Through the R&D program ANEEL -National Electric Energy Agency, a fault circuit indicator (FCI) was developed for medium voltage power distribution networks. As for any project financed by this program, innovation is essential. HartBR team, in partnership with the Energisa Group, designed the equipment and, after 24 months, its whole development was carried out in Brazil. New concepts and technologies were deployed, such as the adoption of a self-power system, without using batteries and based on current transformers with a nanocrystalline core, integrated communication through 900Mhz radio, using IoT technology, and a simple installation system, which uses the conventional cutouts, already installed in the power networks. There was also a research and development work on an engineering polymer for injection of plastic parts. A computerized system was also developed, making possible the integration of the devices with the power utility's supervisory systems, performing the conversion of protocols, transparently to operators. The project reached an innovative equipment, which can be applied in all medium voltage classes, aiming a worldwide certification through type tests and with low production costs. This work describes the stages of the project, the technical analysis of the available technologies and their choices, as well as the results of laboratory and field tests. The R&D program of ANEEL was essential for developing national technology, jobs generation, improvements in the quality metrics for utilities and, consequently, improvement in the population's life quality.