On the National Science and Technology Day, October 16th, the Federal Institute of Mato Grosso (IFMT) celebrates this date, emphasizing that it produces applied science, in connection with regional development, technological innovation, and local production arrangements.
Scientific research at IFMT is the result of the work of teachers, administrative staff, and students. Students in technical courses, undergraduate and postgraduate programs have the opportunity to participate directly in projects. A student can have their first contact with scientific research even in integrated secondary education.
IFMT adopts research as an educational principle, associating it with teaching. The institution has six postgraduate programs (stricto sensu), five master's and one doctoral, which form masters and doctors within the state.
Applied research is already a consolidated reality in the Institute. IFMT develops projects in partnership with companies and public bodies, involving teachers, researchers, technicians, and students in solving concrete problems of society and the productive sector. Examples include solutions involving artificial intelligence, automation, digital platforms, geoprocessing, environmental monitoring, traceability, and digital transformation.
The projects cover agricultural sciences, exact and earth sciences, human sciences, multidisciplinary areas, and many others. This breadth allows IFMT to dialogue with agribusiness, industry, education, information technology, and socio-environmental issues in the state. The institution's calls link the projects to the economic, social, and environmental development of Mato Grosso and Brazil.
At the IFMT, there are more than 100 research groups certified on the Carlos Chagas Platform of the CNPq, with almost a thousand researchers. The IFMT maintains its own research and innovation calls, including technological innovation projects, with scientific and technological research funding being provided by funding agencies. These calls aim to stimulate innovation environments and the culture of intellectual property protection.
From research to product: patents, software, and intellectual property
In addition to articles and publications in high-impact scientific journals, many projects generate protected technological results: patent applications, software registrations, other forms of intellectual property, and products and processes applicable to the market.
The IFMT has a Technology Innovation Agency (NIT) linked to the Pro-rectory of Research and Postgraduate Studies (Propes) and the Innovation Pole in Várzea Grande, which is an administrative unit linked to the Rectory, in which the Directorate of Entrepreneurship and an Embrapii (Brazilian Industrial Research and Innovation Company) unit are linked, with activity in the area of innovation and technological research.
According to a survey by the IFMT Technology Innovation Agency, the Institution has more than 20 patent deposit processes, 60 processes for registering computer programs, 6 processes for registering trademarks, and 2 processes for registering industrial designs with the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI).
The Embrapii unit brings scientific and technological knowledge produced by the Institute to the real demands of society, enabling the development of Research, Development and Innovation (R&D) projects aimed at creating or improving products, processes, services and technological solutions for society.
In the area of intellectual property, specifically considering the projects linked to the Embrapii IFMT unit, there are currently three software registrations and 15 registration applications in the INPI phase, demonstrating the ability to transform applied research into technological solutions that can be protected and transferred.
Another important aspect is the training of people. Research and innovation projects allow students to participate in real technological challenges, working alongside researchers and partners.
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