About the 2024 Conference

Conference Theme

Innovation Ecosystems for Business Development

New digital and physical technologies are enabling the creation of new business models by new ventures and established organizations, as well as facilitating the interaction between partners and the creation of complementary business activities. In this context, the notion of ecosystems is becoming increasingly popular. In the last ten years, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has highlighted the central role of innovation ecosystems in fomenting economic activity.

Different types of innovation ecosystems co-exist. Established firms, suppliers, and other actors may work together in platform-based ecosystems creating new complementary products and services that can be mixed and matched to offer unique value propositions to various end users. Some of these actors may be startups that interact with larger organizations, venture capitalists, business angels, public sector agencies, universities, and research centers in entrepreneurial ecosystems to foster new ventures and growth.

For business leaders, innovation ecosystems are a source of winning ideas and a means to speed up their innovative efforts. At the same time, policymakers see them as a robust notion to orient the creation of policy mechanisms and stimulate economic activity. The focus is on understanding how to unleash the potential of different types of innovation ecosystems for business development. In academia, researchers have dedicated attention to the mechanisms to make that happen. Yet, most academic literature has focused on innovation ecosystems in developed countries.

The BALAS 2024 Conference will provide a scholarly academic forum for discussing innovation ecosystems for business development in the LAT AM contexts, focusing on specific conditions and solutions of our reality.

About FGV EAESP

Created in 1954, EAESP is the most internationalized school in Lantin America, with more than 100 partnerships with internationally renowned foreign institutions in all continents. EAESP is also recognized as a high-level center for research in Management and for training leaders in the business, government, and academic spheres. 

EAESP is one of the few business schools in the world and the first in Brazil to have triple international accreditation: AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business; EFMD EQUIS - The European Foundation for Management Development; EFMD Quality Improvement System; and AMBA - The Association of MBAs. 

Why São Paulo?

Sao Paulo is the fifth largest metropolis in the world. Financial heart of Brazil, capital of cultural diversity, with residents from over 200 different nationalities.  

São Paulo is a very welcoming city. It has a modern and efficient public transportation system, with metro, buses, trains, and taxis. The city also has a diverse and inclusive society, with people from different ethnicities, cultures, religions, and backgrounds.

Local Attractions

São Paulo is a city that offers a cultural experience like no other, where you can discover the beauty, diversity, and creativity of Brazil. We invite you to visit São Paulo and enjoy its cultural offerings, which will enrich your mind and soul.

Discover São Paulo

Museums and Art 

São Paulo is home to some of the most important art museums in Latin America, such as the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP), which has a collection of over 10,000 works of art from various periods and regions, and the Instituto Moreira Salles, which has a stunning glass and iron building and a library devoted to photography. You can also admire the colorful graffiti and street art that adorn the walls of the city, especially in the bohemian neighborhood of Vila Madalena.

Local Music 

São Paulo is a musical city, where you can find a variety of genres and styles, from samba and bossa nova to rock and hip hop. You can catch a live show at one of the many theaters, concert halls, and bars in the city, or visit the São Paulo Football Museum, which has a section dedicated to the history and influence of Brazilian music. You can also experience the city’s nightlife, which is lively and diverse, with clubs, pubs, and festivals for every taste.

Literature

São Paulo is a literary city, where you can find a rich and varied literary scene, with writers, poets, publishers, and bookstores. You can visit the Casa das Rosas, a beautiful mansion that hosts literary events, workshops, and exhibitions, or the Centro Cultural São Paulo, which has a massive library and a roof garden. You can also browse the bookstores and cafés along Paulista Avenue, the main avenue of the city, or join a literary tour that explores the places and stories of São Paulo’s authors.

History

São Paulo is a city with a rich history, where you can learn about the city’s past and present, from its colonial origins to its modern development. You can visit the Pateo do Collegio, the site where the city was founded in 1554, or the Paulista Museum, which is housed in a grand mansion that was the scene of the 1888 proclamation of the republic. You can also explore the old center of the city, where you can see the São Paulo Cathedral, the Martinelli Building, and the Mercado Municipal.

Gastronomy 

São Paulo’s cuisine is a fusion of influences from different regions of Brazil and the world, offering a range of options for every taste and budget. One of the most popular dishes is the mortadella sandwich, a thick slice of grilled deli meat served on a warm bun with cheese and mustard. Another classic is the pastel, a crispy pastry filled with cheese, meat, or seafood, often accompanied by a glass of sugarcane juice. For a more substantial meal, you can try the feijoada, a rich stew of black beans and pork, served with rice, kale, orange, and farofa, or the virado à paulista, a dish of rice, beans, plantains, kale, and pork chops. If you are looking for something refreshing, you can enjoy a bowl of açaí, a frozen puree of the purple Amazonian fruit, topped with granola, banana, and other fruits. São Paulo is also famous for its pizza, sushi, and Italian cuisine, reflecting the city’s large immigrant communities. For dessert, you can indulge in a brigadeiro, a chocolate truffle made with condensed milk and cocoa, or a pão de mel, a spiced honey cake covered with chocolate. São Paulo’s cuisine is a celebration of the city’s culture and history, and a delight for the senses.