Unique model in southern Brazil integrates a new undergraduate course and a new research center, in addition to the post and promotion of innovative businesses in the area

This month PUCRS launches an unprecedented initiative in the South of the Country in the area of ​​Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. A Research, Teaching and Innovation Center and the region's first face-to-face bachelor's degree in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are two new fronts of action that join forces with graduate studies stricto e broad sensu already consolidated, with international recognition, and hub < span data-contrast = "none"> AI and Data Science Tecnopuc . The Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (InsCer) is part of this new Research Center that also includes six PUCRS schools, the Institute of Petroleum and Natural Resources and Tecnopuc. < / p>

State-of-the-art research and development actions linked to this theme have been a reality at PUCRS for almost a decade. With the initiative, the university adds to its trajectory in the area the commitment to the complete training of professionals, from undergraduate to postgraduate, fostering innovative businesses and international partnerships. And, in a move to decipher the future, it seeks to become a major hub of Data Science meeting the academic demands, the job market and innovation for society.

Professionals doing the future

Of the 15 emerging professions in 2020 mapped in study conducted by LinkedIn in Brazil, nine are directly related to Information Technology. Although the market needs at least 70 thousand professionals with technological profile per year, Brazil only trains 46 thousand, which makes the segment even more competitive, according to a report by the Brazilian Association of Information and Communication Technology Companies ( Brasscom ).

“The professional of the future must be prepared to develop solutions to complex problems in situations of uncertainty. We want to be a bridge to an increasingly necessary professional profile, not only in startups and large corporations, but in society, that is able to use knowledge in data and technology in an ethical and responsible manner, to improve the lives of people and organizations ” , emphasizes the rector of PUCRS, Sr. Evilázio Teixeira.

The university already has more than 50 renowned researchers, with high impact scientific production and international reach, 33 different research groups, 16 graduate programs and 21 laboratories that will compose the new Research Center. Schools are already part of the Center Polytechnic ; de Communication, Arts and Design ; de Right ; de Humanities ; de Medicine ; and Business , together with O Rio Grande do Sul Brain Institute (InsCer) , the Petroleum Institute and Natural Resources and Tecnopuc .

The launch of the Research Center, which will be coordinated by the professor Márcio Sarroglia Pinho , will be done on October 21 in web conference with the participation of Professor Nivio Ziviani, a national reference in this area, discussing the social impact of Data Science with the secretary of CT&I of Rio Grande do Sul, Professor Luís da Cunha Lamb, and the professor Jorge Nicolas Audy , Superintendent of Innovation and Development at PUCRS.

Education, research and innovation

These are the three areas of action of the proposal. In the field of education, the university aims to meet the high demand for professionals, at the undergraduate, specialization, master's and doctoral levels and to disseminate Data Science in courses outside the technological areas.

In research, the objective is to strengthen international partnerships, increase research in the fields of Data Science as Machine Learning, Big Data , Mining and Visualization and supporting application in others such as Medical Imaging, Geoprocessing, Drugs, Medicine , Genomics, Energy, Finance, Social Behavior, Smart Cities, among others.

In the field of innovation there will be strategic interaction with the hub of Tecnopuc's Data Science and AI which, with its own methodology, connects entrepreneurs with investors, mentors, companies and consultants, bringing startups closer to the market.

Graduation in Data Science and AI

Lasting four years, the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence course at PUCRS is the first face-to-face bachelor's degree in Southern Brazil. The course, coordinated by the professor Daniel Antonio Callegari , is born in an innovation ecosystem, will have 60 places each semester and the ticket will be held through the entrance exam 2021, scheduled for December 6th. < / span>

Students who complete their undergraduate studies will be able to employ models, tools and techniques for different organizational and social contexts, private or public, national and international standards. The professional will be able to exercise multiple activities, acting as data scientist, engineer or data architect, AI and Machine Learning engineer, market intelligence analyst, among other possibilities in the area.

Among the differentials offered by the institution, in addition to the faculty formed by renowned academics and industry professionals, is the possibility of interacting with the program graduate degree in Computer Science, of international excellence, in which students can take graduate courses during their undergraduate course, covering in more depth contents that are being researched in Brazil and abroad.