Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte
Brazilian federal public university headquartered in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, delivering undergraduate and graduate education (167 stricto sensu programs) to over 80,000 students across five campuses, funded by the Ministry of Education, CAPES, and CNPq, with research strengths in energy, health, and biodiversity.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1960
- HeadquartersNatal, Brazil
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte does
The Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) is a Brazilian federal public university headquartered on the Campus Universitário Lagoa Nova in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, with four additional campuses across the state in Caicó, Currais Novos, Macaíba, and Santa Cruz. Established in 1958 (legal founding 1960 per institutional records), UFRN serves over 80,000 undergraduate and graduate students across 167 stricto sensu programs and is consistently ranked among the top 10 largest universities in Brazil. It delivers education and research in all major knowledge areas — sciences, engineering, health, humanities, and social sciences — and operates an institutional digital ecosystem built on SIGAA (Integrated Academic Activities Management System), SIPAC (asset and contract management), and SIGRH (human resources management), with a dedicated International Relations Office (SRI) and the CAPES-PrInt institutional internationalization program.
UFRN's revenue model is that of a public institution: no tuition is charged for degree programs, and operating funds flow from the Brazilian Ministry of Education (MEC), CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel), CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development), and state-level partnerships. Admissions are administered through Brazil's national SISU/ENEM system for undergraduates and program-specific selection processes (editais) for graduate studies; international students enter via the PEC-G program and bilateral cooperation agreements. Distribution of educational services occurs across five physical campuses and the multilingual digital portal (PT/EN/ES/FR).
Research output and applied technology are increasingly central to UFRN's identity. The university holds or has filed patents in perovskite solar cell degradation protection, real-time body instability prediction for elderly fall prevention, and a granted CO2-based foaming formulation for enhanced oil recovery. It was the first Brazilian institution authorized by ANVISA to cultivate cannabis for scientific research at its Brain Institute (approved 2020, enacted 2026). Through the FUNPEC–EMBRAPII partnership, UFRN channels industrial innovation into the Rio Grande do Norte technology ecosystem, and maintains bilateral cooperation agreements with universities in over 60 countries.
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte
- Legal name
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
- Website
- https://ufrn.br
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1960
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Brazilian federal public university headquartered in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, delivering undergraduate and graduate education (167 stricto sensu programs) to over 80,000 students across five campuses, funded by the Ministry of Education, CAPES, and CNPq, with research strengths in energy, health, and biodiversity.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Research Collaboration & Joint Labs (International Partnerships) (EDAIABAC), Dual/Joint Degree Programs (International) (EDAIABAD)
Keywords
Where Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Natal
- HQ country
- Brazil
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UFRN is a public federal university that delivers higher education and research across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels at campuses throughout Rio Grande do Norte, supported by the SIGAA academic management platform and 167 stricto sensu graduate programs. It also provides extension, community engagement, and technology-transfer services, including pioneering scientific research infrastructure such as Brazil's first ANVISA-authorized cannabis cultivation facility.
Product overview
UFRN operates a comprehensive digital ecosystem of institutional systems built around SIGAA (Academic Activities Management System), which integrates undergraduate and graduate program management, research projects, scientific initiation, extension activities, and selection processes. Supporting systems include SIPAC (Asset and Contract Management), SIGRH (Human Resources), and SRI (International Relations). The university also runs PRINT, an institutional internationalization program with CAPES partnership, facilitating global academic cooperation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SIGAA - Sistema Integrado de Gestão de Atividades Acadêmicas (Integrated Academic Activities Management System) Institutional platform managing undergraduate and graduate programs, research projects, extension activities, student enrollment, grades, calendars, selection processes, and digital library services for UFRN's students, faculty, and staff.
- SIPAC - Sistema Integrado de Patrimônio, Almoxarifado e Contratos (Integrated Asset, Inventory and Contracts System) Integrated system managing institutional assets, warehousing, and procurement/contract processes for UFRN's administrative staff and external suppliers.
