Serpro and Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) advanced a strategic agenda on Wednesday, June 18, aimed at strengthening international cooperation in digital government and expanding the presence of Brazilian public technology in other countries.

The meeting was led by Serpro President Wilton Mota and brought together representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs involved in digital affairs, innovation diplomacy, international cooperation, and the promotion of services and technology solutions.

Representing the Ministry were Ambassador Eugênio Garcia from the Department of Science and Technology (DCT); Counsellors José Roberto and Igor Germano, also from the DCT; Counsellor Marcelo Salomão from the Division of Digital Affairs (DTD); as well as officials working in digital affairs, agricultural innovation, and the promotion of industry and services.

The new Serpro and digital sovereignty

Wilton Mota outlined Serpro’s recent transformation journey and highlighted the company’s longstanding experience in developing systems for Brazil’s diplomatic and consular operations.

According to the president, the consolidation of consular services into a single integrated platform has become a strategic asset for the Brazilian State.

“We are the first country in the world to centralize all consular operations. It is an important system for Brazil because it provides a high level of control,” said Wilton.

The president also presented Serpro’s ongoing institutional transformation, which includes process modernization, organizational restructuring, and the expanded use of artificial intelligence throughout the software development lifecycle.

“We created a dedicated AI division. More importantly, we have embedded AI throughout the development process, from requirements gathering to testing,” he explained.

Wilton emphasized that these changes are intended to accelerate delivery and reposition the company to address the evolving needs of government and society.

“Serpro is undergoing a process revolution. It is one of the most significant transformations in our history,” he stated.

Citizen-centered digital services

One of the initiatives presented during the meeting was Mais Cidadão (“More Citizen”), a project being developed in partnership with Brazil’s Ministry of Health and scheduled for launch in August.

Powered by artificial intelligence, the initiative aims to enhance proactive communication between government and citizens through multiple digital channels, delivering personalized information based on government priorities and individual user profiles.

Wilton explained that the project reflects a broader shift toward designing public services around citizens’ real needs.

“When we design systems, we often think from the government’s perspective. Now we need to focus on what citizens need, what they want to know, and how we can support them in practical ways,” he said.

Among the examples discussed was the delivery of personalized vaccination reminders, including information about the nearest healthcare facility where citizens can update their immunization records.

The initiative builds on successful digital services already available in Brazil, such as the Digital Driver’s License and digital vehicle services.

Sovereign cloud takes center stage

Serpro’s sovereign cloud strategy was one of the central topics of the meeting.

Wilton detailed the company’s sovereign cloud infrastructure, which operates in an isolated environment with data stored in Serpro-owned data centers and managed entirely by the company, including updates, support, and security operations.

“Today, we operate a fully isolated cloud environment. We know exactly where the data resides—inside our own data centers. All updates are performed offline, without external participation,” he explained.

The president also distinguished Serpro’s sovereign cloud from the company’s multi-cloud architecture, which incorporates providers such as AWS, Microsoft, and Google but does not offer the same degree of sovereignty because it relies on external orchestration.

“Are those other clouds sovereign? No. They all depend on external orchestration. That represents a risk, and we have a responsibility to highlight that vulnerability,” Wilton said.

The meeting also addressed infrastructure expansion projects, including a partnership with the University of Brasília to establish new availability zones, the development of a second cloud region in São Paulo for contingency purposes, and the construction of a new data center in Brasília.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers diplomatic network support

Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented Brazil’s Innovation Diplomacy Program, launched in 2017, and emphasized that the country’s diplomatic network can support the international promotion of Serpro’s solutions.

Brazil currently maintains 228 diplomatic missions worldwide, including embassies and consulates, as well as approximately 70 science, technology, and innovation offices.

This network can be mobilized to promote Serpro’s solutions to governments, institutions, and strategic partners, organize events, support international missions, and facilitate meetings with foreign authorities.

“Our diplomatic network is fully available. If there is a need to promote a solution or offer a service, we can distribute information to embassies and consulates around the world,” a Ministry representative stated during the meeting.

The Ministry also recalled a previous collaboration with Serpro involving a webinar on biometric technologies hosted through Brazil’s diplomatic mission in Silicon Valley.

