IFIA-ABIPIR LATAM Office Highlights Sustainable Innovation and Celebrates 15 Years of ABIPIR

The IFIA-ABIPIR LATAM Office proudly highlights the success of the first phase of the 15th edition of InnovaCities – International Fair of Smart, Happy, Human and Resilient Cities, a landmark initiative dedicated to fostering sustainable innovation, international collaboration, and impactful solutions for global challenges.

This first stage, focused on academic and institutional engagement, brought together representatives from Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay in a dynamic and multidisciplinary environment. The program featured the Smart Cities and Innovation Ecosystems Forum, an Academic Exhibition of Innovative Projects, and a special Women’s Entrepreneurship Meeting, creating a vibrant platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and partnership building.

The Academic Exhibition showcased the work of researchers, academic inventors, and startups presenting innovative and practical solutions across diverse sectors. These contributions reinforced the role of science, technology, and entrepreneurship in addressing real-world challenges with creativity and impact.

Once again, NAPI Trinacional is making its presence felt at Innova Cities, the event that brings together diverse stakeholders from the tri-national region to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and perspectives of urban development.

A unique space for exchange and collective building, allowing us to envision the present and future of our cities from an integrated perspective shared by Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.

Participants included council members from Puerto Iguazú, municipal officials from the four towns (Foz, Ciudad del Este, Franco, and Puerto), and national deputies (Argentina). Representatives from five universities in the region, members of three development councils and Codetri, students, and businesspeople were also present.

A particularly inspiring moment was the Women’s Entrepreneurship Meeting, where entrepreneurs shared experiences, strengthened networks, and expanded opportunities for collaboration and visibility of their businesses, reinforcing the importance of inclusion and diversity in innovation ecosystems.

The International Federation of Inventors’ Associations (IFIA), in collaboration with ABIPIR and international partners, proudly participated in InnovaCities 2026, held in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. The event brought together key stakeholders from across the Trinational Region (Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina), reinforcing the importance of innovation, entrepreneurship, and international cooperation.

A central highlight of the event was the Smart Cities and Innovation Ecosystems Forum, which addressed the challenges and opportunities related to developing intelligent and sustainable urban environments. The forum explored how innovation ecosystems, technology parks, and global collaboration contribute to smarter cities and regional development.

Featured Speakers and Sessions

SEPARTEC – Challenges and Opportunities of Technology Parks toward Smart Cities

• Speaker: José Maurino de Oliveira Martins
• Institution: SEPARTEC – Institutional Relations
• Topic: The role of technology parks in advancing smart city initiatives and fostering innovation ecosystems.

CERTI Foundation – Connections Between Innovation Ecosystems and Entrepreneurship

• Speaker: Cleber Borba Nascimento
• Institution: CERTI Foundation
• Role: Entrepreneurship Solution Architect
• Topic: The relationship between innovation ecosystems and entrepreneurship, highlighting practical strategies for supporting startups and innovation infrastructure.

Iguassu Valley – Challenges and Opportunities in Regional Smart Transformation

• Speaker: Jemna Rhoden
• Institution: Iguassu Valley
• Role: Director of Events
• Topic: Regional innovation ecosystems and their role in driving smart transformation and sustainable territorial development.

ABIPIR / IFIA – Innovation Ecosystems and Internationalization

• Speaker: Marcelo Vivacqua
• Institution: IFIA – Director for Latin America / President of ABIPIR
• Topic: Challenges and opportunities in the internationalization of innovation ecosystems, including global collaboration initiatives such as the IFIA BRICS Academy.

Forum Impact

The forum provided a high-level platform for dialogue among institutions, experts, and innovation leaders from across the region. Discussions emphasized:

• The integration of technology parks and innovation hubs into urban development
• The importance of entrepreneurship ecosystems in driving economic growth
• The role of international cooperation in scaling innovation
• Strategies for building smart and sustainable cities

The Innovation Forum at InnovaCities 2026 reinforced the importance of connecting global expertise with regional initiatives. By bringing together key stakeholders from academia, industry, and international organizations, the forum demonstrated how collaboration can accelerate the development of intelligent cities and resilient innovation ecosystems.

The session concluded with a moderated panel discussion led by Marcelo Vivacqua, fostering dialogue on smart cities, innovation ecosystems, and cross-border cooperation strategies.

The second phase of InnovaCities will further expand its global reach, featuring the Regenerative and BRICS Technological Innovations Exhibition and the BRICS Video Competition, reinforcing its commitment to international cooperation and future-oriented innovation.

Organized by the IFIA-ABIPIR LATAM Office, with the institutional support of IFIA and IDESTUR—organizer of the renowned Waterfalls Festival, within which InnovaCities is featured—the event continues to position itself as a leading platform for promoting sustainable, inclusive, and impactful innovation.

InnovaCities reaffirms its mission of connecting people, technologies, and ideas to build a smarter, more resilient, and sustainable future, being totally aligned with the IFIA’s mission always highlighted by its President Alireza Rastegar, the President of ABIPIR, Marcelo Vivacqua and the Director of the Office and Coordinator of InnovaCities Mrs. Mariangela Lückmann.