A Technology Roadmap for the Açaí Value-Chain Valorization

Abstract

Açaí, a berry emblematic of Amazonian biodiversity, is a major Brazilian product whose market value is largely concentrated in its pulp, leaving the residual biomass—particularly the fibrous seed—underexploited and typically discarded in landfills, with negative environmental and social consequences. To address this gap, this study employs a systematic technology roadmapping approach, integrating bibliometric analysis, patent landscaping, and expert consultations to consolidate fragmented data. This methodology enables the mapping of innovation trajectories across technology readiness levels, product categories, market segments, and key stakeholders. The roadmap identifies emerging trends and opportunity windows for valorizing açaí biomass via integrated biorefinery approaches, moving beyond traditional low-complexity uses such as thermal energy and seed-derived coffee substitutes. The highlighted products include pharmaceutical extracts, cosmetic ingredients, nanopapers, and cellulose nanocrystals, leveraging the biomass’s biochemical composition, notably antioxidants, mannose, and inulin. This methodological framework facilitates a dynamic analysis of technological maturation and market evolution, offering strategic insights to guide industrial investments and policy development. Findings indicate that biorefinery integration enhances resource efficiency and product diversification, situating açaí biomass valorization within broader bioeconomy strategies. The study demonstrates the efficacy of technology roadmapping in structuring prospective innovation pathways and in supporting the sustainable utilization of the Amazonian biomass.

1. Introduction

Açaí is a typical berry from the northern region of Brazil, and the country is its major producer, consumer, and exporter [1]. Although there are several varieties of this berry, including Euterpe edulis—also called juçara—and Euterpe precatoria, the Euterpe oleracea variety is the most widely cultivated species [2].

The açaí berry consists of a thin epicarp, a fleshy mesocarp, and a hardened endocarp encasing a fibrous seed, measuring between 1 and 2 cm in diameter and weighing about 1.5 g [3]. The pulp, derived from the mesocarp, represents approximately 15% of the berry’s total mass and is the açaí value chain’s main product [4,5]. The açaí pulp is widely consumed in the form of juices, smoothies, pulps, ice creams, and energy drinks. Beyond its nutritional value, açaí offers health benefits linked to its chemical composition, notably the presence of bioactive substances such as phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Additionally, it is incorporated into hair and skin care products, as well as dietary supplements and vitamins [6].

Several envisioned and commercial applications for açaí pulp extracts include their use as photoprotectants [7], antioxidants [8], in photodynamic therapy as a potential treatment for melanoma [9], and in the treatment of cutaneous aging [10]. Açaí oil, commonly applied in the cosmetics sector, is typically extracted from the pulp and is rich in oleic (52%) and palmitic (26%) acids [11,12].

The açaí global market was valued at USD 1.78 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 2.25 billion by 2030. Its market growth has been fueled in recent years by its numerous health benefits, particularly its antioxidant properties, which have enabled broad applications within the food and beverage industry [13].

Production in floodplains has not been sufficient to meet growing demand, prompting the expansion of its cultivation on dryland [14]. This production system has advanced in Brazil due to technical recommendations regarding spacing, fertilization, irrigation, and the use of genetically improved plants developed by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), the country’s leading agricultural research institution. These improved plants mature faster and result in higher productivity, ranging from 15 to 20 tons per hectare [15].

According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the nation’s primary provider of data and information [16], it is estimated that approximately 238,891 tons of açaí berries were extracted directly from nature in Brazilian floodplain areas in 2023 [17]. Meanwhile, its production on dryland reached 1,696,485 tons of açaí berries in 2023, with a planted area exceeding 237 thousand hectares. This production level marks a significant increase compared with 2016, when dryland cultivation yielded 1,091,667 tons across 168 thousand hectares. Over the seven-year period, output rose by approximately 55%, while the planted area expanded by 40%, indicating a notable improvement in productivity within dryland açaí systems in Brazil [15]. The state of Pará, located in the northern part of the country, is responsible for over 90% of açaí production, with the pulp market forming the economic foundation for much of its population, especially in riverside communities [15,17].

Although increased production has been driven by the rising demand for açaí pulp, it is important to emphasize that the pulp accounts for only approximately 15% of the berry’s total mass. The remaining 85% consists of the fibrous seed, a residual biomass that remains largely unexplored in terms of valorization [4,5]. These fibrous seeds are either being underutilized in low value-added applications or improperly discarded in urban environments and open dumps, leading to environmental concerns [18]. This reality underscores the importance of pursuing waste valorization alternatives that promote the berry’s full utilization and minimize disposal, while also addressing the technological challenges associated with processing this waste.

Although these fibrous seeds are generally considered a waste, it is estimated that they contain a higher concentration of polyphenols compared with the pulp [19]. Consequently, numerous studies are conducted annually to better understand the properties of seed extracts for various pharmaceutical applications, such as the treatment of microbial infections [19], the induction of autophagy in breast cancer cell lines [20], and anti-inflammatory effects [21]. Açaí fibrous seeds can be mechanically fractionated into seeds and short fibers, which exhibit distinct physicochemical characteristics, thereby enabling targeted and differentiated applications across various technological domains [22].

Table 1. The physicochemical compositions of Açaí seeds and fibers.

Açaí Biomass	Fibrous Seeds			Seeds		Fibers
References	[23]	Lot 1 [24]	Lot 2 [24]	Lot 1 [24]	[22]	[22]	Lot 1 [24]
Total extractives (%)	22.31 ± 0.51	15.45 ± 0.95	9.89 ± 2.09	16.72 ± 2.43	7.7	11.8	12.89 ± 1.88
Cellulose (%)	13.05 ± 1.46	-	-	-	-	-	-
Hemicellulose (%)	42.67 ± 1.81	-	-	-	-	-	-
Lignin (%)	15.91 ± 6.71	-	-	-	11 ± 0.29	35 ± 0.2	-
Glucose (%)	-	6.09 ± 0.67	8.40 ± 0.52	4.61 ± 0.48	5.7 ± 0.10	29.7 ± 0.9	21.88 ± 0.46
Xylose (%)	-	1.83 ± 1.33	2.05 ± 0.22	1.13 ± 0.16	0.6 ± 0.03	18.6 ± 0.6	15.12 ± 0.39
Galactose (%)	-	1.79 ± 0.21	1.51 ± 0.27	2.61 ± 0.12	1.9 ± 0.06	0.3 ± 0.0	0.90 ± 0.04
Arabinose (%)	-	0.40 ± 0.02	0.63 ± 0.03	0.85 ± 0.03	0.8 ± 0.03	0.5 ± 0.0	0.82 ± 0.03
Mannose (%)	-	47.09 ± 1.42	52.46 ± 1.51	47.19 ± 2.58	74.9 ± 1.19	0.7 ± 0.2	n.d.
Ashes (%)	7.54 ± 0.11	0.61 ± 0.09	0.44 ± 0.02	0.41 ± 0.03	2.4 ± 0.2	2.6 ± 0.2	2.12 ± 0.06
Calorific value (MJ.kg−1)	-	-	-	-	19	19	-

presents their composition in terms of monosaccharides, lignocellulose, and extractives. The composition of the biomass may vary according to the lot analyzed and the reference material.

