The Aço Cearense Group is accepting applications until June 17th for the “Inovar Program” – created with the objective of bringing together startups and institutions from all over Brazil to solve real challenges for the group's companies: Aço Cearense Comercial, Aço Cearense Industrial, SINOBRAS, SINOBRAS Florestal and Instituto Aço Cearense.
According to the Brazilian Startup Association, from 2015 to 2019, the number of startups created in the country jumped from 4,100 to 12,700, an increase of 207%. In 2021, Brazil reached 14,065 startups distributed across 78 communities and 710 Brazilian cities. Within this context, the program aims to provide immersion in technologies and exchange experiences with innovation experts, launching four challenges to connect people, ideas, experiences, and technologies.
Companies that meet the proposed challenges and are at least in the validation stage, testing on a small scale until they are in the market and generating revenue, are eligible to participate. The startup must have the capacity to operate a rapid test (3-6 months) with the Grupo Aço Cearense team, regardless of the type of solution/technology or the company's location.
According to Ian Corrêa, vice president of operations at Grupo Aço Cearense, the project is part of the Innovation Management Program (PGI), which integrates internal and external stakeholders. "The Inovar Program stems from the idea of joining forces with companies that are at the forefront of innovation. Often, an outside perspective can contribute significantly to solving issues that arise as bottlenecks for the company on a daily basis," he explains.
The challenges
The first Open Innovation call for the Inovar Program presents four challenges: optimizing the scrap receiving and sorting processes at Siderúrgica Norte Brasil – SINOBRAS; automating the acquisition process for low-value, high-turnover items; quoting material freight rates before selecting a supplier; and conducting supplier evaluations in a traceable manner.
Registration
Startups interested in participating can register through the link aevo.com.br/connect/aco-cearense until June 17th. Those registered will have the opportunity to increase the scale of their solution/technology, in addition to visibility and endorsement from Grupo Aço Cearense and the possibility of being hired as a supplier or partner.
More information for the Press:
AD2M Communication Engineering
www.ad2m.com.br | (85) 3258.1001
Camila Grangeiro – camilagrangeiro@ad2m.com.br | (85) 9.9659.6890
Waldirene Lisboa – waldirene@ad2m.com.br | +55 (85) 9.966957901
Mauro Costa – maurocosta@ad2m.com.br | (85) 9.8879.8474
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