HIDS

What HIDS does

HIDS (Hub Internacional para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável) is a fourth-generation innovation district initiative operated by UNICAMP (Universidade Estadual de Campinas), a public state university in São Paulo, Brazil. The initiative is anchored on the 1.4 million m² Fazenda Argentina property in Barão Geraldo, contiguous to UNICAMP's Zeferino Vaz campus, and encompasses a broader 11.3 million m² territory that includes the Ciatec 2 high-technology pole and PUC-Campinas campus 1. HIDS is structured as a multi-stakeholder governance platform: a Founding Consultative Council of 14 institutions spanning academia (UNICAMP, PUC-Campinas, Facamp), research institutes (Embrapa, CNPEM, CPQD), industry (Cargill, TRB Pharma, CPFL, Sanasa), and municipal and state government (Prefeitura de Campinas, Governo do Estado de São Paulo). Its activities are organized around the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals, encompassing ecological corridors (217,000 m², 92 wildlife crossings, 300,000 m² of planting area), a R$5 million IoT smart public lighting program (TIM Smart Lighting, up to 70% energy reduction, ~R$1M annual savings), a Living Laboratory concept for testing mobility, energy, and sustainability solutions, a strategic sustainability funding program (PAESUS), and the Sollar Rio Negro indigenous energy sovereignty project in the Amazon.

HIDS does not sell products or services and has no commercial revenue model. Operations are funded through UNICAMP's university budget, a US$1 million non-reimbursable BID (Inter-American Development Bank) technical cooperation grant awarded in December 2019 (BR-T1430), government programs such as Procel Reluz, and partnership contributions. The 2019 grant financed master planning (via Korea's KRIHS), governance and legal model consulting, environmental and archaeological diagnostics, a communication strategy, and a sustainability assessment platform. Recent (2024-2025) strategic moves include the establishment of the Diretoria Executiva de Sustentabilidade (DExS) executive directorate under the Rector's Office, presentation of the project to Brazil's Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, active participation in UNFCCC COP conferences through COP30 (Brazil 2025), and international benchmarking with Songdo, Pangyo, and DistritoTec Monterrey. Customer segments are not commercial: they consist of the UNICAMP academic community, partner companies in the Ciatec 2 technology park, municipal and state government collaborators, and indigenous communities in the Amazon, each served through institutional agreements rather than transactional contracts.

Name

HIDS

Legal name

Hub Internacional para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável - HIDS

Website

https://hids.unicamp.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

HIDS is a UNICAMP-led fourth-generation innovation district on an 11.3 million m² territory in Campinas, Brazil, organizing academia, industry, and government around all 17 UN SDGs via ecological corridors, IoT smart lighting, and living-laboratory R&D. It is a non-commercial, grant-funded initiative rather than a revenue-generating enterprise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Development Innovation District

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (3351)

SIC

Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640), Hazardous Waste Management (4955)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor & Area Lighting (Street, Roadway, Parking, Flood, Sports/Architectural exterior) (IMAGAIAB), Hazardous & Special Waste Transfer Stations (Household Hazardous Waste, Industrial Special Wastes) (EUAIABAE)

Keywords

• Sustainable innovation district
• Ecological corridor infrastructure
• Smart public lighting
• Renewable energy projects
• University sustainability research

Headquarters

HQ city

Campinas

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HIDS is a fourth-generation sustainable development innovation district spanning 11.3 million m² in Campinas, Brazil, operated by UNICAMP. It coordinates ecological corridor infrastructure, IoT-based smart public lighting, renewable energy pilots, and living laboratory spaces aligned with the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals, partnering with universities, research institutes, companies, and government entities.

