Science, Planning and Financing – 02/17/2023 – I am Science

This Thursday, February 16th, a little more than 40 days into the new government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, we witnessed the announcement of a readjustment in the values ​​of research grants, from around 40% to 45% for the year 2023. The expectation is that this will be a first step in a new cycle of valuing young people who seek to continue their studies, research and science.

We also noticed a fundamental change in posture in the new government, especially on the part of the President, who makes clear the importance of Science and how much he intends to value and expand its scope. A clear difference is also in the treatment that the scientific community has been receiving, with respect to researchers and universities, especially federal universities, and research institutes.

Certainly a good start and a great relief in the face of the fact that if there were one more Bolsonaro (mis)government, it would be the path to complete destruction. We cannot forget that we were very close to this place. But it is also important to ask whether some areas or institutions have not reached it; ask about the damage and how long it will take to recover what was destroyed.

In this sense, it is necessary to think strategically about the future and what must be done to recover, put the house in order, join powers and have a new cycle of growth.

Undoubtedly, a budget recomposition is necessary, a complex action that requires the articulation of several elements. One of them, mentioned at the beginning of this article, is the recovery of student and research grants. But it is also necessary to create incentives for the fixation of scientists and researchers and, for this, it is fundamental to know the diagnosis about the evasion of doctors, as well as the reasons for dropping out of graduate students before obtaining the title.

It is also necessary to think about programs that can encourage more young people to remain in the academic career. These are the so-called permanence stimuli, which must have a systemic character and at all levels, with the expansion of existing programs (for example, the PNAES) and the establishment of public policies with interministerial articulation and coordinated work.

Other factors relate to the MCTI’s budget recomposition, the release of FNDCT values ​​collected to invest in Science and which have been contingency. As we demonstrated in the SoU_Ciência Financing Panel, there was a loss of more than 35 billion reais in Fund resources that were accumulated and that were diverted by the Bolsonaro government.

Another fundamental aspect is the recovery of funding budgets of federal universities, which suffered a loss of more than 50% in the last 4 years. Here, it is also worth the coordinated action between ministries to recover the research infrastructure of universities and institutes, since there is a great gap and deterioration. There is no way to buy state-of-the-art equipment without providing a competent structure to accommodate the equipment. In addition, the structure and dignified working conditions are intrinsic aspects to the valuation, dignity and mental health of researchers, technicians and students.

In addition to budget issues, it is urgent to think in a coordinated way about the priorities for the development of our country, enabling innovative forms of interaction between researchers, with the creation of spaces that lead to the formation of networks on strategic and converging themes. The pandemic brought a great deal of learning in this regard and this legacy can form the basis for forwarding and solving major problems with the optimization of budgetary and human resources. Federal universities have contributed enormously during the fight against Covid-19, learning that must be recognized and preserved. Certainly, a new edition of the National Conference on Science and Technology, which has not taken place since 2006, will contribute to the discussion of major priority themes for the country.

Finally, coordinated action with governments, parliamentarians and public and private entities should expand the necessary partnerships to rebuild the environment and enthusiasm of the scientific community and future researchers in the production of knowledge. Systemic actions involving budgetary resources for infrastructure, equipment maintenance and incentives coordinated with the application of science in public policies or new technologies will be fundamental for post-pandemic rescue and for overcoming the immense uncertainties we are experiencing and the legacy of government destruction Bolsonaro.

To this end, it will also be important to expand and seek new ways of disseminating scientific knowledge, integrating communication strategies developed to date and forming an ecosystem for the protection of Science and Knowledge, thus contributing to Brazilian society continuing to be linked and increasing its perception and for Science to be a permanent part of growth and development and to work in favor of Life.

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