ASSESSMENT OF TECHNOLOGICAL AND MANAGERIAL READINESS FOR ECONOMIC SUBSIDIES: A CASE STUDY OF FIVE STARTUPS IN MANAUS IN LIGHT OF THE NEW INDUSTRY BRAZIL (2024–2026)

Abstract

This study analyzes the technological and managerial readiness of five technology-based startups in Manaus to access non-reimbursable innovation grants linked to the New Brazilian Industry policy (Nova Indústria Brasil - NIB) from 2024 to 2026. It addresses the problem that firms located in peripheral innovation ecosystems may develop mature technological solutions while lacking the administrative, documentary, and financial structure required by funding agencies. Methodologically, the research is applied, exploratory-descriptive, mixed-method, and designed as a multiple case study. Data were collected through documentary analysis of FINEP, BNDES, and EMBRAPII instruments, a compliance checklist, Technology Readiness Level (TRL) assessment, and semi-structured interviews with startup managers. The material was examined using descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis. The results show that the analyzed firms present technological maturity between TRL 6 and 9 and thematic alignment with NIB missions, especially in health, sustainable cities, digital transformation, bioeconomy, and energy transition. However, grant readiness is constrained by weaknesses in documentary governance, lack of guarantees, limited familiarity with public calls, informational asymmetry, and the scarcity of dedicated R&D&I teams. The study concludes that the main bottleneck in the analyzed ecosystem is not inventive capacity, but the conversion of promising technologies into fundable projects. It contributes by framing the Amazon cost as an institutional barrier and by indicating the need for local mediation, technical advisory support, and funding policies sensitive to regional inequalities.