Santarém Advances Sustainable Development with New Science Council and Innovation Fair
Santarém launches a new municipal science council and hosts a regional science fair to promote sustainable innovation and education.
- • The Municipal Council of Science, Technology, and Innovation (CMCTI) in Santarém held its first meeting on November 9, 2025.
- • CMCTI comprises 12 members from local government and civil society, focusing on innovation policies and sustainable development.
- • Campus Pedro II organized the Feria de Inovação, Ciência e Tecnologia Sustentável highlighting sustainable opal mining and scientific education.
- • The initiatives together emphasize Santarém’s commitment to integrating science, technology, and innovation for regional growth.
Key details
Santarém is strengthening its commitment to sustainable development through significant municipal initiatives focused on science, technology, and innovation. On November 9, 2025, the city held the inaugural meeting of the Municipal Council of Science, Technology, and Innovation (CMCTI), established by Municipal Law No. 22,672 earlier that year. This advisory council, which consists of 12 members split evenly between municipal government and civil society, aims to foster innovation policies and support sustainable development by guiding public administration planning and promoting public-private partnerships. Michell Martins, secretary of Semdec, highlighted the council's role in advancing various sectors and benefiting the community. The council’s next steps include finalizing internal regulations and an action plan focused on innovation in Santarém.
Meanwhile, the Campus Pedro II hosted the Feira de Inovação, Ciência e Tecnologia Sustentável na Terra da Opala (FICTO) starting October 8, 2025. Coordinated by Professor Wilton de Carvalho Lopes, the fair encourages student engagement in scientific practices with a focus on sustainable opal mining, an important regional resource. The event featured enlightening lectures on scientific inquiry, sustainable energy, and scientific methods, including insights from a Stockholm Junior Water Prize winner. Campus director Professor Raimundo Nonato Alves da Silva emphasized the fair’s importance as a lasting effort to popularize science and foster development grounded in education, innovation, and sustainability.
Together, these initiatives reflect Santarém's strategic push towards integrating science and innovation into its sustainable development agenda, impacting youth education and municipal governance alike.