On October 17, 2023, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) and the Brazilian Company for Industrial Research and Innovation (Embrapii) announced an investment of BRL 60 million (approximately USD 12 million) for the creation of the Embrapii Competence Center in Quantum Technologies. Senai Cimatec, located in Salvador, Bahia, was selected to lead the initiative following a competitive process opened in late 2022.
According to the official MCTI announcement, the 42-month contract covers research and development in quantum communication and quantum computing, training and capacity building, and creation of an open innovation environment for startups. Resources originated from the MCTI’s Priority Program for IoT/Manufacturing 4.0, under the Information Technology Law.
Embrapii’s Chief Operating Officer, Carlos Eduardo Pereira, stated that the center would develop new technology together with national research centers and the private sector. The selection of Senai Cimatec aligned with Embrapii’s principle of decentralizing innovation across Brazil. The quantum center joined eight other Competence Centers already announced in areas including 5G/6G, cybersecurity, and advanced therapies, with total investment across all centers reaching BRL 463 million.