From the Paraíba Valley to the world: the aerospace hub of São José dos Campos remains at the center of strategic decisions in the global defense and technology industry.
On June 2, 2026, in Linköping, Sweden, Saab officially unveiled the Gripen F, the two-seat version of the fighter jet developed in partnership with Embraer.
During the press conference, the Saab CEO, Michael Johansson, confirmed that he is studying with the Defense Minister, José Mucio, the creation of a research center near CTA, in São José dos Campos.
The information is still under study. But the fact that it emerges in the context of the launch of one of Brazil's most advanced defense projects says more about it. São José dos Campos more than any ranking could tell.
When highly complex projects require a location in Brazil, São José dos Campos comes to mind. Not by accident. But due to established expertise.
What does the Gripen F case reveal about São José dos Campos?
The Gripen program is not just a fighter jet purchase contract.
It is one of the most sophisticated technology transfer arrangements in the history of Brazilian defense.
As found by the portal NeoFeedThe agreement signed in 2013 between the Brazilian government and Saab stipulates:
- Formation of 350 Brazilian engineers;
- Participation of approximately 60 national companies in the production chain;
- Installation of Saab's only final assembly line outside of Sweden., in Gavião Peixoto, in the interior of São Paulo state.
To reach this level, an ecosystem was necessary. And that ecosystem is based in São José dos Campos.
According to NeoFeed, Brazilian companies were directly involved in the development of the Gripen F:
- AEL Systems — provides the Wide Area Display, a central technology in the cockpit;
- akaer — worked in structural engineering and became a global supplier for Saab;
- Atech — developed mission planning systems;
- WEG and Eleb They produce electrical and hydraulic components.
These companies didn't just appear out of nowhere. They grew up in an environment that for decades has combined the aerospace industry, high-level research, and specialized technical training.
The Gripen F has a range of up to 4.000 km, a weapons capacity of 7 tons, and onboard artificial intelligence systems.
Aircraft like these are not viable in every city. They require qualified suppliers, certification capabilities, systems engineering, and an industrial culture that understands complexity.
São José dos Campos has all of that.
Why is São José dos Campos a leading player in the aerospace industry?
The relationship between São José dos Campos and industry aerospace It doesn't start with Embraer.It starts before her.
O ITA — Technological Institute of Aeronautics It was founded in 1950, almost two decades before Embraer.
O DCTA — Department of Aerospace Science and TechnologyThe building that houses the CTA was already operating as a research and advanced technical training center when the aircraft manufacturer was still just a project.
O INPE — National Institute for Space Research It established itself in the city decades ago and today is a global leader in remote sensing, meteorology, and space sciences.
What happened over time was a strategic accumulation:
- Each institution attracted professionals → who attracted companies → who demanded suppliers → who created a market → who enabled more research.
This cycle has generated what exists today: one of the most complete industrial and scientific ecosystems in Latin America in the aerospace field.
A EmbraerFounded in 1969, it is the most visible asset of this ecosystem. With more than 8.000 aircraft delivered for customers in more than 100 countries e around 18 thousand employeesShe is a reference in the commercial, executive, and defense fields.
a Mas (typical old farm) Reducing São José dos Campos to Embraer is an analytical error.The company is both a product of the ecosystem and a contributor to it.
O Technological Innovation Park (PIT) This reinforces that point: more than 330 affiliated companies, 11 multi-user laboratories and direct connection with universities and research centers, an innovation infrastructure that goes beyond any individual player.
Engineering, talent, and technical expertise as a competitive advantage.
Companies arriving in São José dos Campos find more than just available professionals.
They find an engineering culture shaped by decades of interaction between industry, research, defense, and innovation.
ITA is one of the most demanding technical training institutions in Brazil. Its graduates hold leadership positions at Embraer, Boeing, technology companies, and research centers in Brazil and abroad.
DCTA trains engineers and scientists specializing in technologies in use civil and military in areas such as:
- Advanced materials;
- Propulsion;
- Embedded systems;
- Applied artificial intelligence.
This kind of human capital isn't built up in five years.
It is the result of a state policy that, since the mid-20th century, has focused on concentrating top-quality technical training in a single city and has made this legacy available to the private sector and international projects.
When Saab needed to train 350 Brazilian engineers for the Gripen program, The choice of São José dos Campos was not accidental.It was the city with the technical environment capable of absorbing and developing this capability.
Global companies choose strong ecosystems.
The presence of international companies in São José dos Campos It's not a market coincidence..
This signals that the city offers conditions that other locations in Brazil cannot match.
