2019 Yearbook - Universidad ORT Uruguay

163 ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTER FOR INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (CIE) 2019 The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) aims to foster an entrepreneurial culture among students and strengthen ties between entrepreneurs and the business sector. It operates an innovation lab where all areas of knowledge and development at the university converge. In 2019, the CIE signed an agreement with the global incubator Aeternity Blockchain, through which the Aeternity / CIE Blockchain Innovation Center was created. This agreement enables entrepreneurs to incubate blockchain projects at the CIE. Meanwhile, with the aim of fostering and promoting biotechnology-based ventures, the CIE BIO Biotechnology Incubator was inaugurated in 2019, comprising the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Center (CBI+I), the CIE, and the Technological University of Uruguay (UTEC). Throughout the year, 190 business ideas were submitted via the "Submit Your Idea" website. Based on these proposals, 17 projects in the pre-incubation stage were presented to the Business Idea Validation Committee (VIN), composed of the CIE along with the National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII) and the National Development Agency (ANDE), with 10 of them receiving approval to receive funding and begin their incubation period: ABtesting.ai, Biolube, HiLights, Hifa, Ligansa, MiChef, Nanogrowth, The Best Fee, VigiCai, and Workifit. In turn, 10 incubated startups received funding through the “Seed Capital” program provided by ANDE and ANII: ArcaHub, Britannia, Bungee Jumping Piriápolis, Enteria, Hey! Mozo, Kombucha, NudaProp.com, RadBio, TuTerapia, and Wabee Sabi. In 2019, nine projects that took their first steps with CIE’s support graduated to consolidate their position in the market: Block M3, Britannia, Dogma Genetics, Enteria, Hey! Mozo, Kombucha, RadBio, Triánima Animation Studio, and TuTerapia. In 2019, CIE organized 62 activities aimed at fostering an entrepreneurial mindset, raising awareness about key technological and business trends, training young people in their development as entrepreneurs, and providing sponsorship for their projects. These events, in which more than 2,000 students, graduates, and entrepreneurs from the ecosystem participated, included meetings with entrepreneurs, challenges, inspirational talks, workshops with companies, networking sessions, and presentations to selection committees.