Centro de Ciencia y Tecnología de Antioquia

What Centro de Ciencia y Tecnología de Antioquia does

Centro de Ciencia y Tecnología de Antioquia (CTA) is a private non-profit corporation (corporación privada sin ánimo de lucro) founded in 1988 in Medellín, Colombia, operating under the country's Special Tax Regime. It was established by the University-Enterprise-State triad—comprising 16 regional member institutions including Universidad de Antioquia, Universidad EAFIT, SENA, ANDI, ISA, Suramericana, and the Gobernación de Antioquia—to drive the social appropriation of science, technology, and innovation (STI). CTA's portfolio spans six service lines: innovation consulting and policy design (Innovación para la transformación), green growth and sustainability services (water footprint, carbon footprint, circular economy), digital transformation and Industry 4.0, human capital development, international Knowledge Missions, and tax benefit advisory for STI investments.

CTA's core offerings are structured around three capability pillars—Aprendizaje y Conocimiento (Learning and Knowledge), Organizaciones de Valor (Value Organizations), and Territorios Sostenibles (Sustainable Territories)—delivered through established programs including Ondas, Generación Tech, Enplanta, SINERGIA 2.0, SENSEI, Impulso Digital, El Agua Nos Une, AlfaTIC, and AlimentaTec Antioquia. Its technology stack is methodological rather than product-based: CTA applies domain-specialized frameworks including the TIP-MEA (Transformative Innovation Policy – Middle East Africa) methodology, ISO 14046 water footprint modeling, hydrological and hydraulic characterization models, and educational impact evaluation models. The organization maintains the Biblionet digital repository (185+ publications), the Red de Investigación Escolar (RIE), Cátedra del Agua, and coordinates the HUB Latinoamericano y Caribeño de Innovación Transformativa and WAITRO's Latin American focal point.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across custom professional services contracts (quote-based, multi-year), international cooperation grants from agencies such as COSUDE (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) and JICA, philanthropic donations (e.g., Fundación Fraternidad Medellín contributed over 1.47 billion COP), tax benefit advisory fees, and membership contributions from the University-Enterprise-State triad. As a non-profit under the Special Tax Regime, all surpluses are reinvested into the social mission; the most recent reported excedente contable was 657 million COP and excedente fiscal was 689 million COP against equity of 3.39 billion COP and a salary expense base of 1.85 billion COP. The organization serves educational institutions, regional and national government bodies (IDEAM, Ministerio de Ambiente, Gobernación de Antioquia), private enterprises (ISAGEN, Ruta N, textile and manufacturing supply chains), international development agencies, and civil society groups across Colombia and Latin America.

Name

Centro de Ciencia y Tecnología de Antioquia

Legal name

Corporación Centro de Ciencia y Tecnología de Antioquia

Website

https://cta.org.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Centro de Ciencia y Tecnología de Antioquia is a Medellín-based non-profit founded in 1988 that designs and implements science, technology, and innovation (STI) solutions—spanning education, productivity, water management, and digital transformation—for governments, enterprises, educational institutions, and communities across Colombia and Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Medellín

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Innovation for Transformation Services: Technical assistance, policy development, STI ecosystem design, innovation management systems, and training services provided to organizations, enterprises, and government entities.
2. Green Growth and Sustainable Development Services: Circular economy programs, water footprint estimation, carbon footprint reduction, climate action plans, bioeconomy strategies, and sustainable tourism programs.
3. Tax Benefit Management Services: Advisory and management of tax benefit portfolios for private investment in science and technology, including Works for Taxes, Minciencias credits, and environmental incentives.
4. Knowledge Missions: Referencing missions of best practices to global innovation centers. CTA does not capitalize on these resources; payments cover travel and related logistics.
5. International Development Funding: Funding from international cooperation agencies (COSUDE, JICA) for specific development projects in education, water management, and innovation.
6. Membership Contributions: As a non-profit corporation, CTA reinvests all surpluses into science, technology, and innovation projects with social and environmental impact.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Centro de Ciencia y Tecnología de Antioquia (CTA) is a private non-profit corporation that designs and implements science, technology, and innovation (STI) solutions for organizations and territories. The organization delivers professional services including innovation policy development, ecosystem design, educational programs, water resource studies, digital transformation consulting, and tax benefit management for STI investments.

Product overview

CTA operates as a non-profit science and technology corporation offering a diversified portfolio of services organized around three main pillars: Education and Knowledge, Organizational Value, and Sustainable Territories. The portfolio includes innovation consulting (Innovación para la transformación), digital transformation (Transformación digital y tecnologías 4.0), green growth (Crecimiento verde y desarrollo sostenible), and human capital development. Key programs include BIBLIONET (publications repository), RIE (School Research Network), Cátedra del Agua (water studies), HUB Latinoamericano de Innovación Transformativa, and international networks like WAITRO. Direct programs span school education (Ondas, Generación Tech), business productivity (Enplanta, SINERGIA 2.0, Impulso Digital), and environmental sustainability (El Agua Nos Une, AlfaTIC). The organization also provides tax benefit management services and operates knowledge missions to international innovation centers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Red de Investigación Escolar (RIE): Network integrating institutions and organizations that lead and promote school research processes in the department of Antioquia, operational since 2010.
• Cátedra del Agua
• Hub Latinoamericano y Caribeño de Innovación Transformativa
• WAITRO Focal Point

