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Brazil’s technology sector has recorded progress across innovation, research and development, talent formation and entrepreneurship. At the same time, data presented in the second edition of the TICs 2026 study, released by Softex Observatory, highlight structural challenges that continue to affect the country’s competitiveness.

The publication examines Brazil’s Software and Information and Communication Technology Services Industry and analyzes talent development, the labor market, technology adoption, research and development, and startup activity. The findings point to an expanding business and technology base, alongside challenges related to professional qualifications, innovation costs, R&D investment, and the maturity of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Technology education expands, but quality and retention remain challenges

Training technology professionals remains a strategic factor for the development of Brazil’s digital economy.

In 2024, Brazil recorded:

• 4,190 Information Technology programs, representing 9.2% of higher education programs;
• 50% of the available programs concentrated in the Southeast region;
• 30.57% located in the state of São Paulo;
• 87.3% of available places offered through distance learning;
• 109,875 professionals graduating through distance-learning programs, an increase of 30.6% compared with 2023.

Despite this expansion, the study identifies challenges related to education quality and student retention. Around 71% of programs evaluated by ENADE received scores of 2 or 3, while dropout rates in private distance-learning programs exceed 50%.

Strategic fields have also expanded rapidly. Enrollment in Artificial Intelligence programs increased from 396 to 3,250 between 2022 and 2024, while the number of available places in Cyber Defense grew from 4,785 to 113,080 between 2019 and 2024.

Business base and technology adoption continue to expand

Brazil’s technology business landscape has also grown significantly.

In 2025, the country had 627,124 companies in the Software and ICT Services Industry, representing a 21% increase from 2023 to 2025.

The adoption of Artificial Intelligence also increased:

• From 12.94% to 17.46% across companies on average;
• From 38.24% to 48.88% within the Information and Communication sector.

Cloud computing had already been adopted by 55.64% of companies and by 74.71% of organizations in the ICT sector.

The main barriers to innovation identified by the study include:

• Technology costs: 78.6%;
• Shortage of qualified professionals: 54.2%.

These figures suggest that the expansion of technology adoption is occurring alongside the need to increase the availability of specialized talent and address barriers to innovation.

Technology sector offers above-average remuneration

In 2025, the sector accounted for 1.32 million formal employment relationships, equivalent to 2.20% of Brazil’s total.

Average remuneration reached R$8,253.55, approximately 64.28% above the services sector average.

The data underscore the economic relevance of technology-related activities and reflect growing demand for qualified professionals in areas that are increasingly strategic to the digital economy.

R&D grows, but investment remains below leading global innovation hubs

In research and development, the study points to growth in investment and scientific infrastructure, although Brazil remains behind the world’s leading innovation economies.

Brazil invests between 1.3% and 1.7% of GDP in science and technology, compared with 6.35% in Israel and 5.32% in South Korea.

Within the Software and ICT Services Industry, R&D expenditure increased from:

• R$1.9 billion in 2008
• to R$3.6 billion in 2017.

Spending on specialized scientific and technical activities exceeded R$10 billion. Brazil also has 583 Science and Technology Institutions (STIs), of which **57.1% operate in Technology and Communication-related fields.

Software registrations increase while ICT patent filings decline

The intellectual property indicators presented in the study reveal contrasting trends.

Software registrations with the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO) increased from 2,099 in 2020 to 7,232 in 2025, indicating significant growth in the formal registration of software assets.

At the same time, patent applications related to Information and Communication Technologies declined by 20.4%.

The differences between these indicators highlight distinct dynamics within Brazil’s innovation system and underscore the importance of monitoring how companies, research institutions, and entrepreneurs use intellectual property protection mechanisms.

Startup ecosystem grows, but maturity and access to capital remain challenges

In 2025, Brazil had 3,923 technology-based startups, within a broader ecosystem of 22,869 startups.

• 67% were in the validation or traction stages;
• Only 3.3% had reached the scale stage;
• 50.1% reported no revenue.

The B2B model accounted for 70% of companies, while SaaS solutions represented 64.4% of the ecosystem analyzed.

Access to investment capital remains another key challenge. Venture capital funding declined from US$11.2 billion in 2021 to US$4.5 billion in 2025. For the first time in 15 years, Mexico surpassed Brazil in investment volume.

Regional concentration also remains significant: the Southeast accounts for 40.2% of startups, São Paulo for 24.8%, and Santa Catarina for 13.3%.

Brazil’s innovation ecosystem: growth alongside structural challenges

The TICs 2026 findings point to consistent growth in Brazil’s technology sector, driven by business expansion, increased adoption of technologies such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing, and the development of strategic talent pipelines.

