Brazil is Latin technological innovation leader
The country accounted for 60% of research and development investment among Latin American and Caribbean countries. It is also the region's only nation to allocate over 1% of its GDP to innovation.
Agência Brasil
Brasília – Recent Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) data show that Brazil accounted for 60% of investment in research and development among Latin American and Caribbean countries in 2007. It is the only country in the region that sets aside more than 1% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to innovation.
According to the IBD, one of Brazil's strong points are its mechanisms for fostering technological research. As in its neighbouring countries, however, red tape and lack of coordination between the government and businessmen hamper the growth of Brazilian innovation, preventing the country from climbing up the global ranking.
"Brazil probably has more tools for encouraging innovation than any other country in Latin America. When I went to different states and spoke with businessmen, I would always hear complaints that they [mechanisms] require too much red tape, are slow and there is not enough information about them," said Flora Painter, head of the IBD's Science and Technology Division.
The bank's representative attended a seminar on regional innovation systems held yesterday (14th) in Brasília, sponsored by the National Confederation of Industries (CNI), the Brazilian Industrial Development Agency (ABDI) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.
One of the government mechanisms for encouraging business innovation is subvention – funds disbursed by the Studies and Projects Funding Body (Finep), of the Ministry of Science and Technology, by means of edicts. According to the ministry, over 1.7 billion Brazilian reals (US$ 995 million) have been disbursed since 2006. Companies, however, complain that the disbursing of funds via edicts are not compatible with the pace of industrial production.
Another issue detected by the bank is that businessmen do not point out how support mechanisms could meet their demands. "Businessmen do not possess the required knowledge to express what their needs are and to devise projects."
According to the bank's survey, the private sector's share of total funds for innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean is small. Whereas in Brazil and other Latin American and Caribbean countries, 60% of the funds are provided by the government, in the member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the rate is 36%.
To Flora Painter, the lower inflow of funds from Brazilian companies may have to do with legal and economic insecurities. "For any given company, investment must take place in a comfortable, stable environment. Brazil made progress with regard to economic and political stability. The country, however, has major problems with regard to providing financing to companies at reasonable interest rates," she explained.
The CNI's director of operations, Rafael Lucchesi, shares the same opinion. According to him, multinational companies, for instance, fear investing in Brazil and later having to pay a high volume of taxes as a result.
During the seminar, diagnoses on business innovation in four states were presented (Alagoas, Paraíba, Santa Catarina and Minas Gerais). The survey pointed out some of the problems that companies have when trying to innovate: accumulated demand for financing, lack of knowledge of technological services and no communication between universities and entrepreneurs.
Beco do Vieira
ENVIRONMENTS
DESIGN Quadrante Design | São Luís – MA
CLIENT Vale | Rio de Janeiro – RJ
THIS SPACE WAS SET UP TO VALE AT THE 3rd São Luis Book Fair in the Brazilian northeastern state of Maranhão, and is a tribute to the state’s late composer and singer, Antônio Vieira. Died April, 88, Antonio Vieira had his complete works launched by Vale, with the Association for Support of Music and the Art of Maranhão (Amarte). The project launched in 2003, brought together seventeen CDs, a CD compilation with promotional purpose, the book 'Life and Work, "with a biography of Vieira, the book' Music and Lyrics," with a compilation of all the songs, and video interviews with local artists talking about the importance of the work and the making of the production design. The initiative not only put Vieira in the mainstream media, but also scaled up its work by distributing the kit design for museums and educational institutions. The design portrayed a newsstand owned by Vieira at Praia Grande, the local beach where the singer grew up. MATERIALS: Steel structure, polystyrene plate siding, digitally printed adhesive, MDF wood display modules and acrylic domes. BOOTH AREA: Width: 8.20 m. Height: 3.20 m•
iRadar Brazil
iPhone brazilian users are very concerned about the possibility of being fined. That is what the ranking of paid apps downloaded on the App Store Brazil says, the iPhone and iPod touch software store from Apple.
Top of the list is the iRadar Brazil 2.0 application, which costs $ 1.99 and shows in the smartphone screen the location of the of radars around the streets of Brazilian cities. Upon reaching the radar (the distance you set in preferences), it emits a warning sound or vibration. To do this, use the GPS feature and the triangulation of cellular antennas.
Developed by Studio6 (Campinas/SP) the program uses the GPS iPhones 3G/3GS, cellular phone antennas and bases Wi-Fi to determine its location, and thereafter shows a list or map radar (fixed and / or phones), cameras, electronic speed bumps, road police and / or traffic lights next. In the preferences you turn on or off whatever you want.