Product overview

HIDS Unicamp is a fourth-generation innovation district (distrito de inovação de quarta geração) operated by the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), centered on the 1.4 million m² Fazenda Argentina property adjacent to the Zeferino Vaz campus. The HIDS functions as a hub for sustainable development solutions aligned with the UN's 17 SDGs, integrating multiple initiatives including: the Corredores Ecológicos ecological corridors project (217,000 m² of corridors with wildlife crossings), the Iluminação Pública Inteligente smart public lighting initiative (IoT-based LED system with R$5 million investment), the PAESUS strategic sustainability funding program, the Projeto Sollar Rio Negro solar energy initiative for Amazon indigenous communities, and the DExS (Diretoria Executiva de Sustentabilidade) executive directorate that unifies sustainability governance across the university. The broader HIDS territory (11.3 million m²) also encompasses the Ciatec 2 high-technology pole and PUC-Campinas campus 1, creating a multi-institutional innovation ecosystem. Key cross-cutting programs include the Plano de Ocupação land use plan and the living laboratory (Laboratório Vivo) concept for testing sustainability solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HIDS Unicamp Innovation District A 1.4 million m² (Fazenda Argentina) fourth-generation innovation district adjacent to UNICAMP's Zeferino Vaz campus in Barão Geraldo, Campinas, designed to generate solutions for sustainable development challenges through partnerships between academia, industry, and government.
• Corredores Ecológicos (Ecological Corridors) Ecological corridors project spanning 217,000 m² with 92 wildlife crossings (passadores de fauna), 6,500 m of corridor fencing, and 300,000 m² of planting area including Permanent Preservation Areas (APPs) for biodiversity conservation within the HIDS territory.
• Iluminação Pública Inteligente (Smart Public Lighting) IoT-based smart public lighting project using TIM Smart Lighting technology, replacing sodium vapor lamps with individually controlled LED luminaires (2,615 units across 1,500 poles) with remote monitoring via NOX Manager platform, donated smart city sensors (vehicle counters, HD camera, air quality, noise), targeting up to 70% energy reduction.
• Projeto Sollar Rio Negro Solar photovoltaic energy project for Amazon indigenous communities in São Gabriel da Cachoeira, including the Centro de Aprendizagem Indígena para a Transição Energética Justa training center where 41+ indigenous community multipliers were trained to install and maintain solar PV systems, in partnership with Foirn, CPTEn, and Campus Sustentável.
• PAESUS (Plano de Ações Estratégicas de Sustentabilidade) Strategic sustainability action plan that funds and selects sustainability projects proposed by the university community, aligned with Planes Unicamp 2021–2025 and the UN's 17 SDGs, supporting actions in environmental management, innovation, teaching, research, and extension.
• Plano de Ocupação do HIDS Unicamp Sustainable land use and occupation plan for the Fazenda Argentina area, developed through participatory workshops (Unicamp 2050), defining guiding principles for sustainable building, green spaces, biodiversity preservation, and urban infrastructure within the HIDS territory.
• Laboratório Vivo (Living Laboratory) Living laboratory spaces within the HIDS territory where innovation solutions in areas such as mobility, energy, and sustainability can be tested through partnerships between research institutions and external actors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 70% reduction in public lighting energy consumption
• +6 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ISCN (International Sustainable Campus Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2025International network of universities focused on sustainable campus development. Unicamp has been actively participating since COP28 (2023), helping drive the initiative for a Universities Pavilion at COP30 Blue Zone.
• PUC-CampinascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of HIDS Consultative Council. PUC-Campinas campus 1 is included in the broader 11.3 million m² HIDS territory alongside Ciatec 2 and the Unicamp campus. Contributed legal consulting for the HIDS governance model as part of BID technical cooperation.
• EmbrapacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the HIDS Consultative Council, contributing agricultural and environmental research expertise to the sustainable development district.
• CNPEM (Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the HIDS Consultative Council. CNPEM is a major research institution in the Campinas technology ecosystem adjacent to the HIDS territory.
• CPQD (Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the HIDS Consultative Council. CPQD contributes ICT and innovation expertise to the HIDS sustainable development ecosystem.
• KRIHS (Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements)coreTechnology or IntegrationKorean government research institute contracted via BID technical cooperation (US$ 300,000) to develop the HIDS physical-spatial master plan. Led the master plan design for the innovation district. Followed international benchmarking mission to South Korea in September 2022.
• TIM Brasil / M2McoreTechnology or IntegrationTIM Brasil was the winner of the public procurement to supply telemanagement devices for campus public lighting. M2M is TIM's development partner. The TIM Smart Lighting IoT solution enables intelligent street lighting management. M2M also donated 8 additional smart city sensors (vehicle counting radars, HD camera, air quality sensor, noise sensor) via Liveable Cities (Canada).
