Inaitec, an innovation hub located in the Pedra Branca Technology Park in Palhoça (SC), was again selected as one of the five Brazilian hubs to join the GITEX Dubai 2025 Business Mission. The selection is promoted by ApexBrasil and Sebrae, responsible for bringing the leading representatives of the national innovation ecosystem to the Middle East.
GITEX Expand North Star is considered one of the world's largest technology showcases, bringing together more than 100,000 visitors, 900 investors, business leaders, and government representatives. The event takes place annually in Dubai and focuses on driving digital entrepreneurship and promoting the internationalization of technological solutions.
Inaitec's participation reaffirms the role of the Santa Catarina ecosystem as one of Brazil's most dynamic and connected. In 2024, the Institute brought startups to the business mission and participated in international panels, including executive director Diego Chierighini's participation in the panel "Creating a culture of innovation."
Global connections and strategic learnings
During the 2024 mission, in addition to participating in the GITEX fair, Inaitec and Santa Catarina startups conducted technical visits to centers of excellence such as the Dubai Business Women Council, the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTI Park) and the DIFC Innovation Hub. These experiences provided direct contact with ecosystems that integrate university, government, and companies in high-impact collaborative projects.
The participating startups — including Eurotec Technology, Forpay, and Zoome — were able to present their business models, establish connections with international investors, and gain a better understanding of the challenges of global scalability.
Santa Catarina startups on the global radar
The Brazilian internationalization program stands out for facilitating startups' access to major markets, offering technical support and coordination with international networks. Inaitec's presence in this initiative highlights the Institute's consistent work in promoting innovation environments, internationalization, and social and economic impact.
According to Chierighini, "recognizing the work of hubs like Inaitec is also recognizing Santa Catarina's capacity to lead transformation agendas based on technology and collaboration." Participation in the previous edition resulted in strategic partnerships, new business opportunities, and the institutional strengthening of the Pedra Branca Technology Park abroad.
What's coming in the 2025 edition
The new mission will take place in October 2025, with a program focused on international connections, immersions in innovation hubs, and institutional presence at GITEX Expand North Star pavilions. Inaitec will soon announce the startups selected to join the Brazilian delegation.
The expectation is that the experience will generate even more concrete results, consolidating Santa Catarina as a benchmark in talent development, the generation of technological solutions, and the attraction of international investment.
Connecting local ideas to global markets
Inaitec's new participation in the GITEX Dubai 2025 Business Mission is one more step in building a truly global ecosystem. The initiative reinforces the Institute's role in creating bridges between entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors, expanding the reach of locally developed solutions and positioning Brazil as a protagonist of global innovation.