The application, currently in its version 2.0, has had its release 3.0 submitted to Apple for approval. With it, besides having access to more than 8 thousand radars, cameras and electronic speed bumps, you can enter new radars. The 3.0 also fixes a bug that turned off the music (if the User is using the iPod) when radar is detected.
Studio6
Rua Antonio Galizia, 181, cj. 62, Cambuí
13024-510, Campinas, SP
Tel.: +55 19 3294-7228
Brazilian Development Bank’s fund to invest in technology
Emerging companies in the biotechnology and nanotechnology sectors are going to receive a boost. The creation of a venture capital fund has been passed by the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES). According to the BNDES, the two sectors have been selected in keeping with the institution’s strategy of supporting technological innovation in the country’s industrial matrix, as a means of guaranteeing the competitiveness of Brazilian companies.
The bank will participate by means of its subsidiary BNDES Participações (BNDESPAR), and will own up to 25% of the fund’s committed equity.
The venture capital fund will be established under the BNDES’ Investment Funds Program, launched in July last year. In the first phase, in August 2008, the program selected three private equity funds: BB Brasil Agronegócio, FIP Terra Viva and CRP VII.
According to the BNDES, the investment targets for the second and third phases are being selected. The bank intends to choose funds linked to assets in forestry and oil and gas. The BNDES currently takes part in 31 investment funds, with committed equity of approximately 8 billion Brazilian reals (US$ 4.4 billion).
IBM Bets on Brazilian Innovation
Over the last few years, China and India have emerged as the twin hot spots of emerging tech innovation. Now IBM (IBM) is betting that one of the next big technology stars will be Brazil.
In the latest sign of Brazil's rising power, Big Blue is announcing on Aug. 18 a new initiative to stimulate the development of the country's technology sector. To kick off the effort, IBM is hosting its first-ever forum for venture capitalists and entrepreneurs in São Paulo along with FINEP, the Brazilian government agency that finances technology development. The daylong event will bring together more than 100 investors and dozens of new companies looking for investment and business advice.
IBM is also launching a Portuguese version of its developerWorks Web site, which provides free programs and online teaching guides that help programmers build skills in the Java programming language, the Linux operating system, and IBM products such as Lotus. To host the event, IBM has dispatched Claudia Fan Munce, managing director of IBM Venture Capital Group, and Steve Mills, senior vice-president and group executive of IBM's $20 billion Software Group, a clear sign of the growing importance of Brazil to the IBM portfolio.
"We have been watching Brazil for a while," says Munce, who grew up in Brazil. "The time is right."
EYEING OPPORTUNITY
In the past, Brazil has been hobbled by hyperinflation, rampant political corruption, and failed fiscal and monetary policies. But with a growing and stable economy in recent years, multinational corporations such as IBM and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and venture capital and private equity players now see additional opportunity for technology innovation in the sun-drenched nation. "That potential is there," says Mills. "The university systems are strong. There is a level of interest in entrepreneurship that is growing."
Investors increasingly see Brazil as an attractive destination. As of the end of 2008 nearly 150 local and foreign investment firms had committed $28 billion in venture and private equity capital to Brazilian companies, according to the Brazilian Association for Private Equity & Venture Capital. That's up from $6 billion in 2004, amounting to a hearty 50% compound annual growth rate over the last four years. Investors have financed 500 Brazilian companies to date with venture or private equity capital, and there's $12 billion left to invest over the next few years from that $28 billion kitty.
Still, the country's business challenges, including high taxes and restrictive labor laws, could hamper growth. And native businesspeople say a Silicon Valley-like ecosystem where risk and creative thinking in technology are the norm remains elusive. "We do not have an ecosystem in place," says Berthier Ribiero-Neto, head of Google's (GOOG) Latin American research and development center, which is based in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. "Most of the students go to work for the outsourcing companies. I would like to see more product development."
The IBM initiative is designed to help remedy some of those issues. The idea is to serve as a matchmaker and coach to the growing number of companies IBM works with in Brazil. In fact, IBM's Munce says that among the so-called BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China), Brazil is seeing the highest growth in business partners that IBM works with, averaging 150% year over year.
TAPPING INTO BRAZIL
To help its partners raise money, IBM will introduce them to dozens of local and foreign private investors at the forum, including Intel Capital, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Rio Bravo, and Darby Overseas Investments. And to design, build, and market new technologies for their businesses, IBM will invite its several thousand Brazilian business partners to visit its Innovation Center in São Paulo, which opened in February. At the center, entrepreneurs can gain access to training courses, consulting services, and technical seminars. "The center will help us tap into this huge growth market," says Munce.
