The researchers emphasize that standards should not be viewed as obstacles but rather as strategic guides that point to safer and more efficient paths for innovation (image: PhotoAngel/Freepik)

Published on 07/22/2026

Agência FAPESP* – The Research Center for Greenhouse Gas Innovation (RCGI) has launched the Standards Observatory, a free digital platform designed to help researchers and innovators apply technical standards to find solutions for the energy transition.

The RCGI is an Applied Research Center (ARC) established with support from FAPESP and Shell, as well as other companies. It is headquartered at the Engineering School of the University of São Paulo (POLI-USP).

The tool functions as a database that correlates international standards with Brazil’s climate goals under the Paris Agreement and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as with low-carbon technologies and the RCGI’s internal projects.

With artificial intelligence support, the Observatory facilitates searching for and understanding standards, promoting a multidisciplinary and strategic approach to innovation. The goal is to reduce technical barriers and enable the development of solutions aligned with global standards. “Often, a lack of knowledge about applicable standards can delay or prevent promising innovations. We want to change that reality,” says Alexandre de Barros Gallo, an RCGI researcher and project leader.

The platform offers different search options, including keywords, specific topics (such as the SDGs), and combinable filters. “This allows users to quickly find the most relevant documents for their fields. The database already contains over a hundred standards and is constantly expanding, with plans to include standards from the ABNT [Brazilian Association of Technical Standards] and the European Committee,” Gallo says.

The researchers emphasize that standards should not be viewed as obstacles but rather as strategic guides that point to safer and more efficient paths for innovation. “The Observatory focuses on technical standards – voluntary documents that establish best practices – rather than legislation. By facilitating access to this knowledge, we accelerate technological development and align Brazilian innovations with international standards,” notes Eduardo Guedes, a researcher at the RCGI.

* With information from the RCGI

Source: https://agencia.fapesp.br/58748