Brazilian Science and
Technology Internet Resources
The process of
institutionalizing science & technology policy in Brazil
started in the 1950's, at a time in which the Brazilian
state increased its role in promoting industrial growth. In
1951, the National Research Council (CNPq), which later
became the National Council for Scientific and Technological
Development) and the then-called Campaign for the Advanced
Training of University-level Personnel (CAPES) were
established. These initiatives were landmarks in the process
of enhancing the value of scientific development through
advanced training of researchers and strengthening of
research groups. Governmental support for scientific and
technological development started using two basic tools:
fellowship and research funding.
The establishment of CNPq was
linked to the more wide-ranging goal of promoting Brazilian
industrialization. The Brazilian state was concerned at the
time with the limited ability to absorb the new technologies
that were then bein introduced into the country, as well as
with developing and securing strategic sectors, such as that
of nuclear technologies. The effort involved would only be
feasible through support to research, both basic and
applied. Originally, CNPq had the twin objectives of
fostering the nation's science and technology capabilities,
as well as of overseeing all activities involving the use of
atomic energy in the country. Later, CNPq's role was widened
to include establishing guidelines for Brazilian science and
technology policy.
A second turning point occured
in the 1960's, with the creation of additional institutions
and administrative resources to respond to the growing
demands of the science and technology sector, with a view to
associate the country's resources in that area to its
budding industrial base. With this purpose in mind, the
National Bank for Economic Development (which later became
"Economic and Social Development") was created in 1964 and
started to support technological research by means of the
Fund for Technical-Scientific Development (FUNTEC).
In 1969, FINEP - Financiadora
de Estudos e Projetos was established under the purview of
the Presidency's Secretariat for Planning. Its role was
complementary to that of CNPq, focusing on creating new ways
to help Brazilian companies. In the same year, the
Government also established the National Fund for Scientific
and Technological Development (FNDCT), which FINEP currently
manages with a view to funding projects and programs that
are deemed to be national priorities.
In 1974, the National System
for Scientific and Technological Development (SNDCT) was
established. Its main goal was to foster the implementation
of technology-oriented policy aimed at socio-economic
development by means of scientific progress.
Several national plans for
science and technology were designed and implemented through
the 1970's and 1980's. This period saw the growth of
planning for graduate training and research, as well as for
technology-intensive activities. The worsening economic
crises in the 1980's resulted in net losses for science- and
technology-related funding, and the sector as a whole lost
some of the strategic priority role it had been previously
assigned.
The establishment of the
Ministry for Science and Technology in 1985 aimed at
reversing that situation, and it was also a milestone in the
opening of a venue for wide-ranging dialogue between the
federal government and the science and technology community.
The Ministry's creation also signalled the Brazilian
government's commitment to investing in Research &
Development, and to devise and implement policies based on a
science and technology strategy that serves the needs of
Brazilian society and that enables the country to be
competitive in a changing global economy.
For further information,
write to the Brazilian Embassy's
Science & Technology Section
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