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Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said today that Brazil can no longer remain an exporter of fresh products. He declared that at the inauguration of the National Nanotechnology and Nanoscience Program at the National Synchroton Light Particle Laboratory in Campinas, state of São Paulo.
"The big guys are those that possess technological and scientific power. They are the countries with more capacity to decide their destiny, to exercise their sovereign power in defense of their interests in international negotiations, and to do a better job on behalf of social justice," the President said,
According to the President, the federal government has invested in projects of technological innovation, unlike what went on during the decade of the '90's, "when government research funds were cut and there was an intense denationalization of the country's industry."
As examples of what the current Administration is doing, he cited the university reform and the creation of 32 university extension units in the country's poorest regions.
"We are doing this to give Brazil the necessary instruments for us to compete in the knowledge sphere on a truly equal basis with other countries that are of the same size and importance as Brazil," he emphasized.
The National Nanotechnology Program is intended to manufacture products to strengthen the country's scientific research capacity. US$ 29.81 million (71 million reais) will be invested this year.
According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, these funds will be used to finance the projects of young scientists and the implantation of major laboratories.
Agência Brasil
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