Institutional

E-RENOVA: Excellence in Technological Research in Renewable Energies

E-RENOVA was established in 2023 as an accredited EMBRAPII Unit. We conduct technological research in partnership with industry for sustainable innovation in renewable energies. We integrate cutting-edge technologies, encompassing new products and processes in renewable energies.

Our primary mission is to establish partnerships with the industrial sector to provide intelligent technology-based solutions that meet sustainability criteria.

E-RENOVA is coordinated by Professor Rubens Maciel Filho, Full Professor, and Professor Leonardo Vasconcelos Fregolente, Associate Director, from the Faculty of Chemical Engineering (FEQ), along with a team of 12 faculty members, staff, researchers, and students from FEQ with diverse expertise. We also receive support from collaborators at the Unicamp Development Foundation (FUNCAMP) and the Unicamp Innovation Agency (INOVA).

FUNCAMP’s main activity is the management of agreements. It acts as an intermediary in various agreements that Unicamp enters into with public and private institutions, being responsible for the administrative and financial management of resources, as well as other activities necessary to implement the agreed work plan between the parties.

Below are the available laboratories for E-RENOVA’s research development. The entire complex provides a 6,000 m² area dedicated to research laboratories. We strive to become an international reference center in the field of renewable energy sources and products.

LOPCA-FERM - Laboratory of Optimization, Design, and Advanced Control - Fermentation Division
LOPCA - REF-BIORREF - Laboratory of Optimization, Design, and Advanced Control - Ref-Biorref
LOPCA - BIOFABRIS - Laboratory of Optimization, Design, and Advanced Control / Biofabris Laboratory - National Institute of Biofabrication
LOPCA - VALPET - Laboratory of Optimization, Design, and Advanced Control / Petroleum Valorization Laboratory
LEPFE - Laboratory of Fermentative and Enzymatic Process Engineering
LDPS - Laboratory of Separation Process Development
LEF - Laboratory of Phase Equilibrium
LEPA - Laboratory of Environmental Engineering and Processes
LEPAC - Laboratory for Adsorption and Catalysis Process Studies
LEBBPOR - Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Biorefining, and Renewable Products
LDPC - Laboratory of Catalysis and Catalytic Processes
LAB - Advanced Battery Laboratory
LRAC - Laboratory of Biomass Characterization and Analytical Resources Calibration
Laboratory of Research in Chemical Processes and Business Management (PQGe)
Laboratory of Industrial Analysis and Environmental Risk (L4R1S4)

UNICAMP (University of Campinas), one of the country's leading technology hubs for innovation

Situated in one of the most privileged technology clusters in Brazil, UNICAMP is renowned for its ability to innovate and holds a significant number of patents throughout the country. As an integral part of UNICAMP, FEQ plays a crucial role in technology transfer to society and contributes significantly to socioeconomic development. Additionally, FEQ excels in research and education, demonstrating excellence and leadership in these areas.

INOVA UNICAMP: Protecting the Intellectual Property of E-RENOVA

The Unicamp Innovation Agency (INOVA) was established in 2003 with the aim of fostering relationships between UNICAMP and society to enhance research, education, and knowledge advancement activities. Since then, INOVA has grown and evolved, executing projects and offering new services to amplify positive impacts in all the ecosystems it engages with. We rely on INOVA’s support to prospect partners, protect the intellectual property generated, and facilitate knowledge transfer from our research. INOVA acts as an intermediary between E-Renova researchers and companies interested in establishing partnerships with the university.

EMBRAPII UNIT E-RENOVA and the Financing Model

THE EMBRAPII OPERATIONAL MODEL

EMBRAPII (Brazilian Association for Industrial Research and Innovation) is a private non-profit institution qualified as a Social Organization by the Federal Government in September 2013. Its institutional activities are guided by the objectives established in the Management Agreement, signed in December of the same year with the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovations (MCTI) and the Ministry of Education (MEC). Since 2018, the Ministry of Health (MS) has also been included in the agreement through an additional term. The EMBRAPII operational model was designed to promote cooperation between scientific and technological research institutions and industrial companies, leveraging the synergy between both and stimulating knowledge transfer and the search for technological solutions. The premise is that this collaboration can make a significant contribution to increasing the technological intensity and innovation capacity of the Brazilian industry.