While the seed is rich in mannose—a key raw material for the food, pharmaceutical, and other industries [24]—the fiber is predominantly composed of glucose [22]. This suggests that, if properly segregated, these waste fractions could serve more specialized applications than when used as an unprocessed whole seed, although the need for pretreatment technologies may modestly increase processing costs and should be considered when assessing the feasibility of specific valorization pathways.

The açaí berry waste’s diverse composition enables the development of a wide range of products and applications, each requiring distinct pretreatment, processing, and post-treatment technologies. This multiplicity of opportunities, however, is accompanied by a lack of clear strategic guidance. Any endeavor of this scale is inherently exposed to technological, financial, and sustainability risks. Therefore, the application of a technology foresight methodology, such as technology roadmapping, can play a crucial role in guiding and supporting decision-making processes [25].

Technology roadmapping is a well-established methodology in the fields of innovation and strategic planning, with proven potential to support organizations in addressing complex technological and transformational challenges [26,27]. Originally developed to improve the alignment between technological capabilities and strategic goals, this methodology has been widely adopted by industry, government, and academia, and is applied in diverse formats depending on context and objectives [28]. Its primary output is the technology roadmap—a structured, multilayered graphical tool that links technological trajectories and product development pathways to emerging market opportunities [29]. The planning horizon of a roadmap varies by application domain and is typically segmented by years or defined timeframes, encompassing current stage, short-, mid-, and long-term actions and priorities [25,29,30].

Throughout the years, several technology roadmaps have been proposed to guide decision-makers in waste valorization matters, such as plastic waste chemical recycling [31], the production of hydroxyapatite from fish waste [32], biogas production from straw [33] and its upgrade [34], and as bioenergy, including waste-to-energy [35].

This study aims to apply an adapted technology roadmapping methodology to identify short-, mid-, and long-term opportunities, barriers, and strategic pathways for the valorization of açaí residues. By integrating technological and market data, the roadmap outlines potential products for different market segments, maps key stakeholders, and highlights innovation trends and technological readiness levels, providing a structured basis for guiding investment and policy decisions toward a more sustainable açaí-based bioeconomy.

2. Materials and Methods

This study employs an adapted technology roadmapping methodology originally developed by the Nucleus for Industrial and Technological Studies (Neitec) at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil. This framework has been validated through its application in over twenty studies conducted in collaboration with industrial and institutional stakeholders in the chemical sector [36]. Distinct from conventional technology roadmapping approaches, the Neitec methodology enables a global-scale analysis, integrates technological and market intelligence within a unified structure, and eliminates dependence on expert panels—commonly used in roadmap development—which are resource-intensive and may introduce subjectivity. Instead, it leverages a systematic review of publicly available, high-quality data sources, including patent databases, scientific publications, and information from technology suppliers, thereby ensuring scalability, transparency, and reproducibility [37].

The technology roadmapping process adopted herein comprises five sequential phases: preliminary study, strategy definition, data analysis, roadmap construction, and roadmap analysis, as illustrated in Figure 1. Each phase is described in the following subsections as they were applied to açaí production, which is the focus of this study, but it should be noted that the same methodology can be applied to other value chains and industrial technologies.

2.1. Preliminary Study

The preliminary phase focused on consolidating the current state of the art, contextualizing açaí production systems, and characterizing the generation and physicochemical composition of related residues. This step is critical for delineating the analytical scope, gathering knowledge on the topic, and constructing a precise and representative set of keywords to support the subsequent stages of technological prospection. An initial exploratory search was performed using the Google Scholar platform to map prevailing terminologies in the scientific and technical literature concerning açaí and its valorization. Based on the foundational terms “açaí,” “Euterpe,” and “waste,” a preliminary set of descriptors was developed and refined through an iterative testing process, aiming to optimize the search queries according to the syntax and capabilities of each targeted database and information source.

2.2. Methodology for the Strategy Definition

According to the Neitec technology roadmapping methodology, each time scale of the roadmap—herein referred to as the current stage, short-term, mid-term, and long-term—is populated by distinct categories of technical and scientific evidence, requiring the use of differentiated data sources and tailored search strategies [37]. Accordingly, customized search strategies and queries were developed for each selected database, taking into consideration their structural characteristics, indexing logic, and the domain-specific terminologies employed by document authors.

2.2.1. Scientific and Technical Papers

The Scopus database was selected for retrieving scientific and technical literature, given its comprehensive indexing of peer-reviewed publications and its integrated tools for bibliometric analysis and data export [38]. The search was conducted in December 2024 using the query “((euterpe OR acai OR assai OR jucara OR jussara) W/10 (seed OR seeds OR caroco OR kernel OR stone OR pit OR waste OR residu* OR fibr* OR fiber*))” applied to the fields labelled Title, Abstract, and Keywords. To ensure consistency and relevance, the document type was restricted to articles, thereby excluding reviews, editorials, conference proceedings, and other non-primary research outputs.

2.2.2. Granted and Pending Patents

To identify both granted and pending patents related to açaí valorization, two complementary patent databases were utilized. The first, PatBase, was selected due to its extensive international coverage—encompassing over 150 million patents from 106 jurisdictions worldwide—and its advanced functionalities for bibliometric analysis, machine translation, and structured data export [39]. The search was performed using the query “((euterpe or acai or assai or jucara or jussara) and (caroco or kernel or stone or pit or waste or residu* or fibr* or fiber*))” applied to the fields labelled Title, Abstract, and Claims with the machine translation functionality activated.

