Brazil Unveils Decade-Long National Strategy to Boost Science and Innovation
Brazil launches a ten-year National Strategy to significantly expand investment and innovation in science and technology, aiming for 2% of GDP in R&D by 2034.
- • Brazil approved a National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation for 2024-2034.
- • The ENCTI aims to raise R&D investment to 2% of GDP by 2034.
- • A special working group will develop an Action Plan for 2027-2031 within 120 days.
- • President Lula called for bold financing to ensure technological sovereignty and social inclusion.
Key details
Brazil has formally approved a comprehensive National Strategy for Science, Technology, and Innovation (ENCTI) for the period 2024 to 2034, aiming to revolutionize the country’s scientific and technological landscape over the next decade. This initiative, announced by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) and presented by Minister Luciana Santos during the 78th Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Society for the Progress of Science (SBPC) in Niterói, sets clear goals to bridge academic research with societal and economic challenges.
The strategy outlines four principal objectives: increasing national research and development (R&D) investment to 2% of Brazil’s GDP by 2034, ensuring predictability in funding, reducing critical technological dependencies, and enhancing collaboration between the scientific community and the productive sector. Since lifting previous budget restrictions on the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FNDCT), investments in science and technology have surged, reaching approximately R$ 55 billion.
The plan will directly guide governmental investment and the modernization of innovation infrastructure across sectors such as health and industrial production. Within 120 days of the ordinance’s enactment, a special working group—comprising representatives from the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, the postgraduate education agency CAPES, and other experts—will develop an Action Plan for 2027 to 2031 detailing specific initiatives and milestones.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emphasized the urgency for a bold and clear financing plan for science during his address at the SBPC event, highlighting science and innovation as pillars for Brazil’s sovereignty and social inclusion. He underscored the need for long-term commitment with measurable goals, particularly in strategic fields like artificial intelligence and critical minerals.
The strategy emerges as a response to past technological vulnerabilities and signals Brazil’s commitment to assert technological autonomy while fostering sustainable development. The coordinated effort between political leadership, scientific institutions, and innovation agencies signals a historic push to establish Brazil as a leader in science and technology on the global stage.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
