IA² MCTIC program will select up to 100 R&D projects
The Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications (MCTIC) with the support of Softex, announced in Brasília the launch of the notice of the IA² MCTIC Program, an initiative that integrates the Brazilian Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (AI) under construction by the Federal Government and which among its main thematic axes, public security, application in the governmental and productive sectors and in the workforce.
Its objective is to select 100 and finance up to 30 research and development (R&D) projects aimed at developing solutions in Artificial Intelligence and budgeted at up to R$ 500 thousand each.
The opening ceremony was attended by acting Minister Júlio Semeghini; Paulo Alvim, Secretary of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (SEMPI/MCTIC); and Ruben Delgado, president of Softex.
“The Program was created to meet a demand from the market itself. Last year, companies benefiting from the Informatics Law invested R$ 100 million in research and development in Artificial Intelligence. So, our intention is to encourage collaborative projects in this area, through open innovation, with resources from the new ICT Law”, explains secretary Paulo Alvim.
IA² MCTIC encompasses work on four fronts: companies interested in testing AI technologies based on challenges faced in their organizations (anchor companies); accelerators, responsible for the investment and support to the executors of the selected R&D projects and the scalability of their business models; CATI institutions, responsible for supporting and monitoring the development of the solution and technological support; and startups, IT companies that will execute R&D projects under the guidance and support of CATI and accelerators.
"With national coverage, this new open innovation program will allow us to promote a process of technological acceleration through the development of impact solutions that incorporate Artificial Intelligence, a technology increasingly present in the world and considered one of the greatest promises not only for the future of humanity, but also of companies. In this way, we will increase both the competitiveness and the internationalization of Brazilian technologies, as well as the competitiveness, innovation and efficiency of the national productive sector”, evaluates Ruben Delgado, president of Softex.
At this first moment, the notice will make a call to institutions accredited to CATI (ICTs) and accelerators with applied experience in AI. Next, the Program will select startups, IT companies and research groups that present scalable business models and AI solutions.
For more information about the IA² MCTIC Program visit http://softex.br/iamctic/
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