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Key people at Fundação CERTI.
Fundação CERTI is an independent non-profit institution based in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, that conducts applied research, technological development, and specialized consulting services to enhance corporate innovation and industrial competitiveness. The organization operates multiple Reference Centers for Innovative Technologies that focus on delivering customized engineering solutions in advanced fields such as Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence, mechatronics, digital transformation, and sustainable green energy. Through its multidisciplinary research teams and strategic partnerships, the institution has successfully served a global customer base of over 12,000 clients across the private, government, and third sectors worldwide. Key operational units and regional initiatives managed by business development personnel like Eduardo Rezende include CERTI Amazônia, the Jornada Amazônia bioeconomy platform, and the Brasília-based CERTI Sapientia artificial intelligence project. Fundação CERTI was officially founded as an independent technology research institution in 1984.
Key people at Fundação CERTI.
Fundação CERTI is a technology-based research institution founded in 1984 in Florianópolis, Brazil, dedicated to innovation, R&D, and entrepreneurship to enhance industrial competitiveness and sustainability.[1][3][5] It supports over 12,000 clients worldwide through reference centers in areas like industrial metrology, mechatronics, automation, digital convergence, sustainable energy, and green economy, while operating key programs such as the pioneering CELTA business incubator.[1][3][6] With around 400 employees across branches in Florianópolis, Manaus, and Brasília, CERTI delivers consulting, product development, and startup acceleration, contributing to national projects like the Brazilian electronic voting machine and Digital TV system.[1][4]
As a non-profit foundation rather than a traditional investment firm or portfolio company, CERTI focuses on technology transfer and ecosystem building, generating estimated annual revenue of $1M–$50M through R&D services and partnerships.[4][8]
Fundação CERTI was established in 1984 on the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) campus in Florianópolis, initially as the Regional Center for Computer Technology, backed by companies like Volkswagen, Mercedes Brazil, Metal Leve, Embraco, and WEG to modernize industries via IT, robotics, automation, and quality control.[1][5][7] It evolved from metrology and quality assurance roots into a multifaceted institution, launching Brazil's first technology business incubator, CELTA, in 1986 with FAPESC support.[5][6]
Key milestones include the 1990s expansion with ParqTec ALFA and CERTI Amazônia in Manaus (1999), 2013 Embrapii accreditation, and recent initiatives like the 2019 LABfaber 4.0 lab, InVent corporate innovation program, and 2020 Amazon Impact Ecosystem activation.[5] By 2024, CELTA marked its 35th anniversary as a hub for Florianópolis' tech center, while Sinergia targeted 100 Amazon startups by 2025.[3][5]
Fundação CERTI rides Brazil's push for industrial innovation and digital transformation, particularly in the Legal Amazon and Industry 4.0, by bridging academia, government, and industry amid rising demands for sustainable tech and local manufacturing.[3][5] Its timing aligns with national priorities like Embrapii funding and green economy shifts, amplified by post-2020 ecosystem builds like Amazon impact programs and 4.0 labs.[5]
Market forces favoring CERTI include Brazil's tech pole growth in Florianópolis (a "Silicon Island" precursor via CELTA), Manaus free-trade zone synergies, and global supply chain localization post-pandemic.[1][6][7] It influences the ecosystem by incubating startups, transferring tech (e.g., voting systems), and fostering 100+ Amazon ventures via Sinergia, strengthening regional competitiveness.[3]
Fundação CERTI is poised to expand its Amazon footprint through Sinergia, targeting 100 high-impact startups by end-2025, while scaling Industry 4.0 labs and corporate programs like InVent amid Brazil's green energy and digital convergence boom.[3][5] Trends like AI-driven automation, sustainable manufacturing, and federal innovation funding will shape its path, potentially tripling capacity as in past strategic plans.[7]
Its influence may evolve toward deeper international tech transfer and Embrapii-led consortia, solidifying CERTI as Brazil's linchpin for turning R&D into industrial edge—echoing its 40-year legacy from UFSC incubator to nationwide innovator.[5]
