incubator was essential for the birth, development and growth process of the startup. More than that, it was a bridge to evolution.
“Counting on the advice and follow-up of our analyst has always allowed us to stay on the right track. Success is natural for those who do not give up, however, with the incubator we can say that we have avoided several problems in our organization”, concludes Anisio.
Entrepreneur Mahuan Capeletto Abdala, CEO of STAC, who is also incubated at PTI, agrees. He reports that the startup was only able to make significant inroads thanks to the connections generated in the incubator.
“It is thanks to the PTI incubator that we had the opportunity to take off our idea and put it into practice, based on methodologies, processes, tools, training, advice and all the support they provided to make the project a reality. Without this support and all the knowledge shared, we would hardly have been able to move forward with the initial idea,” he recalls.
Basic classification
At Anprotec, eight principles guide Cerne’s management model, namely: focus on projects and processes, ethics, sustainability, responsibility, continuous improvement, human development and management. transparent and participatory. In addition, regarding its structure, Cerne is divided into three levels of scope: company, process and incubator. This incubator evaluation platform has four levels: Cerne 1, intended to qualify, advise and select companies, demonstrating its ability to seek out and select the best ideas to transform them into innovative companies; Cerne 2, focused on all processes and practices of the incubator, to generate positive results for these companies; Cerne 3, to consolidate a network of partners and extend the probability of success of the projects supported; and Cerne 4, which proves that the environment systematically generates innovations in its own processes.
For the Sebrae/PR consultant, Osvaldo Brotto, the ranking positions the region in a particular way, because in addition to hosting the best consolidated innovation ecosystem, according to the National Innovation Prize, the West is also home to a incubator that achieved the highest mark of the Cerne model.
“Cerce 4 is the most advanced management level. This indicates that the PTI-BR has reached a higher level not only in the region, but in Brazil as a whole. We believe that the result is mainly attributable to the adoption of internal management practices with entrepreneurs and incubated companies. This is another indication that our region has truly differentiated itself when it comes to innovation,” observes Osvaldo.
PTI-BR Incubator
In 2019, the PTI-BR incubator ended the year with 16 companies that together earned BRL 4 million/year. Today there are 56 companies and an average turnover of R$40 million. By the end of 2022, the goal is to reach 70 companies. For 2024, the incubator intends to have more than 90 companies that represent revenues above 100 million reais, generating more than 300 jobs and beating an average of 500 indirect jobs.
“We want to maintain this important classification, inspire other incubators in the region and, above all, generate more income, jobs and growth for the community of West Paraná”, concludes the director of business and l innovation at PTI, Rodrigo Reges Galvão.
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