Ministry of Science and Technology
Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia, MCT
The Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT) is the civilian cabinet organization which coordinates scientific and technological activities in the country. It is headed by the Minister of Science and Technology (since July 2005: Sérgio Rezende).
MCT is the executive secretary of the National Council of Science and Technology (Conselho Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia, CCT). CCT is governed by the Brazilian President and establishes the Science and Technology policy for the whole country.
The following research institutes are under direct supervision of the MCT:
- National Institute of Space Research (
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, INPE) - Brazilian Space Agency ( Agência Espacial Brasileira, AEB)
- Brazilian National Laboratory of Synchrotron Light ( Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron, LNLS)
- Renato Archer Research Center for Information Technology ( Centro de Tecnologia da Informação Renato Archer, CTI)
- Brazilian Center for Physics Research ( Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas, CBPF)
- Center for Strategic Studies and Management in Science, Technology and Innovation ( Centro de Gestão e Estudos Estratégicos, CGEE)
- Center of Mineral Technology ( Centro de Tecnologia Mineral, CETEM)
- Research and Projects Finanzing ( Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos, FINEP)
- Brazilian Institute of Information in Science and Technology ( Instituto Brasileiro de Informação em Ciência e Tecnologia, IBICT)
- Institute of Sustainable Development Mamirauá ( Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, IDSM)
- National Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics ( Instituto Nacional de Matemática Pura e Aplicada, IMPA)
- National Institute of Amazonian Research ( Instituto Nacional de Pesquisa da Amazônia, INPA)
- National Institute of Technology ( Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia, INT)
- National Semi-Arid Institute, ( Instituto Nacional do Semi-Árido, INSA)
- Brazilian National Astrophysics Laboratory ( Laboratório Nacional de Astrofísica, LNA)
- National Laboratory of Computer Science ( Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, LNCC)
- Museum of Astronomy and related Sciences ( Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins, MAST)
- Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi ( Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, MPEG)
- National Observatorium ( Observatório Nacional, ON)
Institutions linked to the MCT which do research support:
- National Education and Research Network, ( Rede Nacional de Ensino e Pesquisa, RNP)
The National Education and Research Network (Rede Nacional de Ensino e Pesquisa – RNP) is the Brazilian infrastructure of advanced network for collaboration and communication in the fields of teaching and research. Besides connecting all federal institutions of higher education and research, this infrastructure provides a testbed for the experimental development of new applications and network services for the benefit of its users.
The RNP Association, a non-profit civil institution, was created in 1999 by the Ministry of Science and Technology, subordinated to the National Council of Scientific and Technological Development (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – CNPq). In 2002, the RNP Association was qualified as a Social Organization by the federal government.
- National Nuclear Energy Commission ( Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear, CNEN).
- CNEN is supervising the following research institutes:
- Nuclear and Energetic Research Institute ( Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN)
- Center of Nuclear Technology Development ( Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, CDTN)
- Regional Nuclear Science Center of the Center-West ( Centro Regional de Ciências Nucleares do Centro Oeste, CRCN-CO)
- Radiation Protection and Dosimetry Institute ( Instituto de Radioproteção e Dosimetria, IRD)
- Nuclear Engineering Institute ( Instituto de Engenharia Nuclear, IEN)
- Nuclear and Energetic Research Institute (
- National Council of Scientific and Technological Development ( Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, CNPq)
- Research and Projects Finanzing ( Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos, FINEP)
With the ministry, created in 1985 by President Tancredo Neves and later established under the Sarney government, the science and technology agencies increased in size.
In 2001, the MCT started the sector funding programs. Brazilian companies invest money in these funds which co-ordinate projects in various technology fields. More money is coming from taxes on fuel or electricity. Under the Lula government these sector funds were altered in that form that they can be used vertically (government can fund special projects and programs using different sector funds) in addition to the original horizontal investment (funding comes from the same sector). There are 17 sector funding programs at the moment (2010). If you like to know more about these programs please click here: 
Research Funding Organizations
Website: Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia
Source: MCT
Ministries
