FREE Network Final Conference in Panama

Hosted by Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, the FREE Network Final Conference “Generating Innovation from research-based entrepreneurship: the Role of Higher Education Institutions in Central America” took place on the 10^th and 11^th September 2019, in Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, organised by the International Project Management Office of the University of Alicante with the support of Universidad del Istmo.

The main objective of the conference was to promote the project visibility and present the project results, specifically officially launch the Innovation Support Offices (ISOs) Network established in the framework of the project in order to promote memberships from new members.  Also, the aim of the conference was to raise awareness of the key role of the ISOs for supporting spin-off creation in Central America. In this sense, the recently established ISOs were presented by project partners. 

The conference was inaugurated by Dra. Amparo Navarro Faure, Vice-President for Research and Knowledge Transfer of the University of Alicante who thanked Ing. Héctor Montemayor Á., Rector of Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá and Dra. Adriana Angarita, Rector of Universidad del Istmo for hosting and organizing this project final event. Following the official welcome, the FREE Network project and main results were presented by OGPI Senior Project Manager, Noelia López.

During the conference, Loren Moreno, responsible for the UA Spin-off Unit, presented the strategies to support the creation of spin-off companies and key aspects for their consolidation and growth. Also, the Round Table “Challenges of the creation of Spin Off companies in the innovation ecosystem of Central America: the Case of Panama” was conducted. Following the Conference, a project coordination meeting was held by project partners to review project progress and plan the project activities to be undertaken in the upcoming months.