At the same time, indicators related to R&D investment, talent availability, patent applications and access to capital demonstrate that further progress will depend on addressing structural challenges.

In this context, Brazil’s future competitiveness will depend not only on the continued expansion of its technology sector, but also on its ability to transform knowledge, research, development and entrepreneurship into technologies, intellectual assets and scalable businesses.

The expiration of semaglutide patent protection in Brazil has triggered a new phase of competition in the market for medicines used to treat diabetes and manage weight. Following the end of the protection period, Brazil’s Health Regulator Agency, Anvisa, began approving a new generation of semaglutide-based products, including synthetic versions and the first generic in the category.

According to VEJA, 12 semaglutide-based medicines have now been authorized by Brazil’s Health Regulator Agency (Anvisa), with some already available and others still awaiting pricing and commercial launch.

Patent expiration opens the market to new competitors

Semaglutide became globally known through Ozempic, developed by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. With patent protection ending in Brazil, local manufacturers began competing for a share of a rapidly expanding market.

The first major development came in May 2026, when Anvisa approved Ozivy, manufactured by Brazilian pharmaceutical company EMS. The product contains synthetic semaglutide and reached Brazilian pharmacies in June, selling 200,000 units in July alone, according to the report.

In July, Anvisa also authorized five other similar medicines:

• Owozy
• Seemasun
• Zempneo
• Semavy
• Orsema

The agency subsequently approved two additional products, including the first generic version developed by EMS. Competition now involves different regulatory categories and development approaches.

Competition and potential price impact

The growing number of manufacturers is expected to increase competition and potentially put downward pressure on prices.

Ozivy, the first domestically produced semaglutide injection pen, entered pharmacies at USD 64 (R$ 333) per unit under EMS’s Vida + Leve program. The company attributes its competitive pricing to internally developed technology and fully local production.

Novo Nordisk, meanwhile, remains active in the Brazilian market. In late 2025, the company entered into an agreement with the Brazilian pharmaceutical company Eurofarma to produce and distribute semaglutide-based medicines.

The development demonstrates that patent expiration does not necessarily remove the original innovator from the market. Instead, it can fundamentally reshape competitive dynamics once exclusivity ends.

Innovation beyond replication

The arrival of new products also highlights the distinction between biological and synthetic medicines.

The semaglutide originally used in Ozempic and Wegovy is a biological medicine manufactured using cultured cells. Several of the products now authorized in Brazil, however, use semaglutide produced through chemical synthesis.

This distinction is relevant to both intellectual property and regulatory strategies, as patent expiration does not simply mean reproducing the original technology developed by the innovator.

In the case of Ozivy, for example, the use of a synthetic manufacturing route allowed the product to be classified as a new medicine, despite using the same underlying active substance. The generic version subsequently approved by Anvisa uses Ozivy as its reference product.

Regulatory oversight keeps pace with market expansion

The rapid increase in the number of available products has also prompted Anvisa to intensify its review of registration applications.

According to the report, the agency reviewed 24 applications, of which 11 had been completed at the time of publication: six were approved and five rejected. The regulatory process includes assessment of technical dossiers and inspections of manufacturing facilities.

The expansion is occurring alongside concerns over an illegal market for unregulated products. Between November 2025 and July 2026, 9.2 lb of semaglutide and 330 lb of tirzepatide in raw-material form were imported. During the same period, Anvisa conducted 33 inspections of compounding pharmacies, 14 of which were conducted jointly with the Federal Police.

Intellectual property and pharmaceutical market transformation

The semaglutide case illustrates how the expiration of patent exclusivity can rapidly reshape competition within a pharmaceutical market.

The arrival of new market participants may contribute to:

• Greater availability of medicines;
• Development of alternative manufacturing technologies;
• Potential price reductions;
• Increased competition among manufacturers;
• Broader access to treatments.

At the same time, the case demonstrates that patent expiration is only one step in the market-entry process. Regulatory approval, manufacturing capacity, pricing, and commercial strategies also determine how quickly competition reaches consumers.

Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO) published its Strategic Plan for 2027–2036 on August 14, 2026. The document establishes the Institute’s long-term strategic direction and reflects the results of a collective, participatory strategy-building process.

The new framework sets out seven Strategic Objectives, aligned with BPTO’s mission, vision and values. The strategy will subsequently be translated into action plans for the Institute’s different areas, with medium-term targets and projects.

A decade-long strategic framework

The ten-year planning horizon establishes a long-term framework to guide BPTO’s institutional initiatives and priorities.

