Image shows three individuals wearing Vale green uniforms and safety helmets with ear protection, standing in an industrial setting with blurred metal structures in the background. The image is featured on the Develop Program page to represent the link between the initiative, innovation, and safe mining practices. Image shows three individuals wearing Vale green uniforms and safety helmets with ear protection, standing in an industrial setting with blurred metal structures in the background. The image is featured on the Develop Program page to represent the link between the initiative, innovation, and safe mining practices.
Photo: Marcus Desimoni
Individual wearing Vale green uniform and blue protective gloves handles samples on a laboratory bench, surrounded by equipment and containers. The image appears on the Develop Program page to highlight analysis and innovation practices in mining.
Photo: Nilmar Lage

Transform the mineral industry and accelerate your career with Programa Desenvolver

At Vale, students can put their knowledge into practice, propose real solutions, and be recognized for their ideas.

Programa Desenvolver is a Vale initiative that connects academia to the technical challenges of mining and industry. Through a competition, students are invited to develop solutions for strategic themes within the company's processes.

Proposals are evaluated by a Vale technical committee, and winners receive a cash prize, specialized training, and the opportunity to experience the company's operations up close through technical site visits.

The initiative emerges in a context of shortage of professionals in specific technical areas, such as Mineral Resources — a scenario shaped by long learning curves, limitations in university curricula, sector crisis cycles, the impacts of the pandemic, and the migration of experienced professionals abroad. Through Programa Desenvolver, Vale strengthens technical knowledge and contributes to training the next generations of specialists.

Photo gallery

Check out highlights from the latest edition, where we celebrated innovation and recognized, alongside the technical leadership, the talents helping to build the future of mining.

Group of people posing for a photo in an auditorium, all holding certificates, with a screen in the background displaying the Vale logo. The image is included to illustrate the certificate award ceremony, highlighting the participation and recognition of the program or event graduates.

Credit: Luana Filmes

Speaker standing in the center of the auditorium, addressing an audience seated, with a screen in the background displaying the phrase “Com a palavra”. The image is included to illustrate a presentation or lecture during the event, highlighting the moment of sharing information with attendees.

Credit: Luana Filmes

Two people standing and holding a large check and a certificate, showing the amount of R$ 3,000.00 and the mention “2nd Place – Drilling and Blasting,” during a Vale event. The image is included to illustrate the award ceremony for participants of the Desenvolver program, highlighting recognition for performance.

Credit: Luana Filmes

Group of six people posing for a photo indoors, holding a large check and a certificate, featuring the Vale logo and reference to the Desenvolver program. The image is included to illustrate the award ceremony for participants, highlighting recognition and celebration of achievements during the event.

Credit: Luana Filmes

Group of people posing for a photo indoors, arranged in two rows, all wearing event badges. The image is included to illustrate the team or participants gathered during Vale’s Desenvolver program, highlighting integration and collaboration at the event.

Credit: Luana Filmes

Group of people posing for a photo outdoors, with vegetation in the background and a clear blue sky, all wearing casual clothing. The image is included to illustrate a field activity or team integration during Vale’s Desenvolver program, highlighting interaction and learning in a natural setting.

Credit: Luana Filmes

Auditorium with an audience seated watching a presentation, while a speaker stands next to a screen displaying a slide with charts and arrows about goals and indicators. The image is included to illustrate a lecture or informational session of Vale’s Desenvolver program, highlighting the sharing of strategies and results with participants.

Credit: Luana Filmes

com.liferay.portal.kernel.util.DateUtil_IW@33269876

Credit: Luana Filmes

Group of people posing for a photo indoors, all wearing orange safety vests with reflective stripes, indicating participation in a technical activity. The image is included to illustrate a technical visit or training session of Vale’s Desenvolver program, emphasizing safety practices and participant integration.

Credit: Luana Filmes

scroll-to-see-more

Programa Desenvolver partner companies

Innovation does not happen in isolation. To ensure participants have access to the most advanced tools available and experience the technological reality of mining, the program counts on the strategic support of software development partners for the industry. See below:

Editions

Transparency is fundamental to the selection process. This section presents the complete history of all editions held, with access to official calls for applications, official schedules, and technical databases, which serve both as a reference for the competition and as a foundation for fostering academic research.

