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VISITS

FIRJAN’s Quest by Carlos Brian Pheysey

The Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FIRJAN) also searches
for innovation breakthroughs for its member companies

The various manufacturers and innovation, technology and automation FIRJAN informs, gives form and transforms
enterprises of the State of Rio and likewise a concerted effort to set
de Janeiro have a home in FIRJAN, new standards, productivity gains and Mr. Maurício Ogawa: introducing Industry
the Federation of Industries of the State learning trajectories within enterprises. 4.0
of Rio de Janeiro. The entity plays a
major role in not just representing the Technical Linkages
interests of industry but also in raising
productivity levels through constant Ms. Emmeline Lam, Senior Director of the
skill-building, courses, workshops, Global Business Group at the SMF, hosted
lectures and other mechanisms to the delegates and briefed them on the
introduce new benchmarks, technologies technological linkages between the
and innovation strategies into company Federation and the spectrum of industries
operations in that key state of Brazil, in Singapore. She also highlighted the
often abbreviated to RJ. centrality of the overall effort at SMF to
impart a sense of urgency toward new
A key thrust of this upgrading effort heights in innovation among its affiliated
is the attempt to assimilate some manufacturing companies.
of the game-changing Industry 4.0
transformations taking place in various The Brazilians were additionally
briefed at the Enterprise Singapore,

One can picture technology-driven companies from
Rio de Janeiro, whether large or small, actually taking

an interest in getting a foothold in Asia by way of
Singapore, naturally

nations pursuing cutting-edge R&D and the statutory board that fosters the Prof. Antônio Hélio Castro Nero delivers
new future horizons in manufacturing. launching of Singaporean companies a presentation
FIRJAN thus sends its managers abroad onto the world stage, thus globalising the
with a view to capturing some of these island yet further. Enterprise Singapore The Centre for Advanced 2D Materials,
insights so as to partner with them and alaready has an office in São Paulo that at NUS
share them with businesses statewide can lead to more partnerships between
in RJ. Two experts toured therefore technology start-ups, innovation-led
Southeast Asia in October 2019, as businesses and future-ready industries
part of that quest for new technological between both Singapore and Brazil.
dimensions.
Likewise, the two delegates met with
Mr. Maurício Ogawa is General Manager the team from another statutory board,
for Technology and Innovation at Firjan the EDB (Economic Development Board).
Senai, i.e. the learning hub of that EDB seeks out foreign enterprises abroad
federation. Mr. Eric Cardona Romani is and invites them to set up operations
Coordinator for Research, Development in Singapore, so as to develop vibrant
and Innovation at the Institute Firjan clusters, inject capital, create jobs and,
Senai for Technology, Automation and above all, foster a convergence of ideas,
Simulation. As a scientist, he has helped technologies and benchmarks that will
develop new fronts in the realm of new propel Singapore into the future. One can
materials. picture technology-driven companies
from Rio de Janeiro, whether large or
The two technical experts contacted small, actually taking an interest in
the Embassy of Brazil and obtained getting a foothold in Asia by way of
from its Trade & Economic team that a Singapore, naturally.
meeting be set up for late October with
the Singapore Manufacturing Federation. Further that same week, the mission
The SMF is akin to FIRJAN in many facets, was to meet with Prof. Antônio Héio Castro
as it too has committees geared toward Neto, a Brazilian physicist in Singapore

26 It’s Time for Brazil in Singapore 2019