Humberto Matsuda, founding partner with Performa Investimentos, a new Brazilian venture capital firm, says the IBM forum is a significant event for his country. "We are very excited to see how IBM will become a player in this industry," says Matsuda, who is closing an $8 million fund, with 40% of its capital coming from FINEP. "It is a very significant event, given the size of the players."
Matsuda, who helped IBM draw up a list of companies to invite to the forum, says startups have been hobbled in the recent past by a lack of capital and experienced entrepreneurs. But he says the IBM event is important because it will help foster more investment, training, and networking in the technology community. "They will make introductions to potential clients and offer training and services," says Matsuda. "You have to use a key player like IBM to teach companies."
IC01 CHAIR
DESIGN André Lobo, Indio da Costa, Felipe Rangel | Indio da Costa Design | Rio de Janeiro – RJ
CLIENT Pnaples | Rio de Janeiro – RJ
THIS INNOVATIVE RENDITION OF A BAR CHAIR IS MADE FROM high-resistance recycled raw materials – discarded electronic products – and boasts a long life cycle. The IC01 ECO is manufactured from a single mold. It provides an alternative for the plastic furniture sector where there is an abundance of low cost and low quality products with doubtful design and very short useful life. The chair was conceived with a focus on features such as geometry, harmony and consistency. Its minimalist and timeless package was designed with the retailer in mind and consists of a recycled cardboard box that can fit five stacked chairs. MATERIALS: Recycled ABS. PRODUCT DIMENSIONS: Height: 572 mm. Width: 768 mm. Length: 484 mm. Weight: 3. 5 kg. PRICE: R$ 212. 00•
Natural Media
ECODESIGN
DESIGN Fred Gelli e equipe: Ana Camargo, Anderson Marcicano, Bruno Senise, Claudia Niemeyer, Fabrício Menezes, Felipe Caldas, Guido Paternó Castello, Luciana Moletta Tátil Design Rio de Janeiro – RJ
CLIENT Tátil Design Rio de Janeiro – RJ
THE CHALLENGE OF CREATING A NATURAL PIECE THAT WOULD SERVE as an invitation and a fl yer for the Design Naturally Workshop at the 55th Cannes Advertising Festival and customized to suit the event’s philosophy resulted in this innovative and eco-friendly media designed on laser engraved dry tree leaves. From animals to ballet dancers, from hamburgers to airplanes, all images were recordedon a leaf together with the event information – date, time and venue The same kind of media was used during the election campaign of mayoral candidate for the Rio de Janeiro City Government, Fernando Gabeira, in 2008. Designed with low environmental impact and showing great visual and sensory appeal, the leaves must be viewed against the light and can be returned to nature. Laser engraving allows for the use of images of different complexity levels and myriad of effects without leaving chemical residues. The project reinforces the idea that it is possible to design attractive and innovative graphic pieces while highlighting environmental issues. MATERIALS: Dry tree leaves. PRODUCT DIMENSIONS: Various sizes. Weight: 10 g•
DESIGN Fred Gelli e equipe: Ana Camargo, Anderson Marcicano, Bruno Senise, Claudia Niemeyer, Fabrício Menezes, Felipe Caldas, Guido Paternó Castello, Luciana Moletta Tátil Design Rio de Janeiro – RJ
CLIENT Tátil Design Rio de Janeiro – RJ
THE CHALLENGE OF CREATING A NATURAL PIECE THAT WOULD SERVE as an invitation and a fl yer for the Design Naturally Workshop at the 55th Cannes Advertising Festival and customized to suit the event’s philosophy resulted in this innovative and eco-friendly media designed on laser engraved dry tree leaves. From animals to ballet dancers, from hamburgers to airplanes, all images were recordedon a leaf together with the event information – date, time and venue The same kind of media was used during the election campaign of mayoral candidate for the Rio de Janeiro City Government, Fernando Gabeira, in 2008. Designed with low environmental impact and showing great visual and sensory appeal, the leaves must be viewed against the light and can be returned to nature. Laser engraving allows for the use of images of different complexity levels and myriad of effects without leaving chemical residues. The project reinforces the idea that it is possible to design attractive and innovative graphic pieces while highlighting environmental issues. MATERIALS: Dry tree leaves. PRODUCT DIMENSIONS: Various sizes. Weight: 10 g•
Bossa Nova Exhibition
ENVIRONMENTSDESIGN Marcello Dantas Mag+ São Paulo – SP
CLIENT Banco Itaú São Paulo – SP