Although PatBase provides automated machine translation of patent documents, such translations are often imperfect and may hinder the accurate retrieval of relevant records, particularly those originally filed in Portuguese. To address this limitation and ensure contextual precision, the Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) database was also consulted [40]. Considering that açaí production is predominantly localized in Brazil, the inclusion of INPI was essential to identify patents filed domestically, which may not be indexed or accurately represented in international repositories.

However, it is important to note that the INPI search platform offers significantly fewer advanced search and filtering functionalities compared with PatBase. As a result, the search query applied to the INPI database was necessarily simpler and more restrictive. The search was conducted using a Portuguese language query tailored to the platform’s limitations “(jucara OR jussara OR açaí OR Euterpe),” which was applied only to the Abstract field. Both search procedures were conducted in December 2024.

2.2.3. Specialized Media

The category of specialized media encompasses a broad range of document types—including open-access technical reports, news articles, corporate communications, and publications issued by governmental and non-governmental organizations—that provide relevant insights into the state of the art and the strategic positioning of technologies at their current stage of development. To collect this type of qualitative and contextual information related to açaí waste valorization, particularly regarding emerging technologies, potential value-added products, key applications, and associated market segments, the authors consulted a set of national and international sources. These included databases and institutional portals such as the Brazilian Bioeconomy Portal [41] and other System S knowledge platforms [42], Embrapa [43], the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) [44], and the FAOSTAT database from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [45].

In addition, the players responsible for the scientific and technical publications, as well as those associated with the filing of granted and pending patents identified in earlier stages of the study, were recognized as key stakeholders within the current technological landscape. Accordingly, their official websites and affiliated media channels were systematically analyzed to extract complementary information regarding their ongoing activities, technological competencies, and market positioning in the context of açaí waste valorization.

2.3. Methodology for the Data Analysis

Following the definition of search strategies, the retrieved documents—including scientific and technical articles, granted and pending patents, and specialized media content—were exported to structured Microsoft Excel spreadsheets for systematic processing. Each record was screened based on its respective title and abstract. Documents that were duplicated or fell outside of the defined scope—focused on technologies, products, and markets that are only partially related to açaí waste valorization—were excluded to ensure the relevance, consistency, and analytical rigor of the dataset used in subsequent stages.

The curated dataset was subsequently subjected to a structured, multi-tiered analytical process, organized into three distinct levels of analysis [37], outlined below.

2.3.1. Macro-Level Analysis

This stage involved the extraction and examination of high-level bibliometric and organizational data from the selected documents. Key variables included year of publication or patent filing, institutional affiliation of the contributors, players classification (e.g., universities, private companies, research institutions), country of origin, inter-organizational collaborations, source journal or patent jurisdiction, and legal status of the patents (e.g., active, expired, or withdrawn).

2.3.2. Meso-Level Analysis

This stage focused on the systematic extraction of core content from the full text of each document to identify and classify key innovation drivers. The objective was to construct taxonomies reflecting the interplay between market demands, product typologies, and technological approaches, thereby enabling a structured interpretation of emerging trends and strategic positioning within the açaí waste valorization landscape.

2.3.3. Micro-Level Analysis

This stage involved the in-depth extraction and examination of granular information to refine the taxonomies established during the meso-level analysis. Subcategories were identified within each taxonomy dimension and systematically grouped based on semantic and functional similarities. This enabled the quantification of term frequencies and the identification of recurring patterns, supporting a more nuanced interpretation of technological, product, and market trends.

2.4. Methodology for the Roadmap Construction

The refined dataset, systematically organized according to the technology roadmapping methodology, was distributed across four distinct temporal scales—current stage, short-term, mid-term, and long-term—to capture the evolution of technologies, products, and market dynamics associated with açaí waste valorization. The roadmap construction adhered to established knowledge management principles, facilitating a structured temporal organization of information, while enabling the visualization of inter-organizational networks and the identification of clusters of critical meso- and micro-level taxonomies.

To visually represent these relationships, the information was synthesized into roadmap sections using Microsoft PowerPoint. These graphical maps highlight the most salient aspects of the technological prospection by positioning key players—comprising companies, universities, and research institutes identified through publications and patent filings—along the appropriate time scales.

The players were strategically positioned within the corresponding temporal segments and connected to taxonomy terms via directional arrows to illustrate their involvement with specific technologies, products, or market applications that are represented by the taxonomies. When two players are jointly responsible for a single document (e.g., co-authored publications or co-filed patents), their names are grouped within a shared rectangle labeled “Partnership,” indicating collaborative involvement in the corresponding initiative. Furthermore, when multiple stakeholders—though associated with distinct documents—share the same combination of taxonomy terms, they are collectively enclosed within a larger rectangle labeled “Cluster,” representing a convergence of technological focus, product development, or market orientation.

This multilayered, time-oriented graphical framework, based on the generic roadmapping model, integrates both technological trajectories and commercial pathways, providing a comprehensive, interpretable overview of the innovation landscape and facilitating strategic decision-making. Each time scale of the roadmap incorporates information derived from specific types of documents, selected according to their relevance to distinct stages of technological maturity. This structure, aligned with the Neitec methodology, is detailed in the subsections below [37].

2.4.1. Current Stage

This temporal scale comprises the comprehensive refined dataset, sourced from both technical papers and specialized media, encompassing current products, technologies, and initiatives relevant to açaí waste valorization.

2.4.2. Short-Term

This phase delineates technologies and products demonstrating elevated potential for imminent commercialization. The primary data sources were granted patents derived from the dataset, which, due to their formal examination and legal approval, serve as indicators of advanced technology readiness levels and significant proximity to market deployment.

2.4.3. Mid-Term

This temporal scale encompasses technologies and products projected for mid-term market introduction. The dataset for this phase primarily comprises pending patent applications, indicative of substantial technological progress yet subject to ongoing examination and thus reflecting intermediate proximity to commercial deployment. Patent data were obtained from the PatBase database, which aggregates filings from over 106 patent jurisdictions worldwide, and from the Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI). The legal status of patents, distinguishing granted from pending applications, was determined based on the information provided by these databases as of 2024. We acknowledge that patent statuses are subject to change over time due to ongoing examination processes, and thus this dataset represents a temporal snapshot of the patent landscape relevant to this study.

2.4.4. Long-Term

This category delineates emerging methodologies, technologies, and products with prospective long-term commercial impact. The data underpinning this segment are primarily derived from peer-reviewed scientific papers, reflecting innovations predominantly at the research, development and innovation (RD&I) stage, characterized by lower technology readiness levels and extended timelines to market deployment.

