The federal government announced the final version of the Brazilian Artificial Intelligence Plan (PBIA), with up to R$ 23 billion in investments until 2028. Coordinated by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), the initiative aims to consolidate the country as a protagonist in the sector, covering areas such as infrastructure, training, governance, and regulatory support. Among the goals set is the acquisition of one of the five most powerful supercomputers in the world, which can significantly increase the national capacity for data processing and advanced AI research.
The movement follows the global race for technology, but according to Lucas Mantovani, partner and co-founder of SAFIE, specialized in new business for SMEs and startups, this also exposes internal challenges. For the expert, while China has accumulated over a decade of billion-dollar investments and integration between the public and private sectors to gain leadership in AI, Brazil still faces regulatory barriers, excessive bureaucracy, and legal uncertainty that can reduce the effectiveness of the strategy.
In this scenario, Lucas Mantovani emphasizes the importance of simplifying rules and reducing entry barriers for entrepreneurs and startups. “The success of PBIA depends less on the volume of resources alone and more on creating an innovation-friendly environment. PBIA is a positive sign, defines axes, allocates resources, and organizes actors. But the reality is that if the entrepreneur remains tied to the ‘Brazilian cost’ in terms of regulations, with multiple licenses, overlapping of agencies, and legal uncertainty, innovation does not scale,” he affirms.
The lawyer points out that simplification should go hand in hand with investments. “Simplifying processes is as strategic as injecting capital. This is what attracts investors, retains talents, and ensures that new products reach the market competitively,” Mantovani concludes.