Key elements include:

• Planning period: 2027–2036
• Seven Strategic Objectives
• Collective and participatory development process
• Alignment with the Institute’s Mission, Vision and Values
• Implementation through Action Plans
• Definition of medium-term targets and projects

Connecting strategy and implementation

According to BPTO, the new framework adopts an integrated model, under which the strategic guidelines will be implemented through Action Plans developed by the Institute’s different areas.

This approach connects long-term strategic planning with medium-term implementation, translating institutional objectives into specific projects and targets.

The framework also fits within BPTO’s broader governance structure, which includes instruments such as the Action Plan, Monitoring Center, Multi-Year Plan and the National Intellectual Property Strategy.

Implications for Brazil’s intellectual property system

BPTO’s Strategic Plan provides a long-term framework for an institution that plays a central role in Brazil’s intellectual property system. The Institute is responsible for granting and registering several forms of industrial property rights, including patents, trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications.

Against this backdrop, long-term institutional planning can provide direction for the development of processes, projects and targets related to the agency’s activities.

The document is also expected to serve as a reference for planning across BPTO’s different areas, connecting institutional objectives with implementation initiatives.

Next steps

The publication of the Strategic Plan marks the beginning of a new 2027–2036 planning cycle. Implementation will take place through the Action Plans developed by BPTO’s different areas, which will establish medium-term projects and targets.

Brazil’s São Francisco Valley, located in the country’s semi-arid Northeast, has emerged as a global benchmark in fruit production and an innovative wine-producing region.

The area accounts for around 90% of Brazil’s grape exports, underscoring its importance in international agricultural trade.

A high-tech agricultural hub

The region’s success is driven by irrigation, research, and advanced agricultural practices:

• Year-round production cycles
• Strong integration between research institutions and producers
• High export orientation

Global grape export leader

The São Francisco Valley dominates Brazil’s grape exports:

• Up to 95% of exported table grapes originate from the region
• Key markets include Europe and North America
• Strong logistics and infrastructure support global distribution

Unique tropical wines

The region is also known for producing tropical wines, a rare phenomenon globally:

• Two harvests per year due to climate conditions
• Distinct aromatic and fresh profiles
• Recognized through Geographical Indication (GI)

Intellectual property and GI relevance

Geographical Indications play a key role in positioning the region internationally:

• Protect origin and reputation
• Enhance product value
• Support regional economic development

Pharmaceutical patent frameworks have once again become a focal point in the global response to HIV/AIDS, with experts advocating for mechanisms that expand access to essential medicines, particularly in the Global South.

The discussion centers on the use of intellectual property flexibilities — such as compulsory licensing — to balance innovation incentives with public health needs.

Patents and access to treatment

Patent systems grant temporary exclusivity over drug commercialization, which can directly influence pricing and availability.

In the HIV/AIDS context:

• Patent protection may limit generic competition
• High costs can restrict access in low- and middle-income countries
• Local manufacturing capacity is seen as a strategic priority

Addressing these barriers has historically played a key role in expanding access to antiretroviral therapies worldwide.

Flexibility mechanisms

Key policy tools under discussion include:

• Compulsory licensing: allows production without patent holder consent under specific conditions
• Technology transfer: supports local pharmaceutical manufacturing
• International cooperation: promotes broader access to health technologies

These mechanisms are considered essential to improving global preparedness and response to health crises.

International perspectives

The debate includes perspectives from regions facing structural healthcare challenges, where stigmatized diseases can intensify broader social and economic crises.

Brazilian initiatives have also been highlighted as examples of efforts to expand manufacturing capacity and improve access to treatment.

Policy implications

The issue underscores a fundamental policy challenge: balancing innovation incentives with equitable access to healthcare.

Key considerations include:

• Sustainability of public health systems
• Incentives for pharmaceutical R&D
• Reduction of inequalities in access to medicines

The topic remains under active discussion among governments, industry stakeholders, multilateral organizations, and civil society.

The discussion on reintroducing a patent term adjustment (PTA) mechanism has resurfaced in Brazil’s healthcare sector, bringing renewed attention to regulatory predictability and innovation incentives.

While part of the industry views the mechanism as a way to strengthen legal certainty and attract investment, stakeholders linked to generics, biosimilars, and public health argue that the current framework already provides sufficient protection without extending patent terms.

Regulatory background

Since 2021, Brazil has not maintained a mechanism to compensate for delays in patent examination. This followed a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated provisions guaranteeing a minimum patent term in such cases.

