Regional development strategy - the case of the “Scientific and Technological Park Chapecó@”

Abstract

Agroindustry is the main production activity in the western part of Santa Catarina state, which is one of the world’s most important animal protein producing regions. The economy of the city of Chapeco and the surrounding region is under transformation from an agroindustry-based economy into a service-based economy, including education and health care, which by itself already requires the organization of knowledge-based local structures. The number of higher education and technical institutions has grown significantly, with 20 institutions established in this city according to the Ministry of Education. The Parque Cientifico e Tecnologico Chapeco@ (Chapeco@ Science and Technology Park) was launched in 2012 as an instrument to organize and operationalize local innovation. The Technology Park began with the creation of a Network structure, with the objective of elaborating a set of linked actions that allows the functioning of the entire innovation environment. This study shows the results of the establishment of this network structure and its elements. The study introduces the offices created with this goal; in addition to the Incubadora Tecnologica (Technology Incubator) Inctech, the NITT - Nucleo de Inovacao e Transferencia Tecnologica (Innovation and Technology Transfer Center), and the Parque Cientifico e Tecnologico Chapeco@ were also established. The results currently show an effective relationship between local companies and the Network and a significant increase of fundraising. The success of the strategy of actions towards patent filings is observed too, which by itself indicates future gains of this structure. The impact of the Network is felt by the community, which understands that this unit is its main structure to support the innovation environment in the western region of Santa Catarina.