Organizations

LSI-TEC

LSI-Tec was founded by Dr. Joao Anotonio Zuffo, a professor, whose goal was to fully explore the potential in a partnership between universities and private companies. Dr. Zuffo is credited with creating the first Brazilian chip in 1971. Because of this aim, LSI-TEC looks to foster mutual cooperation between itself and the University of Sao Paolo's Polytechnic School.

LSI-TEC's main business is in the research and development of information technology. They have done work in the areas of integrated circuits, multimedia software and hardware, microfabrication, virtual reality, wireless technology and healthcare technology services. LSI-TEC works in partnership with the government, universities and private industry. Impressively, they have worked in global partnership with both Intel and LG on R&D.

The company operates as a non-profit enterprise, reinvesting all revenue above expenses back into their research and development. Their stated goals are to produce high quality products and are very competitive with regards to the superiority of their prototypes as compared to other players in their field. Given both their goals and successes, LSI-TEC serves as a valuable example of what can be accomplished when fully exploring the relationship potential between government, universities and private industry.

Sebrae

Sebrae is a private, nonprofit company established in 1972. The organization's mission is promoting competitiveness in the ecosystem of micro and small-sized companies, which account for 97% of all Brazilian businesses. By doing so, Sebrae promotes the entrepreneurial skills of all individuals associated with these companies. To expedite this process, Sebrae focuses on formalizing economic education through partnerships with these startup companies, which are in both the public and private sectors. This curriculum includes professional training programs, trade fairs, project planning, financial management courses, among other opportunities.

Sebrae does not favor any one economic industry over another. Instead, Sebrae divides its resources into several branches that hone in on major economic sectors individually, say information technology, to increase efficiency and decrease bureaucracy between the businesses and Sebrae. Reducing taxes and eliminating red tape are just a few of the many ways Sebrae expands opportunities for their clients. Over time, Sebrae strives to improve the fluidity between the businesses within its economic sector branch, which in turn provides unprecedented cooperation and productivity for the Brazilian economy

Close to 50% of all small businesses in Brazil fail within three years of their opening. Sebrae aims to make statistics like these fall in the future.

SENAI

SENAI, one of four entities that comprise the larger FIEB industry development system, is a private, non-for-profit institute of technology located in Bahia, Brazil. The structure of the technology center is similar to that of other polytechnic centers like the University of Braunschweig located in Germany, the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BUTE) in Hungary, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States. SENAI houses a technical school, university, and technology center; the three institutions share information and resources as they collaborate to advance technology, education, and innovation in Bahia.

The polytechnic structure of SENAI aids in reforming professional education. As the only institution with IT Masters and PhD programs, SENAI seeks to feed Bahia's great demand for IT professionals. Networking between students and educators makes it feasible for students to gain real-world experience through internships that often lead to full-time positions. Unfortunately, because of the networking opportunity SENAI houses, disagreements often arise between industry and academic views—practice versus book learning. Conscious of its target market—a developing IT country— the institute of technology offers its students distance- learning programs. Mobile units are driven into some of the less accessible areas of Bahia in order to eliminate geographical barriers for students. A reoccurring theme to SENAI's success is its location. At its core recruiting level, SENAI offers one free course for students enrolled in SESI, a high school located about 600 feet from the polytechnic center.

From recruitment of talent to pursuing growth and innovation, SENAI supports the IT industry in Brazil. Brazil's Information Tax Law, which states that an institution is eligible for a deduction in taxable income on the expenses incurred in conducting research and development in the IT field, and accreditation as a Science and Industry Ministry encourages the polytechnic center to pursue innovation. SENAI contributes recruiting, education, training, researching, and development efforts to the IT industry. The certification as a Science and Industry Ministry allows SENAI to partner-up, submit proposals, and work together with companies on an array of projects. One of the more recent projects involves collaboration with a company on a B2O project that will use a biodiesel—agricultural and renewable fuel—as compensation for a petroleum-based fuel used in automobiles.

The polytechnic structure and relations housed in SENAI are leading to great contributions to the IT industry in Bahia, Brazil. As a gateway to further innovation, Bahia's revolutionary and awaited Technology Park will consist of an educational unit allocated to SENAI. Results from interactions between professionals and students in the IT field from SENAI and international companies such as IBM and CYSCO are promising.

ASSESSPRO-BA

Assesspro-BA is the regional sector of Assesspro, the Brazilian association of information technology. Founded in 1982, the organization brings together private businesses in the IT sector with the goal of promoting growth and development of its member companies. Those companies are concentrated in the software and computer services industry. There are currently 77 member companies.

In exchange for monthly dues, which are based on the company's revenues, accepted member companies benefit from political representation, business opportunities, support in government bids, educational discounts, human resources services, tax consulting, access to marketing events and training. Currently, it can be very difficult to do business in Brazil without any kind of government assistance, in addition to its very complex tax structure. Assesspro has the resources and relationships that can make advancing easier for the companies that are part of the organizations.

