Ruta N: Difference between revisions

''' Corporation Ruta N''' (better known as '''Ruta N)''' is a public joint venture between the mayor's office of [[Medellín]], [[EPM Telecomunicaciones|UNE]] yand [[Empresas Públicas de Medellín|EPM]]. Founded in 20102009, Ruta-N was created in order to inspire and encourage innovation in the city and create favorable conditions for business and entrepreneurship.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ruta N es una corporación creado por la alcaldía de Medellín, UNE Y EPM|publisher=Ruta N Web Site|url=http://rutanmedellin.org/es/sobre-nosotros/informacion-sobre-rutan-medellin|language=es|accessdate=16 September 2016}}</ref>

Ruta-N Complex is located in the "innovation district" of Medellin, a newly created sector located in the north of the city in the Sevilla neighborhood. The offices are comprisedconsist of three buildings, one originally dedicated to [[Hewlett-Packard]] and two others used as an incubatorlanding coworking space to house companies of any size, startup companies, laboratories, and the offices of Ruta-N personnel.

Corporation Ruta-N was founded in 2010,2009 conceivedas by then-mayora [[Alonsoregional Jaramilloinnovation agency]] to support [[Medellín]]'s transition from an industrial city into a knowledge city.<ref>Morisson, A. & Doussineau, M. (2019). Regional innovation governance and inspiredplace-based bypolicies: thedesign, successimplementation ofand Barcelona'simplications. [[DistritoRegional 22@]]Studies, Regional Science,6(1),101–116. https://rsa.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21681376.2019.1578257.</ref> Ruta-N's first years were led by its inaugural director [[Andres Montoya Izasa. The Second Director was Juan Pablo Ortega]], an MIT alumniAlumni, who, prior to serving as director, worked for EPM and served as a professor of entrepreneurship and investment at the [[Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana]] and the [[Universidad Católica de Oriente]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Juan Pablo Ortega (Colombia) ia), director de Negocios de Conocimiento de Ruta N|publisher=Centro Virtual de Noticias de Educación|url=http://www.mineducacion.gov.co/cvn/1665/w3-article-268008.html|language=es|date=4 April 2011|accessdate=16 September 2016}}</ref> Originally, [[Hewlett-Packard]] was slated to invest in Ruta-N and persist as a long-term partner, with permanent residency in one of the three buildings. However, citing internal financial and logistical difficulties, the company officially exited its prior agreement with the city of [[Medellín]] in June 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Multinacional HP claudicó en incursión a Ruta N de Medellín|publisher=Portfolio.Co|url=http://www.portafolio.co/negocios/empresas/multinacional-hp-claudico-incursion-ruta-n-medellin-32500|language=es|date=18 June 2015|accessdate=16 September 2016}}</ref>

In an effort to create a favorable environment for investment and entrepreneurship in the city, Ruta-N contains a landing program that provides young companies with office space, utilities, and conference rooms at a subsidizedmarket cost. In the last 6 years (March 2018), 210 companies have been attracted from 30 countries that have generated more than 2800 jobs in areas of innovation alone. In November 2015 there were 84 companies in Ruta-N's landing program.<ref>{{cite web|title=84 empresas viven con nosotros en el Complejo Ruta N|publisher=Ruta N Web Site|url=http://www.rutanmedellin.org/es/actualidad/item/84-empresas-viven-con-nosotros-en-el-complejo-ruta-n|language=es|date=19 November 2015|accessdate=16 September 2016}}</ref> However, by September 2016 there were more than 141 companies from a combined 23 different countries, directly resulting in 2111 new jobs in the city since 2012 alone.<ref>{{cite web|title=Medellin Innovation District Front Page Slider|publisher=Medellín Innovation District Web Site - Front Page Slider|url=http://www.distritomedellin.org/|language=es|accessdate=16 September 2016}}</ref>

[[Yuxi Pacific]] was the first company to successfully exit Ruta-N's landing program with a successful acquisition. Founded by serial entrepreneur [[Michael Puscar]], Yuxi Pacific used Ruta-N's offices to grow to over 100 full-time employees before being acquired in June 2013 by [[Cincinnati]]-based [[Blue Loop Capital]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Blue Loop Capital Snatches Yuxi Pacific|publisher=Near Shore Americas|url=http://www.nearshoreamericas.com/private-equity-firm-acquires-yuxi-pacific/|date=27 June 2013|accessdate=16 September 2016}}</ref> Other successful companies that have been a part of Ruta-N's landing program include SproutLoud, XQuire,<ref>{{cite web|title=XQuire acquisition highlights Colombia’Colombia' growing appeal for global tech developers|publisher=Colombia Reports|url=http://colombiareports.com/us-firm-blue-loop-buys-colombia-based-tech-start-xquire/|date=11 February 2014|accessdate=16 September 2016}}</ref> Idiomotion and Back2U.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ocho empresas nuevas en Medellín salen al mercado con el Founder Institute|publisher=Ruta N Web Site|url=http://rutanmedellin.org/es/actualidad/item/ocho-empresas-nuevas-en-medellin-salen-al-mercado-con-el-founder-institute-10102013|language=es|date=10 October 2013|accessdate=16 September 2016}}</ref>

On February 10, 2016, recently inaugurated mayor [[Federico GutierrezGutiérrez]] appointed [[Alejandro Franco]] wasas the new director of Ruta-N.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alejandro Franco, nuevo director de Ruta N|publisher=Minuto 30|url=http://www.minuto30.com/alejandro-franco-es-nuevo-director-de-ruta-n/436897/|language=es|date=19 November 2015|accessdate=16 September 2016}}</ref>

Ruta-N is in active competition with other major cities and programs in Central and [[South America]] to be known as the [[Silicon Valley]] of [[Latin America]]. Other programs with whom Ruta-N compete include [[Start-Up Chile]], [[500 Startups]] [[Mexico]] and [[Start-Up Brasil]].

The Ruta-N Complex was designed as an eco-friendly building, with a [[sustainable design]] and construction materials made with recyclable material. The building is complete with offices, expansive conference areas, restaurants, and a rooftop terrace with a view of the city. The design focuses upon collaboration and has several areas that can be used by entrepreneurs to share ideas and form alliances. It is the first public building in [[Colombia]] with [[LeedLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design|LEED]] gold category certification.<ref>{{cite web|title=¿Por qué somos un complejo sostenible?|publisher=Ruta-N YouTube Channel|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LziTOSdFBE|language=es|date=21 April 2016|accessdate=16 September 2016}}</ref>

[[Medellín]]'s innovation district is a strategy of social, urban and economic transformation that seeks to convert the city into the capital of innovation in [[Latin America]]. The district includes 44,905 square meters of infrastructure, created specifically to house both national and international companies from advanced, high-tech sectors.