THE MAIN GOAL OF THIS EXHIBITION WAS TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW of the Bossa Nova era and its artists by using audiovisual and interactive media technologies. The exhibition was held at the Oca Pavilion in São Paulo’s Ibirapuera Park between July and September 2008, and attracted 120, 000 visitors. Each space within the exhibition had its own setting depicting a direct link with a given artist or moment in history. A holographic fi lm showed Bossa Nova singers and instrumentalists who had never performed together doing a rendition of The Girl from Ipanema. From a reclinable sofa with built-in loudspeakers one could watch a film projected on the dome, showing a bird’s eye view of Rio de Janeiro. The discography of the Bossa Nova movement was played in jukeboxes scattered around the exhibition, while visitors could check out LP covers and different versions of Bossa Nova hits. The atmosphere of the famous Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, the cradle of Bossa Nova, was conveyed to the Oca Pavilion through the Portuguese limestone pavement typical of Copabacana and the sand brought from the beach. An audio system provided visitors with quality sound on all fl oors where performances were being held•
Heroes Sports Wheelchair
STUDENTSDESIGN Jairo da Costa Junior Universidade do Vale do Itajaí Itajaí – SC
CLIENT Academic
THIS LINE OF SPORTS WHEELCHAIRS WAS DEVELOPED TO ALLOW wheelchairers to play sports such as frescobol (Brazilian beach tennis), discus throw, badminton, rugby and volleyball in different locations. The challenge confronted by the project was to meld together design, ecoefficiency and accessible costs. The purpose is to promote social inclusion by contributing to raise the self-esteem and personal worth of the physically challenged. In Brazil, nearly 15% of the population have some form of physical disability, whereas 8 million have a motor handicap. The design of the chairs is geared towards fulfilling specific tasks and draws on the symbolic figures of comic book heroes, such as Xavier and Demolition Man, and even Mark Zupan, captain of the US quadraplegic wheelchair rugby team. The models come in different colors and include HEROes Zupan, HEROes Daredevil and HEROes Xavier. The project honors universal, sustainable, adaptable, culturally accepted and socially fair design. MATERIALS: Recycled aluminum. PRODUCT DIMENSIONS: Height: 850 mm. Width: 800 mm. Length: 1, 050 mm. Weight: 14. 5 kg. PRICE: R$ 3, 620. 00•
Brazil takes off | The Economist
When, back in 2001, economists at Goldman Sachs bracketed Brazil with Russia, India and China as the economies that would come to dominate the world, there was much sniping about the B in the BRIC acronym. Brazil? A country with a growth rate as skimpy as its swimsuits, prey to any financial crisis that was around, a place of chronic political instability, whose infinite capacity to squander its obvious potential was as legendary as its talent for football and carnivals, did not seem to belong with those emerging titans.
Now that scepticism looks misplaced. China may be leading the world economy out of recession but Brazil is also on a roll. It did not avoid the downturn, but was among the last in and the first out. Its economy is growing again at an annualised rate of 5%. It should pick up more speed over the next few years as big new deep-sea oilfields come on stream, and as Asian countries still hunger for food and minerals from Brazil’s vast and bountiful land. Forecasts vary, but sometime in the decade after 2014—rather sooner than Goldman Sachs envisaged—Brazil is likely to become the world’s fifth-largest economy, overtaking Britain and France. By 2025 São Paulo will be its fifth-wealthiest city, according to PwC, a consultancy.
And, in some ways, Brazil outclasses the other BRICs. Unlike China, it is a democracy. Unlike India, it has no insurgents, no ethnic and religious conflicts nor hostile neighbours. Unlike Russia, it exports more than oil and arms, and treats foreign investors with respect. Under the presidency of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a former trade-union leader born in poverty, its government has moved to reduce the searing inequalities that have long disfigured it. Indeed, when it comes to smart social policy and boosting consumption at home, the developing world has much more to learn from Brazil than from China. In short, Brazil suddenly seems to have made an entrance onto the world stage. Its arrival was symbolically marked last month by the award of the 2016 Olympics to Rio de Janeiro; two years earlier, Brazil will host 2014 football’s World Cup.
At last, economic sense
In fact, Brazil’s emergence has been steady, not sudden. The first steps were taken in the 1990s when, having exhausted all other options, it settled on a sensible set of economic policies. Inflation was tamed, and spendthrift local and federal governments were required by law to rein in their debts. The Central Bank was granted autonomy, charged with keeping inflation low and ensuring that banks eschew the adventurism that has damaged Britain and America. The economy was thrown open to foreign trade and investment, and many state industries were privatised.
