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Colombia aspires to be the heart of the "Fourth Industrial Revolution" in Latin America since the city of Medellin. The first center was launched last April. Reportage.
The goal is ambitious: to make Medellín the science, technology and innovation capital of South America by integrating it into a global network funded and managed by the GEF, the World Economic Forum. The network includes the city of San Francisco, China, Japan and India.
It has been several years since the concept of the Fourth Industrial Revolution resonated across the globe. It is a new model of global architecture, the "globalization 4.0" that is already transforming our lives, our way of consuming and our work. This revolution would be an extension of the digital revolution and its meeting with other technologies.
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The founder of World Economic Forum, Klaus Schwab, has dedicated several books and especially a network that the German engineer and economist is strengthening. The last recruit is Colombia and the city of Medellín. For three years, the forum will finance the center of innovation and technology for three million euros. This city was not chosen by chance. This integration is a recognition of his efforts to change his image related to violence and drug trafficking.
Medellín, a transformation towards innovation
Its metamorphosis began several decades ago when city leaders decided to bet on the future. Several mayors have succeeded in consolidating the commitment to economic growth through innovation.
Sergio Naranjo, head of communication at the center of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Medellín, explains that two factors have influenced these political decisions. The first is of a cultural nature. " Medellín and its inhabitants have a great power of resilience. As the city became unbearable and the violence daily, they chose to look to the future. To face. We can not erase the past, but we make it a strength. "
The second factor is related to the geographical position of the capital of Antioquia. " Medellín is a city in central Colombia. It is not close to port, or a maritime network. Nor does it have a rail network that can transport industrial goods. From this context came the idea of making knowledge a tool for economic development. We have chosen to make brains our added value to generate economic growth. "
Creating the CTi plan
Thus in 2012, the municipality and the company symbol of innovation Ruta N launch the plan Cti (science, technology and innovation). According to the group's description on its website, the plan focuses on " three sectors: energy, health and ICT, information and communication technologies, and all cross-cutting activities to build the capacity of all actors in the regional innovation system ".
The objective is to reach in 2021, the 3% of the Medellín economy invested in the development of innovation technologies. Ruta N applies it by hosting the start-ups of tomorrow but also the first center of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The ambition to create artificial intelligence
At first glance, the offices, arranged in an open space , have nothing special. However, a meeting room, still empty, was named after the center. The director, Agostinho João Almeida describes his work: " We have two axes. The first is that of vigilance. There are new global trends in technology, but also introduction into the market, and the laws in force for each innovative product. Then we make sure to connect companies, entrepreneurs, start-ups, governments, to better integrate the new technologies that our societies need. The union of the two worlds is therefore possible: that of the regulatory sector (rules and laws) with that of the technological challenges. "
Currently, the center is working on a drone project to transport materials. The ambition is also the development of artificial intelligence, and ways to make the city of Medellín more ecological.
For the inauguration, Colombian President Ivan Duque made the trip . This is to say the importance of the project. The American giant Amazon has also understood. He pledged to train 2,000 young Colombians.