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A Brazilian consortium has unveiled a multi-billion-dollar strategy aimed at making Brazil a world leader in biotechnology.
The Brazilian Forum of Biotechnology Competitiveness, which includes government agencies, the private sector and academic institutions, announced the plan July 4. It identifies research areas that have the potential to boost the competitiveness of Brazilian industry, increase Brazil's participation in global trade, speed up its economic growth, and create jobs. The overall cost of putting the plan into action will be US$ 3 billion, which will come from the public and private sectors. Of this, more than US$ 530 million is earmarked for health-related biotechnology, including the production of drugs and vaccines for neglected diseases and cutting-edge research in the fields of genomics, proteomics, nano-biotechnology and stem-cell science. The plan entails creating new funding mechanisms, training, and improving the infrastructure of research institutions. "It is from an immediate, intense and integrated effort of government, industry and academia that Brazil will be capable of appearing, in 10-15 years, among the leaders in the biotechnology industry, especially in the areas of human health, farming and cattle raising and industrial biotechnology," says the document. The plan will be presented to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for approval later this year. SciDev - www.scidev.net
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If it is 5 years it represnts $ 600 millions per year and only $ 300 millions if investments are for the next 10 years.
In view of the so many different investments areas that the amount will be used, the total is ridiculously LOW by all and every standard.
This just shows you are not willing to invest for the long term.
Brazil has never invested for the long term, such as : education, infrastructure.
What is not profitable within a few years is simply a bad investment and thus put aside.......!!! So is the Brazilian way of thinking.
And when the government is involved it is even worse. For the last few years hundreds of millions annually were not spent and provided in R&D....despite the amounts were budgeted and approved.
They were frozen by Lula and Co. due to their austerity budget. But then why vote and budget large amounts.......knowing they wont be freed and spent anyway ??????
Typically Lula style.....before the election !
Promises....promises...promises ! That is all !!!!