Mato Grosso Sees Major Boost in Scientific Infrastructure and Innovation Funding in 2026
Mato Grosso receives over R$90 million in federal funding to advance scientific infrastructure, with a total of R$590 million allocated for innovation projects from 2023-2025, marking a major increase in support.
- • MCTI signed agreements worth over R$90 million for scientific infrastructure in Mato Grosso.
- • Finep launched 13 new funding calls totaling R$3.3 billion nationwide, supporting innovation projects.
- • Mato Grosso's funding for science and technology increased from R$13 million (2019-2022) to R$590 million (2023-2025).
- • A R$29 million project on green hydrogen and renewable methanol technologies was announced.
Key details
On March 6, 2026, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), alongside Finep, launched a series of strategic investments aimed at strengthening Mato Grosso's scientific infrastructure and innovation landscape. At a ceremony held in Cuiabá, Minister Luciana Santos signed 17 agreements with local universities and research institutions worth over R$90 million, focusing on enhancing research facilities and projects in biotechnology, health, environmental monitoring, advanced materials, and climate emergency technologies.
These investments are part of the federal ProInfra program to modernize research infrastructure nationwide and the Finep pelo Brasil initiative, which seeks to foster innovation by connecting universities, scientific bodies, and businesses with funding opportunities. Finep also introduced 13 new funding calls totaling R$3.3 billion targeted at innovation projects across Brazil, reinforcing support for companies of all sizes.
Since the start of the current administration, Mato Grosso has attracted over R$681 million in federal science and technology investments, with a significant jump from R$13 million allocated between 2019-2022 to an expected R$590 million for 125 projects between 2023 and 2025. These efforts are supported by collaborative efforts between the federal government, the State Secretary Allan Kardec, and local research foundations such as FAP, which helps enable projects currently in the contracting phase totaling R$52 million.
Additionally, a cutting-edge R$29 million project dedicated to validating green hydrogen and renewable methanol technologies highlights Mato Grosso’s commitment to sustainability and innovation in energy.
Finep President Luiz Antônio Elias emphasized that unlocking the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development has provided stability and predictability necessary for sustained medium and long-term science funding. Minister Santos underlined the economic impact of these investments, noting that they allow local scientists to conduct world-class research without leaving Mato Grosso, thereby stimulating regional development and job creation.
This significant inflow of resources strengthens Mato Grosso's position as a growing hub for scientific research and innovation, aligning with broader national strategies to boost technological competitiveness and economic growth.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
Source articles (2)
Source comparison
Total amount of funding
Sources report different total amounts of funding for investments in Mato Grosso.
finep.gov.br
"Between 2019 and 2022, R$ 13 million was invested in 42 projects in Mato Grosso, with projections for 2023 to 2025 showing a significant increase to R$ 591 million across 125 initiatives."
gov.br
"Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Luciana Santos, signed 17 agreements with universities and research institutions in Mato Grosso, amounting to over R$ 90 million."
Why this matters: One source states over R$ 90 million was signed in agreements, while the other mentions R$ 591 million projected for 2023 to 2025. This discrepancy is significant as it affects the understanding of the scale of investment in the region.