Coppe and Senai Cimatec University form a strategic alliance to boost energy transition technologies

Coppe/UFRJ and Senai Cimatec University took an important step toward strengthening technological innovation in Brazil by formalizing, on June 15th, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on developing technologies for the energy transition and low-carbon industry. The signing marks the beginning of a strategic cooperation that unites the academic excellence of one of the country’s most renowned research institutions, Coppe, with the technological and industrial infrastructure of Senai Cimatec, focusing on accelerating innovative solutions to the energy and environmental challenges of the next decades.

The ceremony brought together representatives from academia, the productive sector and funding agencies to discuss the future of Brazilian industrial innovation. Participants included the rector of Senai Cimatec University, Luis Breda; Coppe’s director, Professor Suzana Kahn; the institution’s Director for Technology and Innovation, Marysilvia Ferreira da Costa; and Professor Henrique Poltronieri, from the Chemical Engineering Program, also at Coppe; as well as researchers and members of the academic community from both institutions. Also present were the general manager of Technological Innovation Management at Petrobras, Julio Leite, and the manager of Innovation Networks at Embrapii, Brenno Passoni.

Cooperation to accelerate the energy transition

The partnership will allow research developed by Coppe to advance to technological demonstration, prototyping and pilot industrialization stages using the infrastructure of Senai Cimatec Park, located in the Camaçari Industrial Park. Inspired by international models of integration between universities and technology parks, the cooperation foresees the joint development of Research, Development and Innovation (R&D&I) projects, exchange of researchers, students and specialists, in addition to the promotion of training programs in strategic areas for the new low-carbon economy.

According to the rector of Senai Cimatec University, Luis Breda, the objective of the partnership is “to enable the development of solutions for the energy transition, such as sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), carbon capture and utilization, and green hydrogen, taking advantage of the enormous potential of renewable energies in the Brazilian Northeast to position the country in strategic global markets of the low-carbon economy,” he highlighted.

The expectation is that combining the expertise of the two institutions will contribute to accelerating the technological maturity of innovative projects, expanding the possibilities for industrial application and strengthening the country’s competitiveness in sectors related to sustainability and decarbonization.

Science and industry working in an integrated way

Coppe’s director, Suzana Kahn, emphasized that the cooperation enhances the complementary capabilities of the institutions and expands the possibilities for generating impact on society. “This alliance has much to contribute to society and to technological innovation in the area of ​​low-carbon industry, which is strategic for Brazil. Coppe has a strong scientific and academic output, while Senai Cimatec has unique conditions to scale these technologies and take them to industrial levels. This complementarity strengthens our ability to develop innovative solutions for the challenges of the future,” she stated.

As part of the program, participants attended the keynote lecture “The role of Coppe and Senai Cimatec in the development of the low-carbon industry,” given by professors Suzana Kahn and Henrique Poltronieri. During the activity, the challenges of the energy transition, the opportunities for national technological development, and the role of science, technology, and innovation institutions in building a more sustainable, competitive industry aligned with global decarbonization demands were discussed.

* By the Senai Cimatec Communications Office