Strategic Objectives
Innovation and Technology Centers (CIT)

The first objective is the development of a network of Innovation and Technology Centers (CIT’s), one in each municipality, which will provide several programs to enhance local high school education and will help to close the digital gap in adults. Through the CIT’s we create interest in our youth and people in sciences and technology, providing access and education opportunities in new frontiers. Creating at an early age a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in our geographical region in route to knowledge based. The CIT’s also provide students with “hot spots” where community members can connect to the internet for free with a broadband wireless connection.

The following specific programs will be provided at the (CIT) One example of the programs:

- Smart Teens - will provide High School student’s education in mechatronics (integration of mechanical engineering, mechanics, electronics and computers) utilized in the commercialization of innovative products. Examples of these would be robotics and automation. They will design a three dimension part in a computer using Solidworks, make the part, fabricate their idea, program the microprocessor and then develop a business plan to sell their concept. The curriculum of SmartTeens is aligned with the national education standards in science, mathematics and technology (NSES) National Science Education Standard. In addition to the NSES standards the program is aligned with the skills of the Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS). A total of 64 participants / year / CIT will receive 119 training hours in the aforementioned topics.

- Microsoft Office Specialists (MOS) – will provide High School students will receive training and certification in Microsoft word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Power Point and Outlook. Participants will also receive training on Certiport Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC3) during the same time. IC 3 Certification is a global standard measurement of computing fundamentals, key applications and living online. As a result of these training (around 120 hours) will be prepared either to pursue a higher education career or to enter the labor force with a competitive advantage. Each CIT will serve a Certification Testing Center. A total of 120 participants / center / year will receive at least one certification in MOS.

Microsoft Unlimited Potential (UP) – is a global program focused on improving lifelong learning skills for young people and adults by providing technology skills through community based technology learning centers (CTLCs). By participating in UP courses, students focus on the technical skills they need to use the following software applications: computer fundamentals, digital media, Internet and WWW fundamentals, web design fundamentals, word processing fundamentals, presentation fundamentals, database fundamentals, spreadsheet fundamentals
The total program hours are 110hrs for all courses. We expect to serve 120 adults / CIT / Year.

At present INTECO has opened and is operating two CIT, one in Caguas and one in Juncos, in which these three programs are in operation. These CIT have been possible due to the contribution (cash and in-kind) of the following partners: Caguas and Juncos Municipal Governments., Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Softeck, Executrain, Sony and Centennial. A total of 31 students have graduated from Smart teens Program, 14 students have obtained at least one MOS Certification and a total of 31 adults have taken coursers in Unlimited Potential program.

Development and Commercialization Centers (D&CC)

Once the students continue studies at one of the Universities in the region INTECO intents to continue providing services to those students that decide to pursue a career in science and technology fields. As a means to do so we will promote the creation of (D&CC) in partnership between the University staff, the government and the industry. Those Centers will also stimulate the student to develop an entrepreneurial spirit.

The first (D&CC) will be established in the Universidad del Turabo (UT) will be a Plasma and Renewable Energy Center facility for research and development (R&D) in solid waste disposition and renewable energy. This Center is an arrangement between Puerto Rico Industrial Development Corporation (PRIDCO), Solena Group, Universidad del Turabo (UT) and INTECO and will be the first of its kind in the Caribbean and East region in the US. The technological areas of the center are plasma gasification and vitrification, photovoltaic solar cells, and fuel cells.

The center will be available for demonstrations of potential applications benefiting municipalities, the pharmaceutical industry, and other private and public partners, helping to promote R&D efforts, new products development and business creation. It will provide education, awareness, and technical assistance activities on renewable energy, with a particular interest in the environmentally friendly solid waste treatment using plasma gasification.

This (D&CC) will serve as the model for the ones to be established in the other two Universities in the region in conjunction with the Technology Park to be established by the private industry.

Regional Permits Processing Office (RPPO)

Industry members throughout the region overwhelmingly perceive the permits process required to open new operating facilities as slow, cumbersome and costly. This indeed is viewed as an impediment for the region and Puerto Rico’s economic development.

The Mayors of the aforementioned eight municipalities of the East-Central region, with the support of its industry and universities, have commissioned INTECO to pursue ways to significantly improve the permit process, as a necessary step needed to accelerate the region’s economic development.

As a response INTECO will create and operate a Regional Permits Processing Office (RPPO) for the Municipalities members of INTECO. The RPPO will provide the government officers of those municipalities with a technological innovation tool to enhance environmental decision-making and stimulate sound economic development.

This RPPO will utilize available Geographical Information System (GIS) and other technologies such as the Internet as the foundation of the (RPPO) design. This will accelerate the processing of permits, environmental reviews, endorsements, and other documentation for new businesses or new commercial locations. It will also provide integrated information for planning projects, mitigation initiatives, social assistance, disaster prevention and management, archeological preservation and conservation. 

The RPPO will also support decision-makers by providing a complete collection of comprehensive information using state-of-the-art technology for accuracy and precision. It will also provide public access to environmental information and serve as training site for government agencies.

As its main deliverable the RPPO will produce a permit processing recommendation to the government officers responsible for the approval of new business permits in their respective municipality. These recommendations will be produced in a timely manner based on the approved land use plan and will be in compliance with all the regulations required by the Puerto Rico central government agencies.

Incubators Network

It is well documented that technology business success rate is improved when they receive early stage support from an incubator. INTECO and its partners will establish three incubators in the region, one in Humacao, in the INTECO building, one in Caguas, in a building to be constructed by Caguas Municipal Government and one by the Technology Park owners. Services to be included are the following: space, infrastructure support services (communication lines), accounting, legal, technology experts advice (from region Universities staff) and business processes advise (business, financial, and marketing plans creation) and training to employees.

Technology Park (TP)

We will promote the creation of the first TP in the region / Puerto Rico. Whose main aim is to stimulate a culture of quality and innovation among its associates (companies) and knowledge based institutions (universities) and to accelerate the transfer of technology from its source to companies and to the market. By doing this we will increase the competitiveness of the region and create new high paid jobs. This TP will be located in a100 acres area and will be 100% funded by private funds. INTECO will serve as the TP marketing entity. We have established collaboration agreements with the Florida High Tech Corridor and with the Spanish Association of Technology Parks (APTE) in which they will serve as our advisors.

Regional Data Warehouse

The site selection process for companies needing to establish new manufacturing facilities, either for an expansion or to establish a new business has become a very competitive one. The Internet has provided the opportunity to level the field regarding the comparison process between regions. Usually the first cut in the process selection is done by comparing the data of each region as it appears in the Internet. Those regions not having the required data available, in a fast mode, in an accurate or complete are automatically left out of the process. INTECO has designed a data warehouse to comply with this requirement for the Eastern-Central Region. The areas for which the indicators will be provided in this data warehouse are the following: human resources (education level, age distribution, income, etc,), socioeconomic profile (unemployment level, family income, number of high technology jobs, jobs and average wage by industry type, etc.) , infrastructure (electricity capacity, waste disposal capacity, wide band telecommunications availability, internet providers, commercial and industrial space, investigation laboratories at Universities, number of published papers produced by the region investigators, housing availability and average cost of a single family unit, , etc.), promotional indicators (tax incentives, number of Universities and Colleges and programs offered, number of graduate / program / year, cost for basic services such as electricity, water and patents, inventory of industries in the region, etc.),results evaluation indicators (number of new industries promoted, number of patents produced, investment in R & D, number of incubated industries, etc.)