The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the National Institute of Technology ( Universidad ORT Uruguay), with funding from the National Development Agency (ANDE), presents "Ciencia Emprende," a free program that seeks to foster a culture of science- and technology-based entrepreneurship and support researchers, faculty, advanced students, thesis candidates, and entrepreneurs on their journey from idea conception to market launch.
The initiative will begin with a Kick-Off Meetup, an open event that will feature presentations on science- and technology-based startups, a panel discussion on investment, and an overview of the program’s various stages.
The meeting will take place on Thursday, September 24, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., in Seminar Room D13 on the Downtown Campus of the Universidad ORT Uruguay.
Kick-Off Meetup Agenda
6:30 p.m. | Opening
The opening ceremony will be led by representatives from the organizing institutions:
- Enrique Topolansky, from the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Universidad ORT Uruguay.
- Fernanda Andrés, Business Director at Aceleradora del Litoral.
- Sylvia Chebi, president and co-founder of URUCAP.
7:00 p.m. | Entrepreneurship case studies
The event will continue with presentations on science- and technology-based entrepreneurial ventures:
- Promethenz: Lorena Bentancor, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO, and professor at the Universidad ORT Uruguay, Uruguay.
- Nanogrowth: Nicolás Gamarini, co-founder and CEO. Uruguay.
- Biosynaptica: Marcos Oggero, Ph.D., principal investigator at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), full professor at the National University of the Littoral (UNL), and deputy director of the Littoral Biotechnology Center. Argentina.
- Bioeuris: Lucas Lieber, Ph.D. Santa Fe, Argentina.
The event will be facilitated by Enrique Topolansky of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Universidad ORT Uruguay.
8:00 p.m. | Investment in Startups
The panel "Investing in Science- and Technology-Based Startups" will feature the following participants:
- María Michelena, founder and director of InGenia, holds an MBA from UAI Chile and the Catholic University of Uruguay, and is the former president of OMEU.
- Juan Andrés Abin, associate scientific director at ATGen.
The discussion will be moderated by Fernanda Andrés, Director of Business Development at Aceleradora del Litoral.
8:30 p.m. | Closing
A three-stage program: Following the Kick-Off Meetup, Ciencia Emprende will continue with an online training program and a Demo Day.
Registration and more information: here
The course will consist of a total of 48 hours, divided into 16 three-hour classes, twice a week.
It will take place from Tuesday, October 6, to Thursday, November 26, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The training will cover topics related to identifying scientific and technological opportunities, recognizing problems and customers, early validation, technology maturity levels, intellectual property, technology transfer, business models, teams, financing, and project presentations.
Demo Day, scheduled for the first week of December, will provide an opportunity to present startups, receive feedback from mentors, and build connections with potential co-founders and investors.
Who is this intended for?
Ciencia Emprende is aimed at individuals who conduct research, develop technology, or have a thesis, a prototype, or a line of work with potential for entrepreneurship, technology transfer, and impact.
The initiative is organized by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of the Litoral ( Universidad ORT Uruguay), with support from Aceleradora del Litoral and URUCAP, and funding from the National Development Agency (ANDE).