Senai Cimatec, in Salvador, is selected as the Embrapii Competence Center in Quantum Technologies, with the challenge of developing knowledge and new frontier technologies
Quantum technologies are a new area of knowledge that will help society solve highly complex problems through new forms of computing, communication and sensors. Quantum Technologies allow the processing of a large amount of data, the resolution of calculations that are currently very difficult and the transmission of data with much more security.
Applications include the development of new sources of clean energy, monitoring climate change on the planet, developing new vaccines more quickly and accurately, and secure data communication.
With the aim of enabling the advancement of Quantum Technologies in Brazil, Embrapii (Brazilian Industrial Research and Innovation Company) announced, this Tuesday (17), the investment of R$ 60 million for the creation of the Embrapii Competence Center in Quantum Technologies . Senai Cimatec, an excellent education, science, technology and innovation institution, located in Salvador, Bahia, was selected to lead the initiative. The resources invested originate from the PPI IoT/Manufacturing 4.0, from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI).
“For a country to prosper, it needs ambition, qualifications, perseverance and focus. We need convergence between public policies and the private sector so that the first can enable an innovation environment and the second can have incentives to increase the appetite for innovation. The Embrapii Competence Centers are destined to unite these ends and seek solutions in the area of Quantum Technologies”, highlights Chico Saboya, president of Embrapii. “Senai Cimatec will focus on Quantum Communication, focused on improving data security processes. But, it will also work in Quantum Computing whose benefits are based on carrying out a high load of data processing”, explains Saboya.
The contract with Senai Cimatec will be valid for 42 months and provides for research and development activities in quantum technologies, HR training and qualification for RD&I (Research, Development and Innovation) activities in the area, formation of an association of companies in the membership model , in addition to creating an open innovation environment for the creation and attraction of startups, involving national and international partnerships and associated companies. Research must be developed according to market needs, to insert Brazil into the international scenario of R&D activities related to quantum technologies.
“This will be a big step towards Brazil’s consolidation in the global race for Quantum Technologies. From the Competence Center it will be possible to increase the quality and number of talents that will be a fundamental basis for the development of research projects, development of prototypes and connection with new startups and companies. The Competence Center will focus on Quantum Communication, through new protocols and key distribution experiments, and Quantum Computing with new algorithms and hardware systems”, says Leone Andrade, general director of Senai Cimatec.
The selection of Senai Cimatec is aligned with Embrapii's premise of decentralizing innovation in Brazil, with investments applied to research centers across the country. Located in Salvador, Bahia, the Integrated Manufacturing and Technology Campus – Senai Cimatec is one of the most advanced education, technology and innovation centers in the country, working to develop innovative technological services as a reference in meeting the demands of the national industry. Senai Cimatec integrates a technical school, Technological Centers and University Center, operating in a synergistic and integrated way, with a multi-campus structure.
International spotlight
In 2023, Embrapii was highlighted in a survey by Qureca, a British training and business development company in quantum technology, as the only initiative in Latin America to develop initiatives in Quantum Technology. The mapping presented ongoing projects on the topic around the world and included Brazil due to the creation of the Competence Center for Quantum Technologies. The original publication can be seen here: https://qureca.com/quantum-
Investment in the industry of the future
In 2022, Embrapii launched public calls for a total of nine Competence Centers, which will operate in seven different areas and will be responsible for innovative solutions with the aim of enabling major industry trends for the future. The Competence Centers will build knowledge and create reference points for research in areas of frontier technologies.
The Competence Center in Quantum Technologies adds to the other seven Embrapii Competence Centers, already announced and one, in the area of Cybersecurity, in the call stage. To date, the announcements total R$ 463 million. Check out the list of announcements already made:
– Senai Cimatec as the Quantum Technology Competence Center;
– Inatel (National Telecommunications Institute) as Competence Center for 5G and 6G connectivity technology and infrastructures;
– CPQD (Telecommunications Research and Development Center), as Open RAN Competence Center;
– CEIA-UFG (Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence – Federal University of Goiás), as a Center of Competence in immersive technologies applied to virtual worlds;
– Institute of Technology for Development (Lactec), as Embrapii Competence Center for Intelligent and Connected Hardware Platforms;
– Senai Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Sensing Systems, as Embrapii Competence Center in Intelligent and Connected Hardware Platforms;
– Virtus (Center for Research, Development and Innovation in Information Technology, Communication and Automation) at the Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), as the Embrapii Competence Center in Intelligent and Connected Hardware Platforms.
– Sociedade Beneficente Israelita Brasileira Albert Einstein Hospital as Embrapii Competence Center in Advanced Therapies.
