Brazil Advances Education and Innovation with Major Science Funding Initiatives
Brazil launches key funding and support programs to boost educational science labs and rewards innovation leaders in Santa Catarina.
- • Mais Ciência na Escola project will implement 45 maker labs in Rio Grande do Sul public schools with R$ 96 million funding from CNPq.
- • Each lab will feature advanced equipment including 3D printers, laser cutters, and robotics kits, supporting active learning and social inclusion.
- • Santa Catarina honored 22 innovators with the Prêmio Inovação Catarinense, providing financial grants up to R$ 100,000 per project.
- • The initiatives underscore the government’s focus on enhancing science education and innovation as drivers of economic growth.
Key details
Brazil is taking significant strides in supporting education, science, and innovation through two major initiatives recently announced. In Rio Grande do Sul, the collaborative Mais Ciência na Escola program, involving the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Sul (IFRS), the Federal University of Rio Grande (Furg), and the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), will establish 45 maker laboratories across public schools in 17 municipalities. This project received R$ 96 million in funding from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) to equip schools with advanced tools such as 3D printers, laser cutters, robotics kits, and more. The initiative aims to enhance digital literacy, social inclusion, and encourage innovation among students, particularly those in vulnerable situations. It includes continuous teacher training and student scholarships, leading to broad scientific engagement from January 2026 to April 2027 and beyond.
Meanwhile, in Santa Catarina, the Government honored 22 leaders in science, technology, and innovation with the Prêmio Inovação Catarinense — Professor Caspar Erich Stemmer on December 15, 2025, in Florianópolis. Winners received plaques, certificates, and access to exclusive funding of up to R$ 100,000 per project, fostering further development in the state's innovation ecosystem. Vice-governor Marilisa Boehm emphasized the award's role in transforming knowledge into practical development, noting that 8% of Santa Catarina’s GDP is already driven by technology and innovation, with a goal to reach 10%. The prize, established by the Law of Innovation in 2008, recognizes those contributing to the state's dynamic science sector.
Together, these initiatives illustrate Brazil’s commitment to boosting scientific learning infrastructures and innovation capacity at regional and educational levels, advancing economic growth and social progress through targeted funding and collaborative efforts.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
