In the last decade, the Global Innovation Index has established itself as a benchmark for innovation and a tool for decision and policy making in different economies. This index measures innovation based on criteria such as institutions, human capital, infrastructure, market sophistication and business sophistication, which leads the economy to produce knowledge, technologies, among other aspects.

In this sense, it is essential to evolve from different dimensions based on efforts from the public, private and academic sectors, in order to continue advancing in this area. In 2023, Colombia ranked 66th among the 132 countries that make up the aforementioned ranking. This position places our country in fifth place in Latin America, being surpassed by Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Uruguay. Compared to the year 2022, we have managed to improve in business sophistication, rising from 42nd to 40th place, obtaining more favorable results in innovation links. The country, with Bogota at the forefront, has been leading great efforts for many years to boost innovation indicators due to its impact on the private sector and the implementation of tangible strategies and actions associated with this concept. However, there is still much to be done, as shown by indicators revealed by prestigious international validators and experts in innovation.

Among the challenges that remain in crucial areas are human capital, research and market sophistication. Addressing these, among other challenges, is essential to obtain better results in creative production, knowledge and technology. The Bogota Chamber of Commerce has been strengthening its commitment to innovation for nearly 20 years, during which time it has developed an entire program to support companies through consultancies. It is precisely on these two components, business sophistication and innovation links, that the Innovation Management Program (PGI) has focused its efforts to increase the competitiveness, sustainability and value generation of companies in Bogota and the region. This program focuses on the creation and implementation of innovation systems in companies. Through this accompaniment, the innovation leaders of the participating companies have at their disposal an expert consultant in the field for a period of approximately eight months, who guides and accompanies them in the construction of the tailor-made innovation model.

After these eight months of free consulting, the companies are qualified to obtain the Seal of Good Innovation Practices, which allows them to make visible their strategic commitment in terms of innovation. The commitment includes the generation of new products, services, processes and business models so that innovation becomes a transversal and permanent business practice. The innovation model proposed by the CCB consists of six key components: 1. Strategy: establishes how innovation facilitates the execution of the corporate strategy. 2. Governance: defines the roles of the innovation team, metrics and innovation policy. 3. Innovation process: ensures that teams have adequate methodologies to achieve results and know how to innovate. 4. Culture: proposes strategies to make innovation part of the organizational DNA. 5. Knowledge management: facilitates that innovation capabilities belong to the organization and do not depend on a few. 6. Innovation ecosystem: allows the identification of an initial network of experts and other actors with whom the company can collaborate for the development of its innovation strategy.

Alpina is committed to innovation One of the 600 companies that has gone through the Innovation Management Program is Alpina. Oscar Rincón, director of research, development and innovation of the company, assures that they joined the program to consolidate the company's innovation strategy. This process allowed them to identify strengths and areas for improvement in order to make decisions about Alpina's future. "We strengthened the culture of innovation in the company, which was reflected in the development of new capabilities among employees and different innovation methodologies. This translated into greater efficiency in the generation of new products and processes, and greater interdisciplinary organization throughout the company. We also recognized the need to standardize processes and conduct internal innovation audits". He assured that it is essential for other companies to participate in this program because it provides tools and methodologies to strengthen the company's innovation culture, making it more competitive in such a changing environment.

A long-standing commitment The commitment to business innovation has undergone a natural evolutionary process that has been going on for more than two decades. It began by working on technology gap studies and some innovation project management interventions in coordination with universities and companies. In 2011, the CCB identified business obstacles in the implementation of innovation policies, such as lack of trained human resources, lack of alignment with company policies, among others. In 2015, the CCB's Center for Business Innovation and Design was born, with the purpose of enabling entrepreneurs to accelerate their innovation projects and thus increase the level of sophistication of their products and services.

Currently, the CCB Innovation Management Program has assisted more than 600 companies, of which more than 220 have obtained the Seal of Good Innovation Practices. Some of the companies that have gone through the program are Ecopetrol, Alpina, Claro Colombia, Grupo de Energía de Bogotá, Servientrega, Constructora Bolívar, among others.

The program is aimed at companies with at least 15 employees in administrative areas and sales equal to or greater than 2,000 million pesos. As part of this great commitment to promote innovation, in 2024, the CCB, together with its subsidiary Corferias, the Mayor's Office, Sena and the Cafam, Colsubsidio and Compensar compensation funds, and the Government of Cundinamarca will begin construction of the Science, Technology and Innovation Campus (CTIB), which is a major milestone.

The CTIB is an example of public-private articulation work in favor of science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship that will promote interaction and collaboration between companies, academia, the public sector and citizens through the connection of their needs, thus promoting accelerated economic, social and environmental development.