Brazil has 1/3 of the reserves of graphite (or graphite) and approximately 97% of niobium, which, when combined with graphene, will revolutionize the destiny of humanity

The inauguration of the first and largest graphene production factory on an industrial scale in South America, which took place on July 09, was attended by the President of the Republic, Jair Bolsonaro, the Chief Minister of the Civil House, Luiz Eduardo Ramos, and the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Marcos Pontes. The unit will have the capacity to produce up to five thousand kilograms of high quality per year.

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In his speech, President Jair Bolsonaro highlighted Brazil's potential: “We have a blessed homeland. Returning to the periodic table, we have all of it here in Brazil. Even in what is rare. We have around 1/3 of the graphite reserves, or graphite, in several states. We have approximately 97% of niobium, which, when married to graphene, will really revolutionize the destiny of humanity”, he said.

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Potential that is already reality in the market

The rector of UCS, Evaldo Antonio Kuiava, emphasizes the possibility of sharing the potential of graphene with society and showing that, beyond research, its production is a reality. He emphasizes that the innovation ecosystem at the University qualifies teaching and impacts the market, through the connection established with companies. “We have a viable product for the industry, capable of generating income for society with Brazilian technology”, he declares, regarding the work carried out in the business unit that is the first in Serra Gaúcha accredited by the Brazilian Company of Research and Industrial Innovation (Embrapii), a social organization supervised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) that works to promote innovation in Brazilian industry.

The delivery converges the efforts of the Federal Government to promote public policies in the sector and support initiatives in graphene such as new production arrangements, implementation and incorporation of graphene in production chains, research and scientific knowledge, in addition to launching public notices and public calls with economic subsidy for companies, universities and entities.

about graphene

Graphene is a material recognized worldwide for its incredible physical properties, such as high mechanical strength, lightness, malleability and high thermal and electrical conductivity. Brazil is the third largest supplier of the mineral graphite in the world and has the second largest world reserve of this material, which is the main raw material for Graphene. It is estimated that this market will move, in 5 years, more than 3 billion dollars.

Among the products that use this raw material are bulletproof vests, anticorrosive, self-cleaning and antibacterial paints, fabrics, motorcycle helmets, rebar for civil construction, batteries, among others.

The Civil House follows the policies for advanced materials to promote the harmonization and regulation of this theme with the various sectoral actions carried out by the other ministries.

INOVAGRAPHEN-MCTI Program

The MCTI – Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations instituted the Graphene Innovation Program, InovaGrafeno-MCTI, through the Ordinance No. 4.964, published on July 12, in the Official Gazette of the Union. The document was signed on July 9, at an inauguration event for the largest graphene factory in Latin America. The capacity is to produce up to five thousand kilos of high quality per year.

InovaGrafeno-MCTI is one of the strategic and structuring programs of the Brazilian Nanotechnology Initiative (IBN) and will function as a national vector for the development of graphene and the next generation of 2D carbon-based materials.

According to the ordinance, the objective of the program is to create, integrate and strengthen government actions on the subject of graphene and 2D carbon-based materials, promoting innovation in Brazilian industry, in order to ensure technological autonomy in high-tech sectors.

The InovaGrafeno-MCTI also establishes as purposes the generation of wealth, jobs and national development; mobilize, articulate and encourage public and private national actors to act in coordination in the development of processes, products, instrumentation, standardization, certification and innovations in the area; ensure universal access to advanced scientific and technological infrastructure to stimulate the scientific community; promote and encourage the attraction, training, training, mobility and establishment of human capital capable of working in technological development, entrepreneurship and innovation, involving graphene and 2D carbon-based materials.