Innovation is a matter of corporate culture, and it can involve simple initiatives that are not necessarily synonymous with technology, as demonstrated by the participants of the 6th Event of ABPI’s Sectional Representations on May 16th. The event was held in-person and online and focused on the theme “Innovation Ecosystem in Minas Gerais”. It featured presentations by André Medina from Andrade Gutierrez, Guilherme Freitas from MRV, and Priscila Malaguti Guerzoni from Skema Business School. Luiza Tângari Coelho, the Sectional Representative of Minas Gerais for ABPI, moderated the discussion.
To demonstrate how innovation can often be implemented through simple solutions, Freitas provided an example of a modification made at MRV in their apartment sales contracts. With the change, the previously lengthy and complex legal documents were transformed into accessible language, improved visually, and reduced from 22 to six pages. “These contracts were originally drafted by lawyers, for lawyers, and were not easily understandable for consumers,” explains the MRV representative. “It is important for the legal department of companies to contribute to disseminating a culture of innovation, making this flow natural across all areas of the company.”
Another important aspect highlighted by the MRV director was the intended purpose of innovation. He mentioned data from a survey in the United States revealing that 77% of innovation projects implemented in the American market failed due to a lack of defined objectives. “Innovation requires culture, methodology, and objectives,” he stated.
In his presentation, Medina emphasized that innovation does not necessarily have to be developed internally. In 2018, Andrade Gutierrez launched Vetor AG, the first open innovation program in the engineering and construction sector. Through partnerships, the program seeks solutions in various areas. By October last year, the program had already reached over 1,500 connections with startups, accelerated more than 30 initiatives, and hired over 20 solutions. “Open innovation is faster, cheaper, and provides a broader range of solutions for our business than if we were to develop them solely internally,” said Medina.
Professor Priscila Malaguti Guerzoni, in turn, emphasized the importance of integrating innovation into the market. “To bring an idea to life, it is essential to connect with entrepreneurs,” she said. According to her, when choosing Belo Horizonte as the location for its campus in Brazil, Skema Business School took into consideration the fact that the capital of Minas Gerais is the third-largest city for business in the country. Created in 2009 through the merger of École Supérieure de Commerce de Lille (1892) and CERAM Business School – Sophia Antipolis (1963), Skema offers Business Administration and Law programs in Belo Horizonte.
You can watch the complete webinar on ABPI’s YouTube channel.
