The Invest RS signed a memorandum of understanding with Instituto Caldeira on Thursday (20/2) with Techarena, the largest innovation event in Scandinavia, which will take place until tomorrow in Stockholm, Sweden. It is the first document of its kind that the Swedes have signed with Brazilian organizations, bringing companies and the Rio Grande do Sul ecosystem closer to the second most innovative country in Europe.
According to the president of Invest RS, Rafael Prikladnicki, the signing marks a special phase in the relationship between Rio Grande do Sul and Sweden. “Establishing these connections is a central objective of the agency. Our job is to sustain a qualified international relationship and project it over time, opening markets and generating business for companies from Rio Grande do Sul,” said Prikladnicki.
In addition to the president of Invest RS, the document was also signed by the CEO of Instituto Caldeira, Pedro Valério, and by Omid Ekhlasi, CEO of Techarena Group AB. “The signing is the beginning of a closer relationship with one of the world’s leading innovation ecosystems, allowing not only access to technology but also the possibility of bringing more competitiveness to our companies,” explained Valério.
In addition to a broad exchange between startups provided by the agreement between Techarena and Instituto Caldeira, the document also provides that Invest RS will have a technical role in preparing companies from Rio Grande do Sul to access the Swedish market and, in the opposite direction, helping Scandinavian companies to negotiate with Rio Grande do Sul.
The signing of the agreement was witnessed by the Brazilian ambassador to Sweden, Maria Edileusa Fontenele Reis, and by representatives of Business Sweden, the Swedish investment promotion agency. After the signing, the CEO of Instituto Caldeira was one of the participants in a Techarena panel scheduled to discuss actions that can result in global impact.
The opening ceremony of the 2025 edition of Techarena was attended by the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, who highlighted the importance of the innovation economy for the country. Kristensson summarized the Swedish strategy in four points: the idea of education for all, the commitment to the development of technologies, the deregulation of markets combined with the free market and, finally, the ambition for global markets.
Visit to Scania to learn about the global production system
From Stockholm, the group went to Södertälje, where Scania’s factory and global headquarters are located. The global production logic of the Traton Group, which includes the traditional Swedish brand, was presented by Brazilian Fábio Castello, who is senior vice president of Logistics. The delegation also learned about the company’s products, especially its commitment to connectivity, electrification and alternative fuels.
In thanking the reception at the truck manufacturer’s headquarters, Prikladnicki highlighted that the presence of Invest RS, Instituto Caldeira and South Summit Brazil in Sweden represents the importance that innovation and competitiveness have in the current development agenda of Rio Grande do Sul.
