Brazil's SLV companies

[ErickSoares3]

In 23 December 2023 Brazil's Ministry of Science, Finep (Funding Authority for Studies and Projects) and the Brazilian Space Agency has chosen two companies to develop (as I understood) two SLVs for the country.

The companies Akaer Engenharia (“Montenegro MKI” rocket) and CENIC were granted a total of R$370 million (about $74 million, or R$185 million each) for the next 3 years.  The rockets need, at least, to be able of launching a 5 to 30kg payload into a 450km equatorial/circular orbit.

The country has the governmental VLM-1 rocket under development and historically had the VLS-1 program (1970s-2016), with two aborted launch attempts (1997 and 1999) and the 2003 launch pad disaster.

Statements:

“Leading a project of such importance for the future of the country is a great honor for Akaer, which has innovation in its DNA.”
    Cesar Silva, CEO of Akaer

“In Brazil, we already have the Alcântara Launch Center and Barreira do Inferno. We also have the development of satellites by the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), the Technological Institute of Aeronautics (ITA) and other institutions and companies that have mastered this technique. However, we still don't have national vehicles capable of launching such satellites. This is a unique opportunity that could have a strongly positive impact on our economy.”
    Ralph Correa, managing partner of CENIC

“This is an important milestone in the Brazilian Space Program, in which we will promote the country's autonomy, especially in technology and access to space, allowing Brazil, in the future, to join the select group of nations that have access to space, and also, obviously, strengthening our national industry for the development of the space systems that the nation so desperately needs. [...] Ten years from now, I want Brazil to be the possessor of launch vehicle technology and for us to regularly and continuously launch our own satellites from national territory using a national launch vehicle.”
    Rodrigo Leonardi, director of portfolio management at AEB.

Official websites:

Akaer Engenharia
CENIC (or so I think...)

Sources (in Portuguese):

1-) Finep destina R$ 1 bilhão para contratos de inovação e alcança investimentos recordes em 2023;

2-) Entenda mais sobre o Investimento MILIONÁRIO da FINEP no Programa Espacial Brasileiro;

3-) Governo financia foguetes brasileiros para lançamentos de satélites;

Akaer's Montenegro rocket:

[Mahurora]

In 23 December 2023 Brazil's Ministry of Science, Finep (Funding Authority for Studies and Projects) and the Brazilian Space Agency has chosen two companies to develop (as I understood) two SLVs for the country.

[...]

As for Akaer, since they have a very respectable record in the aeronautics industry including several high-profile defence programmes, I have some confidence in putting trust in their endeavours, but are there more details regarding this CENIC company? What are their backgrounds?

[Mahurora]

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/brazilian-companies-akaer-and-cenic-to-develop-satellite-launch-vehicles

Janes report on the matter.

Finep, which is part of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, has awarded a total of BRL370.46 million (USD75.4 million) for the project – BRL185.34 million (USD37.72 million) went to the consortium led by Akaer, and BRL192 million (USD39.08 million) was awarded to the consortium led by CENIC. [...]

The two contracts, signed on 13 December, call for each consortium to design, develop, qualify, and launch prototypes of launch vehicles capable of lifting a minimum payload of 5 kg from the Brazilian territory. The prototypes are scheduled to be unveiled in 2026.

[ErickSoares3]

In 23 December 2023 Brazil's Ministry of Science, Finep (Funding Authority for Studies and Projects) and the Brazilian Space Agency has chosen two companies to develop (as I understood) two SLVs for the country.

[...]

As for Akaer, since they have a very respectable record in the aeronautics industry including several high-profile defence programmes, I have some confidence in putting trust in their endeavours, but are there more details regarding this CENIC company? What are their backgrounds?

Going by this video they have a background on the oil and agro-industry. But there's almost no news about them and even in this spaceflight investment, most of the sources only focuses on Akaer. I even was unsure about their website, since it seems like they didn't care to update it since early 2000s.

[ErickSoares3]

Update from Akaer

Translation:

"Akaer has received an operator's license from the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) for space vehicle launch activities in Brazil, a significant milestone for the country's space program. This project, which began at the end of last year, was selected in a public call by FINEP and will receive an investment of R$185 million over the next three years, making it one of the largest economic subsidy contracts for innovation in Brazil. We are not alone and we are counting on our partners in this important project for the country, including the companies ACRUX, BRENG and EMSIST.

The Small Launch Vehicle (SLLV) to be developed by Akaer, named VLN-AKR, is currently in the preliminary configuration definition phase to verify its ability to launch nano and microsatellites. All flight tests will be carried out on Brazilian territory, at the Alcântara launch center.

With this project, Brazil positions itself among the nations capable of launching space vehicles, gaining technical autonomy to place satellites in Earth orbit for various purposes, such as Defense, Communications and Environmental Monitoring. The market for nano and microsatellites was worth US$ 2.8 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach US$ 6.7 billion by 2027.

We are proud to be part of this technological advance and pave the way for Brazil's space autonomy."

[TheKutKu]

https://iafastro.directory/iac/paper/id/83353/summary/

Potentially interesting paper, won't be available to purchase until a few weeks however.
It seems both of these projects will use existing Solid rocket motors.