The Port of Itaqui in São Luís, Maranhão—a key gateway for grain, fuel, and mineral exports—has launched its first public procurement focused on innovative solutions under Brazil’s Legal Framework for Startups and Innovative Entrepreneurship (Law No. 182/2021).
The initiative, using the Public Contract for Innovative Solutions (CPSI), invites startups, individuals, companies, and innovation institutions to propose solutions for two strategic challenges:
- Preventing and containing fertilizer and grain spills on port roads, improving safety and sustainability.
- Optimizing boarding at ferry terminals to reduce waiting times and enhance user experience.
Each approved solution can receive up to R$100,000, with a total investment of R$420,000. Applications are open September 10 – October 2.
Unlike traditional contracts, CPSI allows experimental testing, letting participants propose solutions that are not fully developed, fostering innovation in the public sector.
Acting Port President Isa Mary Mendonça highlighted the mutual benefits: “Contractors gain real-world opportunities, while the port accesses solutions addressing operational challenges directly.”
The Port currently has nine berths with depths of 12–19 meters, and construction of a new berth is underway, expected to boost export capacity by over 8 million tonnes annually.