Legislative proposals are now under discussion to reintroduce a structured adjustment model, including:

• Proportional extensions based on administrative delays
• A maximum adjustment period of up to five years
• Defined deadlines for requesting adjustments after grant

These proposals aim to align Brazil with international practices.

Predictability and innovation impact

Predictability in patent systems is a key factor influencing R&D investment decisions.

Extended examination timelines can:

• Reduce legal certainty over intellectual property rights
• Increase transaction and licensing costs
• Delay market entry of new technologies

Compared to leading economies such as China, Brazil’s patent activity remains significantly lower, reinforcing the debate on how to strengthen its innovation ecosystem.

Patent Term Adjustment (PTA)

PTA is a mechanism designed to compensate patent holders for undue administrative delays in the examination process.

Its main features include:

• Case-specific application rather than automatic extension
• Eligibility tied to unjustified delays by the patent office
• Objective of restoring effective exclusivity time

The mechanism is widely used internationally to balance protection and regulatory efficiency.

Trade-offs: access vs. innovation

Reintroducing PTA involves a strategic policy choice:

• Access-oriented approach: prioritizing affordability through generics and biosimilars
• Innovation-driven approach: encouraging investment and technology inflow

Balancing these priorities is critical in a sector characterized by high development costs and strong reliance on intellectual property protection.

Next steps

The debate continues across legislative and industry forums. Any future adoption of a PTA mechanism is expected to influence:

• Investment strategies in Brazil
• Competitive dynamics in the pharmaceutical sector
• Access to new treatments and technologies

Novo Nordisk has been denied an injunction request seeking to prevent Brazilian pharmaceutical company EMS from using the trademark Ozivy for a semaglutide-based drug. The decision was issued by Brazil’s Federal Regional Court of the 2nd Region (TRF-2) on July 31, 2026.

The ruling upholds the first-instance decision and maintains the validity of the trademark registration granted by the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO). At the same time, the case proceeds on the merits.

Trademark similarity dispute

Novo Nordisk argued that Ozivy partially reproduces elements of its registered trademarks Ozempic and Wegovy, both associated with semaglutide-based medications.

According to the company:

• The prefix “Oz” derives from Ozempic
• The suffix “vy” refers to Wegovy
• The combination could create undue association between products

The company also claimed:

• Alternative names were available
• The trademark was chosen in bad faith
• Market association had already occurred

As supporting evidence, Novo Nordisk cited media coverage and social media posts referring to the EMS product as:

• “Brazilian Ozempic”
• “Local Ozempic”
• “EMS Ozempic”

Court’s reasoning

Reporting judge José Eduardo Nobre Matta emphasized that suspending a trademark registration requires a thorough evidentiary review and is not appropriate for preliminary relief.

Key points of the decision include:

• BPTO registrations carry a presumption of validity
• Revocation requires full judicial examination
• No exclusivity exists over prefixes or suffixes in isolation

The court highlighted that trademark protection must consider the overall impression of the sign rather than isolated components.

Evidence assessment and bad faith claims

Regarding the evidence presented, the court found that the references allow for multiple interpretations.

The association between the EMS product and Ozempic may stem from:

• Its launch as the first competitor after patent protection expired
• The shared active ingredient (semaglutide)

On bad faith allegations, the judge stated that:

• It is a serious claim
• It cannot be presumed
• It must be examined during the full proceedings

Impact and next steps

The court also considered the potential impact of granting the injunction.

It concluded that suspending the trademark and preventing its use shortly after market entry could lead to irreversible consequences.

As a result, the TRF-2:

• Maintained the Ozivy trademark registration
• Allowed EMS to continue using the brand
• Denied Novo Nordisk’s injunction request

Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO) has formalized the hiring of specialized training services for its leadership team, focusing on people analytics capabilities. The total investment is estimated at USD 55,000, according to a contract notice published in the Official Gazette on July 30, 2026.

The initiative includes the program “Development of People Management and Leadership Teams with People Analytics – Full Cycle,” delivered by Minder People Analytics Ltda. in a hybrid format that combines online sessions and in-person meetings in Rio de Janeiro.

Public management modernization

The program aims to strengthen BPTO leadership’s analytical capabilities by integrating data-driven tools into decision-making processes.

People analytics (the practice of collecting, organizing, and analyzing workforce data) has been increasingly adopted in Brazil’s public sector to:

• Improve administrative efficiency
• Optimize workforce allocation
• Support talent retention strategies
• Reduce operational costs

According to the project’s terms of reference, the training will cover the full methodology cycle, including:

• Government data collection
• Performance indicator analysis
• Organizational climate assessment
• Productivity monitoring

The initiative aligns with broader efforts by federal agencies to adopt corporate governance best practices and advance digital transformation.

