Sergipe and Minas Gerais Set New Standards with Record Investments in Science and Innovation in 2025
Sergipe and Minas Gerais have set records in 2025 by significantly increasing investments in science, technology, and innovation, supporting a wide array of research projects and technological advancements.
- • Sergipe's Fapitec/SE executed R$ 21.6 million in 2025, funding 1,379 projects and supporting 116 companies.
- • Minas Gerais plans to surpass R$ 1 billion in CT&I investments between 2024 and 2026, with over R$ 560 million invested in 2025 alone.
- • Minas Gerais funded 92 projects through Compete Minas with R$ 49.8 million and allocated R$ 20 million to 14 projects under Laboratórios Certificadores.
- • New initiatives in Sergipe include environmental education and technological innovation funding calls, increasing from 19 to 28 editals.
Key details
In 2025, the Brazilian states of Sergipe and Minas Gerais made groundbreaking investments in science, technology, and innovation, signaling a strong commitment to fostering research and technological advancement. Sergipe’s Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa e à Inovação Tecnológica (Fapitec/SE) executed a historic R$ 21.6 million — the highest in its history — to finance 1,379 projects benefiting 1,295 researchers, 1,965 scholars, and 116 companies, thereby strengthening collaboration across academia, government, and industry. The number of funding calls rose from 19 in 2024 to 28 in 2025, with new initiatives targeting environmental education and technological innovation among emerging demands. Alex Garcez, Fapitec/SE’s director-president, attributed these achievements to collective effort and strategic dialogue with the scientific community and industry partners.
Meanwhile, Minas Gerais has surpassed R$ 560 million in CT&I investments for 2025, building on over R$ 530 million spent in 2024, positioning the state to exceed R$ 1 billion in investments by 2026. This includes vital funding allocations through programs such as Compete Minas, which approved 92 proposals with R$ 49.8 million aimed at boosting innovative product and process development. Other initiatives include the Laboratórios Certificadores program investing R$ 20 million in 14 projects, notably the Laremar laboratory at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, which aims to certify food and agricultural products to expand export opportunities.
The Cientista Empreendedor program backed 22 proposals with nearly R$ 9.7 million to translate academic research into startups and new market ventures, while the Come to Minas initiative funded 33 proposals with R$ 18.9 million to attract technological businesses. The Secretary of Economic Development, Mila Corrêa da Costa, emphasized that these investments empower local businesses to innovate competitively on a global scale. Fapemig’s 40th anniversary in 2025 underscores the continuous role of scientific promotion in Minas Gerais, highlighted by its president, Carlos Arruda.
Together, Sergipe and Minas Gerais exemplify a robust regional focus on making science, technology, and innovation key drivers of economic and social development in Brazil. Both states are advancing diversified funding mechanisms and fostering strong public-private research partnerships to sustain this growth trajectory into the future.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
