On the morning of Tuesday, October 26, the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) received a delegation composed of members of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) and Veegor Tecnologia Aplicada to visit the institution's facilities. The team, who came to Macaíba to see the site that will house the Augusto Severo Science and Technology Park (PAX/RN), took the opportunity to learn about the Institute's main areas of activity and research in neuroengineering and health. 

The company, currently headquartered in Colombo, in the state of Paraná, has a large volume of services performed at the state's wind farm, and is working with the prospect of maintaining facilities in Rio Grande do Norte. The visit aimed to strengthen relations and potential partnerships, since PAX will have the renewable energy sector as one of its main areas of activity. 

The director of the UFRN School of Science and Technology, Douglas Nascimento, also accompanied the delegation and took the opportunity to learn more about the research developed by the ISD in the area of neuroengineering. According to him, partnerships between UFRN and the Institute should increase in the future. “There are several areas of interaction and contribution in which we could participate, not just us, but all areas of Engineering at UFRN. Now, we want to bring professors and students so that we can increase this interaction between engineering, health, rehabilitation and research that is already being done here. We have great potential for the development of products for social transformation”, says Douglas. 

Research Director at Veegor Tecnologia Aplicada, Helena Wilhem, highlighted the importance of developing translational research with a focus on social impact, as has been done at the Institute. “I think the part that impressed me the most was seeing how the integration between different areas had a positive result here for the production of technologies and solutions that have a direct impact on the population. The fact that research is not thought of only for the laboratory is a major differentiator,” highlights the director. 

PAX

The building that will house the Augusto Severo Technological Park, built on land partly occupied by the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD), in Macaíba, has approximately 15 thousand square meters and will receive complementary investments of around R$8.4 million from the Government of the State of Rio Grande do Norte. 

At PAX, innovation hubs will be implemented in sectors considered essential to local social and economic development, such as renewable energy, mining, fishing, aquaculture, textiles, tourism, fruit growing and services. The hub will also house companies specializing in the manufacture of orthoses and prostheses for the rehabilitation of patients with various disabilities, one of the areas of activity of the ISD.