CAMPINAS, Brazil — August 19, 2026 — It is a great pleasure to celebrate Ericsson securing 4th place in the *Valor Inovação* (Value Innovation) Awards, a recognition that highlights companies at the forefront of innovation in Brazil. This result also reflects the strength of the partnerships built between the company, universities, and the research ecosystem. In this context, **Smartness 2030 – Engineering Research Center** plays a vital role by bringing Ericsson closer to academia and driving research into technologies that will be fundamental to the networks of the future. Through the partnership between Ericsson, UNICAMP, and FAPESP—and in collaboration with other universities—Smartness brings together researchers, students, and professionals on projects exploring strategic topics such as 5G/6G, artificial intelligence, autonomous networks, distributed computing, Edge Computing, O-RAN, and the Robotic Internet of Things. Beyond merely developing new technologies, Smartness seeks to transform scientific knowledge into applied innovation, strengthening university-industry collaboration, cultivating talent, and contributing to the development of market-ready solutions. Ericsson’s recognition at the *Valor Inovação* Awards is, therefore, also a celebration of this innovation ecosystem and the people who make this connection happen. Congratulations to Ericsson, Edvaldo Santos, and the team! Congratulations to the researchers, students, professors, and professionals involved in this journey!
