According to John Vanston, Chairman of Technology Futures, "We chose to expand in Brazil because the potential for growth there is almost unlimited. With economic liberalization in progress, Brazilian firms are hungry to invest in new technology to leverage their country's vast natural and human resources. They are determined to make the best technology choices for the long term, and that fits with Technology Futures' mission."
Larry Vanston, President of Technology Futures said, "From the time John started TFI in 1978, our clients have been mostly major North American companies. Technology Futures Brasil is our first major commitment to international expansion. To be effective, we felt we needed a presence 'on the ground' in Brazil."
Technology Futures Brasil's first official job was accomplished in September with the presentation in Sao Paulo of its seminar Technology Forecasting for the Telecom Industry to CPM, an information systems provider, and Bradesco, the largest bank in Brazil. This will be followed in October by a similar seminar for COPEL, a major electric utility. According to company executives, Technology Futures Brasil will initially focus on the telecom and electric power industries.
Technology Futures Brasil will be located in Curitiba, a city of over one million people located in the State of Parana, which is near Sao Paolo, the world's third largest city. The formation of the new firm was announced in Curitiba by Jaime Lerner, Governor of the State of Parana, at a reception at the governor's palace on September 29, 1995. John Vanston noted striking similarities between Austin and Curitiba, including a strong technology orientation, good universities, progressive leadership, dedication to the environment, and friendly, supportive people.
The new firm is a partnership between Technology Futures, Inc. and a Brazilian firm, Sigma DataServe Informatica. Two of the principals of Sigma DataServe, Guy de Manuel and Eduardo de Manuel, have visited Austin on several occasions to explore new business relationships between Brazil and the U.S. technology firms.
Technology Futures will also play a leading role in a conference sponsored by AT&T on November 29-30, 1995 in Miami. The conference, called The Brazil Telecom Summit, is aimed at U.S. companies positioning themselves to tap the growth potential of the Brazilian telecom market.