EMBRAPII, FINEP, BRDE, SENAI, Lei do Bem, and SEBRAE to finance your innovation.
Innovating is one of the most effective ways to boost competitiveness, open new markets, and increase revenue. But developing new products, automating processes, or implementing improvements requires investment. The good news is that there are several innovation funding programs in Brazil that support companies of all sizes.
EMBRAPII — Technical support and partially non-repayable funds
- Co-finances up to 1/3 of project costs (non-repayable).
- No call for proposals required (rolling applications).
- Carried out in partnership with technical institutes and universities.
Ideal for: prototyping, engineering, testing, and technical validation.
FINEP — Credit to innovate and scale
- Inovacred: development of new products and processes.
- Inovacred Expresso: a simplified application process for SMEs.
- FINEP 4.0: industrial automation and digitalization.
Ideal for: turning ideas into marketable products.
BRDE — Regional development with a focus on competitiveness
- Supports companies in the states of RS, SC, and PR (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paraná).
- Competitive rates; financing for machinery, automation, and innovative projects.
Ideal for: manufacturers that need to invest in infrastructure in order to grow.
SENAI — Applied innovation and collaborative projects
- Possibility of non-repayable funds in some calls for proposals.
- Access to laboratories and specialists.
Ideal for: technical validation, certifications, and process improvement.
Lei do Bem — A tax incentive for R&D
- Savings of between 20% and 34% on R&D spending (for companies under the Lucro Real tax regime, i.e., taxed on actual profit).
- Applies to salaries, prototype materials, testing, software, and equipment.
Ideal for: companies that already invest in innovation with their own funds.
SEBRAE and local programs — Accessible innovation
- SEBRAETEC: a subsidy for technology development consulting.
- Open innovation calls for proposals.
Ideal for: first steps in innovation and incremental improvements.
Conclusion
Each funding program plays a different role: EMBRAPII (technical development and prototypes), FINEP (credit and digitalization), BRDE (financing to scale production), SENAI (applied development), Lei do Bem (tax reduction), and SEBRAE (early-stage support). Using the right programs speeds up the innovation journey, reduces risk, and makes it more sustainable.
