Tatiana Henn, from BRDE, takes stock of MSME Inovadora and Finep Inovacred in the state
ABES and BNDES launched, in the second half of 2014, the MPME Inovadora development line. The launch was carried out in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná, with the support of the BRDE bank (Banco Regional de Desenvolvimento do Extremo Sul) and, in São Paulo, with the participation of the Paulista Development Agency (Develop SP) to support micro , small and medium businesses that innovate in the IT sector, financing the investments necessary for the introduction of innovations in the market, through the promotion of incremental improvements in their products and/or processes.
A few months after its launch, Portal ABES interviewed Tatiana Henn, assistant planning manager for new projects and businesses at BRDE do Paraná, to learn more about the companies that applied for the credit line in the state and the resources already released, in addition to information that could help other companies to obtain financing.
What is the profile of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies in the region?
They are, for the most part, micro and small companies, strongly organized in regional APLs (Local Productive Arrangements) and Tecnoparks, with great potential for innovation.
How many companies have already hired the Innovative MPME line in your state? What is the volume of resources released?
We should end 2014 with 20 to 25 innovative companies supported, both in the BNDES MPME Inovadora Line and in the FINEP Inovacred line, of which about 40% are from the ICT sector. Contracts must exceed R$ 30 million in the state, only considering the amounts financed in the 2 lines mentioned above. Bearing in mind that, in some cases, other ancillary investments and eventually not included in the lines of innovation were financed in other promotion programs, which would increase this amount.
Based on the main difficulties that companies had to release funds, what guidance would you give them to get approval of the funding line?
The release of resources should flow very well for the approved projects, as it only depends on the proper proof of use of the resources already released by the supported companies, that is, the first installment has been received and, as soon as the use is proven, the next installment will be released. . As for the main difficulties in presenting the projects, we had some: requested amount incompatible with the tax revenue and economic and financial situation presented; not knowing for sure how to use the resource or for what (that is, not even having a previous budget in hand); delay in filing the request for financial support, as the fixed rate for the Innovative MSME Line is valid only for projects contracted in 2014 (ideally, filing 90 days in advance); not identifying a consistent team to carry out the project or not having a market for the product; and lack of guarantees or even, in some cases, the company had guarantees, but did not agree to encumber them.
In your opinion, how will the MPME Inovadora line contribute to the development of the ICT sector in the state?
It is a line that helps the entrepreneur to treat as an investment what, until then, he treated as a cost. In the case of innovative companies, especially ICT, the payroll of a specialized team is a great asset and should be treated as an investment, a fact that the Innovative MPME Line finances, among other items.
What are the prospects for granting resources for IT companies in your state in 2015?
We have greatly expanded our partnerships and events with ICT APLs and business accelerators. We believe that it will be a sector that, when knowing the lines of innovation operated by BRDE, will increasingly demand support for the realization and expansion of its projects. We have not yet finalized the application budget for 2015, but we already expect to hire at least R$ 50 million in innovative projects or innovative companies in Paraná. In principle, this value may seem low compared to the bank's total assets, but we must remember that, in general, they are micro and small companies with low-value projects, which highlights the great effort of the BRDE to disperse credit and support those who have good ideas and organized management, but who eventually lack financial support.
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