BNDES and Finep call for proposals attracts R$ 57,4 billion for research centers in Brazil.

247 - Brazil has taken an important step toward strengthening its innovation capacity with the call for proposals launched by BNDES (National Bank for Economic and Social Development) and Finep (Financing Agency for Studies and Projects), which received 618 proposals for the implementation, expansion, or attraction of Research, Technological Development, and Innovation (R&D&I) Centers. According to information released by the institutions, the projects total R$ 57,4 billion in investments, of which R$ 51,9 billion were requested in financing from BNDES and Finep.

According to an official statement from the institutions, the public call for proposals exceeded expectations by attracting a significant majority of proposals aimed at creating new R&D centers — 368 projects, equivalent to 59,5% of the total. These centers are expected to represent an investment of R$ 37,8 billion, with R$ 34,7 billion requested from funding agencies. The North, Northeast, and Central-West regions concentrate 201 proposals, which foresee investments of R$ 16,1 billion, corresponding to 28% of the total estimated.

Beyond the financial contributions, the proposals indicate a strong impact on the generation of skilled jobs. The forecast is for the hiring of more than 28 professionals, including 4.501 masters and 2.754 PhDs. The average per proposal is 46 new employees, with 11,7 being researchers with advanced degrees. This mobilization of qualified human capital reflects the potential of the call for proposals to transform the innovation landscape in the country.

According to the president of BNDES, Aloizio Mercadante, the outcome of the call for proposals represents a structural advancement in Brazil's capacity for innovation. "The expansion of the area dedicated to R&D represents a structural change in the country's capacity to innovate, with the potential to increase the competitiveness of national industry and, ultimately, generate development for the country," he stated. He also highlighted the positive impact on job opportunities for master's and doctoral degree holders: "Applied scientific knowledge has the potential to structurally transform businesses."

The president of Finep, Luiz Antônio Elias, reinforced the importance of the strategy for national development. “Attracting research and development centers is fundamental for Brazil, as it drives innovation, economic growth, and increases productivity and competitiveness,” he said. He added: “For Finep, supporting these projects means strengthening national industry, expanding the frontiers of knowledge, generating qualified jobs, and promoting sustainable development in all regions of the country.”

The call for proposals, which originally had a budget of R$ 3 billion, allows the use of multiple financial instruments: credit, equity participation, economic subsidies, and non-reimbursable resources for cooperative projects between companies and scientific institutions. Among the applicants are national and multinational companies from countries such as Germany, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, the United States, Italy, and Luxembourg.

R&D centers comprise facilities such as laboratories, pilot plants, and demonstration units, dedicated to basic and applied research, product development, testing, and validation. These centers also foster partnerships with universities and other science and technology institutions, acting as catalysts for innovation in the productive ecosystem.

Internationally, state support has been crucial in attracting R&D centers. Countries like China and India offer direct subsidies to strategic sectors; Japan and the Netherlands rely on tax incentives. In the United Kingdom, small and medium-sized enterprises can obtain tax deductions of up to 175%, while large corporations are entitled to 130% — a model that inspires similar initiatives in Brazil to foster the growth of the knowledge-based economy.