BNDES and Finep will have new lines to foster innovation

 

Ricardo Rivera and Marcio Girão spoke at ABES dinner

 

 

“The BNDES has supported the IT sector for over 20 years and supported over 2000 companies. IT is no longer seen as a sector, but a reality in all sectors of the economy and modern society", said Ricardo Rivera, head of the BNDES Information and Communication Technology Department, during the ABES associates' get-together dinner, held on December 3, at the Vista restaurant, in São Paulo. He also pointed out that the bank's focus will be on SMEs, infrastructure and fostering innovation. 
 

Ricardo Rivera, Head of IT and Communication at BNDES
 

At the event, the executive also said that the bank will announce in the first quarter of 2019 the BNDES 10, a new version of Prosoft (Program Development of the National Software and Information Technology Services Industry), which will distribute resources between R$ 1 million and R$ 10 million, without requiring a real guarantee and less bureaucratic to obtain it. Rivera also commented on the studies that the bank is conducting for new applications of the FUST – Fund for the Universalization of Telecommunications Services.
 
 

 

Márcio Girão, Director of Innovation at FINEP
 

A new line of funding was also announced at the event by Márcio Girão, Innovation director at FINEP. According to him, R$ 500 million will be made available in December for the next three years with lower rates and a longer grace period than commercial banks, which will be announced in 2018 by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications. He also praised the ABES Integrity Program and warned: “Non-integrity causes harm”. Throughout 2018, FINEP invested in opening regional offices and will inaugurate, in December, the North Region office, located in Belém (PA).