Suzano: Prioritizing a Large Complex Innovation Portfolio
After merging with Fibria, Suzano faced the challenge of aligning two large innovation portfolios with more than 130 projects. With support from Professor Roberto Camanho (ESPM São Paulo) and TransparentChoice, they applied the AHP method to build a clear, consistent prioritization process. The collaboration, highlighted by Plinio C. Ignez (Innovation Management Coordinator at Suzano), accelerated decision-making and built confidence across the business.
The Challenge
Following its 2019 merger with Fibria, Suzano needed to align two large innovation and technology portfolios with more than 130 projects. The existing approach made this difficult:
- Each business area used different criteria
- Criteria were defined by only a few people
- Scoring was influenced by unconscious bias
- Methods varied between areas
The result was an inconsistent and fragmented prioritization process.
Our Approach
Suzano partnered with an AHP expert and used TransparentChoice to build a structured, company-wide framework:
- Defined 6 portfolios: New Business, Pulp, Paper, Biorefinery, Forest Management, Innovation Process
- Applied AHP methodology to create consistent, transparent criteria
- Reclassified projects using the Cranfield Grid (Grow, Transform, Run the Business)
- Standardized evaluation around 3 key themes: Strategic Alignment, Implementation Risk, and Market Attractiveness
- Automated prioritization with TransparentChoice software, enabling faster evaluation and remote scoring
The Results
The new process delivered clarity, speed, and credibility:
- Prioritization was 10x faster than spreadsheets
- A clear project ranking supported confident decisions
- A shared language improved communication across teams
- Involvement of experts from multiple areas increased trust in the process
- Leaders gained confidence in data-driven prioritization, supporting long-term maturity
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