Petrobras, with the support of Sebrae, is launching the 4th edition of the Startups Module of the Petrobras Connections for Innovation Program. With a total value of R$ 20 million, the call presents 31 challenges distributed across seven technological fronts: robotics, carbon reduction, digital technologies, energy storage and generation, corrosion, geological modeling, and inspection technologies.
At the end of the selection process, the winning companies will receive up to R$ 1.5 million to carry out their projects. The investment depends on the level of complexity of the challenges. Registrations will be open until June 29th and the announcement of the selected companies in the first stage of the process is scheduled for July.
“The company is one of the main investors in open innovation in the country, with around R$ 36 million invested over the past three years in the Startups Module of the Petrobras Connections for Innovation Program alone. It contributes to the development of innovative technologies and services, accelerating the incorporation of innovations in the company. In previous editions of the Startups Module, the subject of this call, we selected 37 companies for the development of solutions,” says Juliano Dantas, Director of Digital Transformation and Innovation at Petrobras.
The Startups Module seeks out new projects that bring innovative solutions to the challenges presented. The selected companies will have the support of Sebrae – a partner of Petrobras in this module of the program – and the expertise of the company’s technical team for activities such as adapting the proposals selected in the first stage and preparing for the pitch day (presentation to the final jury). The winners of the final stage receive financial investment and mentoring for their projects and business models. At the end of the entire process, the companies have the opportunity to become Petrobras suppliers, with the potential to scale up in the national and international industry.
“Our purpose is to enable small businesses to be protagonists in the oil and gas chain, developing cutting-edge technology and innovation. During their participation in the program, Sebrae offers all the necessary support to startups, from guidance on the physical and financial execution of projects, in accordance with the required requirements, to support actions for increasing competitiveness and the development of business models,” highlights Bruno Quick, Technical Director of Sebrae Nacional.
Petrobras’ interest in strengthening its relationship with the innovation ecosystem, specifically with startups and small technology-based companies, gave rise to the Startups Module. The investment aims to meet the demands mapped internally within the company and the agile development of solutions with the possibility of implementation in the oil and gas industry. The results are already visible. Through the program, the company systematically shares its challenges and invests resources in the best startups that are interested in cooperating to solve them. It is a way of contributing to society not only by encouraging research and innovation but also by generating demand.
The CTR3SM startup, selected in the 2020 call, is an example: it is delivering the Harpia project this month. It is a remotely piloted aircraft that, like the bird, has sharp vision and sensitivity. It is a type of drone, equipped with sensors and cameras that will be used to inspect large and hard-to-reach industrial areas. An Artificial Intelligence-based software was also developed to accurately detect the type, degree of corrosion, and need for repair. In addition to reducing costs and working hours, the resource avoids exposing people to risk.