The city government announces the Nave Decola program and celebrates 493 services provided at the Knowledge Centers in 2025.

The Knowledge Centers are ready to take flight: courses in partnership with renowned educational institutions, including those geared towards the job market, will be offered in 2026. Furthermore, the gaming areas and workstations will be expanded. The idea is to attract more and more young people to game development workshops, which serve as a gateway to other training courses in various fields, and also to encourage esports athletes to participate in international championships. Launched this Tuesday (December 9th) by the Municipal Secretary of Science, Technology and Innovation, Tatiana Roque, at Engenhão, the Nave Decola program will be subdivided into five other programs: Educa Nave, IA ao Alcance de Todos, Nave Game, Conexão Território, and Impulsiona Nave. This year alone, 493.359 services were provided at the Knowledge Centers.

– The projects we are launching aim to respond to social changes and technological advances in the world, such as artificial intelligence. We are partnering with renowned educational institutions, such as Sesi, Senai, PUC-Rio, IFRJ and Fundação Roberto Marinho, to offer an even more diverse portfolio of courses for those attending the Naves – explained Tatiana Roque.

The programs will be offered at the 12 Knowledge Centers and three Satellite Centers. The 18 Carioca Little Centers will also receive some of them. In 2025, 5.824 free courses and workshops were offered, and 68.911 certificates were issued to users of the Knowledge Centers. The programming ranged from basic computer skills and digital inclusion to cutting-edge topics such as artificial intelligence, programming, robotics, game creation, design, photography, and financial literacy.

– The Naves (Centers) will now have a unified pedagogical matrix, with a portfolio of standardized courses and syllabi. The training areas will cover topics such as information technology, the creative economy, and entrepreneurship. We will offer professional qualification courses recognized by the MEC (Ministry of Education) and the Ministry of Labor. And, to continue attracting young people, we will expand courses in the gaming area, in partnership with Plug in Plus and the Instituto Futuros – explained the Undersecretary of Training and Technological Projects of the Municipal Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (SMCT), Gabriel Medina.

The Nave Game program will operate in the Nave Game centers of Campo Grande, Santa Cruz, Vila Aliança, Realengo, Triagem, Pavuna, Penha, Nova Brasília, and Engenhão. All of them, except for Pavuna, already have their e-sports teams.

Captain of the Archangels, champion team of the Nave do Engenhão. 

Gilberto Molina Gonzalez Junior, 17, joined Arcanjos mid-year—a team created at the Arena Gamer in the Nave do Conhecimento at Engenhão. A resident of Nova Iguaçu, a second-year high school student at the Instituto de Educação Rangel Pestana, and the son of teachers, he learned to play games at home. First, board games, then computer games.

"My dream is to be a professional e-athlete. For now, it's just a hobby. Today, I play for four to five hours. I discovered Arcanjos in a WhatsApp group and I'm the team captain. We've already been champions in Valorant, at the Arena das Lendas, here at Engenhão, but we've also participated in championships in São Paulo and Minas Gerais," said the athlete, proudly.

For the young man, who dreams of studying Computer Engineering, the Arena Gamer is a great space because it's public, has quality computers, and all you have to do is register to start playing. However, he warns: to participate in the teams, you need to know how to play, understand the game, have team spirit, and be good at communication.

Partnerships that make a difference. 

In addition to the Federal Institute of Rio de Janeiro, Sesi and Senai, SMCT is establishing new partnerships with other respected educational institutions. With Senac, to offer places in AI courses for social media or sales, starting early next year, within the "AI Within Everyone's Reach" project.

In 2025, 300 entrepreneurs were trained in courses offered by Besouro at the Naves program, and one hundred businesses were accelerated thanks to the partnership between SMCT, the Municipal Secretariat of Labor and Income, and Sebrae. For 2026, the secretariat is preparing an expanded program with longer training tracks more aligned with the job market, as well as new actions focused on entrepreneurship, the creative economy, and professional qualification. The goal is to strengthen training in digital skills, support small local businesses, and create concrete pathways for job and income generation in the areas served.

Registration for courses, including those for next year, can now be done at [website address]. Naves websiteOn the SMCT Instagram page (@cienciaetecnologia.rio) and on website of the secretariat Materials about the Knowledge Ships are also published.

Category:

• Science, Technology and Innovation
• News

December 9, 2025

Appointments: calls Knowledge Ships Satellite Ships Little Carioca Ships City Hall of Rio Nave Decola Program