Partnership in Information and Communication Technology Drives Innovation

For over two decades, the partnership between the Swedish multinational Ericsson, a global leader in information and communication technology (ICT), and the Research and Development Center in Telecommunications, Automation, and Electronics (LASSE), linked to the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) and based at the Guamá Science and Technology Park (PCT), has significantly driven the advancement of telecommunications research in the Amazon. As a result of this collaboration, 34 projects have been developed that directly contributed to the scientific and technological strengthening of the region.

Coordinated by Professor Aldebaro Klautau, LASSE focuses its activities on 5G and 6G networks, automation, and artificial intelligence applied to digital communication. Additionally, it works on research and development of innovative solutions in embedded electronic systems, with applications in telecommunications, logistics, and security.

Among the services offered by LASSE are hardware and software development, monitoring and automation, telecommunications projects, and digital security solutions.

According to Klautau, the partnership with Ericsson has been fundamental in consolidating a solid scientific base in the Northern region. “More than infrastructure, it has provided us with connections to centers of excellence worldwide, expanding our possibilities for innovation and social impact,” says the researcher.

With over R$ 30 million invested, the initiative has directly benefited more than 130 students and resulted in the formation of 23 doctors, six of whom are now part of the UFPA faculty. The investments also enabled the modernization of several university laboratories, such as LEA, LaPS, LPRAD, LABCOM2, and LabIT, the latter recognized as the most advanced in Latin America for testing with DSL technology.

The recognition of the results obtained is reflected in awards and achievements. In 2010, the partnership was highlighted with the national award for Best University-Business Partnership. In 2023, LASSE students won the ITU AI/ML Challenge, promoted by the International Telecommunication Union, with innovative solutions for 5G networks, awarded in Paris.

Another highlight is the strengthening of international exchange promoted by the collaboration. Researchers from Ericsson and UFPA maintain continuous cooperation with institutions of excellence, such as Lund University and KTH in Sweden. In 2024, the First Ericsson Research Day in Brazil, held at the company's headquarters, brought together researchers from various regions of the country, with significant participation from the Pará team.

“Partnerships like this strengthen the university-business interface, bring together diverse projects and teams, and this type of meeting broadens the view on advancements, stimulates synergies and new ideas. It also allows us to contribute to the industry's vision, enriching discussions and enhancing the results of collaboration,” highlights Valéria Marquezini, researcher at Ericsson Brazil.

Partnerships and Specialized Services

The Research & Development (R&D) laboratories at PCT Guamá combine scientific knowledge with market competitiveness. Public and private projects can access the resources of PCT Guamá by presenting their demand via email at [email protected] or by phone at (91) 3321-8908 and 3321-8909.

Reference in Innovation in the Amazon

The Guamá Science and Technology Park (PCT) is an initiative of the Government of Pará, through the State Secretariat of Science, Technology, and Higher, Professional, and Technological Education (Sectet), in partnership with UFPA and the Federal Rural University of the Amazon (Ufra), and managed by the Guamá Foundation.

It is the first technological park in the Northern region of Brazil, aiming to stimulate applied research and innovative and sustainable entrepreneurship to improve the quality of life of the population.

Located on the banks of the Guamá River, which names the complex, PCT is situated between the campuses of the two universities and has a rich biodiversity ecosystem, extending over 72 hectares, designated for buildings and the Environmental Protection Area (APA) of the Metropolitan Region of Belém.

The complex has over 90 companies among residents and associates, 17 laboratories with more than 400 researchers, 44 patents, and a technical school.

PCT Guamá is part of the National Association of Entities Promoting Innovative Enterprises (Anprotec) and the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (Iasp), and is part of the largest innovation ecosystem in the world.