Canadian mining technology research and development partnering delegation to Brazil

Request for expression of interest

Delegation dates: June 2 to 6, 2025

Global Affairs Canada (GAC), through the Consulates General of Canada in São Paulo and in Rio de Janeiro, and in collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), invites you to apply to participate in the Canadian mining technology research and development partnering delegation to Brazil under the Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP).

The partnership development activity (PDA) will take place in person from June 2 to 6, 2025, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Please note that interested companies must apply no later than April 13, 2025.

Delegation objectives

The delegation objective is to foster partnerships between Canadian and Brazilian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), research institutions, and large corporations for the purposes of research and development (R&D) collaboration.

The delegation will support, among other things, the development of the following technologies that could be applied to the mining sector:

• clean technologies
• automation
• robotics
• artificial intelligence

Examples of R&D collaboration include, but are not limited to:

• validation of the suitability of Canadian technology to the Brazilian market
• adaptation of Canadian technology to meet Brazilian and/or other market characteristics
• joint development of new products and/or services by combining Canadian and Brazilian technologies

Canadian delegation profile

The business delegation will consist of 8 to 10 Canadian SMEs offering technologies of relevance to clean tech, automation, robotics and artificial intelligence in the mining sector as a key focus. Canadian applicants should meet the following requirements:

• profit-oriented, small- or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) incorporated in Canada
• previous experience in commercializing technology for domestic and/or international markets
• capacity and interest to co-develop technology with Brazilian partners
• sufficient working capital and human resources to undertake a multi-year R&D collaboration and commercialize the results.

Program

• briefings on the Brazilian market and research ecosystem
• site visits and meetings with companies, as well as R&D and commercialization hubs pitching to Brazilian potential partners and technology investors,
• pre-arranged B2B and networking meetings

Why Brazil?

Brazil features considerable geological diversity and is home to world-class mining projects. The country produces over 91 different metallic and non-metallic minerals and is ranked globally in terms of production of niobium, iron-ore, manganese, graphite and bauxite. Mining is a key industry in Brazil, representing approximately 4% of the country's GDP. The sector was responsible for revenues in the order of US$15.6 billion from taxes and royalties in 2023, a trade balance from mining of almost US$32 billion, which represented roughly 32% of Brazil's trade surplus, and the generation of 204,000 direct jobs. Brazil is an attractive market for foreign investment, offering opportunities due to the country's important projects associated with critical and strategic minerals. IBRAM, the Brazilian Mining Association, projects potential investments of approximately US$64.5 billion by 2028. Brazil is keenly focused on establishing an important mining innovation ecosystem to increase productivity and efficiency in the mining and metallurgy industries, while reducing GHC emissions.

Financial support

The CIIP may provide financial support to eligible Canadian SMEs for up to 50% of all eligible expenses (see application process below) that include, but are not limited to the following:

• economy class airfare
• local transportation
• accommodation
• per diems
• conference registration fees

To access the complete list of eligible expenses, request the CIIP applicant guide by contacting innovation@international.gc.ca.

How to apply

1. Interested companies and organizations should request an application form from the CIIP team at Global Affairs Canada: innovation@international.gc.ca.
2. Completed application forms are to be submitted by April 13, 2025, to the CIIP team at Global Affairs Canada: innovation@international.gc.ca.
3. Global Affairs Canada, the Consulate General of Canada in São Paulo, the Consulate General of Canada in Rio de Janeiro, and NRC-IRAP will select Canadian companies that will participate in the delegation and provide selected applicants with a notification by April 25, 2025.
4. Companies formally selected to participate in the delegation will be invited to apply for travel funding support.
5. Companies who apply for CIIP funding will be notified of the funding decision by May 9, 2025.

If you have any questions concerning the application process, please see the CIIP webpage and/or email the CIIP team at innovation@international.gc.ca.