University Chair of Innovative Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer with Emphasis on Patentable Projects

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was a critical period that caused a significant disruption to almost all human activities. In the area of higher education, uncertainty about the return to face-to-face classes led to the suspension of many essential university activities. Among the most affected were those related to innovative projects to start entrepreneurship, which essentially came to a complete halt. Given this situation, and with the return to face-to-face activities, the Center for Research and Innovation for Organizations at the Centro Universitario de los Altos launched a comprehensive strategy aimed at reactivating and strengthening the entrepreneurial culture on and off campus. This article discusses the implementation of a methodology framed within a dialectical approach based on applied research, with components of participatory action research, strengthened by programs aimed at promoting, encouraging, and advising both internal and external entrepreneurial initiatives. Likewise, the participation of student teams in business innovation competitions was promoted, in addition to various actions aimed at professionalizing the processes of creation and management of productive projects. These actions include obtaining ISO 9001:2015 certification in management of entrepreneurial initiatives, with the aim of raising the quality of the projects developed, especially those with the potential to become patentable innovations. These initiatives seek to actively contribute to the regional development of Los Altos de Jalisco and the strategic positioning of CUAltos as a benchmark in innovation and university education.