Contract details and legal framework

Contract No. 19/2026 will be valid for 12 months, from July 30, 2026 to July 30, 2027.

Key details:

• Total value: R$ 278,000
• Administrative process: 52402.000551/2026-91
• Legal basis: Article 74, III, “f” of Law No. 14,133/2021
• Procurement model: Direct contracting (non-competitive)

Brazilian procurement law allows direct hiring when competition is not feasible for specialized intellectual services, such as training.

About people analytics

People analytics replaces intuition-based management with data-driven decision-making.

In the public sector, it can enable:

• More effective workforce allocation
• Identification of training needs
• Greater accuracy in personnel management

Minder People Analytics Ltda., the contracted company, specializes in consulting and training, using tools and methodologies to convert large volumes of data into actionable insights.

Dates for the in-person sessions in Rio de Janeiro will be scheduled throughout 2026, in line with the agency’s internal planning.

Recife has been nominated to represent Brazil in the inaugural edition of the WIPO City of Innovation, an international award promoted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized agency of the United Nations focused on innovation, creativity, and intellectual property protection.

Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its Intellectual Property Division, made the nomination, selecting three Brazilian cities for the initial stage of the competition. WIPO will evaluate the applications and is expected to announce the finalists by the end of September.

The award ceremony is scheduled for October 12 in Geneva, Switzerland, during the 6th UN Mayors Forum.

Recognition of an innovation-driven strategy

Recife’s nomination reflects recognition of a structured strategy to leverage innovation as a driver of economic and social development.

The city’s model is based on collaboration between:

• universities
• research centers
• startups
• companies
• public authorities

This integrated ecosystem seeks to transform knowledge into practical solutions, generating jobs, opportunities, and social impact.

Key initiatives and public policies

Recife’s application highlights several initiatives focused on strengthening innovation, applied research, and intellectual property, including:

• NITRO Program: developed in partnership with Porto Digital, aimed at strengthening Technology Innovation Centers (NITs), increasing IP filings, and accelerating technology transfer
• NIT Recife Network: part of the UniverCidade Program
• CORETO Program: promoting innovative entrepreneurship
• Municipal policies on open innovation, digital transformation, and startup support

These initiatives reinforce Recife’s strategy to foster a dynamic innovation ecosystem and knowledge-based economy.

Intellectual property as a development driver

The WIPO City of Innovation award evaluates how cities leverage intellectual property to:

• drive innovation
• promote sustainable development
• support the creative economy
• expand opportunities for entrepreneurs and researchers

Recife’s participation highlights the growing role of intellectual property in building more innovative, competitive, and sustainable cities.

Brazil ranks among the world’s top seven economies in investment in intangible assets, with total investment of US$ 312 billion in 2023, according to the report “Brazil in the Global Landscape of Intangible Investments” published by the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO).

Intangibles represent a significant share of GDP

According to the report, intangible investments already account for 7.6% of Brazil’s GDP, a level comparable to traditional sectors such as:

• agriculture (6.0%)
• financial sector (6.6%)
• and above extractive industries (3.7%)

This highlights the growing importance of assets such as software, databases, brands, industrial designs, and research and development (R&D) in the Brazilian economy.

Strong performance in trademark investments

One of the key highlights is Brazil’s position in trademark-related investments. The country ranks 5th globally, with approximately US$ 79 billion, surpassing economies such as France, Italy, and Spain.

Trademarks account for around 25% of Brazil’s total intangible investments, a higher share than that observed in the United Kingdom, underscoring their strategic importance in the business environment.

Underestimation remains a challenge

Despite these figures, the report indicates that approximately 72% of intangible investments in Brazil are not captured in National Accounts.

This is due to international accounting standards that treat expenditures on assets such as brands and organizational capital as expenses rather than investments — a pattern also observed across other economies.

Global trend: intangibles drive growth

Globally, the data reveal a structural shift: since 2008, investments in intangible assets have grown, on average, more than three times as fast as tangible investments.

By 2025, these investments exceeded US$ 10 trillion, consolidating their role as a key driver of the global economy.

Strategic implications

The rise of intangible investments reinforces the role of intellectual property as a core driver of competitiveness.

For Brazil, key priorities include:

• improving measurement frameworks
• strengthening innovation policies
• increasing private sector participation
• ensuring effective IP protection

Beyond investment levels, the real challenge lies in converting intangible assets into sustainable economic value.