Acre Advances R$18 Million Science and Technology Funding Initiative with Federal Support

On May 20, 2026, the Acre government, represented by Secretary of Industry, Science and Technology Márcio Valter Agiolfi, alongside federal deputy Zé Adriano, held a strategic meeting at Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) in Brasília to secure funding aimed at boosting science, technology, and innovation in Acre. The proposals presented totaled approximately R$18 million and focused on projects designed to promote regional development, empower youth through digital inclusion, and strengthen Acre's innovation ecosystem.

The funding package includes investments targeting adolescents and young people in remote areas, enhancement of scientific production, and creation of the Parque Tecnológico Cidade da Floresta in Rio Branco. Participating in the session were Minister Luciana Santos and technical teams from MCTI, who received the projects for further technical evaluation, a necessary step toward resource allocation.

Márcio Valter Agiolfi emphasized the government's commitment to expanding opportunities for Acre’s youth, stating, "We are working on projects that bring these areas closer to young people. The aim is to create opportunities, strengthen the state’s innovation environment, and ensure investments that contribute to the economic and social development of Acre in a full, continuous, and sustainable manner." Federal deputy Zé Adriano underscored the practical potential of these initiatives: "These are well-structured initiatives that allow people to see opportunities. We want to structure solid projects aligned with the needs of Acre."

Local officials such as Janaína Furtado, municipal secretary of Economic Development and Tourism of Cruzeiro do Sul, and Priscila Messias, director of Science, Technology, and Innovation at Seict, also participated, signaling a collaborative approach across government levels.

This coordinated effort seeks to foster innovation infrastructure, enhance technology access in underprivileged regions, and create sustainable economic growth opportunities for Acre’s population, particularly its younger demographic. The proposals now await technical review by the ministry before potential funding release and implementation.