This Thursday (10/28), Petrobras launches the pilot notice for the selection and contracting of innovative solutions in accordance with the new regulatory environment created by complementary law 182/21, of the Legal Framework for Startups (MLS). Those selected may receive up to R$1.6 million per proposal, depending on the challenge, for developing and testing solutions in productive environments. It is the highest investment value ever per proposal used by the company, reaching the limit established by the new framework. The notice foresees 12 challenges in the areas of oil and gas, corporate and security, and registration will be open until November 28, totaling up to R$ 12.9 million in investment.

This is the fifth selection launched this year by the Petrobras Connections for Innovation program, which focuses on accelerating the implementation of technological innovations with high potential for generating value for the oil, gas and energy sector. This time, the search is for innovative solutions for startups and other companies, already validated or at an advanced stage of development and that allow them to be tested during the contract. After the approval of the result of the notice and the determination of which solutions best meet its challenges, Petrobras may enter into a Public Contract for Innovative Solution (CPSI) with the selected bidders, valid for 12 months, extendable for up to 12 months.

“The new legal framework expands our investment channels and allows for the growth of the number of startups qualified to form a partnership with Petrobras. With this, we recognize innovative entrepreneurship as a source of economic and social development. For our part, we have a lot to offer this segment through our innovation notices: significant resources, mentoring by a highly qualified technical staff and state-of-the-art infrastructure in the laboratories of the largest research center in Latin America, Cenpes. It's a win-win model. Companies gain the possibility of improving their products, structuring their businesses and entering the oil and gas market, in Brazil or abroad, by presenting Petrobras, recognized worldwide for the excellence of its operation, in its portfolios. Petrobras wins in accelerating high-impact technological solutions”, assesses the director of Digital Transformation and Innovation at Petrobras, Nicolás Simone.

For Petrobras, the new milestone will contribute to accelerating the digital transformation underway at the company, simplifying the process for acquiring a product or technology. Based on the new regulation, it is possible to quickly contract innovative solutions that have already been validated or under development, and even run two or more CPSIs simultaneously, testing and evaluating solutions in parallel. In addition, the framework allows, after the innovation contract, the solution with the best performance to be contracted for a period of two years, extendable for another two years. These two phases together will speed up the implementation of the solutions at the company.

The new legal framework came into force in August this year and its rules are already incorporated into Petrobras' Bidding and Contracting Regulation (RLCP), available on the Supplier Channel. More information about the notice can be obtained at the Petrobras technology portal: https://petrobr.as/editalsolucoes

This year, Petrobras launched another four public notices for the Petrobras Connections for Innovation Program. The company is one of the main investors in open innovation in the country, with more than R$35 million in investment. Public notices already launched and in progress remain in their original formats.