2.5. Roadmap Analysis

A comprehensive analysis of the technology roadmap was subsequently performed, constituting a critical component of this study. This assessment followed a dual analytical perspective—horizontal and vertical—designed to identify technological and market trends, knowledge gaps, and strategic alignments among stakeholders involved in açaí waste valorization. The horizontal analysis examined the distribution and evolution of taxonomy terms over time by quantifying their frequency within each document category, normalized by the total number of documents per time scale. Higher frequencies indicate stronger technological or market interest, thereby revealing trajectories of innovation and emergent opportunities.

The vertical analysis focused on characterizing the main institutions and players associated with each temporal segment, identifying convergences in technological focus, thematic similarities, and potential collaborations. A complementary player-centric evaluation was also conducted to map the strategic positioning of individual stakeholders, highlighting their short-, mid-, and long-term orientations and supporting the identification of priority areas for investment, cooperation, and public policy support.

3. Results

3.1. Strategy Definition

The comprehensive search strategy, customized for each database as outlined in Section 2.2, initially retrieved over 1000 documents related to açaí and its associated technologies. Following a rigorous screening process that included the elimination of duplicate records and the exclusion of materials misaligned with the study’s objective (i.e., those not addressing the valorization of açaí fibrous residues), a refined dataset of 307 documents was selected for in-depth analysis. The final dataset, as presented in

Table 2. Search strategy for different databases.

Database	Type of Document	Analyzed Documents	Documents Within the Scope
Scopus	Scientific and technical papers	312	174
Patbase	Granted and pending patents	443	75
INPI	Granted and pending patents	190
Open reports, company websites, newspapers	Specialized media	>500	58
Total number of analyzed documents	--	>1000	307

, comprised 174 scientific articles, 75 patent documents (comprising 5 granted and 70 pending applications), and 58 pieces of specialized media, including industry reports, press publications, and corporate or institutional websites.

3.2. Data Analysis

The 307 documents were systematically analyzed following the methodology detailed in Section 2.3, with their full description provided in the database presented in Table S1. The subsequent sections provide a comprehensive description of the distinct analytical approaches employed, encompassing macro-, meso-, and micro-level evaluations, which together enable a multi-dimensional understanding of the technological landscape related to açaí waste valorization.

3.2.1. Macro-Level Data Analysis

Figure 2 illustrates the temporal distribution of documents associated with açaí waste valorization, encompassing scientific publications and patent filings categorized into short-, mid-, and long-term timeframes. Documents from the current stage—primarily sourced from specialized media—were excluded from this analysis due to the lack of standardized publication dates. The observed growth over time, particularly in the volume of scientific articles and patent applications, indicates an increasing research and technological interest in the topic. This trend reflects the progressive consolidation of açaí residue valorization as a relevant subject within academic and innovation ecosystems, signaling the maturation of associated technological trajectories.

A total of 217 distinct stakeholders were related to the 307 documents: universities (54%), private companies (29%), individuals (11%), and nonprofit organizations, research institutes, or government agencies (6%). The typology of these players and their geographic origins varied depending on the nature of their contributions. The players identified through specialized media, typically representing market-ready products or technologies, were predominantly Brazilian companies. Conversely, most patent assignees were Brazilian universities (34%) and inventors (31%), followed by companies (21%). Authors of scientific publications were primarily affiliated with Brazilian universities, frequently collaborating with domestic or international institutions.

Figure 3 provides a clear and detailed depiction of the distribution and interaction patterns among different types of players across distinct time scales, each corresponding to a stage in the innovation process. In the context of scientific publications, which represent long-term innovation efforts and lower technology readiness levels (TRLs), universities emerge as the predominant players. These institutions not only produce most documents but also exhibit dense networks of collaborations both internally, through partnerships between universities, and externally, engaging with other player types such as companies and government agencies, although these appear in smaller numbers. This configuration underscores the role of academic institutions in driving early-stage research and fostering innovation opportunities with a long-term horizon.

Stakeholders mostly reside in the Brazilian states of Pará, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro. The most prolific institutions included the following:

• Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ)—44 documents;
• Federal University of Pará (UFPA)—42 documents;
• Federal Rural University of the Amazon—26 documents;
• State University of Campinas (UNICAMP)—24 documents;
• Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)—20 documents.

As we shift towards mid- and short-term innovation indicators, represented respectively by filed patents and granted patents, the network structure changes substantially. The relative participation of universities declines, and the differences in the volume of documents produced by various player types become less pronounced. In the short-term stage, reflected by granted patents, this variation is further reduced, suggesting a convergence in the level of activity among players involved in more mature innovations. Finally, in the current stage of innovation, captured by specialized media documents, companies are the most prominent players, and their connections with other types of players, such as universities or government agencies, are sparse. The figure thus highlights not only the shift in player prominence across innovation stages but also the distinct nature of present-day innovation activities compared with the earlier, university-driven efforts that signal opportunities for future long-term technological development.

The observed shift in the profile of key players mirrors a broader pattern regarding university engagement in intellectual property. Despite the growing number of patent filings by Brazilian public universities, the effective commercialization of these technological assets remains limited, revealing a persistent disconnect between academic research and industrial demand. Studies show that most university patents in Brazil stem from postgraduate research, often developed in small academic teams without prior involvement from the productive sector, thus limiting their market applicability and reducing their attractiveness to potential licensees [46]. Additional structural barriers include inflexible institutional procedures, weak entrepreneurial culture within academia, lack of awareness regarding innovation policies and legal frameworks, and insufficient incentives for researchers to engage in technology transfer activities [47,48,49]. Although policies such as the establishment of technology transfer offices (TTOs), locally known as Núcleos de Inovação Tecnológica (NITs), have been introduced to bridge this gap, these mechanisms often lack the strategic capacity and operational autonomy required to actively mediate between academic inventions and industrial partners [49].

