Resources were directed to 440 projects involving 431 companies across the country
· Since its founding 10 years ago, the organization has enabled the injection of R$ 3.46 billion for innovation
The Brazilian Industrial Research and Innovation Company (Embrapiii) registered a record value in innovation projects in 2023, and plans to close the year with 440 projects contracted with 431 companies across the country, totaling R$ 677 million. This is the best result since its foundation in 2013. In the last ten years, Embrapii has already made it possible to inject more than R$ 3.46 billion into Brazilian industry, through 2,355 projects developed with 1,610 client companies across the country . The numbers indicate that the institution is consolidating itself as an important instrument for inducing industrial innovation in Brazil, with a contribution of R$ 1.2 billion in non-refundable resources, which are added to the industry's own resources and partner Science and Technology Institutions (ICTs). from Embrapii.
“The record investment registered in 2023 marks 10 years since Embrapii was founded, a moment in which the institution is consolidating itself as an important actor in the national network of institutions that promote innovation”, says the president of Embrapii, Chico Saboya.
He assesses that, starting next year, the importance of the organization will grow on the national scene due to its adherence to the strategy of the Federal Government's new industrialization policy. “Our mission is to increase the competitiveness of Brazilian industry, through the incorporation of new standards of technological innovation in the productive fabric and, with this, generate jobs and wealth for the country”, he highlights.
The result for 2023 is 7.4% higher than that recorded in 2022, when Embrapii made possible the investment of R$ 630 million in innovation. This percentage reflects growth compared to previous years. In 2021 it was R$ 456 million and in 2020, R$ 251 million.
Embrapii's portfolio includes more than 20 industry areas, including agribusiness, health, mobility, energy, bioeconomy and aerospace. Of the companies served by Embrapii, 57% are micro and small, including startups, a segment for which investment in innovation proves to be more challenging.
Growing investment
Embrapii's innovation induction model stands out for its tripartite investment, whose financial contribution is non-refundable and can reach up to 1/3 of the project's value. The remainder of the investment is made by the companies and the Embrapii Unit, which provides intellectual capital and laboratory infrastructure.
Considering only the values contributed by Embrapii, the current result is also the highest in the historical series. In the year 2023, the organization's participation was R$ 250.29 million in the supported projects. The previous record was recorded in 2022, with R$ 212.80 million. Growth between the two years was 17,62%. Adding up its ten years of operation, Embrapii has already invested R$ 1.163 billion in technological innovation projects for the industry.
“The good result is the result of a successful model and the consolidation of Embrapii’s work over the years”, highlights Saboya.
Embrapii has management contracts with the Federal Government, through the Ministries of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (MDIC), Education and Health, and also maintains important partnerships with institutions such as BNDES and Sebrae. “The construction of this network allowed us to expand the resources invested systematically”, points out the president.
Only through the Federal Government's Rota 2023 Priority Program, R$ 245 million has been invested since 2019. The partnership signed between Embrapii and BNDES, started in 2021, made R$ 238 million in investments possible. The agreement with Sebrae resulted in R$ 341 million, between 2017 and 2023. This year, a new contract was signed between the two institutions, with execution scheduled for the period from 2024 to 2027 and investment of R$ 116 million, with a focus on startups , micro and small companies. The forecast is that, in this new agreement alone, in total, R$ 390 million will be invested, adding contributions from Embrapii, Sebrae, Embrapii Units and companies.
Future of the industry
In addition to the R$ 250 million injected by Embrapii into industrial innovation projects, another R$ 463 million announced, in 2023, for the creation of nine Embrapii Competence Centers. They constitute an unprecedented model for promoting innovation in the country, with the aim of shortening distances between national companies and the frontier of knowledge, in emerging scientific areas. The topics to be researched will be responsible for solutions that will make the industry viable for the future.
The Embrapii Competence Centers will operate in seven different areas. Of the nine Centers, eight have already had their managing institutions announced. For 2024, the announcement of other Competence Centers is expected, one of them in the area of Cybersecurity and another in the Amazon.
Check out the list of announcements already made:
- Competence Center for Quantum Technology. Management unit: SENAI Cimatec (BA);
– Competence Center for 5G and 6G Connectivity Technology and Infrastructures. Management unit: Inatel Instituto Nacional de Telecommunications (MG);
– Open RAN Competence Center. Management unit: CPQD Telecommunications Research and Development Center (SP);
– Competence Center for Immersive Technologies Applied to Virtual Worlds. Management unit: CEIA-UFG Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence – Federal University of Goiás (GO);
– Embrapii Competence Center for Intelligent and Connected Hardware Platforms. Management unit: Lactec Institute of Technology for Development (PR);
– Embrapii Competence Center for Intelligent and Connected Hardware Platforms. Management unit: SENAI Institute for Innovation in Sensing Systems (RS);
– Embrapii Competence Center for Intelligent and Connected Hardware Platforms. Management unit: Virtus-UFCG Center for Research, Development and Innovation in Information Technology, Communication and Automation, at the Federal University of Campina Grande (PB); It is
– Embrapii Competence Center in Advanced Therapies. Management unit: Sociedade Beneficente Israelita Brasileira Hospital Albert Einstein (SP).
