ZAPOPAN, Jalisco; June 20, 2024.- In 2022 the General Vice Rector's Office for Research (VGI) established the operation of intellectual property and technology transfer policies, as well as guidelines for the intellectual property regime for students, its purpose is to promote a culture of valuing intellectual property and technology transfer.
The VGI, through the Corporate Direction of Innovation and Transfer (DCIT), has the purpose of: "Supporting and facilitating the members of the university community, the management of inventions, resulting from their intellectual work, through mechanisms that make their transfer viable through licensing, sale or creation of technology-based companies for the benefit of society".
The guidelines for students allow the early identification of inventions susceptible of being taken to intellectual protection processes, in which the student community is involved either in subjects with terminal projects or in special programs to promote entrepreneurship and innovation.
For this reason, the Faculty of Engineering of the Guadalajara campus through the careers of Innovation and Design Engineering and Mechatronics Engineering started the pilot program "Innovation Journey" focused on 8th semester students, with the purpose of supporting the training of students in the necessary skills to execute their projects, including the management of intellectual property and innovation.
A one-year program called "Innovation Journey" was organized, focused on complementing the students' professional training:
- Design and development (ideation) of technologies based on problems or market needs
- Validation and testing of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
- The value of intellectual property in your projects
- Analysis of the state of the art and technological trends
- Development of business models and their commercialization
- Pitch to promote or seek investment.
The result of the "Innovation Journey" was the development of 26 final projects of students, where four of them obtained a prize that consisted of a representative "SUPPORT BONUS" for an approximate amount of $200,000.00 that covers the payment of intellectual property counseling, legal expenses, as well as training and follow-up through the transfer office for its promotion and commercialization, in addition to the obligation to actively participate in the process of intellectual property management, always with the advice of the Intellectual Property Management Center (CGPI).
Teachers of the subjects
Oscar Sanchez Barba
Dr. Leonardo Valdivia
Dr. Fabiola Cortés
Winning students
Innovation and Design Engineering
Equipment - Pivotiq
Contreras De Obaldia,Fernanda
Martín Del Campo Guerrero,Sergio Francisco
González Gurrola,Azul Ximena
Team - AMEDIA
Aldrete Robles,Anett Michel
Oviedo Ruesga,Jessica Daniela
Valdez Arechiga,Estefania
Equipment - CleanPod
Preciado Arceo,María José
Trapero Sánchez Gil,Jimena
Reynoso Obregón,Natalia
Mechatronics Engineering
Project - Kapeh
Ramírez Gómez, Diego
This pilot program not only demonstrates the commitment of Universidad Panamericana to innovation and entrepreneurship, but also marks a step towards the institutionalization of the "Innovation Journey" on other campuses. With this program, the Office of the Vice President for Research aims to make our student community the protagonist of significant and sustainable changes, preparing them to lead in industry with responsibility and a clear vision of the future.
