The future of Brazil hinges on its commitment to science, which is essential for strengthening policies and ensuring national sovereignty amid emerging challenges. Despite an increase in the number of PhD holders, from 10,000 in 2005 to 24,000 in 2023, funding for science remains inadequate and unstable. The long-advocated proposal to allocate 2% of the GDP to science has yet to be realized, even with recent budget improvements.
Currently, national spending on research and development is at 1.2% of GDP, higher than the Latin American average but still below global standards. Brazil faces numerous challenges, like workforce training in fields such as Artificial Intelligence and critical minerals policy, that require a solid research investment foundation.
Investment in research should prioritize people’s needs over market demands, with continued support for basic research being crucial for knowledge advancement.
An ABC document highlighting the ongoing structural bottlenecks illustrates solutions already backed by scientific evidence. Issues such as educational stagnation and regional inequalities need addressing to improve literacy and vocational training and reduce dropout rates. Climate change poses immediate threats, necessitating urgent policies against deforestation and fossil fuel reliance.
Moreover, Brazil’s dependency on foreign countries for refining critical minerals underscores the need for a sustainable exploitation and technological development strategy.
Despite existing proposals to tackle these issues, stable public policies and consistent investment in education and research are lacking. Science should be integrated across all political proposals, with voters urged to prioritize candidates who value scientific strategies in addressing the nation’s needs.
As elections approach, voters have the opportunity to support candidates who recognize the significance of science, ensuring that it becomes a foundational element of Brazil’s policy-making. This commitment is essential for addressing emergencies across health, climate, and other critical areas, ultimately fostering economic development and political autonomy.