- SIGRH - Sistema Integrado de Gestão de Recursos Humanos (Integrated Human Resources Management System) Integrated HR management system handling personnel records, payroll, and administrative processes for UFRN's faculty, technical-administrative staff, and external callers.
- SRI - International Relations Office International Relations Office service managing student mobility, cooperation agreements with partner institutions worldwide, and internationalization initiatives for incoming and outgoing students, faculty, and partner universities.
- PrInt - Programa Institucional de Internacionalização (Institutional Internationalization Program) CAPES-partnered institutional program promoting international research networks, academic exchange, and graduate program internationalization for UFRN researchers and graduate students.
- PROPGIS - Graduate Program in Management, Innovation and Sustainability Professional master's degree program hosted at UFRN's FELCS campus in Currais Novos, focused on management, innovation, and sustainability for graduate students in the Seridó region.
- PPgPsicobiologia - Graduate Program in Psychobiology Graduate program in psychobiology supporting master's and doctoral training linked to UFRN's Brain Institute, including research in psychobiology, neuroscience, and phytocannabinoid studies.
Quantifiable outcome
- First institution in Brazil authorized by ANVISA for cannabis cultivation for scientific research
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior)coreBrazil's federal agency for higher education improvement funds UFRN's graduate programs and the CAPES-PrInt (Programa Institucional de Internacionalização) initiative, which promotes internationalization of postgraduate education through international research networks and visiting scholar programs.
- ANVISA (National Health Surveillance Agency)coreBrazil's health regulatory authority granted UFRN the first-ever institutional authorization for cannabis cultivation for scientific research in Brazil, enabling the university's Brain Institute to study phytocannabinoid combinations for treating neurological and psychiatric conditions.
- BRPTO (Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office)minorThe Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office published a study in partnership with the Brazilian Space Agency analyzing patent activity in satellite energy and space propulsion technologies, in which UFRN's research-driven space innovation ecosystem contributed to Brazil's 164 patent applications.
- AEB (Brazilian Space Agency)minorThe Brazilian Space Agency collaborated with BRPTO on a study mapping patent activity in satellite energy and space propulsion technologies. UFRN is part of the Brazilian university ecosystem contributing to space technology research in the country.
- FUNPEC (Fundação Norte-Rio-Grandense de Pesquisa e Cultura)coreFUNPEC is a private foundation linked to UFRN that supports research projects, technology development, and cultural activities, transforming the technological ecosystem of Rio Grande do Norte through partnership with EMBRAPII.
- EMBRAPII (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa e Inovação Industrial)coreEMBRAPII is a private non-profit organization that promotes industrial innovation in Brazil. The partnership between FUNPEC and EMBRAPII is described as transforming the technological ecosystem of Rio Grande do Norte.
- International University Partners (60+ countries)coreUFRN maintains active bilateral cooperation agreements with universities in over 60 countries across all continents, enabling student and faculty exchange, joint research, and academic collaboration. Partner countries include South Africa, Germany, Argentina, Australia, China, France, USA, Portugal, and many others.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths8 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte social profiles
Digital presenceFederal University of Rio Grande do Norte compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte
What does Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte do?
UFRN is a public federal university that delivers higher education and research across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels at campuses throughout Rio Grande do Norte, supported by the SIGAA academic management platform and 167 stricto sensu graduate programs. It also provides extension, community engagement, and technology-transfer services, including pioneering scientific research infrastructure such as Brazil's first ANVISA-authorized cannabis cultivation facility.
Is Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte a public or private company?
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte founded?
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte was founded in 1960. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte based?
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte is headquartered in Natal, Brazil, in the Latin America region.
Does Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte have an API?
No public API is recorded for Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte.
What industry is Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte in?
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte's product category is Public Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAI, Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems, with a secondary code of EDAIABAC, Research Collaboration & Joint Labs (International Partnerships). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.