In the 2026 edition, the Desenvolver Program will feature seven technical themes:

  • Mineral Reserve: Mine sequencing for the entire Mineral Reserve, within a pre-defined final pit, where simultaneous mining and waste disposal must be considered. 
    Click here and apply
     
  • Mineral Resource: Solutions for grouping lithological domains, statistical analysis, and geological modeling of an iron ore deposit.
    Click here and apply
     
  • Mine Geotechnics – Cavities: Study of the physical stability of natural caves in iron formations. We propose simulation, through numerical stress–strain analyses, of scenarios with and without anthropogenic influence on these cavities. We aim to evaluate, for example, proposals to simulate the effects of stress redistribution as a mining face approaches, as well as the effects of vibrations induced by rock blasting.
    Click here and apply
     
  • Mine Geotechnics – Slope Optimization: The Pit Optimization challenge seeks to develop solutions that improve slope geometry by integrating stability analyses, operational safety, and efficiency in ore recovery. The proposal involves evaluating alternatives that balance geotechnical performance and operational gains, contributing to safer, more sustainable, and technically robust mining.
    Click here and apply
     
  • Drilling and Blasting: Solutions for the development of a predictive model for rock fragmentation and flyrock generated by explosive blasting, in order to determine optimized exclusion zones for blasting operations. 
    Click here and apply
     
  • Geophysics: Workflow for database validation, processing, interpretation, geophysical modeling, and uncertainty quantification of the model for an iron ore deposit. Perform an analysis of the choice of the geophysical model and the optimal processing workflow.
    Click here and apply
     
  • Advanced Data Analytics: Development of an analytical solution based on a large real-world dataset of fleet telemetry from an iron ore mine, with the objective of anticipating the occurrence of critical alerts.
    Click here and apply

Scheduled Timeline:

  • Applications: February 11 to April 22, 2026
  • Development: May 4 to July 27, 2026
  • Closing: August 24 to August 27, 2026
Databases Used
The databases from challenges of previous years are made available for broad use, with special encouragement for use in research and educational activities. To request access and review the terms and conditions, please use the form below:
Drilling and Blasting
Advanced Data Analysis
Mineral Reserve
Geophysics
Geotechnics – Slope Optimization
Geotechnics – Cavities
Mineral Resource

In the 2025 edition, the Desenvolver Program featured five technical themes:

  • Mineral Resources
  • Mineral Reserves
  • Geophysics
  • Drilling and Blasting
  • Geotechnics

The program received over 800 applications from students affiliated with more than 60 educational institutions, covering 21 Brazilian states. In addition to the broad geographical diversity, there was significant female participation, with 42% of applications submitted by women. At the end of the cycle, 15 finalist students presented their projects at the closing event and participated in a technical visit to Vale's Capão Xavier mine, providing a practical and enriching experience.

Six people posing for a photo indoors, with three holding framed certificates, all wearing event badges. The image is included to illustrate the recognition ceremony of Vale’s Desenvolver program, highlighting the awarding of certificates to participants.

Legenda da imagem

Three people posing for a photo indoors, with one holding a framed certificate and another holding a large check worth R$ 5,000.00, indicating “1st Place – Drilling and Blasting” and referencing Vale’s Desenvolver program. In the background, there is a light-colored wall and part of a projection screen. The image is included to illustrate the award ceremony for participants, highlighting recognition and celebration of achievements during the event.

Legenda da imagem

Group of people posing for a photo indoors, with three holding framed certificates, all wearing event badges. The image is included to illustrate the recognition ceremony of Vale’s Desenvolver program, highlighting the awarding of certificates to participants.

Legenda da imagem

Two people posing for a photo indoors, with one holding a large check worth R$ 3,000.00, indicating “2nd Place – Drilling and Blasting,” and the other holding a framed certificate. In the background, there is a light-colored wall and part of a projection screen. The image is included to illustrate the award ceremony for participants of Vale’s Desenvolver program, highlighting recognition and celebration of achievements.

Legenda da imagem

Auditorium with several people seated watching a presentation. In the background, a screen displays the phrase “Com a palavra” with green lighting on the side walls. A speaker stands in the center addressing the audience. The image is included to illustrate a lecture or information-sharing session during Vale’s Desenvolver program, highlighting interaction and collective learning.

Legenda da imagem

Three people posing for a photo indoors, each holding a framed certificate indicating placement (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) in Vale’s Desenvolver program. One person is also holding a microphone. In the background, a light-colored wall. The image is included to illustrate the award ceremony, highlighting recognition and celebration of participants’ achievements.

Legenda da imagem

Databases Used
The databases from challenges of previous years are made available for broad use, with special encouragement for use in research and educational activities. To request access and review the terms and conditions, please use the form below:
Mineral Resource
Mineral Reserve
Geophysics
Drilling and Blasting
Geotechnics

The best solutions for the mineral resource assessment challenge, proposed by Vale's Desenvolver Program, were announced at an event held by the company in Nova Lima (MG).

At the meeting, which took place on September 12th, undergraduate and graduate students from mining-related fields shared their projects with other students, technicians, Vale leaders, and representatives from invited companies.

The winners also had the opportunity to visit the mining company's facilities, such as the Iron Ore Technology Center.

The group that won the Desenvolver Program challenge, formed by Camila Brighenti and Bernardo Generoso, master's students in geology at UFRGS, and Heloísa Luzzi, a master's student in geology at Unicamp, presented the most comprehensive approach and the best justifications for the decisions made in the process.

