Brazilian Association of Science Parks and Business Incubators

ANPROTEC was created in 1987 by a group of pioneers. They brought together the first initiatives aimed at establishing some then very new mechanisms to promote knowledge-based economic development: business incubators and science & technology parks. The Association expanded constantly during its more than two decades of continuous operation, both in number of members and scope of activities, becoming an institutional reference for entrepreneurship and innovation in Brazil. Nowadays it is the hub of a vibrant globally connected movement, with regional and state networks all over the country. It comprises circa 400 incubators and 20 parks in operation, involving 6500 innovative firms. Eighty per cent of the top Brazilian universities have at least one incubator, and many are involved in the establishment of science & technology parks, helping to overcome the so-called academy-industry gap. The impressive growth of entrepreneurial innovation in Brazil has much to do with the backing of agents in government, industry, and academia that believe in cutting-edge endeavours aimed at transforming the national and regional economic panorama. Among the key partners are SEBRAE (the national organisation to support small business) and the Ministry of Science and Technology, directly and through its agencies - CNPq (the national S&T council) and FINEP (the national innovation agency). These and other stakeholders articulate their initiatives at the National Programme to Support Business Incubators and Technology Parks, co-ordinated by the Ministry, with ANPROTEC as its secretariat. Headquartered in Brasília, the Association is led by a pro bono board, elected by the members for a two year term (renewable once), and benefits from a distinguished advisory board active in the national innovation system. A small but very dedicated professional team carries on its multiple activities. The Christiano Becker Institute for Studies on Development, Entrepreneurship and Innovation is a think tank created by the initiative of ANPROTEC.