Braskem won the FINEP AWARD of Technological Innovation 2005 - Process Category, with the case - "Development of business model, process, and  equipment of high productivity to produce disposable materials in polypropylene". The prize elects the best projects in the country in 6 categories: big company, small company, research institutions, social innovation, process and product.

"The integrated solution for disposable products in polypropylene represents a meaningful contribution for updating and improving the competitiveness of the regional industry in this segment", says Luiz Felli, director of polypropylene business at Braskem. The award took place in Brasilia, on Tuesday the 6th, and it counted with the presence of the President of Brasil, Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, authorities from the Science and Technology Ministry and FINEP representatives among others.

The solution of the awarded project is innovative and it included the development of the resin, the equipment and the business model for disposable glasses production, improving the competitiveness of the transformer industry in the country. The potential of the market for polypropylene use in disposable products is of approximately 90 thousand tons/year and it"s been increasing in a medium rate of 7% per year. The substitution of polystyrene by polypropylene in the production presents several advantages for transformers and for the final consumer, with higher resistance and transparency. Furthermore, the cost of the equipment is approximately one third in comparison with the similar imported.

In this development process, initiated in 2001, Braskem counted on a partnership with Zanatta, one of the most important transformers of the country. The solution is already conquering other markets such as the Argentinean, where Braskem is exporting its first equipment to. For being announced by FINEP, one of the most respected national entities for research support, the award is extremely relevant for Braskem. "A so important recognition like this, reinforces the commitment of the company with the development of innovative solutions for the thermoplastic market, increasing its utilization in products that make everybody"s routine much better", says Manoel Lisboa, coordinator and responsible by the project at Braskem that emphasizes: counting on FINEP support for innovation products is to be ahead in this area.

The Technology and Innovation Center of Braskem, where the integrated solution in polypropylene was developed, is the most modern and the best equipped of the Petrochemical industry in Latin America. With technological actives evaluated in more than R$ 320 million invested in seven pilot-plants and 11 laboratories, the Center, located in Triunfo/RS, counts with a team of 160 researchers ant Technicians, prepared to offer all the support to Braskem clients in the development of products, processes and new markets.

Since its creation, three years ago, Braskem received the FINEP AWARD twice. In 2002, in the process category - south region, with the work "Increase of productivity of plants PEBD via conversion of the process autoclave mono reactor for dual reactor", and in 2003, in the products category - northeast region with the case "Consolidation of a national product in the international market". In 2003, with the development of UTEC resin, Braskem conquered the national prize of ABIQUIM - a very important entity in the area of development and research in the country.