All this helped spawn a troupe of new and ambitious Brazilian multinationals (see the special report). Some are formerly state-owned companies that are flourishing as a result of being allowed to operate at arm’s length from the government. That goes for the national oil company, Petrobras (Public, NYSE:PBR), for Vale (Public, NYSE:VALE), a mining giant, and Embraer (Public, NYSE:ERJ), an aircraft-maker. Others are private firms, like Gerdau (Public, SAO:GGBR4), a steelmaker, or JBS (Public, SAO:JBSS3), soon to be the world’s biggest meat producer. Below them stands a new cohort of nimble entrepreneurs, battle-hardened by that bad old past. Foreign investment is pouring in, attracted by a market boosted by falling poverty and a swelling lower-middle class. The country has established some strong political institutions. A free and vigorous press uncovers corruption—though there is plenty of it, and it mostly goes unpunished.
Just as it would be a mistake to underestimate the new Brazil, so it would be to gloss over its weaknesses. Some of these are depressingly familiar. Government spending is growing faster than the economy as a whole, but both private and public sectors still invest too little, planting a question-mark over those rosy growth forecasts. Too much public money is going on the wrong things. The federal government’s payroll has increased by 13% since September 2008. Social-security and pension spending rose by 7% over the same period although the population is relatively young. Despite recent improvements, education and infrastructure still lag behind China’s or South Korea’s (as a big power cut this week reminded Brazilians). In some parts of Brazil, violent crime is still rampant.
National champions and national handicaps
There are new problems on the horizon, just beyond those oil platforms offshore. The real has gained almost 50% against the dollar since early December. That boosts Brazilians’ living standards by making imports cheaper. But it makes life hard for exporters. The government last month imposed a tax on short-term capital inflows. But that is unlikely to stop the currency’s appreciation, especially once the oil starts pumping.
Lula’s instinctive response to this dilemma is industrial policy. The government will require oil-industry supplies—from pipes to ships—to be produced locally. It is bossing Vale into building a big new steelworks. It is true that public policy helped to create Brazil’s industrial base. But privatisation and openness whipped this into shape. Meanwhile, the government is doing nothing to dismantle many of the obstacles to doing business—notably the baroque rules on everything from paying taxes to employing people. Dilma Rousseff, Lula’s candidate in next October’s presidential election, insists that no reform of the archaic labour law is needed.
And perhaps that is the biggest danger facing Brazil: hubris. Lula is right to say that his country deserves respect, just as he deserves much of the adulation he enjoys. But he has also been a lucky president, reaping the rewards of the commodity boom and operating from the solid platform for growth erected by his predecessor, Fernando Henrique Cardoso. Maintaining Brazil’s improved performance in a world suffering harder times means that Lula’s successor will have to tackle some of the problems that he has felt able to ignore. So the outcome of the election may determine the speed with which Brazil advances in the post-Lula era. Nevertheless, the country’s course seems to be set. Its take-off is all the more admirable because it has been achieved through reform and democratic consensus-building. If only China could say the same.
Simetria Line
HOME LIVINGDESIGN André Lobo, Indio da Costa, Jorge Gomes Indio da Costa Design Rio de Janeiro – RJ
CLIENT Fabrimar Rio de Janeiro – RJ
THIS PREMIUM LINE OF CHROME-PLATED BATHROOM FIXTURES is characterized by its unique forms and comprises five different products: Bench faucet and mixers, wall faucet and mixers, shower hoses, hand douche and hygienic douche. All products feature an elliptical profile with rounded corners that differentiate them from other competitors in the market. MATERIALS: Chromed metal. PRODUCT DIMENSIONS: Various sizes. PRICE: Various prices•
Elite Squad
MOVIE
DIRECTOR Jose Padilha
PRODUCERS José Padilha | Marcos Prado | Zazen Produções | Rio de Janeiro – RJ
WRITERS Bráulio Mantovani | José Padilha | Rodrigo Pimentel | Rio de Janeiro – RJ
DISTRIBUTOR Universal Pictures | Brazil
ELITE SQUAD (PORTUGUESE: TROPA DE ELITE) IS A 2007 BRAZILIAN CRIME FILM DIRECTED by José Padilha. The film is a semi-fictional account of the Special Police Operations Squad (BOPE), of the Rio de Janeiro Military Police, analogous to the American SWAT teams. It is the second feature film and first fiction film of Padilha, who had previously directed the documentary Bus 174. The script was written by Bráulio Mantovani and Padilha, based on the book Elite da Tropa. The movie is based on Elite da Tropa, a book by two BOPE policemen, André Batista and Rodrigo Pimentel, together with sociologist & anthropologist Luiz Eduardo Soares, which provided a semi-fictional account of the daily routine of the BOPE as well as some historical events, based on the experiences of the two BOPE policemen. The book was controversial at the time of release, in its description of the BOPE as a "killing machine", as well as the detailed allegation of an aborted assassination attempt on then left-wing governor of Rio de Janeiro, Leonel Brizola, and reportedly resulted in Batista being reprimanded and censured by the Military Police. Elite Squad was an outstanding commercial success, and became a cultural phenomenon in Brazil. The film won the Golden Bear at the 2008 Berlin Film Festival.
