2 – Administrative Region: Central

General Overview:

·         Multi-specialized productive hub combining high-tech industries with traditional manufacturing sectors.

·         Strong agro-industrial base (raw sugar, juices, animal feed) present in 17 cities.

·         Innovation ecosystem led by São Carlos (technology parks, universities, R&D institutes) and Gavião Peixoto (Embraer’s final assembly operations).

Economic and Technological Highlights:

·         200 science-based startups linked to USP, UFSCar, Unesp, and Embrapa.

·         Two technology parks (Science Park / ParqTec and Damha EcoTechnological – the country’s first 3rd-generation park).

·         Anchor projects: Science, Innovation, and Health Technology Center (CITesc) and the “Energy City” (R&D in renewables).

Strategic Sectors in the Region:

·         Food & Beverages

·         Metal-Metallurgy / Machinery and Equipment

·         Health & Pharmaceuticals

·         Textiles, Apparel & Accessories

·         Non-metallic Minerals and Metal Products

Socioeconomic Data:

·         Regional GDP (2018): R$ 27.8 billion

·         Population (2018): 910.4 thousand

·         Projected Working-Age Population (2030): 731 thousand

·         High level of formal education (jobs requiring high school or incomplete higher education increased from 37.4% → 52.3% over 10 years)

SWOT Analysis:

Strengths:

·         Eight municipalities with population growth above the state average

·         Economic diversification (sugar, juices, metalworking, textiles)

·         High qualification (IPRS) and strong science, technology, and innovation infrastructure

Weaknesses:

·         Net population loss in 13 municipalities

·         Weight of low-tech intensity sectors (apparel, textiles)

Opportunities:

·         Advances in plastics, fine chemicals, and transport equipment (Embraer)

·         Precision agriculture, biorefining, 2nd-generation ethanol, and RenovaBio

·         Products with greater technological content (engines, compressors, agricultural components)

Threats:

·         Dependence on low-value-added sugar commodities

·         Exposure to exchange rate fluctuations and international price shifts

Employment and Education:

·         82.9% of industrial jobs are concentrated in selected competitive sectors

·         Highest education levels in electric machinery and apparel sectors

Distribution of Industrial Jobs (by company size, 2016)::

·         Small and medium-sized companies lead in textiles and apparel

·         Large enterprises dominate machinery, equipment, and food sectors.

Main Sectors by Employment:

·         Food

·         Machinery and Equipment

·         Textiles

·         Apparel & Garments

·         Non-metallic Minerals

·         Metal Products

·         Electrical Machinery

·         Other Transport Equipment

 Investments (2010–2017):

Industry (US$ 1.35 billion):

·         35% in other transport equipment

·         21% in vehicles

·         20% in pharmaceuticals

·         15% in non-metallic minerals

·         3% in machinery

·         3% in textiles & apparel

Services (US$ 486.9 million):

·         60% in non-real estate rentals

·         16.7% in real estate activities

·         6.9% in education

·         5.9% in business support

·         4.9% in R&D

Export Participation (2016):

·         State quota: 5.2% (major share in low-tech goods – sugar and agro products)

Municipalities in the Central Administrative Region (26 municipalities):

1. Américo Brasiliense

2. Araraquara

3. Boa Esperança do Sul

4. Borborema

5. Cândido Rodrigues

6. Dobrada

7. Fernando Prestes

8. Gavião Peixoto

9. Ibitinga

10. Itápolis

11. Matão

12. Motuca

13. Nova Europa

14. Rincão

15. Santa Ernestina

16. Santa Lúcia

17. Tabatinga

18. Taquaritinga

19. Trabiju

20. Descalvado

21. Dourado

22. Ibaté

23. Porto Ferreira

24. Ribeirão Bonito

25. Santa Rita do Passa Quatro

26. São Carlos