When international aerospace missions choose São José dos Campos, the message is about the ecosystem.
In May 2026, representatives from 12 German companies in the aerospace and aviation sectors arrived in São José dos Campos on a mission organized by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi).
The stated objective: to expand trade relations and strengthen opportunities for bilateral cooperation between Brazil and Germany.
The key information for investors: the city was the chosen destination. And international delegations don't choose destinations by chance, especially when the subject is the Brazilian aerospace industry.
When the German Ministry organizes a mission focused on aviation and the itinerary includes technical visits to Embraer and the Technological Innovation Park (PIT), what is confirmed is the already consolidated international view: São José dos Campos is the main aerospace hub in Latin America.
Why do international delegations seek connections with São José dos Campos?
Global interest in the Brazilian aerospace industry
Brazil occupies a unique position on the world aerospace map. It is the only developing country with one of the world's largest aircraft manufacturers, a vertically integrated production chain, and military and civilian research centers operating within the same territory.
This unique feature has a name and address: São José dos Campos.
The city is home to:
- Embraer — one of the three largest manufacturers of commercial jets in the world;
- ITA — Technological Institute of Aeronautics;
- DCTA — Department of Aerospace Science and Technology;
- INPE — National Institute for Space Research;
- Boeing Engineering & Technology Center — one of the company's global centers in Brazil.
For delegations arriving with an interest in international aerospace cooperation , this set of facilities is functional.
It represents a mature production chain, with verifiable technical capacity and already established high-level institutional partners.
International relations and technological cooperation in the aerospace sector.
The head of the Aviation Division of the German Ministry, Daniel Riedel, was direct during the meeting held in São José dos Campos:
"You are changing the landscape in the aerospace field. We want to contribute and be even more present partners in this area."
This reading reflects a global trend. International relations in the aerospace sector are increasingly organized around complete ecosystems.
What Germany, the United States, Portugal, China, and other partners are looking for in Brazil is not just a supplier. It is an environment capable of absorbing technology, co-developing solutions, and scaling production with technical and regulatory security.
São José dos Campos delivers exactly that.
The aerospace ecosystem of São José dos Campos
Engineering, innovation and technology
The aerospace hub of São José dos Campos is not sustained by a single company or institution. It is sustained by the density of interconnected assets.
- Elite universities in engineering;
- Strategic R&D laboratories;
- Military research centers;
- Innovation park with over 330 companies;
- Supply chain serving civil aviation, defense, and MRO.
ITA trains internationally recognized aeronautical engineers. DCTA focuses its research on propulsion, advanced materials, and embedded systems.
INPE operates satellites and develops remote sensing technology with direct aerospace applications.
This aeronautical technology connects to the market through the city's companies and innovation ecosystem.
For international aerospace companies evaluating partnerships or establishing themselves in Brazil, this concentration eliminates critical friction points. There's no need to build an ecosystem from scratch; it already exists, is operational, and has a proven scale.
The role of Embraer and the production chain
Embraer is the visible anchor of the ecosystem, but it is not its entirety.
Founded in 1969 in São José dos Campos, the company has delivered more than 8.000 aircraft to customers in over 100 countries and employs approximately 18 highly qualified professionals.
Its presence has created, over decades, a chain specializing in:
- Structural components and embedded electronics;
- MRO (Maintenance, Repairs and Overhauls);
- Engineering services and technical support;
- Suppliers of advanced materials and propulsion.
What the Brazil-Germany partnership in the aerospace sector reinforces is that international interest is not only focused on Embraer, but also on the entire chain that has formed around it.
International cooperation and business opportunities
Relations between Brazil and Germany in the aerospace sector
The German mission in May 2026 was organized by AHP International and TVZ International, with support from the City Hall of São José dos Campos and PIT.
The agenda included technical visits to Embraer and the Technological Innovation Park, two of the city's most strategic assets for those evaluating business partnerships in the aerospace sector.
Germany is one of the world's leading aerospace powers, with a highly sophisticated technical industry comprised of companies such as Airbus, MTU, and Liebherr Aerospace, as well as dozens of specialized suppliers.
The fact that this industry looks to São José dos Campos with a genuine interest in cooperation is, in itself, an indicator of its international standing.
The mission specifically addressed three areas:
- Supply chain from the aeronautical sector;
- Technological demands and trends in aviation;
- Opportunities for bilateral cooperation between Brazilian and German companies.
Business partnerships and technological development
Aerospace partnerships with Brazil are nothing new . Boeing maintains one of its global engineering and technology centers in São José dos Campos, with an operational presence and teams working on global projects from the city.
