Pedro Henrique Lopes Borio praised the BSW internationalization program and held a private meeting with Foundation directors to discuss future joint initiatives.

The week began on a high note for the Brazilian Startups Worldwide (BSW) Program, conceived by the Espírito Santo Research and Innovation Support Foundation (Fapes) in partnership with the Capixaba Innovation Mobilization (MCI) and FindesLab. Representatives of Fapes who are part of the delegation of the Brazilian Impact Techs in Spain (BitS 2025) mission arrived at their second destination in Spain—Barcelona—and took part in an event organized by the Brazil–Catalonia Chamber of Commerce to open the week of the Smart City Expo, on Monday (03).

At the opening session, the Consul General of Brazil in Barcelona, Pedro Henrique Lopes Borio, presented BitS 2025 and cited Fapes as an example of the type of partnerships the Brazilian government seeks to encourage through the Innovation Diplomacy Program (PDI).

Borio’s remarks were enthusiastically received by Elton Moura, Innovation Director at Fapes, who was present at the event. He emphasized that the recognition confirms that Fapes’ efforts to internationalize research and innovation in Espírito Santo are on the right track.

“For us, recognition from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Itamaraty is extremely important. Being mentioned by the Brazilian consul here in Spain shows that we are doing things the right way. We still have more initiatives ahead—much of it depends on coordination and on evaluating, once the mission is over, what we can improve. In any case, it validates the work we have been doing at Fapes. Both Rodrigo (Varejão, Director General) and I have been in close dialogue with the scientific ecosystem of Espírito Santo, highlighting the importance of these international connections, including at the national level within CONFAP. So I feel truly rewarded by the consul’s remarks at this event,” Moura said.

Following the event, Moura and Lúcia Araújo, Administrative and Financial Director of Fapes, held a private meeting with the Consul General and his assistant. During the meeting, they highlighted Espírito Santo as an innovative state and a promoter of impact-driven businesses and startups. They also presented Fapes’ internationalization plans for the coming years, as well as transparency data, reinforcing that the state is ready to further advance in science, technology, and innovation.

“The consul provided us with a very comprehensive overview of other verticals we could explore here in Spain, particularly in the health sector, where health techs are especially strong. This immediately caught our attention: we could develop both health tech and impact tech initiatives here in Spain, specifically in Barcelona—and of course in Madrid as well. Having more verticals could even lead us to consider missions covering two verticals at the same time. This is something that still needs to be discussed, as it involves a significant amount of work. But it is a conversation that gives us direction and shows that we are on the right path by being here and opening opportunities for additional verticals,” he explained.

According to the Innovation Director, the examples presented in Barcelona also serve as a benchmark for Espírito Santo.

“We saw excellent presentations on how Barcelona has strategically directed its investments in innovation. In Espírito Santo, we need to pursue a similar approach. Of course, there is still much room for growth—especially in terms of collaboration and networked work with municipalities. If municipalities, particularly in the metropolitan region, do not come together around a shared goal, progress becomes difficult. We need a future-oriented focus and a broader vision for Espírito Santo. Our metropolitan region has strong potential as an international hub,” he added.

How Does the BSW Program Work?

The Brazilian Startups Worldwide (BSW) Program supports startups in their international expansion across four strategic verticals:

• Industry (IndTechs);

• Commerce and Retail (RetailTechs);

• Agribusiness (AgriFoodTechs);

• Impact Businesses (ImpactTechs).

Each mission takes place in a different country with an active innovation and technology ecosystem aligned with the selected vertical. “We are studying future destinations according to the focus of each mission, always following the same model: participation in a major industry event, training sessions, networking, mentoring, connections with the local market, and cultural immersion,” explained Elton Moura.

The Fapes Innovation Director also stressed that all missions are supported by Brazilian embassies: “In every mission, we are accompanied by representatives of the Brazilian Embassy. It is important to emphasize that the BSW Program is directly linked to the Innovation Diplomacy Program (PDI) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whose goal is to promote Brazil’s image as an innovative nation,” he concluded.

Press Information

Fapes Communications Office
Samantha Nepomuceno | Igor Gonçalves
+55 (27) 3636-1867 | +55 (27) 3636-1858
comunicacao@fapes.es.gov.br