- The company bases its activities on research and innovation in the development of new products, processes, services and technologies for the chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, cosmetics, nutraceutical, and food industries.
- Bogota is betting on projects such as Inkemia, which contribute knowledge and technology. The city offers significant opportunities for companies in the areas of life sciences, knowledge and technological development.
- The arrival of this company in Bogota is the result of the coordinated efforts of ProColombia and Invest in Bogota.
- Colombia has high stakes in investment activities in science, technology, and innovation. In 2014 the R&D segments were the main recipients of investment in science and technology and innovation activities, with 45% and 25% respectively. The country recorded an average annual growth of 21% in the amount of investment in the sector over the last decade, surpassing Latin America as a whole with 16%.
Oscar Miranda, the company’s Director of Internationalization, explains: “Inkemia has three core work areas in the technological sectors in which we specialize: (i) post-graduate Training for students; this axis is achieved hand-in-hand with universities and academia (ii) Research & Development projects, either supported by the company’s own equity or public funds; and (iii) Services provided to the companies in these sectors.”
Miranda continues: “In Bogota, Training is the line that’s been most in demand. Specifically, we have entered into a collaboration agreement with Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano based on our three lines of work, starting with the Training line and the idea of developing specific training courses and a high proportion of practical training. This project will involve both Colombian teachers as well as Inkemia teachers who will come to give the courses. In the second line – Research & Development Projects – Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano has several projects in which we will collaborate by combining the complementary capabilities of each party, equipment, and expertise, all with the goal of jointly creating value.”
Inkemia IUCT Group was founded in 1997. Its headquarters are in Mollet, Barcelona, where it has a technology center and a training hub. In Vilanova, Barcelona, it has another technology center; and in Madrid a technology center and a training hub. In South America, Inkemia is present in São Paulo, with a training hub founded in 2014, and in Bogotá, with the operation that opened last semester to attend to its three business units.
Juan Gabriel Pérez, CEO of Invest in Bogota, points out: “Bogota is betting on projects such as Inkemia, which contribute knowledge and technology. We are very pleased with the process we have followed with this company which we contacted at Biolatam 2013, (the Bogota biotechnology fair) organized by the Spanish Association of Biotechnology Companies (ASEBIO) and Invest in Bogota. The arrival of this company in Bogota is the result of the joint efforts of ProColombia and Invest in Bogota.”
Miranda concludes: “Our objective in Colombia is intensely focused on developing three lines of work. We want to establish partnerships with those universities and research centers that focus on the needs of society, so as to jointly evolve our collaborative efforts and projects into marketable results. What we do with our partners is to work on an idea, create a prototype and, if it’s feasible, a product or service that responds to the market’s needs. Our ultimate goal is to get involved and be a fundamental part of the value chain of the production and exploitation of knowledge in Colombia, in collaboration with universities, research institutes, companies, and public agencies.”
Maria Claudia Lacouture, President of ProColombia confirms: “Colombia has high stakes in investment activities in science, technology, and innovation. In 2014 the R&D segments were the main recipients of investment in science and technology and innovation activities, with 45% and 25% respectively. Over the last decade, the country recorded an average annual growth of 21% in investments in the sector, surpassing Latin America with 16%.”
Pérez continues: “The city offers significant opportunities for companies in the life sciences, knowledge, and technological development sectors, since: (i) it benefits from being the capital region of one of the three most biodiverse countries per square meter in the world, (ii) it has a business network with both magnet and product consumer companies, represented as follows: food and beverages, 323 companies and 22 multinationals; cosmetics and toiletries, 35 companies and 8 multinationals; pharmaceutical and health services, 127 companies and 6 multinational; and chemical and agrochemical, 171 companies and 18 multinational companies, (iii) human capital is plentiful; there is a high concentration of research centers and technology centers; it boasts 115 higher-education colleges and 35 universities, 4 of which figure among the 50 best in Latin America; more than two thousand research groups representing 41% of the groups in the country; more than 140,000 active investigators, or 42% of the country’s total; more than 500 doctors in areas related to biotechnology, equivalent to 41% of the country; and 39% of the country’s technicians and technologists.”
Incentives available for innovation projects in Colombia
- Income tax deductions.
- Up to 175% of the amount invested in innovation, science, and technology (may not exceed 40% of net income).
- Up to 100% of the amount invested in environmental control and improvement projects.
- Exemption of income.
- Contributions received to finance scientific, technological or innovative projects are revenue that does not constitute income.
- Exemption of sales tax (VAT).
- Exemption from sales tax (VAT) on imports of equipment and items intended for research and technological development centers.
- Financial support.
- Co-financing of science, technology and innovation projects.
- Cofinancing for businesses that have the potential to become dynamic and innovative enterprises.
- Special credit lines for companies adopting innovation activities and processes in their business strategies.