Livraria da Vila Bookstore
ENVIRONMENTSDESIGN Isay Weinfeld e equipe: Alexandre Nobre, Domingos Pascali, Gustavo Benthien, Leandro Garcia, Monica Santoni, Wellington Diogo Isay Weinfeld São Paulo – SP
CLIENT Livraria da Vila São Paulo – SP
DESIGNED AS AN ANCHOR STORE FOR ONE OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED commercial centers in the city of São Paulo – Cidade Jardim Shopping Mall – Livraria da Vila Bookstore occupies 2, 300 sqm on two fl oors. Opened in 2008, it boasts more than 200, 000 titles. Elements of the architectural project, such as the internal views created by the asymmetric design of the top fl oor, strengthen the concept of intimate environment. The bookshop features different spaces, enabling customers to retreat to a low ceiling area where they can sit in sofas or armchairs to read quietly or walk around in open areas. Three spaces within the store are connected by small bridges from the mezzanine fl oor leading to the main hall, which houses the auditorium, a classical music and jazz CD section, and an area for book launches. Two yellow stairways enable vertical circulation of customers. A Santo Grão Café outlet is also located within the store. Children have a specially designated space and main hall, which houses the auditorium, a classical music and jazz CD section, and an area for book launches. Two yellow stairways enable vertical circulation of customers. A Santo Grão Café outlet is also located within the store. Children has public auditorium and space for activities. COMPOSITION: metal frame, glass, wood. DIMENSIONS: 2.300 m²•
ECOPERFORMANCE
HOME LIVING
DESIGN Electrolux Industrial Design Center Latin América Curitiba – PR
CLIENT Electrolux Curitiba – PR
THE LS12Q IS A HIGH-CAPACITY WASHING MACHINE WITH AN INNOVATIVE design that enhances its user-friendliness, economy and ecoefficiency in water and electricity consumption. Its line, shape and surface create a sense of balance and elegance. Solutions such as a removable swivel multi- dispenser, firm grip handles, clear instructions, specific washing programs and turbo drying – to ensure even drier clothes – are features designed to streamline use and meet a wide array of customer needs. Sensors regulate water volume according to load, and the Procel quality seal guarantees electrical efficiency. The silver-colored ABS plastic injection parts are the result of a less polluting manufacturing process than traditional paint. MATERIALS: Tempered glass top, ABS panel and soap dispenser; polypropylene drum with mineral load; dust painted zinced steel cabinet. PRODUCT DIMENSIONS: Height: 1, 030 mm; width: 660 mm; depth: 700 mm; weight: 52 kg. PRICE: R$1, 749 / US$1, 028•
Tag :
design
Twin Line Faucet Filter
HOME LIVINGDESIGN Ana Lucia de Lima Pontes Orlovitz, Luiz Moquiuti Morales Duratex S. A. São Paulo – SP
CLIENT Duratex S. A. São Paulo – SP
A BALANCED COMBINATION OF FAUCET AND FILTER ALLOWING THE same water source to serve two distinct purposes. The two water outlets have hinged fi ttings and are spaced from one another. The faucet fi lter is fi tted with a unifi ed device for smooth and gradual opening and closing. A lever fi tted with an accurate ceramic mechanism enables a ¼ turn movement. By displacing the lever to one side the faucet is turned on while the fi lter is activated by displacing the lever to the opposite side. The water is fi ltered through the innovative carbon block system which reduces chlorine taste and odor problems, and removes particulate matter. The product conforms to the Brazilian Institute of Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality (Inmetro) standards. Its fi nely tuned and straight line design is easy to use on a daily basis and fi lter refi ll replacement is a breeze, making it highly ergonomical. MATERIALS: Galvanized brass and chrome finish. PRODUCT DIMENSIONS: Height: 318 mm. Width: 160 mm. Diameter: 45 mm. Weight: 3 kg. PRICE: R$ 600. 00•
Advanced Education Group Building
ENVIRONMENTSDESIGN Ana Carolina Montenegro, Jair de Souza, Rita Sepúlveda Vinte Zero Um Rio de Janeiro – RJ
CLIENT Oi Futuro Rio de Janeiro –
