Softex Pernambuco: promoting the competitiveness of software companies – Inspiration Recife

Founded in 1994, the Center of Excellence in Software Technology of Pernambuco (Softex PE)’s main mission is to promote the competitiveness of companies operating in the state’s technological hub. Through business associations, the organization seeks to support the development of this sector, which is increasingly emerging as a significant activity in the new local economy.
Softex PE is a non-profit civil association, recognized as a Civil Society Organization of Public Interest (Oscip) at the municipal, state and federal levels. It has around 340 associated companies, which are supported in their marketing and human resources qualification activities, with the aim of improving the entrepreneurial strength of innovative businesses.
Important institutions are part of the deliberative council, such as the Association of Brazilian Information Technology Companies (Assespro), the Union of Data Processing Companies of Pernambuco (Seprope), the Porto Digital Management Center and the Center for Studies and Systems Recife forwards (CESAR). The academy is present through the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), and the productive sector through the Federation of Industries of Pernambuco (Fiepe). Completing the board are holders of portfolios linked to the area of ​​science and technology of the State Government and Recife City Hall, as well as a representative of associated companies.
Still in the institutional field, the organization represents the consolidation of the Recife Softex Center, created in 1993 within the scope of the Program for Promoting Excellence in Brazilian Software (Softex), an initiative of the federal government in partnership with the United Nations Development Program ( UNDP). One of the founders of the Recife nucleus, the sixth to establish itself in the country out of a total of 28, was the current president, entrepreneur and executive Yves Nogueira.
Today, Softex PE participates as a regional associate and member of the Board of Directors of the Society for the Promotion of Excellence in Brazilian Software (Softex Nacional). It is a civil society organization that operates in 26 Brazilian states plus the Federal District, connecting government, academia and the private sector to boost scientific and technological development through the dissemination of the culture of entrepreneurship.

Focus on excellence

As a reference association in the technology and business sector in the state, Softex PE offers a wide range of services and events. One of the most prominent initiatives is the Center for Excellence in Software Testing (NEXT), which aims to improve the final quality of products developed by technology companies in the region.
Among the activities carried out by NEXT are training in processes, software testing and quality, mentoring, project development and a test factory. This service, one of the few available in the Northeast that serves small and medium-sized companies, trains members to evaluate their systems efficiently and economically.
Softex PE also promotes software quality programs, such as MPT.Br and MPS.Br, which aim to improve testing and development processes in member companies. MPT.Br is a program that involves consultancy and certification in the model of improvement in the testing process, capable of improving the quality of systems and increasing the productivity of companies. MPS.Br is a consultancy in the implementation of improvement of development processes and services that also provides certification.
To assess the situation and expectations of the technology sector in the state, Softex PE carries out, in partnership with Seprope, the Situational Survey of the Information Technology Sector in Pernambuco. The research is carried out by sampling, based on a registration base made up of around 340 associates, and measures their perception of the situation, their expectations and level of confidence in the sector.
In addition, the association also holds technical discussion forums to reflect on concepts and trends in the area of ​​Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The idea is to bring companies together so that they can, together, discuss the direction of the sector, emerging innovations and business opportunities.

Connection with the market
Softex PE’s support work for the development of the ICT sector in the state includes holding events such as Match Day, Match Session and Partner Day, which bring together associates and potential buyers of products and services. Companies in the market launch their challenges, which represent bottlenecks in the most diverse areas, the organization curates them and presents them to its members. On scheduled dates, the solutions are disclosed to company managers, which can create various business opportunities.
To give even more visibility to members and expand connections with the market, the Center of Excellence provides a search tool on its website that works like a company catalog. At Cata.Logo, each member has a profile with a summary of what they are, what they do, the segment in which they operate, the main technology or methodology used, keywords, photos and complete contact information, with telephone, email, website and physical address.

The Center of Excellence in Software Technology also functions as an immense relationship network that connects professionals, businesspeople and opinion leaders in the ICT ecosystem. Through instant messaging applications, such as WhatsApp, these actors interact and exchange information, business opportunities, share reports, studies and research relevant to the sector.

Collaborative space
In the Recife neighborhood, the heart of Pernambuco’s technology hub, technology companies interested in physically establishing themselves in the region have the facilities of a common collaborative space. Empresarial ITBC, located on Rua Domingos José Martins, was opened in 2010 and has 3,880 square meters of leasable area. In addition to housing the headquarters of Softex PE itself, the building is occupied by around 60 companies, institutions and projects, bringing together approximately 550 employees.

Among the advantages of the business are the 24-hour concierge, which operates every day of the week, quality broadband internet, cafeteria, state-of-the-art elevators, auditorium with capacity for 48 people and four private meeting rooms. There is also a café on the ground floor and a panoramic terrace, in a design that favors the complementation of skills and the formation of partnerships. Another attraction is the municipal legislation that guarantees a reduced rate of Service Tax (ISS) for companies located in the Porto Digital area.
As a living community of technology companies, Softex PE seeks to increasingly become a major center for disseminating quality culture and a reference in software testing. In this way, it contributes to consolidating the reputation of Pernambuco and Recife as an important national hub for ICT production and disseminator of the benefits of technology for social insertion and promotion.

The information contained in this article does not reflect the opinion of Jornal Folha de Pernambuco and is the sole responsibility of its creators.

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