Vale supports projects of basic research, applied research, experimental development and technology transfer (concepts adapted from Manual Frascati)₁.

Basic research is associated with conceptual theoretical studies to obtain new understanding, usually in long-term projects. Support for these projects reaffirms Vale's commitment of advancing the frontiers of knowledge in areas of interest to the company.

Applied research projects are fundamentally directed to a specific practical objective. Experimental development studies aim to prove the practical application of products and equipment. Both types try to solve specific scientific and technological challenges of the company's operations.

Finally, technology transfer aims to acquire existing and proven solutions which will bring benefits to Vale's various areas.

1. Frascati Manual 2002: Proposed Standard Practice for Surveys on Research and Experimental Development, 6thEd., 2002.

The projects should contribute to the mitigation of present or future challenges of the mining industry. They should be primarily associated with the following strategic themes:

1. Health and Safety
2. Dams and waste management
3. Productivity
4. Cavities and canga
5. Humidity and dust
6. Communities
7. Automation
8. Environment
9. Conveyor belt
10. License to operate

External audience: anyone who have a doctorate and is formally linked to either a public or private Science and Technology Institute (university, research centre etc.) The doctorate is not required from companies or from those institutions in which a doctorate is not required for project manager qualification.

Internal audience: any employee of the Vale group who has completed higher education and is able to coordinate an R&D project. Before signing up the employee must consult with their immediate manager.

* Third parties are categorized as “external audience".

* The scope is global in both cases.

The Technology and Innovation area will manage the interface between the proponent and the project executor. In the case of the internal public, the area will support the employee in three different ways:

• Finding the best partner to perform their R & D demand and in the subsequent partnership;
• Effectuating the partnership with the contacted research group, considering the submitted R&D project;
• Conducting the projects submitted by the business areas, without partnerships with universities or companies. In the case of the external public, the Technology and Innovation area will be responsible for selecting the area of Vale that could benefit from the results of the research, putting them into contact with the project executor.

Vale will provide resources in all forms commonly given by research funding bodies:

• Research grants
• Permanent material (technical resources and equipment to execute the Project, imported or produced domestically)
• Consumable material (material or supplies used for the execution of the Project, imported or produced domestically)
• Participation in conferences
• Field research trips
• Third party services
• The request of eligible items will be evaluated according to their technical and budgetary relevance

The applicant should submit the anticipated costs of the research when filling out the submission form. In the case of external applicants, it is desirable, but not required, that the R&D proposal also receives resources from the sponsoring institution.

After the evaluation and approval of the proposal, if the applicant is not an employee of Vale, Terms of Cooperation will be signed between Vale and the applicants sponsoring institution, so that the R & D project can be started and the resources can be disbursed. The payments will be made for the duration of the project.

With internal applicants the Executive Management of Technology and Innovation will finance all or part of the R & D proposals submitted by departments of Vale.

Vale adopts an annual assessment cycle for research proposals, which is divided into two phases:

- 1st - Technical assessment: The Executive Management of Technology and Innovation Board is responsible for the Technical Assessment stage of the R&D proposal, that are performed by criteria that analyze the strategic and technological aspects of it. In accordance with these criteria the proposals are selected by an internal committee composed of members of the The Executive Management of Technology and Innovation Board who meet at the beginning of the second semester of each year. Once selected, the proposals will move on to the next budget assessment stage.

- 2nd - Budget assessment: R&D proposals with technical approval in the previous stage given by the Internal Committee of the Executive Management Technology and Innovation Board are submitted for Vale's annual budget cycle assessment. In this step, the availability of resources for investment in research projects in the following year are checked.

On having your R&D project approved in the second phase, the proposer (internal or external) will be formally contacted. From this point on, the proposer will be contacted to provide additional information about their proposal, not given in the previous step. At the end, the contracting for the R&D project will begin via a Cooperation Agreement between Vale and the partner institution.

For more information please contact us through Talk to Us. Put in the subject 'Cycle Assessment of R & D proposals in 2016 '.