When innovation in Colombia comes up, the conversation tends to stop at startups that raise capital or at big digital transformation announcements. But a good part of the innovation that moves the economy happens in mid-sized companies that solve a specific problem, with limited resources and a lot of practice. For them, the ecosystem has more open doors than it seems.
An ecosystem that is no longer just two cities
Bogotá and Medellín still concentrate much of the activity, with established institutions such as Ruta N in Medellín. However, cities such as Cali, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga and the Coffee Region have strengthened their own networks of universities, chambers of commerce, technology development centers and business communities.
For an SME, this has a practical implication: you don't need to move to connect. There is almost always a regional organization that knows the local business fabric and can act as a bridge.
Who drives innovation
It is worth knowing the types of actors, because each offers something different:
- National bodies, such as Minciencias, iNNpulsa Colombia and MinTIC, which design programs, calls for proposals and support instruments.
- Chambers of commerce and regional agencies, which support companies in their territory and often run innovation and digital transformation programs.
- Universities and research centers, which provide technical knowledge, laboratories and talent, and are increasingly open to projects with companies.
- SENA, with innovation and technology development lines aimed at productivity.
- Large companies with open innovation programs, which look for providers able to solve specific challenges.
- Trade associations and communities, where information about opportunities circulates before it becomes public.
Where the opportunities are for an SME
There are four paths that we see working often.
Co-financing calls. Various organizations open periodic calls for projects in innovation, productivity or technology adoption. They don't cover everything, but they reduce the risk of taking the first step.
Tax benefits. Colombia has incentives for investment in science, technology and innovation. They require the project to be well formulated and qualified, but they can change a project's financial case.
Open innovation. Many large companies publish challenges and look for partners to solve them. For a technology company or a specialized provider, it is a direct route to clients that would otherwise be hard to reach.
Academic partnerships. A joint project with a university can add technical capacity and, in many cases, open the door to financing instruments that require that kind of alliance.
Opportunities are rarely missing. What is missing is having the problem well defined when the call appears.
How to connect without getting lost
The ecosystem can be overwhelming. These practices help you move with focus:
- Define the problem before the instrument. First, what you want to solve and how much it is worth solving; then, which call fits. In the reverse order, you end up adapting the project to the call.
- Document what you already do. Processes, data and measurable results. Almost every call asks for evidence, and having it on hand saves weeks.
- Find a partner who already knows the path. A chamber of commerce, a technology development center or a technical partner with experience helps avoid formulation mistakes.
- Start small and prove it. A pilot with measurable results opens more doors than an ambitious project on paper.
In summary
Colombia has an innovation ecosystem that is broader and more distributed than is usually believed. For an SME, the opportunity lies in connecting with the right actors, arriving with a clear problem, and proving results with concrete projects. The innovation that transforms the most is not always the most visible one; often it is the one that makes an operation work better every day.