It is a collaborative work model, designed to develop education in Brazil
Brazilian fintech Stone launched Instituto Stone this Monday (15). The initiative was born with the Stone Lab research center, built at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-RJ), the stage for the announcement made in the presence of professionals and academics from the university located in the Gávea neighborhood, southern region of the capital of Rio de Janeiro.
Created in the last two years, the laboratory is aimed at promoting studies in the areas of technology and education. “It is a collaborative work model, designed to develop education in Brazil”, highlights Carolina da Costa, director of impact and sustainability at Stone, which has already invested R$17 million in education in the last three years.
Generative artificial intelligence, machine learning, software engineering, data science, applied mathematics, computing, quantum mechanics, predictive models for deforestation, energy efficiency, thermal insulation solutions for buildings and Alzheimer’s treatments are among the themes of the 11 projects selected by notice made in August last year.
In total, 41 ideas were analyzed by a committee formed by Stone and PUC-Rio. “The laboratory is the result of an innovative vision between university and company for financing research through open science. It is not a project for direct, short-term results for Stone but for societal issues, a space for collaboration with the potential to incorporate other disciplines”, explains Sidnei Paciornik, full professor and dean of the Scientific Technical Center (CTC) at PUC -River.
Institute
The Stone Institute will take more than 500 young people and recent graduates to the Web Summit Rio, an innovation event taking place in Rio de Janeiro between April 15th and 19th, sponsored by Stone. The company supports children and young students through the A+ Program, New Supplementary Education (NES), Clube dos Sonhos, Associação Cactus and Associação Olimpíada Brasileira de Matemática (AOBM). Banco da Providência gains support in entrepreneurship. The Stone Institute’s activities include producing research for social actions by the Stone Co group. A call for proposals will be opened in July to select new projects.
