Sebrae launches program to stimulate business and innovation in the Port of Itajaí

The Innovation Routes Program aims to develop small businesses for the port sector

Sebrae (Brazilian Support Service for Micro and Small Enterprises) and the Port of Itajaí launched the Routes to Innovation Program last week. The project, led by Sebrae Startups, aims to accelerate innovation and the development of small businesses linked to the port sector, encouraging the improvement of internal processes and the adoption of technologies that increase efficiency and competitiveness.

The program also seeks to connect startups and innovative businesses at the mouth of the Itajaí River, with the support of educational institutions and research centers, with potential customers and partners, facilitating the commercialization of products and services, stimulating the innovation ecosystem and boosting the region's economic development.

According to what was announced at the launch ceremony, which took place at the Port of Itajaí, there will be four meetings in total, with workshops aimed at identifying challenges, connecting the demands of companies and the solutions offered by educational institutions and startups.

Additionally, a workshop dedicated to fostering innovative projects is planned. During the event, a digital form was launched to register companies and entrepreneurs.

The superintendent of the Port of Itajaí, João Paulo Tavares Bastos, emphasized that the launch of the Routes to Innovation Program is an important milestone for the port complex. He emphasized that the initiative aims to strengthen the logistics and production chain through the Smart Ports concept, connecting startups, research centers, universities, as well as small, medium, and large companies in the sector.

"The Port of Itajaí positions itself as a connecting hub, a meeting point for innovative companies of all sizes. Together, we will boost new businesses, create jobs, increase income, and strengthen the economies of Itajaí, Santa Catarina, and Brazil," he commented.

Claudiomir Pedroni, CFO of Invest Itajaí and Elume – Regional Innovation Center, noted that the Routes to Innovation Program was born from a clear vision that contemporary challenges require collaborative and innovative solutions.

"The Program creates a bridge: on one side, strategic companies and the port sector, with their challenges and practices; on the other, a vibrant innovation ecosystem, made up of startups, entrepreneurs, and researchers from science and technology institutions, brimming with potential, ideas, and creations. This program is the meeting point that connects demand to solutions," he said.

Partners

The Routes to Innovation Program is a project of Sebrae/SC, through Sebrae Startups, the Port Authority of the Port of Itajaí and Santos, and the Elume Regional Innovation Center. It also has partnerships with the Federal Institute of Santa Catarina (Itajaí Campus), Udesc (Balneário Camboriú), UFSC (Joinville), Univali's Directorate of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Marinatech Rede Midhub, ACII's Technology and Innovation Center, ACATE Foz do Itajaí Regional Hub, and SC Mais Inovação.