“The program allowed us to connect academic knowledge with the practical reality of the industry, helping to build fertile ground for attracting talent interested in the topic of mineral resources who can support us in our purpose of transforming mining into an increasingly sustainable activity,” assesses Victor Miguel Silva, technical manager of Geosciences at Vale and leader of the initiative.

The Desenvolver Program, launched in June, received almost 300 applications from students affiliated with educational institutions in 20 states.

In addition to the diversity of students' places of residence, there was also significant gender representation: half of the applications and 67% of the finalists were women.

The participating students and researchers carried out a process of information quality analysis, geological modeling, and estimation of the grades of interest from a Vale iron ore mine. The evaluation was anonymous and analyzed the participants' ability to define problems and challenges and apply solutions for each stage.

“All the groups combined classic solutions with innovative methods, such as machine learning, but there were also solutions quite different from those we use today at Vale, promoting a very rich exchange of knowledge,” points out Victor.

Nine students, gathered in these three winning groups, received more than R$ 20,000 in prize money for designing the most complete and innovative solutions.

Group of six people posing for a photo indoors, with two of them holding a large check and a certificate, both referencing Vale’s Desenvolver program. The image is included to illustrate the award ceremony for participants, highlighting recognition and celebration of achievements during the event.

Legenda da imagem

Three people posing for a photo indoors, with one holding a certificate and another holding a large check worth R$ 7,000.00, both referencing Vale’s Desenvolver program. The image is included to illustrate the award ceremony for participants, highlighting recognition and celebration of achievements during the event.

Legenda da imagem

Group of seven people posing for a photo indoors, with two holding a large check and another holding a certificate, both referencing Vale’s Desenvolver program. The image is included to illustrate the award ceremony for participants, highlighting recognition and celebration of achievements during the event.

Legenda da imagem

Three people posing for a photo indoors, with one holding a large check worth R$ 5,000.00 and another holding a certificate, both referencing Vale’s Desenvolver program. The image is included to illustrate the award ceremony for participants, highlighting recognition and celebration of achievements during the event.

Legenda da imagem

Group of people posing for a photo indoors, arranged in two rows, all wearing event badges and some dressed in white T-shirts with printed phrases. The image is included to illustrate the team or participants gathered during Vale’s Desenvolver program, highlighting integration and collaboration at the event’s closing.

Legenda da imagem

Three people posing for a photo indoors, with one holding a large check worth R$ 3,000.00 and another holding a certificate, both referencing Vale’s Desenvolver program. The image is included to illustrate the award ceremony for participants, highlighting recognition and celebration of achievements during the event.

Legenda da imagem

Databases Used
The databases from challenges of previous years are made available for broad use, with special encouragement for use in research and educational activities. To request access and review the terms and conditions, please use the form below:

Frequently asked questions

Programa Desenvolver is an open innovation initiative by Vale that connects university students (undergraduate and graduate) to the real challenges of the mining industry. Through a technical solutions competition, the program serves as a bridge between academia and the mineral sector, identifying new talent and fostering applied research in strategic areas such as Geotechnics, Geophysics, and Mineral Resources.

The program is open to undergraduate and graduate students (master's and doctoral) from across Brazil, enrolled in courses related to the mining production chain. We seek talent from the following fields:

  • Engineering: Mining, Geotechnical, Civil, and Environmental.
  • Geosciences: Geology and Geophysics.
  • Technology: related areas focused on industrial innovation.

The focus is on attracting academics prepared to apply theoretical knowledge to highly complex practical challenges, such as geological modeling, applied geotechnics, and mine planning.

For the 2026 edition, Vale expanded the scope of Programa Desenvolver to seven strategic challenges integrating technological innovation and operational safety. The technical themes are:

  • Mineral Resources and Reserves: optimization and geological estimation.
  • Geotechnics with a focus on Cavities and Slopes, Drilling and Blasting: efficiency in mining processes.
  • Applied Geophysics: subsurface investigation methods.
  • Data Analytics: data intelligence applied to mining.

Each challenge requires solutions that directly impact the safety of operationsand the productive efficiency of Vale's mines, promoting smarter and more sustainable mining.

Winners of Programa Desenvolver receive a benefits package focused on career acceleration and technical recognition:

  • Cash prizes: financial recognition for the best solutions in each technical category.
  • Training: exclusive licenses and training in industry-leading software, such as Seequent and Datamine.
  • Field experience: in-person technical visits to landmark operations, including the Capão Xavier Mine and the Ferrous Technology Center (CTF) in Nova Lima (MG).
  • Networking: project presentations and direct visibility with Vale's technical and executive leadership.

No. Programa Desenvolver is a technical challenge competition focused on innovation and applied research, and not a direct recruitment process for jobs, internships, or trainee positions. However, by participating in the program, students have the opportunity to:

  • Demonstrate technical competencies in real mining problems.
  • Interact directly with Vale managers and specialists.
  • Gain recognition from one of the world's largest mining companies.