Tech Roundup: Brazil’s new semiconductor plan

Every Friday, we bring you the most important news around tech and innovation in Brazil. This week: The new national semiconductor development plan. 2022 could be the year for the energy-to-waste segment in Brazil. AI legal framework still has a long way to go in Brazil. 

Brazil to launch new semiconductor development plan

The Brazilian government is expected to launch a new national plan for the development of semiconductors, making use of what is left over from the National Advanced Technology Center (Ceitec), currently in liquidation. Ceitec is the only firm in Latin America with the know-how and infrastructure to manufacture semiconductors and produce silicon chips from scratch. 

Why it matters. The pandemic created a massive semiconductor shortage, causing disruptions to multiple industries around the globe. And the war in Ukraine could spur another chip crisis.

• “Depending on how long this crisis lasts, we may face difficulties, because there are fundamental raw materials used in the production of semiconductors that originate precisely between Russia and Ukraine,” says Humberto Barbato, president of Brazilian electrical and electronics industry association Abinee.
• The forecast, according to Mr. Barbato, is that Brazil will only have an inventory of such materials to last for another three to six months.

What is happening. Last week, software association Softex — which has several partnership deals with the Science and Technology Ministry — was chosen to manage the Ceitec estate, being responsible for all its research, development, and promotion of technology-based ventures in semiconductors, microelectronics, and nanoelectronics.

• Only Ceitec’s clean room, necessary to develop semiconductors, was left out of the deal with Softex. “The Economy Minister will decide the future of the clean room,” explained Science and Technology Minister Marcos Pontes.

Timeline. Softex CEO Rubén Delgado said the plan is to launch the new semiconductor initiative this month, before Mr. Pontes leaves the government to run...