Eighteen startups are the winners of the 2nd call for the Petrobras Connections for Innovation program - Startups Module, in partnership with Sebrae. The companies, selected from more than 300 registered in the country, will receive investments totaling R $ 10 million. The value will be applied to the development of technological solutions for the company, in the areas of robotics, energy efficiency, corrosion, digital technologies, carbon reduction, geological modeling and inspection technologies.

"Interacting with startups is a transformative experience, which connects us to the numerous initiatives to accelerate innovation in the company. We are open to innovative ideas capable of generating value for our business and offering agile solutions to the demands of the sector”, says the director Digital Transformation and Innovation, Nicolás Simone.

“Sebrae's purpose is to transform small businesses into protagonists in Brazil's sustainable development. Through this program, selected startups will have the opportunity to develop innovations that will meet great challenges in the oil and gas production chain and generate greater competitiveness in the country, ”explains Sebrae technical director, Bruno Quick.

The program's II call for proposals brought 54 challenges in nine different areas: digital technologies, robotics, energy efficiency, catalysts, corrosion, carbon reduction, geological modeling, inspection and water treatment technologies.

On a larger scale, the selection had 363 startups registered, one hundred more than the previous one. Thirty companies, selected in the first phase, in July, about 10 percent, received support from Petrobras and Sebrae to refine their proposals and business models. Last week (22 and 23) the last stage of the selection was carried out. Through pitches, short presentations, virtual due to the pandemic, the startups showed their innovative products and services to a bank of company executives.

The startups will have the assistance of Petrobras and Sebrae so that their solutions have the proven benefits and business models that guarantee the generation of value in the short term and competitive insertion in the market. For projects successfully completed, Petrobras will seek to enable the continuity of its development, with the implementation and field tests of a pilot lot or pioneer service.

Check out the winners:https://petrobr.as/resultadoconexoes