Brazil poorly ranked in technological innovation – CNI study

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil ranks 57th out of 132 countries in the Global Innovation Index, which, according to Gianna Sagazio, the innovation director of the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), is a position incompatible with Brazil’s economic development.

“Unfortunately, we will see that Brazil is in an average position that is not compatible with the potential of our economy, the sophistication of the business sector, the good quality of our academic production – Brazil should be, at least, among the 20 most innovative countries in the world,” she says.

Ms. Sagazio attended a meeting of the Chamber of Deputies Committee on Science and Technology. She regretted that since 2011 the country had fallen ten positions in this ranking – a result of investment in science and technology, which currently stands at around 0.5% of GDP.

André Godoy, the representative of the public company that fosters science Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (Finep), pointed out that in 15 years, R$15 (US$2.7) billion were invested in universities and technology institutes and that for 2022 resources of around R$8 billion are foreseen for credits and non-refundable resources.

“It is non-reimbursable funding to science and technology institutes, and there are the universities and institutes; acceleration and awards for startups; economic subsidy for companies. It is the most used instrument in the world for risk investment in companies, and it is the modality that we have been prioritizing,” he explained.

Gilmara Brancalion, the head of Desenvolve São Paulo, a bank for entrepreneurs, affirmed that innovation and economic sustainability go hand in hand, and therefore it is necessary to ensure that these funds reach where they are needed. “This is our big challenge today because Fintec, in its latest survey, says that one of the biggest impediments to innovation, besides its high cost, is access to financing.”

CONTINUOUS RESOURCES

Deputy Vitor Lippi pointed out that a continuous flow of resources is needed to develop science, which is why the committee is discussing a national system for fostering innovation. “It will be interesting to see who is financing, with whom the resources are being used, and how this promotion system integrates with our National Fund for Science and Technology Development.”

According to a survey conducted by CNI, 88% of companies said they innovated in the pandemic with gains in productivity, competitiveness, and profit. Still, for the lack of sectors responsible for innovation within companies, many did not get the resources available in differentiated credit lines.

Source: Agência Câmara de Notícias

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