Brazil's MCTI and Ministry of Women Forge Strong Partnership to Boost Gender Equality in Science and Technology

The Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) has strengthened its collaboration with the Ministry of Women to promote gender equality, protection, and inclusion of women in science and technology sectors. This partnership was emphasized in a meeting between MCTI Minister Luciana Santos and Minister of Women Márcia Lopes on January 23, 2026, where they discussed joint efforts to combat structural sexism and enhance female participation in scientific careers.

Women currently represent the majority of researchers in Brazil, holding 74% of scientific initiation scholarships. However, their representation sharply declines to 35% for higher productivity scholarships, signaling significant structural barriers such as sexism and caregiving responsibilities that hinder career progression. Santos underscored that women face these challenges particularly in engineering and exact sciences, fields historically marked by inequality.

The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) reports that women hold 59% of scientific initiation scholarships, 55% of master's scholarships, and 53% of doctoral scholarships. Additionally, there is a growing presence of Black women in these categories. Women also lead 167 out of 315 science popularization projects supported by the ministry and coordinate half of the selected scientific Olympiad projects.

A major initiative highlighted was the Bolsa Futuro Digital program—a part of the Conecta e Capacita project under the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FNDCT)—which plans to offer 10,000 scholarships to young women in technology fields during 2025 and 2026. This program has a dedicated investment of R$ 55 million, with 50% of scholarships specifically reserved for women.

Minister Márcia Lopes emphasized the necessity of inter-ministerial collaboration to address the deeply rooted structural sexism, increase women’s economic autonomy, and protect them within public policies, stating, "women are present in all public policies." This partnership represents a critical step in ensuring women’s retention, advancement, and leadership in Brazil's scientific and technological landscapes.