An event held at the Innovation Center brought together companies, startups, and institutions to explore concrete funding opportunities for innovation
Santo André, April 29, 2026 – Last Monday (the 27th), Santo André hosted the Santo André edition of “Finep pelo Brasil,” held at the Center for Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship, the headquarters of the Santo André Technology Park. The event brought together more than 250 participants, including entrepreneurs, startups, scientific and technological institutions, government representatives, and stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem.
The initiative aimed to connect the business sector with the main funding opportunities for innovation offered by Finep (Financing Agency for Studies and Projects), which is affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation. During the event, credit instruments, economic grants, and investment opportunities were presented, along with 13 public calls for proposals totaling R$ 3.3 billion in non-repayable funds for projects across the country.
The program provided a practical overview of how companies and startups can access these resources. It detailed programs such as Finep Inovacred, financing mechanisms covering up to 100% of project costs, extended deadlines, and tools focused on digital transformation, Industry 4.0, and national technological development.
Speaking on behalf of Finep, Deputy Regional Manager Márcio Ikegami emphasized that funding is available, but what makes the difference is companies’ ability to develop sound projects:
“Brazil has significant resources for innovation. The main challenge is not a lack of money, but the quality of the projects submitted. When there is structure, planning, and a clear purpose, the chances of securing funding increase significantly,” said Ikegami.
The statement underscores one of the key points of the meeting: the need for technical and strategic maturity to turn funding opportunities into viable and scalable projects.
At the official opening ceremony, Evandro Banzato, Secretary of Economic Development and Job Creation, highlighted the Park’s role as a setting that connects these resources to the local community.
“You can’t talk about entrepreneurship, business acceleration, and innovation without mentioning credit. Santo André demonstrates, in practice, that these resources can be transformed into infrastructure, projects, and real development for the city,” Banzato pointed out.
During the event, Savoya’s new initiative—the Santo André Technology Park Innovation Program—was also presented, with the launch of its incubation program.
The initiative was launched with the goal of supporting innovative businesses in their early stages or during growth, offering infrastructure, strategic connections, access to technical expertise, and close ties to the ecosystem. The program aligns with the Park’s entrepreneurship focus and expands the capacity to transform ideas into market-ready solutions.
As a result, the Park is strengthening its role not only as an infrastructure hub but also as an active platform for business development, connecting startups with companies, universities, investors, and funding opportunities.
Another highlight of the event was the presentation on the Technology Park’s strategic role in coordinating the regional ecosystem. Since its creation, the Park has been active in raising funds for innovation projects, establishing itself as an environment that brings together government, companies, ICTs, investors, and startups around a common agenda.
The Finep pelo Brasil event held in Santo André reinforces the city’s position as an increasingly important hub on the national innovation agenda. More than just presenting funding opportunities, the event showcased concrete ways for companies and entrepreneurs to access resources, develop technology, and enhance their competitiveness.
With a packed auditorium and strong audience engagement, the event highlights a key point: innovation does not happen in isolation; it depends on connections, strategy, and the ability to execute. And it is precisely in this regard that the Santo André Technology Park has been establishing itself as a key player.
Text: Thiffani Valeriano