International experiences highlight that barriers to university–industry technology transfer are multifactorial and require coordinated efforts across institutional, relational, and cultural domains [50]. In Portugal, for instance, rigid university procedures, limited funding for technology maturation, and low market potential of patents are key obstacles, yet industry engagement across research, protection, and commercialization phases has shown to mitigate some of these barriers [46]. In Italy, a case study identified relational inhibitors, such as misaligned expectations and weak networks between researchers and firms, as the most prevalent, reinforced by institutional and cultural constraints [50]. In India, while formal support systems such as university TTOs exist, the misalignment between academic research topics and industrial needs, coupled with limited commercialization capabilities, undermines effective technology transfer [51]. These international cases suggest that successful commercialization strategies depend not only on regulatory instruments but also on fostering a shared innovation agenda with industry, investing in the professionalization of TTOs, and embedding technology transfer incentives into the academic career structure [50,51,52]. For Brazil, aligning these dimensions remains crucial to advancing the maturity of its innovation ecosystem and translating academic inventions into socially and economically impactful innovations.

3.2.2. Meso- and Micro-Level Data Analysis

The valorization pathways for açaí waste were systematically categorized into meso and micro-level taxonomies, each corresponding to critical drivers of market dynamics, product typologies, and technological processes, as presented in

Table 3. Layers, taxonomies, and terms for the roadmap horizontal axis.

Layer	Meso-Level Taxonomy	Micro-Level Taxonomy
Market	Biomass	Fibrous seed; seed; fibers
	Segment	Food; chemical; pharmaceutical or cosmetic; energy; agricultural or aquicultural; environmental treatment; construction or steel industry; other segments
Product	Product	Extract; coffee or flour; ingredients; films or nanocellulose; composite or materials; biofuel or bioenergy; offal or animal feed; adsorbent or biochar; other products
Technology	Pretreatment	Drying; grinding; sieving; decoction
	Processing technology	Extraction technologies; mechanical processes; thermal processing; chemical processing; biotechnological; polymerization or coating
	Post treatment	Phase separation; concentration/conservation technologies

. The meso-level taxonomies serve as overarching classifiers, delineating the thematic focus and clustering of the documents, whereas the micro-level taxonomies provide a granular dissection, enabling nuanced characterization of specific valorization strategies and technological approaches. The identification of these trends emerged from a rigorous data analysis process, which was instrumental in constructing the comprehensive technology roadmap.

The detailed structure of each meso-level taxonomy and its corresponding micro-level taxonomy is presented below.

Biomass: Refers to the specific fraction of açaí waste subjected to a valorization process. A typical unit of açaí waste consists of the seed enveloped by fibrous material; however, valorization technologies may target either the whole biomass or its segregated components (e.g., the cleaned seed [23,53,54] or isolated fibers [55,56,57]). In cases where the analyzed literature does not explicitly specify the biomass fraction, it is generally assumed that the reference pertains to the fibrous seed [58,59,60,61].

Product: Defines the outputs generated through the valorization of açaí biomass, which can result in a spectrum of single or multiple value-added products. These products encompass a diverse array of applications, including but not limited to the following:

• Seed extracts with multifunctional applications across various industries [62,63,64];
• Coffee analogues [65,66] or flours derived from processed biomass [67,68];
• Specific biochemical ingredients, such as mannose [24,69], inulin [70], fermentable sugars [71], and polyphenolic compounds like tannins [72];
• Cellulosic materials, including films [73,74] and nanocellulose, either as nanocrystals [75] or nanofibrils [76];
• Structural composites [55] and cementitious materials [77];
• Biofuels (e.g., biodiesel, bioethanol [22,78], biomethane [59,79]) and bioenergy outputs (e.g., thermal, electric) [80];
• Byproducts such as offal [81] or animal feed formulations [82,83];
• Adsorbent materials, including biochar [84,85], activated carbons [86,87], and other functional materials [88];
• Miscellaneous products not classified in previous categories, such as enzymes [89], exfoliants, and specialty biochemicals.

Pretreatment: Encompasses preparatory steps designed to optimize the biomass for subsequent valorization processes. Common pretreatment methodologies include drying [53], mechanical comminution (e.g., grinding) [86], and particle size standardization (e.g., sieving) [90]. Additionally, aqueous decoction—the immersion and heating of biomass in water over defined time periods—is frequently employed as a preparatory technique [91].

Processing technology: Denotes the core technological interventions applied to convert açaí biomass into value-added products. These include the following:

• Extraction techniques, such as solvent-based, hydrothermal, and ultrasound-assisted methods [90,92];
• Mechanical processing, notably grinding as an fibrous part of the valorization workflow [75,93];
• Thermal processing approaches, including pyrolysis, gasification, and torrefaction [86];
• Chemical treatments, involving alkaline or acid hydrolysis and related modifications [85,86];
• Biotechnological processing, utilizing enzymatic catalysis or microbial fermentations [69,89];
• Polymerization reactions or polymer coating applications executed during the processing stage [55,94].

Post treatment: Refers to the auxiliary processes required to isolate, concentrate, or stabilize the final product. These steps may involve phase separation techniques such as filtration [53,90], concentration methods like evaporation [95], or product stabilization procedures, including spray drying [69], and lyophilization (freeze-drying) [53,96].

Segment: Identifies the intended market sector for the valorized product, which can range from low-value applications—such as food products [65], energy generation [79], agriculture [58], environmental remediation [86], and construction materials [77]—to high-value sectors, including chemicals [97], pharmaceuticals [90], cosmetics [98], nutraceuticals [99,100], and emerging areas such as textiles and fashion [101].

3.3. Roadmap Construction

Based on the methodology described in Section 2.4, the dataset was systematically organized and distributed across four distinct temporal scales. The current stage and short-term are presented in Figure 4, while the mid-term and long-term are depicted in Figure 5.

The names of the players were positioned within the corresponding time scales and connected via directional green arrows to their respective meso and micro-level taxonomies to illustrate their involvement with specific technologies, products, or market applications. When two players are jointly responsible for a single document, their names are grouped within a shared rectangle labeled “Partnership.” Furthermore, when multiple stakeholders—though associated with distinct documents—share the same combination of taxonomy terms, they are collectively enclosed within a larger rectangle labeled “Cluster.”

According to the technology roadmapping methodology, players are typically represented by their institutional logos. Due to copyright considerations, this study opted to represent stakeholders by their institutional names enclosed within color-coded rectangles. Each color denotes the type of stakeholder: companies (blue), research institutes and governmental agencies (orange), and universities (red), thereby preserving visual clarity while ensuring compliance with intellectual property guidelines.

Current stage: Key players include large corporations in the energy and construction sectors, such as Hydro [102], American Cementing [103], and Votorantim Cimentos [104], exploring açaí seed as a fossil fuel substitute. Four major clusters emerged, notably one of small companies producing coffee substitutes from açaí seeds [66,105].

