This
Program is a joint effort of INBio and the Interamerican
Development Bank (IDB) through a non-refundable
technical cooperation of the Multilateral Investment
Fund (MIF), which seeks to promote the development
of small enterprises through the sustainable use
of biodiversity.
With
this Program INBio shares the knowledge generated
about Costa Rican biodiversity and the know how
developed through research with major pharmaceutical
and biotechnology companies, both technical and
negotiation wise.
OBJECTIVES
OF THE INBio/IDB-MIF PROGRAM
The overall objective of the program is to promote
the development of small enterprises through sustainable
commercial development of biodiversity by the private
sector. The specific objectives are to:
A.
|
create
installed capacity at INBio, in the form of
a business development office, to meet specific
needs of small enterprises interested in developing
new biodiversity-based products; |
| B.
|
develop
commercially viable projects for small enterprises,
based on sustainable use of Costa Rica's biodiversity
up to the pre-commercial stage; |
| C.
|
transfer
to small firms the technical know-how and
guidelines needed for sustainable use of natural
resources; |
| D. |
accomplish a commercially successful and environmentally
friendly system for ensuring sustainable use
of the country's biodiversity |
OFFICE
OF BIODIVERSITY IN SUPPORT OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
(OBADE)
As part of the specific objectives of the Program
the OBADE office was established. It works as the
Executive
Agency, and has logistics support from INBio,
to finance research projects and the development
of innovative products and services based on biodiversity.
The Unit is conformed by a Director and a Systems
and promotion specialist. Its main assignment is
to promote the project and to provide technical
and financial assistance to small enterprises for
the development of innovative products based on
biodiversity.
BENEFICIARIES
AND PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
The potential beneficiaries of the Program are,
enterprises legally constituted in accordance with
Costa Rican law, with less than 100 employees, less
than US $3 million in annual sales and financially
sound. The total cost for each pilot project is
shared between the MIF, the firms and INBio in the
following percentages: 50% (MIF), 30% (enterprises),
and 20% (INBio). Furthermore, each project has with
INBio's endorsement and technical assistance, which
guarantees solid commercial potential and positive
social and environmental effects for the new product
or process developed.
SELECTION OF PILOT
PROJECTS
To ensure that small entrepreneurs have an opportunity
to become acquainted with the services offered by
the Program, and to facilitate the selection of
those pilot projects with the greatest likelihood
of success, four technical seminars on various business
topics related to uses of biodiversity took place.
The seminars focused on the following specific economic
sectors:
(i)
ecotourism and craftsmanship;
(ii) agriculture and commodities
(iii) health and food industries
(iv) biotechnology and industrial sector in
general |
Based
on the seminar results, potential beneficiaries
were established. The firms then submitted proposals
that met the selection criteria. The Program has
a Consultative
Committee that establishes selection criteria
and approves the pilot projects, and dictates guidelines
and monitors the execution of the Program.
This committee is made up of representatives from
INBio, the country's financial sector, microenterprises
and small businesses. Once OBADE identified the
pilot projects with the greatest likelihood of success,
the committee proceeded to select and approve the
pilot projects that conform the current Program
portfolio.
PILOT PROJECTS OF
THE PROGRAM
Diversity among projects was established in terms
of the type of enterprise and product, as well as
in the estimated time required to recover costs
and achieve profits to ensure the continuity of
the Program.
| Beneficiary
firms: |
Beneficiary
firm:
Agrobiot S.A.
Project:
Propagation of representative tropical
plants from Costa Rica's national flora, from
the orchid, pineapple and palm families, in
order to develop a kit to be commercialized
as a souvenir eco-kit.
|
|
Beneficiary
firm:
Bougainvillea S.A.
Project:
Development of a bio-pesticide derived from
the wood of the "hombre grande"
tree (Quassia amara).
|
|
Beneficiary
firm:
Industrias El
Caraito S.A.
Project:
Development of added value products from the
carao fruit (Cassia grandis). |
 |
Beneficiary firm:
Follajes Ticos
S.A.
Project:
Identification and evaluation of Costa Rican
native palms with ornamental potential. |
|
Beneficiary
firm:
Compañía
Agrícola La Gavilana Ltda.
Project:
Development of an environmentally friendly
model for production of vanilla (Vanilla
planifolia) in the Southern Region of Costa
Rica.
|
|
Beneficiary
firm:
Laboratorios
Lisan S.A.
Project:
Development of standardized phytopharmaceuticals
from six plants (LISANATURA) |
|
