Chopinzinho Boosts Innovation with Over R$1 Million Funding as Brazil Launches New Clean Energy Tech Program

Chopinzinho, a key municipality in Brazil's agricultural sector, recently received R$1,128,011.45 from the State Government’s Pacto pela Inovação program to establish a local Hub of Innovation. This funding forms part of a larger R$4,445,827.43 investment allocated to four municipalities — Chopinzinho, Pato Branco, Francisco Beltrão, and Realeza — to bolster science, technology, and innovation initiatives.

The new innovation hub in Chopinzinho will feature state-of-the-art facilities such as a 3D printing laboratory, immersion rooms, dedicated spaces for neurodivergent individuals, startup workspaces, and a room for the Municipal Innovation Council. Additionally, the municipality plans to acquire an electric vehicle to support sustainable mobility. Francisco José Grezzana, municipal secretary of Economic Development, Innovation, and Technology, emphasized that these efforts, which began in 2025, are designed to create a conducive environment for technological and sustainable development, stating, "This investment strengthens what we are already building, particularly with the creation of the innovation hub, creating a favorable environment for the development of technology and innovative and sustainable solutions."

Concurrently on the national stage, Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), along with Finep, launched the Finep Mais Inovação Brasil program aimed at advancing sustainable reindustrialization and energy transition. The public call, open until August 31, targets projects that develop low-carbon energy technologies, including solar, wind, biomass, hydrogen, and energy storage systems. The initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize the electric sector, promote biofuels, and enhance competitiveness by reducing technological dependence.

Minister Luciana Santos highlighted the strategic significance of this initiative, underscoring its role in strengthening national industry via science and innovation, creating skilled jobs, and supporting value-added projects in strategic production chains.

Together, these local and national initiatives exemplify Brazil's commitment to fostering innovation hubs at the municipal level while simultaneously advancing clean energy technologies nationwide. Chopinzinho's investment will enhance its existing innovation ecosystem, and the new public call invites more projects aligned with Brazil’s sustainable development goals.