Short-term: No evident dominant models or clusters, suggesting technological diversification without convergence.

Mid- and long-term: A shift towards more complex pretreatment, processing, and post-treatment techniques is evident, enabling the production of higher-value products for pharmaceutical, chemical, cosmetic, and food industries. Notably, some current-stage companies also appear in the mid-term landscape, indicating ongoing RD&I and intellectual property protection strategies.

Academic institutions, particularly UERJ, play a pivotal role in mid- and long-term innovation trajectories, focusing on pharmaceutical extracts from açaí seeds.

3.4. Roadmap Analysis

To support the roadmap analysis, a heatmap was developed to depict the variation in meso- and micro-level taxonomies across the four time scales, following the methodology described in Section 2.5. The taxonomies were categorized into two analytical groups: those related to product and market layers, and those associated with the technology layer. This distinction enables a clearer interpretation of how innovation drivers evolve over time in both commercial and technical dimensions. The distribution and frequency of taxonomies across the time scales are presented in Figure 6 for the product and market layers, and in Figure 7 for the technology layer, thereby facilitating the identification of shifting priorities, emerging trends, and prospective areas for technological development and market expansion.

Across all time scales presented in Figure 6 (product and market layers), the most recurrent feedstock was the fibrous seed and the clean seed, indicating its centrality in current and future valorization pathways. Notably, specific references to extracted fibers emerge only in the mid- and long-term stages, suggesting a trend toward more selective and technically refined processing approaches.

From a product and market perspective, the current stage is predominantly characterized by the production of low-complexity food products, such as roasted açaí seed coffee and seed flour, reflecting the activity of small-scale enterprises with limited technological sophistication. In the short-term horizon, however, there is a marked shift toward bioenergy and biofuel applications, alongside the initial appearance of functional materials, composites, and bio-based ingredients aimed at the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and environmental remediation sectors.

In the mid-term, technological developments concentrate on composite materials and bio-based extracts with potential applications in the construction and steel industries, as well as continued relevance for food and health-related sectors. Finally, the long-term projections reveal a broader diversification of potential products, with increasing emphasis on adsorbents and biochar, particularly for environmental and agricultural use, while the cosmetic and pharmaceutical segments remain prominent as key target markets for advanced valorization routes.

With respect to the technology layer (Figure 7), the heatmap indicates a clear temporal progression in the application of micro-level taxonomies associated with pre-treatment and post-treatment technologies. A consistent increase in their occurrence across time scales reflects the growing technological complexity and the expansion of product diversity previously observed in the product/market analysis. This suggests that, as technologies mature and target higher value-added applications, more specialized and intensive conditioning processes become necessary to ensure material compatibility, purity, and functionality.

Regarding processing technologies, mechanical processing, polymerization, and coating techniques were more prevalent in the short- and mid-term stages. These align with the emergence of composites, biopolymers, and structured materials targeted at the packaging, construction, and cosmetic sectors. Thermal processing, on the other hand, showed relevance across the short-, mid-, and long-term horizons, correlating with the development of biochar, adsorbents, and thermally derived materials, which dominate these time frames.

Furthermore, there is a marked increase in the occurrence of extraction, chemical processing, and biotechnological approaches along the roadmap timeline. These technologies exhibit higher complexity and specificity, and their upward trend is associated with the production of high-purity bioactive compounds and functional materials destined for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic markets. Their growing presence also signals a shift toward biorefinery-oriented models, reflecting the sector’s evolution toward more integrated and value-added valorization strategies.

The results, derived from the roadmap analysis, reveal structured patterns of technological evolution, product diversification, and strategic player positioning across different temporal horizons. These findings provide a comprehensive overview of the current landscape and future trajectories for açaí waste valorization. In the following section, these trends are further examined through an in-depth discussion organized into three analytical dimensions—vertical, horizontal, and player-focused—which, together, enable a critical interpretation of the technological pathways, market dynamics, and stakeholder strategies identified in the roadmap.

4. Discussion

This section presents discussion regarding the roadmap analysis, a central component of the study aimed at deriving strategic insights from the structured dataset. The analysis is organized along three complementary dimensions: (i) a horizontal analysis, which traces the evolution of technological, market, and product-related drivers across distinct timeframes; (ii) a vertical analysis, which identifies dominant trends, institutional participation, and technological convergence within each temporal layer; and (iii) a player-focused analysis, which examines the strategic positioning, collaborative networks, and temporal focus of key stakeholders. Together, these analytical perspectives provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state and future trajectories of açaí waste valorization technologies.

4.1. Horizontal Analysis: Temporal Dynamics of Products, Markets, and Technologies

The horizontal analysis elucidates the temporal progression of innovation drivers by examining the co-evolution of product typologies, target market segments, and enabling technologies, as derived from the roadmap dataset. Figure 6 and Figure 7, presented in the previous section, depict the distribution of meso- and micro-level taxonomies across four time scales, allowing the identification of patterns that reflect technological maturation, market orientation, and diversification of valorization routes in the context of açaí biomass.

Across the dataset, fibrous and clean seeds emerge as consistently dominant feedstocks, serving as foundational raw materials for a wide range of products. Although these appear throughout all temporal scales, references to isolated fibers as distinct inputs only surface in later stages, signaling a shift toward greater processing selectivity and material refinement. This trajectory correlates with increasing technological demands associated with specific product functionalities and regulatory requirements.

In parallel, a clear transition is observed in the nature and complexity of end products. Initial developments focus on low-complexity outputs such as roasted seed coffee and flour, typically aimed at local or regional food markets. These products rely predominantly on mechanical and basic thermal technologies, often without conditioning stages, reflecting low technological intensity. As innovation progresses, a diversification of product categories becomes evident, including the emergence of biofuels, bioenergy carriers, and functionalized materials, alongside ingredients designed for application in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and environmental remediation markets.

This diversification is underpinned by the progressive incorporation of enabling technologies. Conditioning steps—particularly drying, grinding, and particle size selection—gain importance as requirements for purity and consistency increase. Concurrently, processing technologies evolve in both complexity and specificity: polymerization and coating methods support the development of biocomposites and packaging solutions; thermal processing underpins the generation of biochar and adsorbents; and chemical and biotechnological routes enable the extraction and transformation of bioactive compounds, particularly for high-value applications in health-related industries.

