Launched in September 2005 with over 75 participants and with a 2nd activity developed in June 2006, the Argentina BoP Learning Lab™ is off to a strong start. Participant companies, Grupo Nueva, Petrobrás, Arcor, Edenor, Estudio Beccar Varela, Repsol, Dupont, Transportadora Gas del Norte and Gas Natural Ban were all in attendance along with representatives from Tetra Pak and SC Johnson, long-time members of the USA BoP Learning Lab™. Participation also extended, in both occasions, to government officials, social entrepreneurs, internationally known non-profit organizations, such as Ashoka and UNDP, as well as local non-profit organizations. Moreover they were able to attract academics from a range of public and private universities making it a truly diverse group.

The first activity was focused on conceptual issues. The objective was to create a common language about the BoP concept among the audience. As a result of this activity, and suggested by participants, in the second activity more practical issues about the subject were introduced.

The Argentina BoP Learning Laboratory™ is managed by IESC (Center for Corporate Sustainability Studies) in Buenos Aires.

Programs

• Case studies on BoP business approaches
• Workshops focused on the press
• Workshops focused on NGOs and social entrepreneurs in order to facilitate interaction
• Exploring ways to work more closely with government officials

Membership

Participating in the Argentine BoP Laboratory enables participants to:

• Expand their capacity of thinking and idea generation
• Explore new business models and markets
• Create knowledge and exchange it with other participants
• Interact with other professional areas, industrial sectors, and institutions and learn about other needs, opportunities and realities
• Participate in research studies
• Generate innovative ideas
• Benefit from the learning laboratories network
• Participate in an open space with leaders from NGO’s, social entrepreneurs, companies, public sector and academics.
• Create opportunities for development and growth in new markets

Main Enterprises that are Participating

• Arcor
• Edenor
• Estudio Beccar Varela
• Grupo Nueva
• Amanco Argentina
• Petrobrás
• Repsol
• Dupont
• Pepsico
• Gas Natural Ban
• Transportadora Gas del Norte
• ABN AMRO

Other Organizations that are Participating

• UNDP
• CEADS
• AVINA

Contact
To learn more about this Learning Lab in Spanish, visit their website. To become a member organization contact:
Miguel Angel Gardetti
Director
Center for Corporate Sustainability Studies
mag@instituto.ws