THE MAIN CHALLENGE BEHIND THE ARCHITECTURE AND VISUAL DESIGN of the Advanced Education Group (Nave) building, a public high school and digital media technology factory, located in an Art Deco building in downtown Rio de Janeiro, was to make this facility as groundbreaking and dynamic as its educational proposal. The project combines different areas, such as space for temporary exhibitions, digital experimentation room, multimedia plaza, classrooms, circulation areas, reception desks, cafeteria, and restrooms. A suspended and transparent classroom acts as a continuous interconnection between people and the venue’s spaces. The building’s façade is the result of a large scale innovative spatial intervention that is modifi ed every three months through a public art project. The facility’s night lighting has a bright backlight effect. The interior of the building features a rich multimedia environment with all sorts of screens displaying images and sounds produced by the school’s 600 students. MATERIALS: Adhesive plotter wall and fl oor paper, steel plates and structures, industrial fl ooring, resin and lacquered wood furniture, LEDs, LCD screens, glass plates•
LINEAGE 1000
TRANSPORTATION
DESIGN Embraer São José dos Campos – SP e Priestman Goode Londres – Inglaterra
CLIENT Embraer São José dos Campos – SP
AS AN ULTRA LARGE EXECUTIVE AIRCRAFT, THE LINEAGE 1000 JET accommodates 19 passengers. One of the main challenges faced by Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer was to develop a product that would meet the demands of a highly competitive luxury market and also the requirements for aircraft certification. The cabin includes five modular areas that can be configured according to customers’ needs featuring workstations, rest areas, meeting facilities, two lavatories, wide luggage compartment, entertainment system, storage compartment for food and beverages. Optionals like an extra lavatory, shower, sleeping berth with double bed, wi-fi technology and Internet access are also available. MATERIALS: Metal alloys and compound fiber materials i. e. carbon fiber, Klevar, etc. PRODUCT DIMENSIONS: Height: 10. 6 m; length: 36. 2 m; wingspan: 28. 7 m. PRICE: R$73. 1 million / US$43 million•
Kompact Hauling Truck
COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIALDESIGN Juliano Gheno, Tobias Bertussi Bertussi Design Industrial Caxias do Sul – RS
CLIENT Ciber Equipamentos Rodoviários Porto Alegre – RS
THIS ASPHALT PAVING PLANT ON WHEELS PROVIDES MOBILITY AND a more rational use of space. It is a revolutionary product in the road pavement industry as it can haul all the paving machinery ensuring their transportation to the roadwork site and allowing for the concentration of equipment in a single place according to the pace of roadworks. The Kompakt hauling truck offers direct benefi ts to the entire production chain by reducing costs, electricity consumption and working time. Its groundbreaking design complements its exemplary functionality in a market segment where aesthetic values tend to play a minor role in relation to functional matters. Field tests have shown that the perception of added value prompted by the design compels users to exercise greater care in operating the equipment, which helps to establish new values within its market segment. Furthermore, there is the added advantage of the product being transported to other continents in the form of a container. MATERIALS: Steel plates; axles, engines, ball bearings and other truck components predominantly made from steel and metal alloys. PRODUCT DIMENSIONS: Height: 14, 000 mm. Width: 25, 000 mm. Length: 35, 000 mm. PRICE: R$ 150, 000. 00•
A Study of Seven countries and Brazil
INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIES FOR INNOVATION: A Study of Seven countries and Brazil
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/topics/pubs/brazil.innovation.sp.pdf
For countries seeking to build a dynamic, highly-competitive economy capable of sustainable, long-term growth, innovation—or the capacity to transform knowledge into new products and methods of production and service—has become the engine for national strategies of development. Seven of the world’s most notably innovative countries— United States, Canada, Ireland, France, United Kingdom, Finland and Japan—have recognized knowledge as a key element for improving productivity and competitiveness, as well as advancing social and economic development. Understanding how these countries have succeeded in applying policies, adapting institutions, and using economic incentives and instruments to construct knowledge-based economies was the purpose of an in-depth, ten-month research project, Mobilização Brasileira para a Inovação (Mobit – Brazilian Innovation Mobilization). Intended to translate statistics into discernable trends, identify patterns in the national innovation strategies of these seven countries, and establish guidelines of action for the Brazilian government, the Mobit project was the focus of a recent seminar coordinated by the Brazil Institute and Prospectiva International in conjunction with the Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development (ABDI).