• ENBpar (Empresa Brasileira de Participações em Energia Nuclear e Binacional)minorOthersPartnership in the context of the Procel Reluz national public lighting efficiency program. The university signed a cooperation agreement with ENBpar for the smart lighting project.
• In Place of WarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based NGO that conceived and leads the Flow project ('Flow: histórias da água através da água'), an international artistic collaboration featured at COP30 in Belém. Unicamp's Fonoteca Neotropical Jacques Vielliard contributed animal sound recordings as the scientific component. An album is planned for 2026 release.
• Foirn (Federação das Organizações Indígenas do Rio Negro)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Federation of Indigenous Organizations of Rio Negro for the 'Sollar Rio Negro' project. Foirn selected 41+ indigenous individuals for the first training cohort at the Centro de Aprendizagem Indígena para a Transição Energética Justa in São Gabriel da Cachoeira. The project trains indigenous community members to install and maintain solar photovoltaic systems.
• CNT (Confederação Nacional dos Transportes)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership via a convenium for Unicamp to participate in the 'Estação do Desenvolvimento' (Station of Development) in the Green Zone of COP30, focused on transport and energy transition discussions.
• IUCN (União Internacional para a Conservação da Natureza)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnicamp (through Cepagri/David Lapola) collaborates on IUCN Academy course content development and review for climate and conservation training. The IUCN Academy is a global platform with courses developed by researchers from six universities across all continents; Unicamp is the only Latin American representative in this consortium.
• Prefeitura de CampinascoreOthersMunicipal government of Campinas is a member of the HIDS Consultative Council. The city co-signed the BID technical cooperation agreement and is involved in urban zoning and regulatory frameworks affecting the HIDS territory.
• Governo do Estado de São PaulocoreOthersState government of São Paulo is a member of the HIDS Consultative Council. Provided support for the BID technical cooperation and is involved in regional sustainability planning for the Campinas metropolitan area.
• CINE (Centro de Inovação em Novas Energias)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenter for New Energy Innovation at Unicamp, led by Prof. Ana Flavia Nogueira. Part of the energy transition ecosystem contributing to COP30 panels. Partnered with Banco Itaú (since 2023) for climate action solutions engagement at COP30.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Songdo International Business District: Korean planned city and innovation district that HIDS explicitly benchmarked (KRIHS-led mission, September 2022). Songdo is the canonical reference for fourth-generation innovation districts integrating smart-city infrastructure within a master-planned footprint — directly relevant to HIDS' Plano de Ocupação.
• Wageningen University & Research Campus: Dutch sustainability-focused research university campus with explicit living-lab facilities, food/agriculture innovation ecosystem, and multi-stakeholder governance. Closely comparable in mission (sustainability research + ecological infrastructure + industrial partnerships).
• Pangyo Techno Valley: Korean innovation district explicitly benchmarked by HIDS via KRIHS (September 2022). A university-anchored, R&D-driven innovation district with similar public-private-university governance model, though skewed toward ICT rather than sustainability.
• Porto Digital: Brazil's largest innovation district in Recife, combining universities, tech firms, and government anchors. Shares with HIDS the Brazilian public-private innovation-district model, with comparable focus on sustainability, urban regeneration, and R&D partnerships.
• Tecnopuc (PUCRS Technology Park): Brazilian university-anchored technology park in Porto Alegre operated by a private university (PUCRS). Same operational archetype as HIDS — combining a research-intensive university, technology park, and corporate partnerships within a contiguous territory.
• Inova Unicamp Innovation Park: Unicamp's own technology park arm under the HIDS umbrella, hosting startups, corporate R&D, and the Living Lab concept. Most directly comparable as it shares institutional parent (Unicamp) and access to the same research talent and IP base.
• DistritoTec Monterrey: Monterrey-based innovation district explicitly named by HIDS as a benchmarking partner (March 2024 mission). Both are university-anchored, fourth-generation innovation districts aiming to integrate urban planning, research, and economic development — making it the most directly comparable peer.

Broad incumbents

• Masdar City: Abu Dhabi's master-planned sustainable city built around renewable energy and clean-tech research. It is a larger-scale incumbent blueprint for university+government+industry sustainability districts and serves as a reference for ecological corridor and energy efficiency integration at city scale.
• Skolkovo Innovation Center: Large-scale state-backed innovation district built around a research university (Skoltech). Larger and more established than HIDS but offers the same university+park+tenant formula with explicit sustainability and smart-city pillars.

Emerging players

• AREA Science Park: Italian public-research innovation park in Trieste under public-private governance. Comparable as a niche specialist research park embedded in a science ecosystem, but smaller scale than HIDS' territorial footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7OnDlwQQBKP_5mkV3cwSdw0
• Facebookfacebook.com/hidsunicamp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hub-hids
• Instagraminstagram.com/hids_campinas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HIDS