The ENRICH in LAC Innovation Tour
The Innovation Tour had the following agenda:
CNPEM - 25th of September
Braskem - 25th of September
On the same day, the industry visits started at Braskem, a global company with presence on five of the six continents, which is actively engaged in open innovation with a focus on sustainable practices. For instances they turn sugar cane into ethanol in Triunfo, Rio Grande do Sul, for the production of polyethylene, with an emphasis on sustainable and eco-friendly processes. One of their notable initiatives is the launch of Sustainea, a company that produces bioMEG and bioMPG. These substances are crucial in the production of PET (polyethyl terephthalate), used in various applications, including textiles and beverage bottles. Sustainea plans to implement three industrial plants, with the first expected to operate in 2026. The entourage was able to visit the laboratories where the research and development happens throughout all its stages. ENRICH in LAC is honoured to have Braskem as one of its members.
Natura - 26th of September
Natura, a company known for its commitment to innovation and nature inclusiveness, presented its approach to open innovation and manufacturing. They have exclusive partnerships for skin test ingredients and collaborate with universities, including an Open Lab at USP, and have not used animals in their products testing procedures since the early 2000’s. Additionally, their factory in the Amazon starts from TRL 1, identifying new plant species with constant consultation of traditional knowledge from surrounding native Amazon inhabitants, instilling social responsibility actions for the sustainable development of these communities whilst ensuring sustainable harvesting of the natural and exotic ingredients that Natura seeks for its products. Natura is involved extensive research and employs 262 R&D scientists, focused on fragrance, technology, and ecosystem development. Moreover, their highly automated manufacturing plant in Cajamar can produce 33 million products per month. Laborers can flexibly exchange roles throughout production. They maintain an area of reserved Atlantic rainforest around the Cajamar plant to align with their nature-inclusive philosophy and are carbon-neutral. Finally, Thadeu de Ávila Ribeiro Junqueira, Member of the Board of ENRICH in LAC, provided a in-depth presentation about Natura, its values, history, future plans, environmental and social responsibility activities. ENRICH in LAC is thrilled to have Natura as one of its members.
Internationalisation Session for SMEs - 26th of September
The Internationalisation Session for SMEs, provided by ILM Group and FCR Law, offered a comprehensive agenda designed to assist SMEs in their expansion into the Brazilian market. It covered a range of critical topics such as: an overview of Brazil’s international significance and potential benefits and challenges for Brazilian companies; the unique characteristics of the Brazilian market, encompassing cultural, bureaucratic, and tax aspects, and provided insights into entry strategies, emphasizing the importance of market research and product adaptation. The legal and regulatory environment in Brazil was also discussed, with a focus on aspects relevant to the specific segment of companies attending the event. The session concluded with a Q&A, enabling participants to seek clarification and deepen their understanding of the internationalisation process, with a particular focus on the Brazilian market.
Innovation Talk and Roundtable - 26th of September
Following the Internationalisation Session for SMEs the Innovation Tour participants were greeted with an Innovation Talk and Roundtable on “New technologies for the production and application of Green Hydrogen” which had panelists from Toyota, FAPESP, SENAI, ANEPI and was moderated by Plug and Play. A diverse range of companies attented and actively engaged in the conversation about the future of Green Hydrogen in Brazil, predictions of industry trends, policy challenges and potential changes, ongoing research and finally about the unique ecosytem in Brazil that can enhance innovation in Green Hydrogen. Some of the companies that participated were: Embraer, Siemens, Intermediano, Cipatex, Aegea and SPI.
CNI and SEBRAE's International Industry Innovation Summit - 26th, 27th and 28th of September
The entourage participated and took the opportunity to network and get to know the innovation ecosystem in Brazil, at the International Industry Innovation Summit arranged by CNI and SEBRAE. Several Start-ups, research centres, industry giants and entrepreneurs were present at this event. All booths present had something to engage and spark interesting conversations about innovation, research and sustainable development in the aviation industry, automotive, construction, energy solutions, agriculture, future food and many more.
Embraer - 29th of September
To cap off the Innovation Tour, the entourage visited Embraer, one of the world’s leading commercial aircraft companies, which has achieved remarkable success in commercial and executive aviation, defense, and security by embracing innovation. The company’s commitment to innovation is evident through their Innovation Index. Embraer noticed that when they do not innovate as quickly their revenue from products launched in the last five years drops. Their collaborative innovation ecosystem comprising affiliates, R&D, support services, and various partners spark this innovation that is crucial for the sustainability of their business model and market competition. They focus on taking R&D projects from basic research to product and service development, and global partnerships have been pivotal in their journey. Embraer’s open innovation program targets areas like zero emissions, autonomous flight, AI, data science, passenger experience, and more. They have also introduced innovative projects like “Eve” and “Beacon,” catering to urban mobility and sustainable aviation solutions. The entourage had the pleasure to visit the production line and witness all the phases of assembling of an Embraer aircraft.
ENRICH in LAC and its partners is thankful to all participants and collaborators on this Innovation Tour. Mostly, ENRICH in LAC is proud that this joint effort provided a truly ENRICHing experience to all involved, and left a stamp of quality for possible future tours and tailored experiences for members or future members.