Innovation

Minas Gerais has 14 public universities, of which 3 are among the best in Brazil. The courses of Agronomy, Biological Sciences, Design, Information Systems, Pharmacy and Engineering stand out among the best in the national education ranking. The state also has the best business school in Latin America, the Dom Cabral Foundation.

There are three technological parks in Minas Gerais currently, in Belo Horizonte, Itajubá and Viçosa. Another three are under construction: Uberaba, Juiz de Fora and Lavras. All of them have close collaboration with local universities, which assures permanent academic collaboration with the local companies. Technology-based companies of various sectors may be established in any of these structures.

Minas Gerais has 25 technology-based incubators in various regions of the state. All of them are linked to the Minas Gerais Innovation Network. Seven are already recognized as the best incubators of Brazil. The technology-based companies set up in Minas Gerais also receive support from the acceleration entities, such as Seed. New enterprises in the state receive support from their initial stages and during all the running of the business.

In Minas Gerais, companies can get lines of financing specific to innovation. BDMG, jointly with Fapemig, has the lines: Pró-Inovação, for companies with innovative projects; and Proptec, for companies set up in the technological parks. There are also lines in partnership with federal financing agencies. Codemig and BDMG also provide venture capital through their participation investment funds: BDMGTEC and Codepar.

The State government encourages innovation through its projects that encourage creativity and entrepreneurship.  Sectes has its projects in the “Minas Digital” program, working in several fronts to support the digital economy, creative economy and innovation. The Minas Gerais Innovation System is one of these projects focusing on drawing together academia and industry. Innovative projects may also receive special support from Codemig, through its department that focus on supporting the high technology industry.

Companies with a high technological content chose Minas Gerais for their R&D centers. Embraer and Fiat develop new products in the state. The microelectronic center of CSEM Brasil also found ideal conditions in the state for their research and development. There are also public research centers working in Minas Gerais, such as Fiocruz and Funed. The ten INCTs in the state are also proof of the great capacity of the state in research and development.  

he startup community in Minas Gerais has been recognized for its innovative and successful environment. Countless successful startups have been created and established in the state. The San Pedro Valley, is a startup community with over 200 technology-based companies, as well as accelerators, incubators, co working spaces and technological parks. Startups from any part of the world are welcome in Belo Horizonte. They may enroll in the Seed acceleration program, which provides seed capital and training for the development of innovative ideas.