By Deborah Oliveira

Invest Paraná announced the opening of an office in Canada to promote joint actions with the Chamber of Commerce Brazil-Canada (CCBC) to support the internationalization of Paraná companies and attract Canadian investments to the region. At the same time, the Chamber also initiated a partnership with Fundação Araucária, an institution dedicated to innovation and research and which foresees the establishment of cooperation agreements. The announcement took place during an event at the Oscar Niemeyer Museum (MON) and is part of an initiative that has the support of the Consulate General of Canada and the Office of Quebec, both based in São Paulo.

The Invest Paraná office that will be opened within CCBC’s Brazil Hub in Edmonton, in the province of Alberta, Canada, aims to facilitate the establishment of Paraná-based companies in Canada. The Brazil Hub provides support for opening companies, business development, and access to innovation and research programs in Canada.

“Invest Paraná’s mission is to promote the economic and social development of the state by supporting the internationalization of companies and attracting investments to the region. Our partnership with CCBC broadens companies’ access to the opportunities that Canada offers,” says Eduardo Bekin, president of Invest Paraná.

Scientific and technological development

Aiming to strengthen ties in the field of Science and Technology (S&T), the Fundação Araucária for the Support of Scientific and Technological Development of the State of Paraná (FA) and CCBC announce a partnership to bring the research and innovation ecosystem between Paraná and Canada closer together. The idea is to work with scientific and technological institutions in the areas of artificial intelligence, energy, agribusiness, among others.

The first outcome of the agreement was a mission with representatives from Fundação Araucária and CCBC to the cities of Edmonton and Montreal, where executives had the opportunity to meet with government institutions, universities and innovation funding agencies, establishing a positive dialogue for future partnerships. “We had an agenda at the University of Alberta, an academic reference in Canada. We visited the CCBC’s Brazil Hub in Edmonton and met with several partners in the innovation ecosystem,” said Castro Reis of CCBC. 

Fundação Araucária is linked to the Paraná State Department of Science and Technology. The so-called FAPs (Research Support Foundations) are state agencies created to promote scientific, technological and innovation research in their respective regions.