Brazil Boosts Science and Technology with Strategic Investments in Campinas Region
Brazil plans major science and technology investments in the Campinas region, emphasizing innovation, partnerships, and AI development.
- • Minister Luciana Santos highlighted significant government investments in science and technology, including a rise in the FNDCT budget from R$10 billion in 2023 to R$14.6 billion in 2025.
- • A R$51 billion federal investment plan is planned through 2026, focusing on public and private scientific research and infrastructure.
- • The Brazilian Artificial Intelligence Plan aims to boost local technology production and reduce foreign dependence.
- • Collaboration between government, universities like Unicamp, and the private sector is central to national development strategies.
- • Local leaders like Hortolândia’s mayor support integrating municipalities into the national innovation framework, expecting economic and educational growth.
Key details
On November 29, 2025, Brazil's Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, led by Minister Luciana Santos, reinforced the government’s commitment to advancing scientific and technological development in the Metropolitan Region of Campinas (RMC). Santos participated in a key meeting at the State University of Campinas (Unicamp), highlighting RMC’s role as a national science and technology hub, home to notable institutions like Sirius and CNPEM. The event drew researchers, public managers, industry representatives, and university leaders to strategize on innovation, technological sovereignty, and sustainable growth.
Minister Santos underscored historic investment increases, citing the Fundo Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (FNDCT) budget jump from nearly R$10 billion in 2023 to R$14.6 billion in 2025. Additionally, she announced a comprehensive R$51 billion investment plan to be executed until 2026, with half allocated toward non-reimbursable funding for public and private institutions to strengthen national scientific infrastructure. The Brazilian Artificial Intelligence Plan was introduced to spur local technology production and reduce dependency on foreign tech.
The collaboration between government, academia, and the private sector was emphasized as vital for addressing challenges such as climate change and hunger through scientific innovation. Unicamp's rector, Paulo César Montanheiro, reiterated the university’s decades-long dedication to making the RMC a leading science and technology cluster in Latin America. Local leaders like Hortolândia’s mayor Zezé Gomes welcomed the focus on expanding technological projects and linking municipalities more closely to national innovation efforts, pointing to new economic and educational opportunities.
This coordinated effort illustrates Brazil's strategic vision to rebuild and elevate its scientific capacity by fostering partnerships and investing heavily in research, talent, and advanced technology sectors.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.