Brazil Doubles Investment in Science and Technology, Reaching Nearly R$50 Billion for 2023-2025

Brazil has announced an unprecedented increase in its investments in science, technology, and innovation, allocating nearly R$50 billion for the period from 2023 to 2025. This marks a near doubling of investment compared to the R$26.3 billion allocated between 2019 and 2022. The announcement was made by Luciana Santos, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, during her appearance on the program "Bom Dia, Ministra." According to Santos, this infusion of funds is already producing tangible results in both academic research and technological development.

A key highlight of these investments is the development of a 100% Brazilian COVID-19 vaccine at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, a milestone that demonstrates Brazil's growing autonomy in the health sector, which previously depended heavily on imported components. The government is also advancing work on a national dengue vaccine to address ongoing health challenges. Additionally, the investment aims to reduce Brazil’s $20 billion trade deficit in health products by decreasing reliance on imported medical equipment.

The strategy extends beyond health to prioritizing the microelectronics and semiconductor sectors, vital for technological advancement. Sixty-four percent of the resources from the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FNDCT) are earmarked for strategic initiatives such as the New Industry Brazil (Nova Indústria Brasil) and the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC), which focus on fostering innovation and building a technology-driven industrial base.

Another major initiative is the Brazilian Artificial Intelligence Plan (PBIA), which plans to invest R$23 billion by 2028 in AI infrastructure, public service improvements, specialist training, and high-performance computing. This includes acquiring supercomputers to enhance data processing and ensure technological sovereignty by storing national data domestically.

Minister Santos also highlighted social inclusion efforts through the launch of the Policy for Empowering Girls and Women in Science, Technology and Innovation. This program promotes gender, racial, class, and diversity equity within scientific careers and includes scholarships for Black, quilombola, Indigenous, and Roma female researchers. The establishment of a Permanent Committee on Gender, Race, and Diversity aims to embed equitable practices throughout the Ministry and its 28 affiliated units.

These combined efforts represent the largest and most strategic investment in Brazilian science history, aiming both for economic sovereignty and the promotion of inclusion and innovation across Brazil’s scientific and technological landscape.