Brazil Unveils Ambitious 10-Year Strategy to Boost Science, Technology, and Innovation
Brazil launches ENCTI 2024-2034, a science and technology strategy aiming to boost R&D investment and foster innovation, sovereignty, and social development over the next decade.
- • ENCTI 2024-2034 defines Brazil's science and technology priorities for the next decade.
- • The strategy is structured around four axes: science system expansion, innovation and reindustrialization, technological sovereignty, and social development.
- • Brazil aims to increase R&D investment to 2% of GDP by 2034; current government and business investments are 0.27% and 0.60%, respectively.
- • Public consultation on ENCTI runs from December 5–20, 2025, shaping the final strategy and its Action Plan (PACTI).
Key details
On December 4, 2025, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the National Council of Science and Technology (CCT) presented Brazil's National Strategy for Science, Technology, and Innovation (ENCTI) 2024-2034 at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasília. This newly unveiled decade-long strategy sets Brazil's scientific and technological policy priorities to stimulate social development, innovation, and sovereignty.
The ENCTI, developed with input from over 100,000 participants during the 5th National Conference on Science, Technology, and Innovation, emphasizes transforming knowledge into technological solutions that address societal challenges. It highlights critical national concerns such as rapid digitalization, climate change, and geopolitical shifts demanding technological sovereignty. The strategy is structured around four key axes: expanding and integrating the national science and technology system, promoting business innovation for reindustrialization, executing strategic projects to ensure technological sovereignty, and leveraging science to drive social development.
President Lula stressed that public investment in science "returns for the people" with impacts on health, safety, job creation, and quality of life. He reiterated science's essential role in vaccine production and disaster monitoring, underscoring its importance for a sovereign and just Brazil. The government has recently invested R$5.8 billion over three years to enhance research infrastructure. Currently, Brazil's government funds research at 0.27% of GDP and business investment stands at 0.60%, lower than leading global economies. ENCTI aims to raise total R&D investment to 2% of GDP by 2034.
Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Luciana Santos called the strategy a "significant step toward a competitive, innovative future" that focuses on inclusion, sustainability, and eliminating regional disparities. Meanwhile, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin connected these science and technology policies to Brazil's recent 3.4% GDP growth fueled by industrial transformation.
The ENCTI will undergo public consultation from December 5 to 20, 2025, via the Brasil Participativo platform to gather feedback before finalization. Its implementation details, including funding sources and timelines, will be outlined in the forthcoming Action Plan for Science, Technology, and Innovation (PACTI). This roadmap represents Brazil's commitment to advancing scientific excellence and technological innovation as pillars of national development, sovereignty, and social progress.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.