The organization’s programs and strategies promote applied research and facilitate access to training and financing.
In Medellín, the third edition of the Sciencepreneurs Report: DeepTech Colombia 2025 was presented. This report analyzes the current state of innovation ecosystems—comprising universities, companies, and government—and identifies the distinctive features of Science- and Technology-Based Enterprises (STBEs). The study has become a key tool for understanding their evolution, current status, and potential in the country.
One of the main findings ranks Medellín as the second city in Colombia with the highest concentration of STBEs (24%), consolidating it as one of the most mature ecosystems for developing a DeepTech-based business fabric, that is companies and technologies grounded in scientific discoveries and disruptive innovations with high impact and global reach in sectors such as energy, healthcare, agrifood and artificial intelligence.
The report also highlights Ruta N’s role as an institutional model aimed at strengthening the DeepTech ecosystem through programs such as FutuMed, which promotes research and technological experimentation; Distrito VC, the public investment strategy to finance local startups; the Think Tank, a space for analyzing the science, technology, and innovation ecosystem; Innovative Public Procurement, which facilitates the adoption of solutions; and the StartIA digital platform, which connects more than 1,000 ecosystem stakeholders, including companies and investors.
“With this report, we identify the capabilities that exist in the country and in the region, as well as the gaps and opportunities within this ecosystem. This allows Ruta N, together with other stakeholders, to establish a roadmap to further leverage these ventures, research efforts, and scientific outcomes so they can contribute to solutions for the city and the country—and, in the future, be tested and validated in real-world environments such as FutuMed,” said Carolina Salazar, Director of Strategic Projects at Ruta N.
For the District, strengthening the DeepTech ecosystem is key to connecting the city’s scientific knowledge with new engines of economic and technological development. In this context, according to the study, Colombia ranks among the leading countries in the region in terms of the number of STBEs (98 identified), with an average age of 4.8 years. These companies generate 827 jobs and reach a combined valuation exceeding $676 million.
“This is the fastest-growing technology vertical in Colombia and globally. Medellín plays a key role, as it accounts for 24% of the country’s DeepTech startups and is home to several ‘crown jewels’ such as Ruta N, which has been a major ecosystem orchestrator. We want to strongly highlight the work being done through FutuMed to create a space that leverages Medellín’s designation as a science and technology district to bring DeepTech into the city’s reality. Universities are also playing a very important role,” said Claudia Aparicio, CEO of the DeepTech Colombia Alliance.
With the results of the Sciencepreneurs Report: DeepTech Colombia 2025, Ruta N reaffirms its role as an orchestrator of scientific, technological, and business capabilities to drive new development opportunities in Medellín.
Download the press kit here