The initiative successfully identified concrete synergies between Serpro and a local partner.

“The goal was not simply to host a webinar and end the discussion. We wanted to identify a Brazilian institution, connect it with a local partner, and determine whether there was genuine interest. It turned out to be a successful match,” a Ministry representative noted.

Virtual session to showcase Serpro’s capabilities

As a follow-up action, participants proposed organizing a virtual session on the “New Serpro” for the Ministry’s network of science, technology, and innovation offices.

The presentation will showcase Serpro’s current capabilities in sovereign cloud, artificial intelligence, digital identity, digital public services, enterprise systems, and digital public infrastructure.

The session is expected to be recorded and shared with diplomatic missions across multiple time zones.

Participants also agreed on the development of institutional materials highlighting sovereign cloud, digital sovereignty, and the unique strengths of Serpro’s portfolio to support international promotion and cooperation efforts.

“It is important for the Ministry to present the new Serpro. This is not the same Serpro of ten years ago,” participants noted during the meeting.

International cooperation and new markets

The meeting also explored opportunities for cooperation with other countries in areas such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence, e-government, digital identity, and digital public infrastructure.

Regarding Venezuela, the Ministry reported that there has been interest in a cooperation agreement covering artificial intelligence, science and technology, digital transformation, and electronic government services.

Given the potential implications of international sanctions, service contracting, payments, and financial transfers, the topic will require careful evaluation.

Serpro emphasized the importance of assessing political considerations, associated risks, and financial viability before advancing more complex negotiations.

As a next step, the company will prepare a technical note outlining interests, potential solutions, and estimated costs.

“It is important for us to understand what can be done, how far we can go, and what the implications are for Brazil,” Wilton said.

The discussion also addressed potential cooperation opportunities with Angola, Cameroon, and other African countries, highlighting the importance of bilateral engagement supported by Brazilian embassies, particularly in Portuguese-speaking nations.

Wilton referenced Serpro’s recent experience in Angola, where the Brazilian Embassy helped identify opportunities related to identity management.

“Ambassador Eugênia pointed us toward opportunities in the identity sector. We left with the idea of offering a simple solution based on driver’s license technology and biometrics,” he explained.

The Netherlands, Latin America, and the Caribbean

The agenda also included recent engagements in the Netherlands, where Serpro held meetings with government entities and financial institutions.

The topic has gained relevance as countries seek greater technological sovereignty and alternatives to traditional cloud dependency.

“In the Netherlands, there is growing concern about relying on large cloud providers for critical government services. They are looking for solutions from countries that have taken a different path,” Wilton noted.

Participants also discussed opportunities for cooperation across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Representatives from the Ministry highlighted regional digital transformation initiatives, including the eLAC process, and suggested that Serpro showcase Brazilian solutions in multilateral forums and events focused on digital identity, sovereign cloud, digital public services, and information society initiatives.

World Data Organization

The meeting also addressed Serpro’s participation in the World Data Organization, an initiative focused on data governance, cybersecurity, data sovereignty, interoperability, and the development of international standards.

Wilton stressed the importance of Brazil playing a more active role in shaping these standards to avoid excessive dependence on frameworks established by other countries or global technology providers.

“We need to start defining our own interoperability, information exchange, and security standards to ensure proper data protection,” he stated.

According to the president, the Ministry’s involvement is essential for connecting this agenda with the appropriate international forums.

“You can help us understand where these emerging standards are being discussed and how we can contribute,” he added.

Brazilian technology as a strategic national asset

At the conclusion of the meeting, Serpro and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting digital sovereignty, government innovation, and the internationalization of Brazilian technology solutions.

Key outcomes included the organization of a virtual session on the “New Serpro” for the Ministry’s international network, the development of institutional materials highlighting Serpro’s portfolio, a coordinated assessment of opportunities related to Venezuela, engagement with Brazilian embassies in bilateral initiatives, and diplomatic support for future international missions.

The agenda reinforces Serpro’s role as a strategic technology provider for the Brazilian State and opens new pathways for presenting Brazilian capabilities in sovereign cloud, artificial intelligence, digital identity, data governance, and digital government solutions to the international community.