How to Stimulate Technological Innovation in the Region

Technological innovation is recognized as one of the drivers of economic growth and sustainable development. This year, CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, launched the technological patents for development regional initiative with the purpose of establishing a platform in order to generate patentable technological concepts, implement pilot projects with selected technologies, and generate knowledge and training networks. 

The call for entries was made for June 17th through September 30th, and is aimed at individuals and national institutions or residents of the countries of the region, and is focused on renewable energies and energy efficiency. There are two participation modalities: A) "CAF holds the invention patent", and B) "The invention patent shall belong to the inventor of the technological concept". 

In order to participate, it is necessary to be qualified regarding the development process of invention patents, which consists of various stages:

• Conceptualization of the technology.
• Research regarding prior art.
• Draft of the technological concept and description of its functioning.
• Draft of a patent request, including revindications.