StartUp Pará promotes 1st edition of the Innovation Caravan
Sectet event brought together young people from Bragança and Tucuruí at PCT-Guamá
The Guamá Science and Technology Park (PCT-Guamá) was the stage, this Thursday (2), for the first edition of the Innovation Caravan, an initiative promoted by the government of the State of Pará, through the Secretariat of Science, Technology and Higher, Professional and Technological Education (Sectet), in partnership with the Guamá Foundation.
The event brought together students and entrepreneurs from the municipalities of Bragança and Tucuruí, who participated in the hackathons of the Innovation Marathon, held in September in both cities. The goal was to bring local ecosystems closer to the opportunities offered by PCT-Guamá, strengthening connections and expanding the network of partnerships in the State.
The program included visits to laboratories and resident companies of PCT-Guamá, such as Inteceleri, S&L Engenharia, CVACBA, LASSE, and CEAMAZON, as well as moments of integration among the 75 participants, organized into groups to closely explore the innovation environments.
For the Deputy Secretary of Science, Technology and Higher, Professional and Technological Education, Keynes Silva, the meeting reinforces the role of innovation as a vector of regional development. “The state government has been heavily investing in initiatives that decentralize access to science and technology. By bringing young people and entrepreneurs from Bragança and Tucuruí into PCT-Guamá, we are showing that the whole of Pará can dream and realize innovative projects that positively impact society,” he highlighted.
The coordinator of the Startup Pará program, Renato Cortez, emphasized that the Caravan is also an opportunity to consolidate the work done in the hackathons. “This experience allows participants to see the potential of their projects in contact with already established technology-based companies. It is an essential step to transform good ideas into viable and sustainable businesses in the Pará innovation ecosystem,” he stated.
The president of the Guamá Foundation, João Weyl, stressed the importance of receiving young entrepreneurs at PCT. “It is an honor for us to host the Innovation Caravan here at PCT-Guamá. The Park is not just a physical space, but a range of connections and opportunities that can support the expansion of startups and boost innovative ideas. Being in contact with this environment opens doors and broadens horizons for those starting their entrepreneurial journey,” he said.
The experience was also significant for the participants. The development agent of Sebrae and coordinator of the Entrepreneur Room of Bragança, Adalberto Ribeiro, highlighted the impact of the initiative in the interior.
“When the students participated in the Hackathon in Bragança, they were already excited about the dynamics and the whole process. It was a positive shock of knowledge because they had contact with a new market language, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Being here now only reinforces all of this: they are motivated, proud, and eager to participate in every step. The importance of an event like this reaching the interior cities is precisely this: to awaken interest, raise awareness for the cause of entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology, and above all, inspire the formation of future entrepreneurs,” he emphasized.
Wagner Rocha, a student at the Federal Institute of Pará (IFPA) and a member of the award-winning team at the Bragança hackathon with the environmental solution “Aç(h)aí” - which connects producers, beaters, and merchants interested in reusing the açaí seed - also commented on the experience. “It is very important to participate in this moment, to know the structure and gain this experience. My team and I are making the most of this opportunity. Soon, we will return to Bragança taking all this learning, which will help us turn our app into reality. With the support of Startup Pará, I am sure we will achieve our goal,” he said.
Meanwhile, computer science student Ayde Lauanda Barroso, from Tucuruí, reinforced the relevance of the experience for young people in the interior. “For us, young people from the interior, being here is a unique opportunity to learn, exchange experiences, and realize that technology is not distant. It can indeed transform our region and generate new job and income opportunities,” she stated.
Text: Carla Couto – Ascom Sectet
