Startup watch: Argentina Innovar call, Google launches Brazil accelerator

The Argentine science, technology and productive innovation ministry opens on April 16 a new call for the national innovation contest known as Innovar.

The initiative aims to support the development of solutions of high social and commercial impact and technological-based enterprises of national production, according to the ministry.

Agribusiness, social development, medical equipment, innovative products, food, environment and sustainable development, phytomedicine, robotics, ICT, among others, are some of the areas targeted.

In this year's call, projects can be enrolled in five profiles: researchers, companies and third sector, entrepreneurs and inventors, university and research institutes, and high school.

Interested parties can submit their projects by June 1 via website www.innovar.gob.ar.

***

Google activated on Thursday its Launchpad Accelerator São Paulo, a program focused on supporting local startups to create innovative, scalable and impactful solutions, the company said.

Brazil is the third country in the world to receive the initiative after Israel (Tel Aviv) and Nigeria (Lagos). Google has also plans to open Lauchpads in Argentina, Mexico and Colombia this year. In Brazil, the program was set up at Campus São Paulo, Google's space for startups.

In this first round, Launchpad Accelerator São Paulo will help startups develop solutions based on artificial intelligence, machine learning, Android, Google Cloud Platform and web platforms (Progressive Web Apps, Accelerated Mobile Pages, among others).

With a three-month duration, the program offers technical support in the development of the project, through mentoring with Google and market experts as well as early access to Google's new technologies, the company said.

In addition, startups will also receive between US$20,000 and US$100,000 worth of Google product credits and dedicated support.