Santa Catarina Boosts Innovation with New Funding and Training Programs for Entrepreneurs

Santa Catarina has launched significant initiatives to foster entrepreneurship and innovation in the state. On March 16, 2024, the government inaugurated Programa Centelha 3-SC with a funding pool of R$ 4 million to support up to 42 innovative startups. Launching in Rio do Sul, this program offers selected projects financial subsidies up to R$ 96,000, coupled with additional scholarships worth up to R$ 50,000 aimed at transforming innovative ideas into viable businesses. Governor Jorginho Mello emphasized the crucial role of innovation in generating employment and driving economic growth, particularly in the Alto Vale do Itajaí region. The program's call for proposals opens from March 17 to May 4, 2024, building on the success of its 2021 edition which received over 1,000 submissions. Concurrently, the Centro de Inovação Norberto Frahm was expanded with R$ 10 million state investment to bolster technological support for startups in the region.

Complementing this effort, the fourth edition of the Development of Innovative Products for Neoindustrialization (DPIN) program, organized by the Academy FIESC de Negócios, will commence on March 25, 2026, running for four months. This training initiative targets executives in companies seeking to develop strategic management skills related to technology and agile product development, fostering adaptability in evolving markets. Participants will work on creating prototypes of innovative products, enhancing their companies' competitiveness. Marcelo Guimarães, curator of DPIN, highlighted the program's focus on linking strategic planning with product innovation. The program addresses notable challenges faced by SMEs, such as financial insecurity and credit access difficulties, which affect around 40% of these businesses and limit investments in research and development (R&D). In 2022, R&D investment in these sectors totaled R$ 36.9 billion, roughly 0.65% of innovative companies' sales revenue. The Banco Regional de Desenvolvimento do Extremo Sul (BRDE) supports the DPIN program, emphasizing the region's commitment to fostering sustainable business growth through innovation.

Together, these programs represent a comprehensive approach by Santa Catarina to nurture entrepreneurship through financial aid, innovation training, and product development support, aiming to elevate the state’s position in technological advancement and economic development.