Products and services

• Innovación para la transformación Innovation consulting services including assistance in developing transformative innovation policies, CTeI policy design, ecosystem design, R&D+I agenda development, and innovation management systems implementation for organizations and territories.
• Crecimiento verde y desarrollo sostenible Sustainable development services including circular economy programs, eco-innovation, sustainable tourism, water footprint estimation (ISO 14046), carbon footprint reduction, climate action planning, water risk management, and climate change mitigation.
• Transformación digital y tecnologías 4.0 Digital transformation services including development of roadmaps for 4.0 technology adoption, digital strategy design, and digital literacy programs for organizations.
• Desarrollo de competencias y habilidades en talento humano Human talent development including 21st century skills training, national and international knowledge missions, knowledge transfer methodologies, water risk management capabilities, digital competencies, and ISO 14046 certification training.
• Misiones de Conocimiento International benchmarking missions to innovation centers worldwide, including Japan, Spain, Chile, Korea, Singapore, Mexico, and Colombia. Since 2014, over 291 participants have benefited from experiences in circular economy, productivity, and science ecosystems.
• Beneficios tributarios Tax benefit management services including identification of public policy instruments, project formulation for tax benefits, technical and financial monitoring, and certification of R&D+i units and innovative companies.
• Enplanta Productivity improvement program helping Medellín companies become more productive and sustainable through specialized accompaniment and practical methodologies, with 96 companies participating.
• Generación Tech Science, technology and innovation education program for children, youth and teachers in Medellín, reaching 5,700+ students with Design Thinking, STEAM, and 4IR technologies (robotics, AI, IoT, 3D design, augmented reality).
• El Agua Nos Une – Fase 2 Water governance and sustainable water management program (Phase 2: 2026-2029) with support from COSUDE, focusing on collective water governance in Colombian territories including Santander.
• Cátedra del Agua Inter-institutional program since 1996 focused on generating and disseminating knowledge about water resources, promoting policy guidelines, research, and technology development for water protection.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,700+ students and 417 teachers reached through Generacion Tech in 209 institutions
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (SENA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSENA is a founding member of CTA's University-Business-Government triad. As Colombia's national vocational training service, SENA provides expertise in technical training and workforce development that complements CTA's STI programs.
• Gobernación de AntioquiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe departmental government of Antioquia is a founding member and key institutional partner, providing governmental oversight and regional development alignment for CTA's STI initiatives.
• Universidad de AntioquiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe largest public university in the region is a founding member providing academic research capacity and talent pipeline for STI projects.
• Universidad EAFITcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA leading private university and founding member contributing research expertise and innovation capacity to joint initiatives.
• ISA S.A. E.S.P.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA major infrastructure and energy company and founding member that provides industry perspective and corporate partnership opportunities.
• Asociación Nacional de Empresarios de Colombia (ANDI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColombia's largest business association and founding member, providing access to extensive corporate network for STI collaboration.
• Cámara de Comercio de Medellín para AntioquiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chamber of commerce and founding member providing business networking and economic development alignment.
• Suramericana de InversionescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA major insurance and financial services company and founding member contributing corporate expertise and financial sector connections.
• IDEAMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstituto de Hidrología, Meteorología y Estudios Ambientales de Colombia collaborates with CTA on the Estudio Nacional del Agua 2026 and national water governance initiatives.
• Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo SosteniblecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Ministry collaborates on environmental policy development and the El Agua Nos Une program for water governance transformation.
• WAITRO (World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organizations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTA serves as the focal point for Latin America and Caribbean of WAITRO, facilitating collaboration among research and technology organizations, promoting open innovation platform SAIRA, and strengthening RTO capacities in the region.
• TIPC Consortium (Transformative Innovation Policy Consortium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based consortium that developed the TIP methodology used by the Hub Latinoamericano y Caribeño de Innovación Transformativa coordinated by CTA. TIPC provides the methodological framework for transformative innovation policy experiments.
• Ruta N MedellíncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic-private alliance leading Medellín's innovation district coordinates the Generación Tech program with CTA, combining ICT infrastructure and innovation ecosystem positioning with CTA's educational expertise.
• SIATA (Sistema de Alerta Temprana del valle de Aburrá)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly warning system for the Aburrá Valley integrates with RIE to promote school research and scientific culture among students and teachers in the metropolitan area.
• Parque ExploramajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience center and interactive museum collaborates with RIE to foster scientific culture and research skills in school children.
• Universidad de los Niños EAFITmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChildren's university program at EAFIT participates in RIE network, bringing research and scientific methodologies to young learners.
• Autoridades Ambientales RegionalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional environmental authorities collaborate on water governance initiatives as part of the El Agua Nos Une program's multi-actor approach.
• Volkswagen NavarraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutomotive manufacturer visited as part of VET4CHAINS project, demonstrating advanced dual training models and industry-education integration.

Scale indicators11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cta_co
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCR3TyRC_reNhr3fx0ALMhOQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/CTAColombia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ctacolombia
• Instagraminstagram.com/cta_colombia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centro de Ciencia y Tecnología de Antioquia