Legal Framework of ST&I should bring more dynamism to the area in Brazil

The decree that regulates the Legal Framework for Science, Technology and Innovation in Brazil was published at the beginning of February in Brasilia. The new rules seek to bring universities closer to companies, making research, scientific and technological development and innovation in the country more dynamic, as well as reducing the bureaucracy in investments for the area.

According to the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications, the new legal framework should simplify the signing of agreements for the promotion of public research, facilitate the internationalization of scientific and technological institutions, and increase interaction between them and companies. Other points are the simplification of import procedures for goods and research inputs; new incentives to make technological orders and flexibility in rearranging budget resources.

According to the Fiocruz Vice President of Production and Innovation in Health, Marco Krieger, "the new Legal Framework presents a new legal perspective for science and technology institutions, whether public or private, to address the obstacles related to science, technology and innovation development. Its main goal is to encourage, simplify and make its processes more flexible, and to boost integration between the public and private research sectors."

Fiocruz closely monitored the project since 2011, when the revision of the Science and Technology Code in the Chamber of Deputies was announced. The Foundation participated actively in a Rapporteur Group of the National Congress, organized the first public hearing with the participation of the scientific community, attended specialized discussion forums and other public hearings, and promoted workshops in Rio de Janeiro and in units located in other states. 

The Presidency of Fiocruz also worked with the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications in the submission of background information and suggestions for the drafting of the document that will regulate said legal instrument.

According to Krieger, the Foundation has maintained an active working group for follow-up, analysis and actions related to each stage of the process for building and consolidating the new Legal Framework. This group will also be responsible for the detailed analysis of the guidelines published in the decree to conduct the actions and normative ruling for carrying out the process of internalization of its provisions at the institution.