Brazil's Top Innovators Honored at 2026 Award

What is the Valor Inovação Brasil Award?

The Valor Inovação Brasil Award, now in its 12th edition, recognizes the most innovative companies in Brazil. The ceremony was held on Monday, August 3, at the Unique Hotel in São Paulo, honoring the top ten companies by overall score plus leaders across 26 economic sectors.

How are companies evaluated?

The study was conducted by Valor Econômico and Época Negócios in partnership with Strategy&, PwC's strategic consulting arm. Researchers analyzed approximately 540 cases from 270 companies to build a ranking of the 150 most innovative businesses in Brazil. Four dimensions make up each company's final score:

• Innovation planning — strategy, vision, culture and values
• Execution and practices — processes, people, governance, technology and resources
• Results achieved — both general and sector-specific outcomes
• Recognition — citations and patent applications

Who sat on the independent jury in 2026?

For the second consecutive year, an independent jury worked alongside Strategy& to evaluate the cases. The 2026 panel comprised Amanda Graciano (CEO of consultancy Trama), Dora Kaufman (professor at PUC-SP), Hugo Tadeu (Director of Innovation and AI at Fundação Dom Cabral), and Luiz Serafim (Executive Director of World Creativity Day).

What trend stands out in this year's results?

Among Brazil's top 20 most innovative companies, the share investing more than 5% of net revenue in innovation jumped from 45% (2025 data) to 80% (2026 data) — a dramatic acceleration. Jurors noted that the leading companies share a clear competitive edge: the ability to convert knowledge into concrete, measurable results, backed by solid organizational structures and well-established processes.

Is the ranking dominated by tech companies?

No. The methodology was deliberately designed to prevent brand recognition or IT-sector dominance. It covers a broad spectrum — from science investment to digital transformation — and spans 26 sectors including agribusiness, food and beverages, automotive, banking, capital goods, retail, cosmetics, construction, and more.