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About the program

Open MRS has been created to enhance innovation, in a collaborative and different way, by using interaction with external market agents, such as startups, universities, and technology and innovation centers.
The purpose is to develop the logistics of the future by solving challenges faced by MRS.
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Operation and Maintenance

Challenge 1

Challenge 1 – Vandalism and Steal Prevention

In our operation, we travel with our trains and wagons over a long stretch of the rail network, passing through urban and remote regions and, sometimes, on railroads belonging to other concessions. During this operation, component theft and damage to assets occur that affect their reliability. To prevent these occurrences, we seek solutions that can help us reduce losses resulting from these damages and identify the locations of occurrences.

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Challenge 2

Challenge 2 – Inspection and Construction in Restricted Access Region

An area of our rail network is within a region with restrictions on the movement of people. In this place there are physical structures such as slopes and culverts, which need maintenance and inspection works. Therefore, we seek solutions that can carry out the treatment of slopes and inspection of manholes without the need for people to be on site.

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Challenge 3

Challenge 3 – Integration of Railway Asset Data Collection

Our assets, such as locomotives, have several embedded systems, with antennas and sensors, transmitting and collecting data, in addition to having sensing study fronts and promoting greater connectivity of assets. However, we face difficulties in scaling solutions due to limited physical space and connectivity in the rail network. Thus, we seek solutions that make it possible to connect various peripherals present in the assets and enable the transmission of information.

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Challenge 4

Challenge 4 – Loading and Unloading Forecast

We carry out the programming and assembly of the circulation of the flow of wagons, based on the release information of the loading and unloading process of the wagons. In some operations, this process occurs manually, with information transmitted by telephone. We are looking for solutions that can help us capture loading/unloading status without manual recording, helping us to design in advance the end of the loading/unloading process.

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Simplified hiring process.

No bureaucracy for projects participating in our program

Possibility of investment.

For developing the projects in conjunction with MRS to validate the proofs of concept.

Teamwork

You are going to work with experts in the innovation of MRS and Neo Ventures

Access to MRS infrastructure.

You will have access to the MRS infrastructure and technical staff to develop the solutions during the Bootcamp and Proof of concept.

Development methodology of the Projects.

Training, technical visits, professionalization of management and growth.

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You can help to develop the future of the country’s logistics.
Register now and come to contribute with MRS.

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About MRS

MRS is a railroad operator that manages a 1,643 km network in the states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo, a region that concentrates about half of the Brazilian GDP. Today the company is among the largest railroads in the world, with a production of almost four times higher than that registered in the 1990s.

Almost 20% of all that Brazil exports and a third of all load transported by trains in the country pass through the MRS tracks.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Open MRS?

Open MRS has been created to enhance innovation, in a collaborative and different way, by using interaction with external market agents, such as startups, universities and technology and innovation centers, among others. The purpose is to develop solutions for challenges faced by MRS to develop the logistics of the future.

In this edition, four challenges divided into operational and maintenance challenges have been selected. The challenges are: How can we assertively forecast the loading/unloading time of pulp wagons without manual recording? (Load and Unload Forecast), How can we connect the railway assets present on the railroad? (Integration of Railway Assets Data Collection), How can we carry out works on slopes and embankments and inspections of rail culverts in regions without the access of employees? (Inspection and Construction in Restricted Access Region) and How can we reduce the occurrence of vandalism and theft in high-incidence regions? (Vandalism and Steal Prevention)

Check out more about the challenges in the notice.

Can I register myself for more than one challenge?

A startup can register for more than one challenge. If the startup is selected to develop more than one proof of concept, it shall choose to proceed with one of the challenges only.

For each challenge, an application must be made, selecting the respective challenge and providing information on how the project will solve the proposed challenge.

Who can participate in the Open MRS program?

Those who can participate in the Open MRS program are startups, technology-based companies, projects from science and technology institutions and others, with the ability to develop and implement innovative solutions, which have a formal constitution in Brazil or in their country of origin to apply the proof of concept to the company.

What are the costs to register?

Registration to the program is free of charge.

Should I assign equity interest to my business?

Participating in the Open MRS program is not related to the assignment of equity interest by the Projects. The purpose of the call is to develop proofs of concept (PoCs) to solve specific challenges.

How are the Projects selected?

The selection process is started by analyzing the classification of the projects and solutions in relation to the regulation. After that, online screening is conducted by a committee comprised of the MRS team according to the criteria established in the regulation. The purpose is to select a maximum of five most attractive proposals per challenge. The selected projects shall participate in the Bootcamp, whose purpose is to refine the scope for the development of projects and prepare them for Pitch Day, the final stage of the selection of startups that will develop the PoCs, where they will present their proposals for selection.

Contact for questions:

open@mrs.com.br