knowledge transfer

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 FREE Network National Conference “The challenges of public policy to promote entrepreneurship and innovation based on knowledge generated in universities” took place in San José, Costa Rica on 5th December 2018 and over 150 participants came together from Central America.

Organized by the Erasmus+ funded project FREE Network - Fostering Research-based Entrepreneurship and the development of spin-off companies in Central America, of which the University of Alicante is coordinator, the conference was hosted by Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología (ULACIT) and was jointly organized with Tecnológico de Costa Rica (TEC).

The main objective of the conference was to promote the project visibility and present the project results, specifically the Innovation Support Offices (ISOs) Network that will be established in the framework of the project.  Also, the aim of the conference was to raise awareness of the key role of the ISOs for supporting spin-off creation in Costa Rica  and Central America. In this sense, the recently established ISOs from ULACIT (The Nest – Innovation Centre)  and TEC (Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre) were presented by Alejandra Quirós, Associate Director of External Affairs of ULACIT and Juan Carlos Carvajal, Director of the TEC Innovation Centre. 

This week, from 22^nd to 24^th May, the 5^th Training Workshop “Incubation Services and Management of Research-based entrepreneurship” of the FREE Network Project is taking place hosted by the Universidad de El Salvador in San Salvador, El Salvador.

Last week, from 14th to 16th November, the 1st Training Workshop, "Knowledge Transfer, Technology Identification, Business Models & Business Planning", of the FREE Network Project was hosted by the Universidad Americana in Managua, Nicaragua.

Last 2nd October the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), which manages different EU education programmes on behalf of the European Commission, organised a cluster meeting for all Salvadoran Higher Education Institution partners of selected Capacity Building for Higher Education (CBHE) projects. Representatives from Universidad Tecnológica de El Salvador (UTEC) and Universidad de El Salvador (UES) attended the meeting on behalf of the FREE Network project coordinated by the University of Alicante.

Tomorrow, Tuesday 12th September, is starting the Study Visit to Università degli studi di Genova (UNIGE), that will take place at the Rectorate Building, in Genova, Italy, in the framework of the FREE Network project, Fostering REsearch-based Entrepreneurship and the development of spin-off companies in Central America.

These days, the 6th and 7th of March, the Kick of meeting of Erasmus+ project FREE NETWORK Fostering REsearch-based Entrepreneurship and the development of spin-off companies in Central America has taking place in the University of Alicante. The project, coordinated by the University of Alicante, involves partner universities from all the countries in Central America (Panamá, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Honduras) as well as two EU universities from Italy and United Kingdom.

The Kick off meeting is combined with a study visit to the University of Alicante on 8th and 9th March to exchange good practices and innovative ideas on the development and management of spin-off support units.