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Criciúma is taking an important step towards the future. The city in Santa Catarina has presented an ambitious Smart City project that aims to modernize various public services through technology, connectivity, and data-driven management.
Criciúma, in the South of Santa Catarina, is advancing in structuring a Public-Private Partnership project aimed at implementing smart city solutions. The proposal was detailed in a report published on June 8, 2026, by ND Mais and foresees the modernization of public services with technology, connectivity, and data-driven management.
According to the report, the municipal administration intends to take the project to auction at B3, in São Paulo, in September 2026. Before the bidding, the proposal is to be presented to potential investors.
The initiative comes at a time when Criciúma seeks to consolidate its image as a hub of urban innovation. In September 2025, the municipality was recognized by the CSC Cities ranking, from Connected Smart Cities, as the fourth smartest city in the South region, the second in Santa Catarina, and the 16th in the national ranking.
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Project foresees digital transformation of the city
The plan presented by the Criciúma City Hall brings together technological solutions aimed at modernizing urban infrastructure.
Among the planned measures are the modernization of public lighting, the expansion of video surveillance, the installation of smart traffic lights, weather stations, solar plants, public wi-fi points, and a control center for service monitoring.
According to ND Mais, the municipal administration intends to install 450 new cameras and 162 public wi-fi points in the municipality.
Safety and mobility are among the priorities
Urban security is one of the main axes of the proposal.
The project foresees the implementation of smart cameras and video monitoring systems capable of monitoring strategic points of the city. Urban mobility solutions are also planned, such as smart traffic lights and equipment aimed at traffic control.
With these tools, the city hall intends to improve the public management’s response capacity, reinforce road safety, and make travel more efficient for residents and visitors.
Clean energy is also part of the plan
The proposal also includes measures related to sustainability.
According to the Criciúma City Hall, the project foresees the implementation of a photovoltaic plant and the integration of urban infrastructure services. The idea is to reduce operational costs and expand the use of renewable energy in the management of public services.
The Technical, Economic, Legal, and Environmental Feasibility Study, known as EVTEJA, was delivered to the municipal administration on February 13, 2026, by the Institute of City Planning and Management, the IPGC.
Model will be based on performance goals
The PPP was structured to operate with performance goals and indicators.
According to the Criciúma City Hall, the EVTEJA indicates that the contract will have a term of 25 years. The study also foresees more than R$ 165 million in private investments for the implementation of solutions and about R$ 224 million for the operation and maintenance of services throughout the concession.
In this model, the company responsible for executing the contract must meet predefined goals, with monitoring of efficiency and quality indicators.
City already stands out in national rankings
Investments in innovation did not start now.
The smart city project adds to recent recognitions obtained by Criciúma in the area of urban innovation.
On September 24, 2025, the City Hall reported that the municipality had reached the fourth position among the smartest cities in Southern Brazil in the CSC Cities ranking, by Connected Smart Cities. Nationally, Criciúma ranked 16th among the 5,570 municipalities evaluated.
The ranking considers indicators related to areas such as innovation, sustainability, education, health, governance, and quality of life.
Feasibility study guides the next steps
The City Hall of Criciúma received, on February 13, 2026, the EVTEJA that underpins the Smart City PPP.
On the occasion, the study was delivered to Mayor Vagner Espindola and Deputy Mayor Salésio Lima by the president of IPGC, Leonardo Santos. The document gathers the technical, economic, legal, and environmental analysis of the project.
According to the municipal secretary of Governance, Tiago Ferro Pavan, the proposal is among the most complete Smart City PPP projects in Brazil by integrating public lighting, connectivity, video monitoring, mobility, renewable energy, and operational control center.
Project expected to go to B3 in September 2026
After the public consultation phase, the project is expected to proceed to presentation to investors and, subsequently, to auction on B3, in São Paulo.
According to a report by ND Mais published on June 8, 2026, the forecast is that the auction will take place in September 2026. This stage is part of the partnership structuring process, which includes public consultation, public hearing, roadshow, final adjustments, bidding, and contract signing.
Criciúma aims to become a national reference
With the future PPP, Criciúma intends to accelerate the digital transformation of urban services and expand the use of technology in public management.
If the schedule advances as planned, the municipality may strengthen its position among Brazilian cities that invest in connectivity, data, clean energy, and smart infrastructure to improve the quality of life of the population.
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