Brazil
Petrobras believes that dominating technology is a critical factor for success in its business. And, since it was founded, it has worked in partnership with Brazilian universities and research institutes, contributing to the advancement of domestic technology in the oil, gas and energy area.
An excellent example of this partnership is the Thematic Networks project, which completed three years of important achievements. In the network strategy, the first step is to provide the country with a technological park of world-class excellence in the energy area.
"We part from the principle that, based on strong investments made in the physical infrastructure and in qualification, conditions of excellence will be created to develop daring P&D projects in Brazil and to generate a significantly larger amount of innovations," explained the executive manager for Petrobras' Research and Development Center (Cenpes), Carlos Tadeu da Costa Fraga.
Therefore, from 2006 to late 2009, the Company will have invested nearly R$1.8 billion in building cutting-edge experimental infrastructure at domestic research and development institutions, equipped with the most advanced devices to carry out complex assays for the oil industry. "These labs are compatible with the best in the world. With them, Petrobras will be able to perform assays at domestic institutions that in the past it had to hire foreign companies to do," explained Fraga.
In the beginning of the project, agreements were signed with 71 R&D institutions in 19 states and were organized around 38 thematic networks. The model has evolved, and now there are 50 networks dedicated to different themes and bringing together 80 institutions. Each network's theme is related to Petrobras' technological goals, as set forth by its Business Plan and Strategic Planning.
