“We need to advance knowledge,” says the future science minister

The future Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Luciana Santos (PC do B), on Saturday (24) defended the production of national knowledge. According to her, the government of President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Workers’ Party) will give priority to scientific sovereignty.

“A sovereign country is one that is able to reduce dependence on value-added and high-tech products,” he said in an interview with CNN Brazil. “We need, in addition to having knowledge, to develop this knowledge and create a scientific base that will ensure the large-scale production that drives the country’s development.”

Santos declared that development needed to be linked to technological innovation. “We need to enter the world of the industrial revolution that we live in the world.”

She criticized the previous administration of the ministry, accusing it of “denial”.

Santos also said that the next government will try to adjust for inflationary losses for CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development) grants.

CNPq Masters students earn R$1,500 per month. Ph.D., R$2,200. University scholarship holders receive R$400.

The future minister also criticized the Bolsonaro government’s decision to get rid of the state-owned semiconductor producer, CITIC.

Bolsonaro’s government decided to privatize and even liquidate Brazil’s only semiconductor plant. He declared that it is unreasonable to decipher what is the cream of innovation in the world.