- Initiative Launch: Petrobras and Embrapii have issued a national public call for research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) projects in the circular economy space.
- Capital Allocation: Initial funding totals R$ 14.4 million (~$2.8 million USD), with Petrobras providing R$ 12 million and Embrapii contributing R$ 2.4 million.
- Strategic Objective: The initiative aims to develop industrial technologies for repurposing and revaluing materials, equipment, and assets within the oil and gas supply chain.
- Collaborative Network: Corporations, startups, and accredited Embrapii Units are invited to join collaborative innovation projects.
- Virtual Presentation: An informational livestream outlining participation guidelines is scheduled for November 4, 2026, at 4:00 PM BRT via Microsoft Teams.
The Brazilian Industrial Research and Innovation Company (Embrapii) and state-controlled energy giant Petrobras have launched a national public call for Research, Development, and Innovation (R&D&I) projects focused on circular economy solutions for the oil and gas sector.
The initiative launches with an initial joint commitment of R$ 14.4 million (~$2.8 million USD), backed by R$ 12 million from Petrobras and R$ 2.4 million from Embrapii. To detail the technical challenges, co-funding models, and application criteria, Embrapii will host a live informational session on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 4:00 PM BRT via Microsoft Teams.
The public call aims to forge strategic alliances among corporate partners, tech startups, and accredited Embrapii Units to develop scalable solutions that increase the reuse, repurposing, and revaluation of decommissioned or surplus industrial equipment, components, and raw materials. The objective is to minimize waste and unlock economic value across both internal Petrobras operations and external industrial supply chains.
Currently, 38 Embrapii Units hold accreditation with Brazil’s National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP). These research centers constitute the core technical infrastructure designated to co-develop projects alongside private-sector applicants.
Public Call Targets Industrial Asset Upcycling and Lifecycle Extension
The core mandate centers on advancing technologies and operational processes that enhance material circularity across Petrobras’ asset base. Scope areas include engineering alternative commercial applications for industrial components, as well as developing technologies that streamline logistics, inspection, and redistribution for secondary market use.
Project guidelines also emphasize optimizing the evaluation and clearing workflows required to reallocate industrial inventory safely and efficiently. By establishing technically viable pathways for upcycling capital assets past their primary operational cycle, the partners seek to lower environmental impact while generating new revenue models.
Organizers anticipate that funded projects will extend industrial equipment lifespans, reduce industrial waste streams, and support corporate ESG metrics aligned with global circular economy standards.
The program forms part of a broader joint initiative by Petrobras and Embrapii to strengthen national technological sovereignty and convert industrial waste challenges into commercial innovation opportunities.
Collaborative Framework for Enterprises and Startups
Participation is structured around co-funded innovation alliances involving Petrobras, accredited research institutes (Embrapii Units), and private enterprises or early-stage startups. Participating organizations will pool technical expertise, lab infrastructure, and financial resources to execute R&D deliverables.
The initial R$ 14.4 million capital allocation may be expanded by Petrobras as high-impact project pipelines are identified and additional budgetary capacity becomes available.
This networked ecosystem model aims to de-risk technological innovation for industrial participants, accelerating the commercialization of proprietary circular technologies designed specifically for complex offshore and onshore energy infrastructure.
Integration into Embrapii’s High-Impact Projects Framework
The solicitation operates under Embrapii’s established “High-Impact Projects” framework, designed to tackle high-complexity technological bottlenecks critical to national industrial competitiveness.
Executed via multi-institutional consortia, High-Impact Projects foster collaboration between private enterprise and Science and Technology Institutions (ICTs). The framework leverages shared infrastructure and technical domain expertise to accelerate market readiness for advanced industrial applications.
In partnership with Petrobras, this specific call applies the High-Impact framework exclusively to circular economy hurdles, focusing heavily on asset life extension and industrial material recovery.
Informational Briefing Scheduled for November 4
To outline operational details and technical challenges, Embrapii and Petrobras will host an online briefing for interested corporate partners and research teams. The virtual session will take place on November 4, 2026, at 4:00 PM Brasilia Time (BRT) via Microsoft Teams.
Executive opening remarks will be delivered by Igor Nazareth, Director of Innovation and Institutional Relations at Embrapii, and Roberta Mendes, General Manager of Energy Transition and Sustainability R&D&I at Petrobras.
Technical requirements will be presented by Petrobras’ Fábio Sena, followed by an operational overview of the funding model led by Embrapii’s Vanessa Canhete. The event will conclude with an interactive Q&A session for prospective applicants.
Event Details — Launch Session: Petrobras & Embrapii High-Impact Circular Economy Call
- Date: November 4, 2026
- Time: 4:00 PM BRT
- Format: Virtual (Microsoft Teams)
- Registration: Access Event Stream
Agenda:
- Executive Opening: Igor Nazareth (Director of Innovation, Embrapii) & Roberta Mendes (General Manager of Energy Transition & Sustainability R&D&I, Petrobras).
- Technical Challenge Overview: Fábio Sena (Petrobras).
- Operational & Co-Funding Guidelines: Vanessa Canhete (Embrapii).
- Interactive Q&A Session: Open forum for participant inquiries.
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