What missions like the German one do is expand this network. Each new partnership established strengthens São José dos Campos' position on the global aviation industry map and increases the technical and commercial density of the local ecosystem.
This, in turn, attracts new investors, and the cycle becomes self-reinforcing.
What strengthens the city's international competitiveness?
Global infrastructure, logistics and operations
São José dos Campos is located in the most densely populated economic axis of Brazil:
- 88 km from São Paulo;
- 71 km from Guarulhos International Airport (GRU);
- 111 km from the Port of São Sebastião;
- 347 km from Rio de Janeiro.
For industrial operations that rely on international logistics, such as imported inputs, component exports, and the deployment of technical teams, this location represents a significant competitive asset.
The city also has the SJK Airport and the MRS Logística rail network, which complements the road transport system and reinforces the capacity for industrial outflow.
Research, universities and skilled labor
Brazil produces engineers. São José dos Campos produces the best.
ITA is consistently ranked among the most technically rigorous engineering institutions in the country, with a selection process comparable to the most demanding international universities.
INPE, UNIFESP, FATEC, and UNIVAP complement the educational ecosystem, training professionals in applied sciences, technology, and management.
For international aerospace companies arriving in Brazil in need of specialized technical teams, São José dos Campos offers what few Brazilian cities can: high-level talent already integrated into an industrial environment that understands the dynamics of the sector.
Internationalization and economic development
Exports and high-tech industry
Exports from São José dos Campos reached US$4,1 billion in 2025, with destinations in approximately 120 countries.
The export portfolio is mainly composed of high value-added manufactured products, with the aerospace sector leading this composition.
This data is not just economic: it's strategic. Countries seeking industrial cooperation partnerships prefer markets that already export technology, because this signals productive capacity, quality standards, and integration into global supply chains.
The impact of global connections on the local ecosystem.
Every international mission that passes through São José dos Campos leaves behind productive traces:
- Contracts explored and partnerships initiated;
- Ongoing technical cooperation projects;
- Exchange of professionals and knowledge;
- Investment decisions in progress.
International aerospace cooperation is a cumulative process that strengthens the ecosystem with each cycle.
The PIT innovation ecosystem , with over 330 affiliated companies, 11 multi-user laboratories, and direct connections to universities and research centers, is a central part of this process.
Deep tech startups, sensing, automation, and embedded systems companies find in the Technology Innovation Park an environment prepared to absorb and co-develop technologies of interest to the global aerospace market.
São José dos Campos on the global aviation map
When delegations of the size of the German mission include São José dos Campos in their agenda, with technical visits, institutional meetings, and meetings with industry leaders, what is confirmed is an already consolidated global understanding.
The city is not just where Embraer is located. It's where the Brazilian aerospace industry is organized, innovates, exports, and grows.
For companies considering investing in São José dos Campos , the recurring international interest is not just a public relations gimmick. It's proof of an ecosystem.
Contact Invest SJC and learn about the opportunities available for aerospace companies seeking to operate, co-develop, or expand in Brazil.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about international missions in the aerospace sector.
Why do international missions visit São José dos Campos?
São José dos Campos is home to the main aerospace ecosystem in Latin America, with Embraer, Boeing, ITA, DCTA, INPE, and the Technological Innovation Park. This density of industrial assets, research, and technical training makes the city a natural destination for international delegations.
Does São José dos Campos have international relevance in the aerospace sector?
Yes. The city is home to one of the world's largest aircraft manufacturers, Boeing's global engineering center in Brazil, and strategically important research institutions such as ITA, DCTA, and INPE. Its exports totaled US$4,1 billion in 2025, with a strong contribution from the aerospace and defense sectors.
What is the relationship between international cooperation and innovation in SJC?
International partnerships introduce technology, capital, joint projects, and new markets into the local ecosystem. In São José dos Campos, this process is amplified by the presence of R&D centers, deep tech startups, and a technology park with over 330 companies.
Does Germany have any relationship with the Brazilian aerospace sector?
Yes. In May 2026, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) organized a mission with representatives from 12 companies in the sector to São José dos Campos, focusing on supply chains, technological trends, and opportunities for bilateral cooperation between Brazilian and German companies.
How does internationalization strengthen the economy of São José dos Campos?
Each established international partnership increases export volume, attracts direct investment, strengthens the local production chain, and raises the technical standards of companies in the city. For São José dos Campos, with an export base of US$4,1 billion and a mature aerospace ecosystem, internationalization is a multiplier of competitiveness.
What does the Technological Innovation Park offer to the aerospace sector?
PIT is home to over 330 affiliated companies, with clusters in automation, sensing, AI, embedded systems, and deep tech—technologies with direct application in the aerospace industry.
