Approvals from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) for innovation projects reached R$9 billion in the year to September, the highest value for the segment in the institution’s history. Of this total, R$6.6 billion are resources from the BNDES Mais Inovação program, with the Reference Rate (TR), which this month is 0.81%.
Upon reaching this mark, the amount approved for innovation projects represents 6.5% of BNDES approvals. This percentage is also the highest ever recorded in the bank’s history.
“Investing in innovation is placing Brazil in the knowledge society”, said the president of BNDES, Aloizio Mercadante. “It is not possible to be competitive without being innovative. Therefore, the world’s main economies pursue an industrial innovation policy with public resources at competitive costs and that is precisely what we are doing. Under President Lula’s government, BNDES once again became the home of industry, a sector that generates income, attracts foreign exchange and qualified jobs.”
Support for innovation
BNDES has several instruments to support innovation in companies of all sizes and sectors. These are credit instruments, such as BNDES Mais Inovação and other incentive lines, and contributions to equity interests and investment funds.
The bank also carries out the BNDES Garagem program for the creation and acceleration of startups and offers non-refundable support to research, development and innovation projects conducted by universities and technological institutions in partnership with companies, with resources from the Technological Fund (BNDES Funtec).
