City Hall participates in the second edition of Web Summit Rio, the largest innovation and technology event in the world

The expectation is that the six editions of Web Summit Rio will generate R$1,5 billion in the Rio economy by 2028 - Beth Santos/City Hall of Rio

Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes took part in the opening of the second edition of Web Summit Rio, one of the largest innovation and technology events in the world, on Tuesday morning (April 16). The city government expects the event at Riocentro to generate R$4 billion in the economy of Rio de Janeiro (1,5 to 2023), with the six editions planned, including last year's. On the central stage, Paes spoke about the importance of bringing the event to Rio and about all the efforts of the municipal government to transform the city into the innovation capital of Latin America.

– Rio is the capital of the G20 and will welcome the world’s greatest leaders in difficult times. Some of you were here last year, and I believe you have already noticed that this year’s edition is even bigger. In 2023, I spoke about the mission of transforming Rio into the innovation capital of Latin America, and today I am pleased to share with you our progress in making our vision a reality. The Web Summit is a fundamental part of this journey. Since our last meeting, we have made significant strides towards this goal. Porto Maravilha is becoming an important area for technology and innovation. It is home to IMPA Tech, the first undergraduate program of the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics. In this same complex, built by the City Hall and called Porto Maravalley, companies and startups will be gathered to work in the city. We want innovative solutions to build a city ready for the future. We believe that technology and innovation are key to the economy, job creation, and reduction of inequality – said Eduardo Paes.

At the Web Summit, the City Hall will have a booth for Invest.Rio, the city's investment attraction agency. This is the second time that the City has had a large booth at the event. For the 2024 edition, the space will have an area dedicated to the exchange of experiences among visitors, called Rio Business Lounge, as well as meeting rooms, common areas and small happy hour events, all with the aim of promoting the city, generating connections and stimulating initiatives in the areas of innovation and technology, in addition to fostering new business between and for Rio residents.

– Our agenda is to transform Rio into the innovation capital of Latin America. We have great universities, we train many good people, we have excellent entrepreneurs and now we have projects. From Porto Maravalley, to Naves do Conhecimento, Programadores Cariocas and the innovation ecosystem that comes with the Web Summit. All of this is interconnected so that we have more companies, more investors here, more money circulating in the city and opportunities for the people of Rio – stated the Secretary of Urban and Economic Development, Chicão Bulhões, emphasizing that the tendency is for Web Summit Rio to grow every year.

The stand also features the Sandbox.Rio Corner, a space dedicated to exhibiting projects already approved in this program carried out through the Municipal Secretariat for Urban and Economic Development (SMDUE). The program is recognized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Federal Court of Auditors as a reference in Brazil. Sandbox.Rio eliminates barriers to the entry of innovation in the city, which will soon have a drone point for beer delivery and an electric station in a public area exclusively for charging electric cars, both in Barra da Tijuca, in the West Zone.

According to the president of Invest.Rio, Alexandre Vermeulen, the second edition of Web Summit Rio is here to endorse the city's vocation as a capital of innovation and is a perfect showcase for the city.

– We already have an innovation district in Porto Maravilha. Porto Maravalley will expand innovation and entrepreneurship along with education. The Web Summit is here to prove that Rio represents innovation. In the six years of the event, we will have an impact of R$1,5 billion on the economy of Rio. We are already bringing several companies because of the Web Summit. Rio is already being seen as an ideal place to live, work and innovate.

About Web Summit Rio

Web Summit Rio is in its second edition and is expected to bring together more than 30 people from over 100 different nationalities. Among them, thousands of business leaders and representatives of technology giants from around the world, boosting the local economy and the innovation ecosystem.

The Rio City Hall estimated the economic impact of the six editions (2023-2028) of Web Summit Rio at R$1,5 billion. The numbers are more expressive than those initially disclosed, when the expectation was R$1,2 billion.