Pre-treatment and post-treatment technologies, in particular, show a marked increase in frequency and intensity across the roadmap timeline. Their growing prevalence reflects the need to adapt the physicochemical properties of açaí biomass to increasingly demanding transformation processes and end-use specifications. The emergence of multifunctional, high-performance products—such as nanocellulose, antioxidant-rich extracts, or tailored biochar—requires multi-stage workflows and process integration, which are characteristic of biorefinery-oriented approaches.

The use of biorefineries has emerged as a promising solution for the sustainable management of agroindustrial residues, particularly in tropical forest regions where low-tech fruit value chains coexist with abundant biomass waste. Studies from Colombia and Brazil demonstrate that integrated small-scale biorefinery schemes, especially those based on fruits such as açaí and annatto, offer viable technical and economic alternatives for rural development [23,106]. Pre-feasibility analyses combining experimental data and process simulation reveal that biorefineries producing multiple outputs—such as polyphenols, biogas, and dyes—achieve significant returns even at production scales below national averages [106]. In these models, byproducts from fruit processing are efficiently converted into energy and high-value compounds, providing not only local energy autonomy but also added revenue streams for rural communities [23].

From a techno-economic perspective, recent studies focusing on açaí seed valorization demonstrate that single-step hydrolysis using dilute oxalic acid achieves exceptional mannose yields (up to 83%) and high economic returns, with a net present value exceeding USD 180 million and a payback period of less than three years [107]. Compared with sequential hydrolysis routes employing sulfuric acid and enzymes, this method reduces both capital and operational costs while maintaining competitive environmental performance—lower aquatic toxicity and acidification, though slightly higher GHG emissions [63]. Moreover, integrating polyphenol recovery and biogas production within the same biorefinery further enhances the cost–benefit ratio and aligns with circular economy principles by minimizing waste and valorizing all fractions of the biomass [69].

Environmental sustainability assessments, particularly life cycle assessment (LCA), reinforce the strategic role of biorefineries in supporting low-carbon development. For example, the use of açaí seed ash as a partial cement substitute reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 8% without compromising mechanical performance, contributing to decarbonization goals in the construction sector [108]. Likewise, biorefinery scenarios that incorporate digestate reuse as fertilizer demonstrate the lowest environmental impacts across multiple indices, confirming their potential to meet multiple sustainable development goals simultaneously [23]. Altogether, these studies provide robust evidence that biorefineries, when carefully designed using integrated techno-economic, environmental, and regional criteria, represent a high-impact strategy to advance both bioeconomic development and sustainability in tropical and rural settings.

Together, these observations demonstrate the systemic interdependence among the roadmap layers: the expansion of technological capabilities enables the design of more sophisticated products, which in turn facilitates entry into diversified and higher-value market segments. This alignment between technological advancement, product differentiation, and market expansion constitutes a defining feature of the maturation pathway for açaí waste valorization. It also underscores the importance of strategic foresight in aligning RD&I priorities with emerging commercial opportunities and sustainable development imperatives.

4.2. Vertical Analysis: Time-Based Trends in Technology and Market Maturity

The roadmap’s time scales reveal a clear technological trajectory, progressing from low-complexity applications to integrated biorefinery approaches. In the current stage, most initiatives center on low-tech processes, such as mechanical seed processing for coffee substitutes and animal feed. Small enterprises dominate this segment, frequently engaging in local-scale commercialization with minimal technological sophistication.

In the short-term horizon, granted patent data highlight technological maturity in fields such as pharmaceutical extracts and fuel substitution. Notably, industrial collaborations—e.g., Votorantim Cimentos and UFPA—demonstrate active exploration of co-processing technologies, although performance limitations restrict higher-value applications. Similarly, Beraca and Natura operate in the cosmetics sector, leveraging antioxidant properties of açaí residues.

The mid-term stage is characterized by patents still under review, indicating active RD&I pipelines. Technologies include chemical extractions and biopolymer formulations with potential for packaging and biomedical applications. Long-term prospects are based on scientific literature and point to emerging solutions such as nanocellulose production, biochar development, and biotechnological platforms for multifunctional outputs, supporting the transition to advanced biorefinery models.

4.3. Player-Centric Analysis: Institutional Strategies and IP Positioning

The player-centric analysis reveals a pronounced concentration of innovative activity within Brazilian academic institutions, coupled with a selective yet strategic engagement from private sector players. The Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ) stands out for its prolific intellectual property output in the pharmaceutical domain, supported by collaborative efforts with nationally renowned research institutions such as the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) [83,109] and the National Cancer Institute (INCA) [110,111]. Concurrently, the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) demonstrates a diversified research portfolio, spanning biosorbent development for wastewater treatment [112] and specialized processing equipment for seed-fiber separation [113], thereby enabling tailored valorization of distinct açaí biomass fractions.

Corporate players, including Votorantim Cimentos, Amazon, and Polimex Bioplásticos, exhibit a dual strategic focus, combining patent filings related to valorization technologies with the advancing commercialization of market-ready products. This alignment reflects an intersection of technological protection and market deployment objectives. University–industry clusters frequently coalesce around shared technological taxonomies, signaling coordinated innovation trajectories with potential for synergistic development.

The main market segments targeted by these partnerships include cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and sustainable packaging—industries characterized by established global demand and regulatory frameworks. Nonetheless, the broad adoption of integrated biorefinery models faces constraints due to infrastructural, economic, and scalability challenges.

At the current developmental stage, small enterprises predominantly generate low-complexity products such as roasted açaí seed coffee and seed flour, obtained through the grinding and sifting of roasted seeds [65,66,105]. Simultaneously, collaborative clusters formed by Amazon, Petruz, and the Enactus–Coffí partnership focus on the production of byproducts and animal feed, alongside the commercialization of açaí seed coffee [114,115].

Industrial-scale efforts include Votorantim Cimentos’ exploration of whole açaí seeds as fossil fuel substitutes in co-processing with partners UFPA and Hydro [102,104]. However, techno-economic analyses by the Brazilian National Technology Institute (INT) highlight the comparatively lower profitability of combustion-based approaches relative to integrated biorefinery systems that co-produce mannose, polyphenols, and electricity [69], underscoring the economic and environmental advantages of multiproduct valorization platforms.

A research consortium involving the Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA) [116], Votorantim Cimentos, and academic partners focuses on developing innovative cementitious materials. Investigations reveal that açaí seed residues currently fail to meet the minimum performance standards for supplementary cementitious materials, suggesting limited applicability in high-value construction contexts. Consequently, lower-tier uses such as fossil fuel substitution remain the most viable near-term options [117].