See who has already chosen SJC:
- Boeing — it established its Engineering and Technology Center, one of the company's global centers.
- General Motors — operates a complex with production of the S10, Trailblazer, engines, transmissions and essential components.
- Ericsson — started manufacturing radio base stations and cell phones in Brazil in SJC.
- Eaton — completed 68 years of operation in the city in 2025.
- Panasonic, Ball Corporation, Kenvue and Bayer — They maintain a significant presence in different sectors.
These names do not form part of a list of tributes.
They demonstrate that São José dos Campos supports complex global operations in diverse sectors.Aerospace, automotive, telecommunications, energy, healthcare, and technology.
For a new investor, this significantly reduces the setup risk:
- The production chain It already exists.
- Suppliers They are already present.
- Qualified professionals They've already graduated.
- The institutional environment It's already ripe.
Why bring your company to São José dos Campos?
The real question for those evaluating expansion in Brazil is: Where will my operation function efficiently, have access to talent, be close to suppliers, and be able to scale?
São José dos Campos responds with concrete evidence.
Strategic location:
- 88 km Sao Paulo.
- 71 km from Guarulhos International Airport (GRU).
- 111 km from the Port of São Sebastião.
- Central location on the Presidente Dutra Highway, between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Economic indicators:
- GDP of R$ 61,4 billion.
- Exports of US$ 4,1 billion for around 120 countries (2025).
- 4th position in the export ranking of the state of São Paulo.
- Agenda mainly composed of high value-added products Technology, engineering, sophisticated components.
Innovation infrastructure:
- For companies technology intensiveAccess to PIT, ITA, DCTA and INPE, applied research, laboratories and startups.
- For companies industrial: a production chain established in the aerospace, automotive, and telecommunications sectors.
Learn more: Success Cases
São José dos Campos and the future of high-complexity industries in Brazil.
The launch of the Gripen F and the studies for a research center near the CTA are signs of a broader dynamic.
Global demand for highly complex projects is growing. And the cities that combine talent, infrastructure, a strong production chain, and a solid institutional environment will be the ones to capture this expansion.
Brazil increased its defense spending by 13% in 2025, reaching US$23,9 billion, according to... SIPRI report (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute), published in April 2026.
Meanwhile, sectors such as semiconductors, electric mobility, applied artificial intelligence e dual-use technologies They gain global scale.
São José dos Campos is positioned to attract investments on all these fronts.
Because it uniquely brings together the assets that complex operations require.Engineering, research, industry, logistics, and a real track record of projects that worked.
Gripen F takes off from Linköping. But Part of what made it possible was built in São José dos Campos.
A Invest SJC It acts as an institutional platform to support the entire process: from initial contact to technical visits, from mapping sectoral opportunities to integration with the local ecosystem.
Learn how to invest in São José dos Campos. e Discover how the city can support the expansion of your operations in Brazil.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Why is São José dos Campos a benchmark in the aerospace sector?
Because the city brings together, in an integrated way, technology and defense companies, institutions such as ITA, DCTA and INPE, a specialized production chain and professionals trained in highly complex engineering. This combination is not easily replicated in another territory.
What is the relationship between Embraer, Saab, and São José dos Campos?
Embraer is partnering with Saab in the development and production of the Gripen E/F, with Saab's only final assembly line outside of Sweden located in Brazil.
São José dos Campos is the base of the industrial and technological ecosystem that made this partnership possible, with supplier companies, research centers, and technical training concentrated in the city.
Does São José dos Campos have a skilled workforce for technology-intensive operations?
Yes. The city is home to ITA, DCTA, and INPE, as well as universities like UNIFESP and FATEC.
Decades of interaction between the aerospace industry, applied research, and technical training have created a pool of professionals with a rare profile in Brazil. — especially in engineering, embedded systems, automation, and defense technologies.
Why should companies consider establishing or expanding operations in São José dos Campos?
Because the city combines a strategic location on the São Paulo–Rio de Janeiro axis, consolidated logistics infrastructure, a mature production chain in multiple sectors, an innovation environment with more than 330 companies in the Technology Park, and the presence of multinationals such as Boeing, GM, Ericsson, and Eaton.
This reduces barriers to entry and accelerates operational viability.
Does São José dos Campos depend solely on Embraer?
No. Embraer is a key strategic asset, but the city's distinguishing feature lies in the comprehensive network that has formed around it.
Companies in the automotive, telecommunications, energy, healthcare, technology, and packaging sectors operate in SJC independently of the aerospace sector., demonstrating the city's diversity and economic resilience.