EMBRAPII Units are formed based on the specific competencies of scientific and technological research institutions, whether public or private non-profit, with proven experience in developing innovation projects in partnership with industrial companies. Accreditation is exclusive to the institution’s segment responsible for the defined competency area in the approved and contracted Action Plan with EMBRAPII. Operational agility is considered essential for the progress of partnerships and, above all, for the outcomes of innovation projects. For this reason, the EMBRAPII operational model aims to provide flexibility for accredited research institutions to prospect new business opportunities and allocate received resources, with a commitment to deliver results for partner companies.

ACCREDITATION BY EMBRAPII

Accreditation enables the selected scientific and technological research institution to receive financial resources from EMBRAPII, originating from the Management Agreement or other funding sources, to execute R&D projects in the accredited competency area, always in partnership with industrial companies.

PREMISES FOR EMBRAPII UNIT’S OPERATION

The following premises guide the operation of the Unit:

Autonomy to establish and execute R&D projects in partnership with industrial companies, within the contracted competency area with EMBRAPII;
Focus on industrial demand for R&D aimed at innovation;
Commitment to delivering results for partner companies;
Employment of best practices in conducting R&D activities, including prospecting, negotiation, project management, intellectual property management, communication, and administrative and financial management, always striving for operational excellence;
Internal capability to execute projects, including human resources and infrastructure.

FINANCING MODEL

EMBRAPII’s financing model allows autonomy for Unit operation. In return, the Unit assumes exclusive responsibility for project execution, financial resource allocation, and accountability, following the rules established in the EMBRAPII Operations Manual.

FINANCING OF THE PROJECT PORTFOLIO OF THE EMBRAPII UNIT CONTRACTED WITH RESOURCES FROM THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.

In the financing of the project portfolio of the EMBRAPII Unit, the following general rule for resource composition applies:

The portion corresponding to EMBRAPII’s contribution is at most one-third of the total value of the contracted project portfolio;
The remaining two-thirds must be negotiated between the Unit and the partner companies contracting the projects;
The financial participation of the contracting companies should not be less than one-third of the total value of the contracted project portfolio and must always be financial;
The participation of the EMBRAPII Unit as counterpart may be financial or non-financial.

PROJECT FINANCING

Within each project, the Unit has the prerogative to define the percentage of EMBRAPII’s contribution and negotiate the contribution of partner companies, as well as its own counterpart – financial or non-financial – considering factors such as development risk, technological challenge, and potential for application of the resulting technology.
However, the following rules must be observed regarding the composition of financial resources in each project:

EMBRAPII

EMBRAPII’s financial contribution cannot be less than 10% of the project value.

COMPANY(IES)

The financial contribution of the partner company(ies) must also not be less than 10% of the project value;
In cases where the company’s resources result from an obligation to invest in R&D, its participation must not be less than 50% of the project value;

EMBRAPII UNIT

The counterpart of the Unit can be financial or non-financial;
The non-financial counterpart refers to resources provided by the Unit;
The financial counterpart of the Unit must have its own account for each project.

EMBRAPII provides on its website the Operational Excellence System, which serves as a specific reference for institutions accredited by EMBRAPII.

Mission

E-Renova works to become an international center of excellence in the field of renewable energy and products. We are fully committed to society in developing technological solutions that meet rigorous sustainability criteria, establishing partnerships with companies in the industrial sector, and further advancing technology and research.

Vision

We are an EMBRAPII Unit in renewable energies. We strive to achieve synergy between the innovation ecosystem and the development of technologies. Our goal is to reach technical and economic maturity in industrial processes, generate intellectual property, train specialized human resources, and consolidate new research areas. We are fully committed to society in developing sustainable technology-based solutions through partnerships with the industrial sector.