Parallel innovations include biopolymer composites for packaging by Polimex Bioplásticos [118], tannin-based chemicals for leather production by Amazon [119,120], and scaffold materials for cell growth developed by UNICAMP and UFPA [121], demonstrating valorization efforts across diverse industrial sectors.

Cosmetic applications show growing commercial activity, with Beraca Ingredientes Naturais marketing exfoliant particles and antioxidant extracts derived from açaí residues [122]. Similarly, clusters formed by Natura, Power Seed Açaí, and Olera focus on cosmetic and pharmaceutical extract production [98,100,123].

Several companies active in the current stage—Amazon [72,124], Power Seed Açaí [125,126], Polimex [127,128], Dallan Açaí [129], and Olera [64,130]—also maintain patent portfolios extending into mid-term horizons. This pattern reflects strategic investments in securing intellectual property rights to underpin ongoing innovation, market competitiveness, and long-term technological leadership within the evolving bioeconomy.

The emergence of regional innovation systems, notably in the Amazon and southeastern Brazil, further accentuates the strategic positioning of academic and corporate players. Entities such as UERJ, UFPA, and Votorantim Cimentos have assumed leadership roles in the intellectual property landscape through targeted patenting activities.

Technological progress within açaí biomass valorization delineates a clear trajectory from rudimentary applications—such as coffee analogues and direct combustion fuels produced via grinding, roasting, and pyrolysis—to sophisticated biorefinery platforms. The integration of pretreatment techniques (drying, aqueous decoction, grinding) has facilitated refined processing approaches, enabling the extraction of high-value biochemical compounds including mannose, inulin, and tannins, and the development of advanced materials like nanocrystalline and nanofibrillated cellulose.

Advanced processing technologies—such as solvent-assisted extraction, hydrothermal treatments, chemical modifications, and biotechnological fermentations—are pivotal in expanding the range and specificity of products derived from açaí biomass. These developments direct the sector toward integrated multiproduct biorefineries capable of delivering enhanced economic and environmental returns.

Realizing this technological maturation requires sustained investment in research infrastructure, robust intellectual property frameworks, and fostering of cross-sectoral collaborations. Bioeconomy-oriented policies may incentivize scaling while ensuring social inclusion of traditional extractivist communities, thereby mitigating risks of resource commodification and exacerbated social inequities.

Mid- and long-term projections reveal a decisive transition to biorefinery models integrating advanced pretreatment [64,127], chemical processing [72], and post-treatment technologies such as phase separation, concentration, and conservation [64,125]. These platforms aim for the efficient production of nanocellulose, biopolymers, pharmaceutical extracts, biofuels (biodiesel, bioethanol, biomethane), and functional biochar materials. The anticipated benefits encompass resource optimization, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and substitution of critical raw material imports.

Clusters of universities and research institutions illustrate this evolution. UERJ, alongside institutional partners, is positioned centrally in pharmaceutical ingredient extraction from açaí biomass [64,131], while valorization technologies diversify across food [24], environmental remediation [132], agriculture [83], and construction sectors [117].

Leading Brazilian organizations, such as Embrapa, in collaboration with the Vale Institute of Technology and UFPA, advance research on bioadsorbents and biochars for environmental applications [93,132,133,134,135]. Embrapa’s sustained commitment to innovation and social inclusion reinforces Brazil’s strategic advantage in balancing technological development with socio-environmental stewardship [136].

However, intensifying industrial biomass extraction raises concerns regarding biodiversity conservation, technological lock-in, and equitable benefit distribution, especially affecting traditional and indigenous populations. Consequently, policy interventions promoting responsible innovation, benefit-sharing mechanisms, inclusive governance, and ecological safeguards are essential to ensure sustainable development outcomes that do not compromise local livelihoods or ecosystem integrity.

5. Conclusions

The application of the systematic technology roadmapping methodology was central to this study, enabling an integrated analysis of technological development, market dynamics, and innovation potential within the açaí biomass valorization sector. By combining bibliometric data, patent landscape analysis, and expert inputs, the roadmap provided a structured framework to identify critical technology readiness stages, product opportunities, and key stakeholders.

Results indicate that the valorization of açaí biomass has advanced from low-complexity uses, such as thermal energy generation and coffee analogues, toward diversified high-value products including pharmaceutical extracts, cosmetic ingredients, nanopapers, and cellulose nanocrystals. These developments reflect the biochemical complexity of açaí residues, characterized by antioxidant compounds and polysaccharides like mannose and inulin.

The methodology allowed for the mapping of emerging innovation trajectories and their alignment with market demands, revealing strategic windows for integrated biorefinery approaches that enhance resource efficiency and product portfolio diversification. This comprehensive roadmap supports evidence-based decision-making for industrial players and policymakers, facilitating the design of investment strategies and regulatory frameworks conducive to sustainable bioeconomy development.

Among the potential measures to support sustainable innovation in açaí waste valorization, increased investment in research that is focused on structuring projects that foster collaboration between universities, research institutions, and companies is essential. Such efforts can facilitate the translation of academic innovations into market-ready solutions with positive societal and environmental impacts. In addition, policy instruments that promote the proper allocation and pretreatment of waste—such as support for fiber-segregation technologies—are critical to unlocking the value of residues and advancing biorefinery pathways.

It should be noted that this study’s data analysis relied primarily on manual review of a large volume of scientific and patent documents, which can become increasingly laborious and time-consuming if applied to consolidated value chains and industrial technologies. Future methodological enhancements could involve the application of technology mining tools incorporating machine learning and natural language processing to automate and refine information extraction, given the structured nature of these data sources. Furthermore, the current roadmap could be augmented through qualitative methods such as stakeholder interviews, workshops, and surveys, to validate and enrich the integration of key players—addressing limitations related to incomplete RD&I visibility and variable patent valuation.

Given the rapidly evolving technological, economic, and market conditions, the roadmap should be maintained as a dynamic, iterative instrument, requiring periodic updates aligned with emerging trends and strategic objectives. Continued refinement of the methodology and expanded data inputs will strengthen its utility as a decision-support tool for advancing the sustainable valorization of Amazonian biomass.

Overall, this study demonstrates the value of technology roadmapping as a rigorous prospective approach to guide innovation in the bioeconomy, grounded in regional biodiversity and scientific capacity, and offers a foundation for further research, innovation, and policy development.