The innovation structure of CRIO and the partnership possibilities with the cities were presented to the mayors of the Association of Municipalities of the Carboniferous Region (Amrec) during a meeting held in Cocal do Sul on Friday (September 25). The presentation, led by Innovation Manager Elenice Engel, highlighted the results achieved by the Criciúma Innovation Center (CRIO) and introduced the Project Office, created to support companies, public authorities, science and technology institutions, startups, and social organizations in project development and funding acquisition.

With over seven thousand square meters, CRIO features auditoriums, coworking spaces, meeting rooms, common areas, and laboratories. The facility has hosted more than 455 events, attracting over 20,000 attendees. Additionally, 10 scientific and technological events were held with external public funding, responsible for raising over R$ 750,000.

Business operations have also advanced in recent years. In 2025, over 70 initiatives were supported in pre-incubation. In 2026, 25 startups participated in pre-incubation, and another 27 are currently incubated. The space also houses 16 resident companies, offering solutions in management, automation, artificial intelligence, health, environment, and legal technology.

"Innovation requires an environment, knowledge, people, and connection; therefore, CRIO was structured to bring these elements together and connect those with ideas, those developing technology, those needing solutions, and those who can support this process. From this connection, the ecosystem gains the capacity to transform knowledge into business and development for the region," emphasized Elenice.

Projects

The Project Office presented to the mayors expands CRIO's role in project development and funding acquisition. More than 20 research and development projects were approved in calls for proposals in 2025.

The structure also works with other forms of funding and offers support in project development, document organization, budget definition, work plan creation, platform filling, and compliance with requests for information.

For the municipalities, the project Connecting Projects and People: Innovation and Funding Pathways for the Future includes a specific training track. In total, there are three months of training that enable participants to learn how to diagnose demands and map funding sources, analyze adherence, organize documentation, structure and write projects, prepare budgets and work plans, and prepare the necessary documentation for submission," explains.

The schedule includes the filling out of forms by the municipalities in October, preparatory meetings with the focal agents designated by the municipalities in November, planning and organizing the 2027 schedule in December, and the start of training in February 2027.

"The approach with the municipalities allows us to provide knowledge and technical structure to meet concrete demands. Each municipality knows the needs of its own territory. The role of the University is to contribute with methodology, specialists, connections, and technical capacity to transform these needs into structured projects with access to resources," states Elenice.

Innovation reaches entrepreneurs in the municipalities

The connection between Unesc and the municipalities can also reach the entrepreneurs in each city directly. The Technological Incubator of Ideas and Businesses at Unesc (ITEC.in) offers the municipalities of Amrec a six-month pre-incubation program for the development and validation of business ideas.

The proposal allows the Municipal Administration to contract the University’s services and offer entrepreneurs in their territory a journey of training, workshops, in-person and online mentoring, and individualized support.

The methodology begins with identifying the problem that the project aims to solve and progresses to validating the public's needs, building a minimum viable product, structuring the business model, and preparing for potential stages of funding acquisition, acceleration, or incubation.

Each cycle anticipates the selection of 10 projects. After registration and evaluation of proposals, participants undergo a practical development stage accompanied by specialists from Unesc.

"Innovation needs to reach where people are and find space to transform real problems into opportunities. The proposal is to create a structured pathway for ideas to be validated, improved, and presented to the market with greater security. For the municipality, it also represents a way to offer specialized support to entrepreneurs without needing to create a new internal structure," emphasizes Elenice.

The initiative integrates the innovation ecosystem of Unesc and maintains a connection with CRIO. For the municipalities, the proposal represents the possibility of bringing the University’s expertise closer to entrepreneurs who develop projects based on demands and opportunities identified in their own territory.

"The connection between the University and the municipality makes sense when knowledge and structure can reach those in need. An idea can be born in any city. The role of ITEC.in is to help transform that idea into a project, test the solution, and create conditions for the entrepreneur to advance," stated ITEC.in coordinator Patrícia Darolt.