Brazil Advances Science and Innovation with Leadership in Mato Grosso and Lula’s New AI Scholarship Plan

In 2026, Brazil’s government is intensifying efforts to boost science, technology, innovation, and professional education through notable state and federal initiatives. Professor Allan Kardec, head of Mato Grosso’s Secretaria de Estado de Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Seciteci), has driven a transformative agenda that significantly expanded technical education and fostered an innovation ecosystem. Under his leadership from 2023 to 2026, technical course enrollment in Mato Grosso soared by over 1,400%, rising from 688 to 10,415 students. He also spearheaded the launch of the Mato Grosso Technological Park and the construction of five new technical schools, while strengthening ties with universities and research funding agencies. Kardec’s ‘‘verticalization’’ initiative guarantees state technical high school students admission to Unemat, reducing graduation time to two years. He has furthered connections between renewable energy companies and funding bodies, securing more than R$150 million for projects focused on biofuels and sustainability.

At the federal level, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced plans to resurrect the Ciência sem Fronteiras program if re-elected. Originally launched in 2011 and discontinued in 2017, this scholarship scheme enabled students and researchers to study abroad. Lula emphasized the new program will prioritize essential fields like Artificial Intelligence, mathematics, and engineering, reinforcing education investments as critical to Brazil’s development and sovereignty. ‘‘I will reintroduce the Ciência sem Fronteiras program to send people abroad to study things that are extremely important for us,’’ he stated.

Together, these initiatives underscore Brazil’s strategic focus on cultivating high-impact sectors by integrating education reforms, innovation infrastructure, and international academic collaboration. Kardec’s candidacy for Mato Grosso’s Legislative Assembly aims to strengthen supportive legislation for science and technology, complementing Lula’s national vision of fostering research and innovation for future competitiveness.