Hosted and co-sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Studies (IEA) of the University of São Paulo on April 25, 2008, the conference featured a keynote address by the General Coordinator of the Mobit study and the Observatory for Innovation and Competitiveness, Glauco Arbix. A group of leading Brazilian researchers, economists, and public officials joined the discussion to debate the findings of the Mobit Final Report and analyze its implications for Brazil’s national innovation system. Paulo Sotero, director of the Brazil Institute, and César Ades, director of the IEA, provided introductory remarks. Participants noted that while Brazil’s innovation performance is fast improving—leading in deep-water oil exploration technology and in the production and use of renewable fuels—it is far from entering the ranks of top international innovators. This report synthesizes the findings of the Mobit study and the proceedings from the seminar.
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/topics/pubs/brazil.innovation.sp.pdf
For countries seeking to build a dynamic, highly-competitive economy capable of sustainable, long-term growth, innovation—or the capacity to transform knowledge into new products and methods of production and service—has become the engine for national strategies of development. Seven of the world’s most notably innovative countries— United States, Canada, Ireland, France, United Kingdom, Finland and Japan—have recognized knowledge as a key element for improving productivity and competitiveness, as well as advancing social and economic development. Understanding how these countries have succeeded in applying policies, adapting institutions, and using economic incentives and instruments to construct knowledge-based economies was the purpose of an in-depth, ten-month research project, Mobilização Brasileira para a Inovação (Mobit – Brazilian Innovation Mobilization). Intended to translate statistics into discernable trends, identify patterns in the national innovation strategies of these seven countries, and establish guidelines of action for the Brazilian government, the Mobit project was the focus of a recent seminar coordinated by the Brazil Institute and Prospectiva International in conjunction with the Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development (ABDI).
Hosted and co-sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Studies (IEA) of the University of São Paulo on April 25, 2008, the conference featured a keynote address by the General Coordinator of the Mobit study and the Observatory for Innovation and Competitiveness, Glauco Arbix. A group of leading Brazilian researchers, economists, and public officials joined the discussion to debate the findings of the Mobit Final Report and analyze its implications for Brazil’s national innovation system. Paulo Sotero, director of the Brazil Institute, and César Ades, director of the IEA, provided introductory remarks. Participants noted that while Brazil’s innovation performance is fast improving—leading in deep-water oil exploration technology and in the production and use of renewable fuels—it is far from entering the ranks of top international innovators. This report synthesizes the findings of the Mobit study and the proceedings from the seminar.
The Challenge of Innovation in Brazil
For countries seeking to build a dynamic, highly-competitive economy capable of sustainable, long-term growth, innovation—or the capacity to transform knowledge into new products and methods of production and service—has become the engine for national strategies of development. Seven of the world’s most notably innovative countries — United States, Canada, Ireland, France, United Kingdom, Finland and Japan — have recognized knowledge as a key element for improving productivity and competitiveness, as well as advancing social and economic development. Understanding how these countries have succeeded in applying policies, adapting institutions, and using economic incentives and instruments to construct knowledge-based economies was the purpose of an in-depth, ten-month research project, Mobilização Brasileira para a Inovação (Mobit – Brazilian Innovation Mobilization). Intended to translate statistics into discernable trends, identify patterns in the national innovation strategies of these seven countries, and establish guidelines of action for the Brazilian government, the Mobit project was the focus of a recent seminar coordinated by the Brazil Institute and Prospectiva International in conjunction with the Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development (ABDI).
Hosted and co-sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Studies (IEA) of the University of São Paulo on April 25, 2008, the conference featured a keynote address by the General Coordinator of the Mobit study and the Observatory for Innovation and Competitiveness, Glauco Arbix. A group of leading Brazilian researchers, economists, and public officials joined the discussion to debate the findings of the Mobit Final Report and analyze its implications for Brazil’s national innovation system. Paulo Sotero, director of the Brazil Institute, and César Ades, director of the IEA, provided introductory remarks. Participants noted that while Brazil’s innovation performance is fast improving—leading in deep-water oil exploration technology and in the production and use of renewable fuels—it is far from entering the ranks of top international innovators. This report synthesizes the findings of the Mobit study and the proceedings from the seminar.
