STARTUPS CONNECTED ROADSHOW 2026

REGULATION

 

Version 1.0: Published on June 30, 2026

 

DWIH SÃO PAULO

Challenge: Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability

Is your startup based in Germany and interested in operating as a business or establishing R&D cooperation in Brazil? DWIH São Paulo is searchingfor innovative solutions that leverage Artificial Intelligence to address sustainability challenges. Startups led by researchers, with ongoing academic activity or recent graduates from scientific institutions, will be prioritized.

 

Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability addresses the need to combine technological innovation with environmental responsibility, social impact, and ethical governance. In a world facing ecological, social, and technological transformations, AI can become a powerful tool to support the transition toward more sustainable and resilient systems. By processing large volumes of data, predicting environmental and social patterns, and optimizing systems in real time, AI can support solutions that go beyond traditional problem-solving approaches.

However, true sustainability cannot be achieved without responsibility and societal relevance. Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability means applying machine learning and data science not only to protect planetary boundaries, but also to strengthen social resilience, institutional trust, ethical governance, data privacy, and inclusive development. A sustainable digital future depends on using AI to address global challenges such as decarbonization, biodiversity loss, resource efficiency, and social inclusion, while ensuring that AI systems are transparent, fair, secure, accountable, and compliant with robust data protection frameworks.

Brazil, with its continental dimensions, unmatched biodiversity, social diversity, and pivotal role in global climate politics, offers a unique and high-impact landscape for AI-driven sustainability solutions. The country is a global powerhouse in sectors where intelligent environmental and social management is urgent and transformative, from precision agriculture, renewable energy, and smart grid management to the monitoring of complex biomes, climate resilience, occupational safety, and inclusive access to services. At the same time, as Brazil rapidly digitizes its economy and infrastructure, ensuring technological responsibility is paramount. With a robust legal framework for data protection, including the LGPD, and a growing societal demand for ethical compliance, the Brazilian ecosystem increasingly values technology that respects citizen privacy, mitigates algorithmic bias, and creates tangible benefits for people and communities.

Startups, particularly science-based deep techs, are uniquely positioned to lead this technological transformation. While traditional industries often face structural inertia, startups possess the agility and specialized knowledge to rapidly transform academic breakthroughs into practical, market-ready solutions. Whether by predicting climate risks, optimizing supply chains to eliminate waste, supporting safer and more inclusive workplaces, improving biodiversity monitoring, or developing trustworthy frameworks for data privacy and ethical AI, these innovative companies are crucial to turning scientific knowledge into secure, real-world sustainable impact.

Challenge “Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability”

In 2026, the DWIH network continues to prioritize themes that connect scientific excellence with global impact under the overarching theme “Science for Society”. In this context, the challenge focuses on the role of science-based AI solutions in advancing the dual transition: digital and ecological, while creating measurable and lasting benefits for society.

By promoting the “Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability” challenge through Startups Connected, the open innovation program of the German-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and Industry São Paulo (AHK São Paulo), DWIH São Paulo aims to encourage German startups based on scientific research to bring AI solutions for environmental, social, and ethical impact to Brazil and to explore opportunities for business development and R&D cooperation.

The applicant startup must offer an innovative solution within one or more of the following focus areas: climate change and decarbonization; renewable energy and smart grids; biodiversity and environmental monitoring; circular economy and waste optimization; sustainable agriculture and bioeconomy; trustworthy AI, data privacy and governance; and AI for social impact.

This may include AI models for carbon footprint tracking, predictive analytics for emissions reduction, climate risk assessment, smart carbon capture technologies, optimization of wind and solar energy production, predictive maintenance for clean energy infrastructure, intelligent demand-response grid management, deforestation monitoring, wildlife tracking, precision forestry, water resource management, industrial waste sorting, supply chain optimization, reverse logistics tracking, sustainable materials discovery, precision farming, soil health analysis, crop yield optimization, sustainable land use, LGPD/GDPR-aligned data protection, privacy-preserving AI, secure data sharing, transparent and explainable AI, algorithmic bias mitigation, ethical risk assessment, responsible deployment, workforce development, occupational health and safety, inclusion, accessibility, community relations, public-interest innovation, and measurable social impact.

The startup is expected to be interested in operating as a business, as well as in establishing R&D cooperation in Brazil. To this end, the startup must be willing to participate in the DWIH São Paulo roadshow, offered in partnership with the German-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and Industry São Paulo (AHK São Paulo).

Applicants should be able to demonstrate how their solution can contribute to sustainability in Brazil and create a measurable, long-term positive impact for society, the environment, or responsible digital transformation.

Summary of application requirements:

The innovative solution offered by the startup must be science-based and preferably connected to an academic or scientific environment.

The candidate must explain the connection between its innovative solution and the challenge, as well as the central theme of the DWIH network, “Science for Society”.

The innovative solution must contribute to sustainability in Brazil and create measurable, long-term positive impact for society, the environment, or responsible digital transformation.

The startup must have an interest in operating as a business and in establishing R&D cooperation in Brazil.

The startup must be willing to participate in the DWIH São Paulo roadshow, offered in partnership with AHK São Paulo.

Summary of evaluation criteria:

Innovativeness of the solution and its impact.

Potential for the Brazilian market.

Potential to generate measurable and lasting benefits for society, the environment, or responsible digital transformation in Brazil.

Connection with one or more focus areas of the challenge, such as climate change, decarbonization, renewable energy, smart grids, biodiversity, environmental monitoring, circular economy, sustainable agriculture, bioeconomy, data privacy, ethical AI, governance, and social impact.

Profile of startup leaders: priority will be given to those who are researchers-entrepreneurs with ongoing academic activity or recent graduates from scientific institutions.

Considerations:

By winning the “Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability” challenge, the startup will receive a comprehensive acceleration and soft-landing package to enter the Brazilian market. The startup will have the opportunity to participate in a customized Startups Connected Roadshow to Brazil, offered by DWIH São Paulo in partnership with AHK São Paulo. Additionally, the startup will benefit from DWIH São Paulo’s and AHK São Paulo’s networks, allowing it to connect with potential partners, corporations, research centers, institutions, and innovation actors that can assist in developing or improving its solution for the Brazilian market.

Benefits offered by Startups Connected – Roadshow:

One-week roadshow to Brazil, with full coverage of travel expenses, including flights and accommodation, for one company representative;

Customized business agenda with tailored meetings with potential local partners;

Strategic matchmaking, including mapping and warm introductions to up to ten targeted institutions, corporations, or research centers in Brazil that share direct synergy with the startup’s core business;

Pitch opportunity at CBAIS, with an exclusive slot to showcase the startup’s solution and pitch live to a high-level audience at the German-Brazilian Congress on Innovation and Sustainability;

Media and visibility actions, including dedicated promotional and institutional marketing campaigns across AHK São Paulo’s and DWIH São Paulo’s official communication channels to highlight the winning startup’s achievements and expertise.

Timeline

Opening Registration: June 30th, 2026.

Deadline Registration: July 31st, 2026.

Pre-selection and announcement of finalists: August 3rd, 2026, to August 14th, 2026.

Pitch Day (online) and selection of the winner by the jury: August 25th, 2026, morning session.

Roadshow to Brazil: Starting September 30th, 2026, date subject to change based on alignment between the winning startup and the organizing committee.