Summary: Dilma Rousseff brings in economist Clélio Campolina to set
priorities for the sector: "Brazil is in a hurry"
By Angelica Mari for Brazil Tech
As Brazil places more emphasis on its technology agenda, president Dilma Rousseff has brought in a new minister with a clear remit
of defining priorities and delivering them fast.
The Science, Technology and Innovation
Ministry (MCTI) will now be headed up by economist Clélio Campolina, a former
professor at the University of Minas Gerais and a specialist in economic
development, with a PhD on the subject from the University of Rutgers in the
United States.
When taking over from previous minister Marco
Antonio Raupp on Monday (17), Campolina said president Rousseff had invited him
to take up the job with the specific brief of giving continuity to the ongoing
MCTI programs, but more importantly, create a project to drive economic growth
through science and technology and boost the quality of Brazil's output in that
field.
"Brazil is in a hurry and has the ability
to define and prioritize areas of technology and science that are critical to
the transformation of the Brazilian business environment," Campolina said.
"We need to have a big program [science
and technology] program for Brazil, have a forward-looking vision and deliver
fast," he added.
Foreign investment and skills
development
One key area of focus for minister
Campolina will be to attract international businesses to
build research and development centers - and therefore invest - in Brazil.
"All developed countries have done this.
They increased the internationalization of their research efforts - the United
States brought in European companies to do research there, which is what China
is also doing, " the new minister said.
"We are facing a restructuring of the
global order. We have to show that Brazil is a viable country and has potential
- and foreign companies will bring their research capabilities here when they
are convinced that is the case," he added.
According to the
minister, another major area of attention will be policies to boost the creation
of science and tech skills in Brazil.
"Creating a policy of human resources
development is an absolute priority. Brazil already has very advanced academic
programs in that field, but they need to be supplemented mainly by
[improvements in] basic education and an interface with businesses,"
Campolina said.
"The journey is not easy. It takes
political and social awareness of these issues, as well as acting objectively
and permanently to seize opportunities, which is only possible with a great
deal of determination and hard work."
Campolina plans to hear his new colleagues at
the MCTI and the science and tech community in business and academia before
announcing any major changes.
As he stepped down, former minister Marco
Antonio Raupp highlighted the achievements of his two-year mandate, mainly
around the progress of Inova Empresa, a $14mi program built to boost innovation
in the private sector through the provision of subsidized loans for specific
projects.
"I am sure I have done my duty, both from
a personal and institutional perspective, as a scientist and as a
citizen," Raupp said.