Given the relationships between the companies, government and universities, Assesspro can create synergies that benefit its member companies. One example of this is an MBA program that the association enabled employees from its companies to participate in. Ninety executives from 45 companies participated, in partnership with the science and technology ministry, to complete an international MBA at George Mason University, just outside of Washington D.C.

Associations like Assesspro provide a fine example of the advances companies can make when they work together, not just with each other, but with government and educational institutions to further the goals of the sector as a whole.

BOC

The strong relationship between Bahia and Angola lead to the formation of boc. Boc specializes in developing different information technology within Angola and works directly with the Angolan government to facilitate the development of the growing IT industry. The company has developed numerous IT based services within Angola to create a higher level of efficiency as well as to expose Angola to new technologies present within Bahia. Boc manages six different companies which all offer specialized skills to a wide range of clients within the IT industry. The companies with boc are: Gorilla Web Communications, Open System, Zdoc, Topos, Compu VOX, and ZCR.

Gorilla Web Communications specializes in internet development through extensive innovation and creativity. Open System offers a wide range of technology products that cater to the needs of other organizations. Some examples of services provided by Open System include the development of software for hospitals to automate prescription distribution within hospital pharmacies. Open Systems has also developed software allows companies to maintain and track their inventory.

Zdoc gives its corporate clients a platform which allows employees access to files via corporate intranet sites or internal networks from virtually anywhere. Topos Company (EDGE) has extensive experience developing geographic information systems (GIS), multimedia, as well as interactive CDs. EDGE also develops corporate call centers to centralize in-going and out-going communication. Compu VOX Solutions specializes in computer telephony integrations (CTI) for corporate communications. ZCR Computing offers clients numerous services ranging from system development, consulting and project management.

PUC-Rio - Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro & The Genesis Insitute

PUC-Rio is a renowned university within Rio De Janeiro that offers a strict academic curriculum. This Catholic university offers numerous disciplines for students ranging from psychology to engineering. PUC-Rio is most well-known for its information technology program. It is also home to a developed information technology cluster known as Genesis. Genesis is located in the university and offers an opportunity for both current students and recent graduates of PUC-Rio to begin their own venture in IT services.

Their major objective is to promote and stimulate regional development through joint initiatives and the exchange of knowledge. Their aim is to spread an entrepreneurial culture, create new companies and act to raise funds, not only to ensure the viability of the network, but also to increase the incubator's presence. Furthermore, PUC-Rio regulates the actions of companies within Genesis to ensure that current students are not sacrificing their academic status for the sake of their newly founded business.

PUC-Rio offers business development through extensive workshops that explain the intricacies of running a business and being an entrepreneur. They also use Genesis to establish IT businesses that are successful and self-sufficient. Within Genesis, the companies help to spread innovation amongst each other in order to help create a successful and mutually beneficial relationships. When approaching the ourside community, Genesis encourages their companies to look locally for partnerships before reaching to the international community. However, most of Genesis' start-ups are simply attempting to create a successful business and are less focused on a multiple country presence. Interestingly, these student-run companies receive a great deal of exposure and notoriety within Rio de Janeiro that helps them to mature and develop a strong infrastructure.

UFBA - Universidade Federal da Bahia & UFBA-LES

The Federal University of Brazil (UFBA) was established on February 18, 1808. It is the only university that believes in the arts and is the only school in Brazil that offers dance, music and theater arts. UFBA has many research groups. There are currently 498 research groups that are dispersed throughout the world. Projects are developed through the process of teaching units. These teaching units help to form partnerships with many countries. UFBA promotes commitment and creativity but believes in forming everlasting partnerships. The university believes that partnerships can bring new opportunities and those opportunities can help one to achieve success.

The Software Engineering Laboratory (LES) was founded in 2009. The main goal of software engineering is to study software engineering design, after which, LES finds out how the software impacts products and services. For example, LES is currently working on a new project with PUC-RIO. This is a coding project. LES has over 484 technical productions and over 74 have not yet been patented. LES is in the process of patenting all of their software. The patents are developed in the software engineering laboratory. LES is working towards strengthening its ties with industry, government and other sectors of society.

SICM - Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Mining

The Secretaria da Indústria Comércio e Mineração (SICM) is an organization that provides support and services for industries and mining in Bahia. It enforces appropriate policies for corporations, approves all projects in Bahia and provides technical assistance if problems arise. The people of Bahia rely on the government for assistance and, to develop relationships with other countries, corporations must first develop a relationship with the government.

The ministry's newest project is the technology park. This project is being used to further diversify Bahia and to attract more tourism. There will be many companies operating under one roof. These companies will have opportunities to form partnerships. There is hope that the technological park will create more businesses, boost the economy, attract tourists and build Bahia as a city.