Embratur and the Itaipu Technology Park launched this Thursday (1st), in Foz do Iguaçu (PR), the Conecta IGU – Innovation Program Aimed at the Tourism Sector, in alliance with Itaipu Binacional and the Itaipu Technology Park ( ITP). The initiative is the result of a cooperation agreement between the Agency and the Itaipú Technology Park Foundation, also signed this Thursday, in the presence of the president of Embratur, Marcelo Freixo; the PTI superintendent director, Irineu Colombo; the Brazilian director general of Itaipú Binacional, Enio Verri and the Minister of Tourism, Daniela Carneiro.
The objective of the program is to accelerate startups that present sustainable solutions to the challenges of Brazilian tourism, providing conditions for their development and implementation. The two challenges proposed in the announcement are: to simplify and expedite the process of issuing visas, with the aim of facilitating the visit of foreigners to Brazil; and the creation of indicators on the flow of tourists, which make it possible to understand the behavior of visitors and identify growth opportunities.
Embratur's president, Marcelo Freixo, highlighted the importance of incorporating technological solutions in tourism. “We are talking about employment, development and an economic activity that preserves nature, values culture and improves life in the city. Tourism is the great future of Brazil and the incorporation of technological innovation is strategic for us to transform all our tourism potential into a reality, in tourist arrivals, in consumption, in income in the pocket of the Brazilian worker”, said Freixo.
Freixo also explained how Conecta IGU will work. “We need technology to solve the problems of tourism, and thus be more efficient, reduce bureaucracy, create more jobs and make tourists stay longer in our cities. With the program we want to know who our tourists are, what they think, what they want, what they consider in their decision-making. That is, it is the intelligence of the information to generate better investments. On the other hand, we also have the objective of facilitating the issuance of visas, so that more tourists can come to Brazil”, he detailed.
According to the superintendent director of the Itaipu Technology Park, the program will develop a platform for the instant issuance of visas, in addition to measuring and monitoring visitors to help in decision-making and increase tourist movement. “The strength of Tourism for the development of Brazil is undeniable. That becomes clear when we travel through Foz do Iguaçu, which has a quality infrastructure, service, hospitality and natural resources. And this alliance reinforces the vision of the two institutions that have a clear mission to significantly improve tourism in our country, which goes through the ease of issuing visas”, explained Irineu Colombo.
In total, R $350 thousand will be invested in the six months of the PoC (Proof of Concept) development stage, or proof of concept, the practical test of solutions presented by up to five selected startups, in addition to a series of benefits offered as follows. included in the notice.
The initiative is part of the actions of EmbraturLab, Embratur's tourism innovation laboratory that was launched in May, during the Web Summit Rio, one of the largest technological events in the world.
During the signing of the alliance, the Minister of Tourism, Daniela Carvalho, congratulated the initiative of Embratur and Itaipu. “I want to thank Itaipu and congratulate Embratur for the work it is doing, because we really need to strengthen technology, innovation and sustainability. Strong tourism means a strong economy,” she said.
The Brazilian general director of Itaipu Binacional mentioned that Foz do Iguaçu is the second Brazilian destination that most attracts foreign visitors, only behind Rio de Janeiro. The binational hydroelectric plant itself and the Iguazú Falls are internationally renowned attractions. “We are at the tip of the country, but we have a lot to contribute and we want to contribute,” he said. “I understand that we will only have development with technological innovation. And innovation is not just an idea, it is applying the idea so that it can be useful in people's lives”, said Enio Verri.
Notice
Registration to participate in Conecta IGU opened this Thursday (1) and can be done until June 17. The registration and submission of proposals (registration in the program) will be carried out exclusively electronically through the Conecta IGU website, established as challenges in Conecta IGU.
The selection process is divided into three stages: approval and evaluation of proposals; startup pre-acceleration (with guidance, support and monitoring of the 15 best positioned); and presentation of projects to an evaluator (pitch day). At the end of the process, up to five proposals will be chosen.
The selected startups will have incentives such as: access to infrastructure, technical support and mentoring from specialists from PTI-BR and Embratur; networking and connections with partners of the institutions involved; access to the PTI-BR incubator; access to Smart CTI (sandbox), to test and validate industry technologies in a real environment, among others.
Alliance
The cooperation period between Embratur and the Itaipu Technology Park is valid for 48 months and its objective is to collaborate in the promotion of actions and programs, aiming at a greater scope of action and a better performance in the achievement of common objectives and purposes, especially to the sectors of trade in goods, services and tourism.
The dissemination of the Brazil Brand, according to the 2023 brand user manual, is also planned in the association, in addition to acting to promote innovation in the area of tourism and products and to build performance in line with investors. and players in the tourism market.
The parties will define in public notices and future contracts the values that will be passed on to the startups, the responsible entity, as well as the form and stages of the payments, the other actions for the execution of this contract may be defined by means of an amendment.