Government invests in private IT training

CNPq, ..., is an organ of the federal government and they are responsible for the new Brazilian initiative of placing 3.5 million reais into personnel training for the private sector. Companies and individuals can subscribe to the project (see official edital). Simple IT knowledge such as Microsoft Word, Windows and even typing are still necessary since millions of Brazilians have never owned a computer and just now that they are having an opportunity to have a generation of informatics abitues, like the middle and higher-classes did in the 80's.

11 million dollars in search for European partnership

Brazil is investing U$11 million for creating partnerships between research institutions of this country and EU. The objective is to create an infrastructure for research and development of laboratories and to gather human resources for a better effective use of advanced technologies, with efficiency and international competitiveness. People and companies interested should submit the projects until the 8th of February 2011 and the maximum period for the execution of such project is 30 months. Take a look at the CNPq website http://www.cnpq.br/editais/ct/2010/066.htm

Switzerland-Brazil Symposium - Challenges of Cities in the 21st Century Metropolis

The event is part of the agenda of the High Level Mission of Switzerland to Brazil, which takes place 26-30 August to deal with the deepening of bilateral scientific and technological relations issues of higher education in both countries and international cooperation in health.

How science and technology can help with the challenges modern cities face in this century? This is the question researchers, students, scientists, businessmen, representatives of civil society organizations and municipal government, state and federal are trying to answer.

Attended the opening ceremony of the Federal Councillor of Switzerland, Didier Burkhalter, president of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Carlos Aragon, the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, the Swiss Ambassador Wilhelm Meier and chairman IAB / RJ, Sérgio Magalhães.

$7 million for research on yeast, fermentation taken seriously.

Brazilian government wants to create the National Network for Yeast Research because of its super-important usage in biotechnology and genetics. The goal with the investment of R$7 million (about US$4 million) is to increasing scientific knowledge on wild yeasts in Brazil and its potential application; discover new routes and fermentation technology products based on yeast, increase efficiency and technological innovation in industrial bioprocesses based on yeast; articulate and integrate more effectively the groups that research yeast in Brazil, and increase integration between research institutions and the industry.

National Council of Scientific Development (CNPq) is the responsible for this proposal and the investment comes from the Biotechnology Sector Fund (FSB).

51st International Mathematical Olympiad

51st International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), which takes place until tomorrow (14) in the city of Astana, Kazakhstan, has already granted Brazil with 2 Silver medals and 1 Bronze.

The 6 students participating of the Brazilian delegation had to resolve 3 math problems in under 4 hours and 30 minutes. Since 1979 Brazil has won 8 gold, 23 silver and 59 bronze. The entities involved in this competition are:

• Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad (OBM)
  
• Brazilian Mathematical Society (SBM)
  
• National Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics (Impa / MCT)
  
• National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq / MCT) -- supported by
  
• National Institute of Science Technology Mathematics (INCT - Mat) -- supported by
  

I certainly hope trend carries on and education becomes a major investment concern to the government there.

Spain is partnering with Brazil for innovation development

According to one of my previous posts, $41 billions spent in tech development and research, Brazil is jumping in front of the vanguard of the nanotechnology in South America, and Spain - clever - jumped to share good results. Biotechnology, Renewable Energy, Process Engineering, Nanotechnology and Health are the targeted subjects for this joint effort pro innovation.

Yes the Ministry of Science and Innovation (Micinn), from Spain, and CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development), from Brazil, are now in partnership where Spanish researchers that can now be funded with up to R$3 million (around US$1.8 mi) of the FNDCT, National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development of Brazil.

All projects must be presented with a responsible PhD with experience with international cooperation, which is good for improving Brazilian know-how on cooperative technological research and development with international financial advantage as the one of the main goals.

Investment Directed to IT development using governmental fund, good news to me

Information Technology is now part of the Brazilian government's investments, R$12 millions (about US$8 million) will go into technology specialization programs (to expand applied knowledge of IT supply chain) and into information management systems research (for managing large volumes of data, distributed computing, modelling complex systems, impacts of the transition from silicon to new technologies, universal access and more). This is a public program and the projects presented will have to match one of the selected categories and depending on the are of knowledge the amount of investment varies.

The involved departments are the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq / MCT), National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FNDCT / CT-Info) and the Brazilian Computer Society (SBC)

Young Scientist Award: Improving Environmental Impact of Energy Usage

R$150 thousand (around US$90.000) are destined to the 24º Young Scientist Award promoted by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development of Brazil (CNPq / MCT), the company Gerdau and the Roberto Marinho Foundation (FRM). This is a pretty pathetic prize for both, the company and the foundation in question, because Gerdau is one of the top mineral extract (iron and other metals) companies in the World and FRM owns the 5th biggest television company in the World, Globo. I think they just need to do something with the billions they make so they can justify not paying taxes (or at least all of it).

Nonetheless it is something worthy to tell to my avid readers. The focus of this initiative this year (2010) is to challenge the junior scientists to reduce the environmental impacts caused by energy consumption. There are several categories that students can fit on and that makes this project interesting: young entrepreneurs with ideas to change the World (for a better one). This is the best outcome of this project, not the money, and that is why it is in its 24th edition.

I hope someone gives an idea that really help and that one of these companies assume the responsibility to execute it, going a bit further than just opening a public challenge with their spare change.

$80 million dollars invested in research

Again Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) is playing its part. 120 millions Brazilian Real is being placed for research on ALL scientific knowledge fields. Partnering with National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (Fundo Nacional de Desenvolvimento, Científico e Tecnológico - FNDCT/Fundos Setoriais) this money will be strategically distributed and 30% of it will be directed to the North, North-east or Midwest to consolidate the National System for Technological and Scientific Innovation.


Ignore the next paragraph if you don't want to read my personal opinion:

As a Southern I must, not with pleasure, disclaim that these 3 regions are the most corrupt, politically, in the country and also contribute the least to Brazilian's GDP. Many Southern people like me complaint that as we pay higher and higher taxes, we get less and less support. South and South-east are the economic powerhouses of Brazil - and most of South-America - and we do feel left-out of some national investment programs.

Brazil is calling for science geniuses

21st July 2010

Scholarship will open on the 13th of August 2010 and the focus is in supporting researchers from developing countries. TWAS is calling: China, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan and Thailand.

The editorial document can be found in Portuguese at CNPQ.br.


Original post

Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq) is partnering with TWAS (The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World - http://www.twas.org/) to promote scholarship programs for PhD and post-PhD students from developing countries. This is the first big step Brazil has made for the last 30 years to improve its 'brain power' and scientific influence. Aggregating geniuses is the best technique that a country can apply to come out of poverty and to guarantee a bright future for all.

Spacial program takes Brazil to another level

Brazilian Spacial Agency (Agência Espacial Brasileira, or AEB) is investing something around US$9 million in research. The investment is innovative because the researchers interested in getting funded can submit their application form to the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, or CNPq/MCT) until July the 28th. The focus: projects directly related to launching vehicles, satellites and equipments, ground systems for operations and launching control (including conformity evaluation, extensions and transferences of products from the high-tech industry). Pretty cool right?