Research and development in information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the country is to receive an investment of R$ 300 million over the next five years. The initiative is part of an agreement which was signed today (February 27) between the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) and the Ministry of Education (MEC), with Intel Brazil.

The amount will be applied by Intel to invest in and fund research in Brazilian universities. At the same time, the Federal Government will provide scholarships to students and researchers through an official notice to be released later this semester. The research will focus on the education, energy and transportation sectors, with the measure expected to involve 300 researchers, including collaborators, university researchers and scholarship students.

Minister Marco Antonio Raupp, from the MCTI, highlighted the need to establish public-private cooperation partnerships in science and technology. "The effort that Brazil is putting into sustainable development is essential. I have supported this direction, seeking the participation of private companies. President Dilma Rousseff was very clear in saying that the method to be implemented is just this," said Raupp.

In the sectors involved, the focus will be on the development of software solutions such as visualization and simulation tools for extracting oil in the pre-salt layer, educational software, high performance computing, electronic license plate technology for cars, and cutting-edge, technology-based solutions to increase efficiency in the management of passenger and cargo traffic.

According to the President of Intel in Latin America, Steve Long, the company intends to "accelerate the penetration of technology", transferring knowledge to the country.

The information technology sector in Brazil earned R$ 123 billion in 2012 and currently occupies seventh position in the global market.

Source:

Agência Brasil

03 March 2013