Claro invests in institute aimed at education and technology
Valor Econômico 03/30/2009
Claro launches today an institute that takes its name and has the mission of stimulating the production of contents that promote learning through new technologies. With a R$ 10 million (US$ 4.35 million) budget for this year, the organization intends to develop initiatives that help to reduce the current gap among "people who want and need to learn and a new technology that is used basically for leisure", explains Antonio Britto Filho, president of Instituto Claro and Officer of Corporate Affairs of the company.
The core of the project is an integrated portal that will gather studies, researches and actions on the possibilities of transmission of knowledge in media like cell phones, computers and videogames, for instance. Games and other resources that make the learning a technological and playful experience will also be available in the net. The idea is to map and gather Brazilian initiatives as well as supply information and data on what happens in the area all over the world. The participants will gain space for blogs. Educators and NGOs will have access to the researches and educational instruments based in new technologies. The works will be available for everyone that access the portal. "The idea is to gather and distribute knowledge", says Britto. Last year Claro had earnings of R$ 11.5 billion (US$ 6.28 billion) in Brazil, an increase of 16% in relation to 2007. In the period, its base of clients jumped from 32 million to 39 million. The holding that controls the operator registered, in 2008, consolidated net profit of R$ 976.9 million (US$ 533.8 million), well above the R$ 200.9 million (US$ 104.1 million) accounted in the previous year. The company, a private corporation, revealed its annual financial statements nearly two weeks ago.