The Mauá Medal of Merit is an award created to reward all those who, in a decisive way, have contributed to the development and progress of the Transport Sector. The medal was created by Decree No. 55,475, of January 7, 1965 and reestablished by Decree No. 3,047, of May 6, 1999.

The Medal is a recognition of the patron of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Visconde de Mauá, who was a 19th century Brazilian industrialist and politician who undertook the construction of the country's first paved highway. He also built the Mauá Railway, the first Brazilian railway, in Rio de Janeiro. He was also responsible for founding the Amazonas Steam Navigation Company.