Investimento em pesquisa cresce 10% ao ano no Brasil, aponta relatório dos EUA

O título acima é a reprodução de uma notícia do "Valor Econômico" de hoje. Segundo o texto de Alex Ribeiro:

"Brasil é um dos países em que os investimentos em pesquisa e desenvolvimento mais crescem no mundo, afirma o Conselho de Ciência e Engenharia dos Estados Unidos, que acaba de soltar o seu relatório bianual, considerado um dos mais importantes guias para a formulação das políticas públicas americanas na área."

O artigo contem o seguinte gráfico:

Eu não conheço, nem consegui localizar página do Conselho de Ciência e Engenharia dos Estados Unidos, mas fiquei com a impressão que se trata dos Science and Engineering Indicators 2010 da National Science Foundation.  No capítulo 4 (Research and Development: National Trends and International Linkages) encontrei alguns trechos que falam do Brasil e que se assemelham ao texto:

"both India and Brazil are among the world’s larger R&D performers, although neither has yet become part of OECD’s statistical system. According to the UNESCO statistics, India performed $15 billion of RR&D in 2004 (current U.S. dollars, PPP) and Brazil performed $13 billion in 2005. Both figures are about double the levels of R&D performance that each country reported in the mid-1990s. These levels of R&D expenditures would put both India and Brazil in the world’s top 15 R&D performers." (pag. 4-35);

"On an individual country basis, changes proved more modest in terms of global shares, although funding levels in some lower-cost locations may still be significant from the perspective of purchasing power. R&D performed by U.S.-owned affiliates in China and India increased from less than $10 million in each country in 1994 to $804 million in China and $310 million in India in 2006, but these levels represented only about 3% and 1%, respectively, of total overseas R&D by U.S. MNCs. In the Middle East, Israel accounted for virtually all R&D by affiliates of U.S. MNCs, with about 3% of the global share. Brazil represented two- thirds of Latin America’s U.S.-owned affiliates’ R&D and a 2% global share." (pag. 4-49);

"More than half of R&D by U.S.-owned affiliates in Europe was performed by affiliates classified in transportation equipment (35%) and chemicals (21%). Affiliates classified in transportation equipment also performed half of U.S.-owned R&D in Brazil. Affiliates classified in chemicals performed half of R&D by U.S.-owned companies in Japan. "(pags. 4-49 e 4-50);

Nas conclusões:

"China, which ranks third globally in R&D spending, con- tinues to exhibit the most dramatic growth pattern. Its real R&D growth over the past decade has averaged just over 19% annually. Both India and Brazil also are among the world’s larger and faster-growing R&D performers, accord- ing to UNESCO statistics. India performed about $15 bil- lion of R&D in 2004, and Brazil about $13 billion in 2005 (both figures are the most recent available data). The totals reported for both countries are about double the levels of R&D performance each reported in the mid-1990s. Compa- rability of these figures to the OECD statistics is unclear, but such levels of R&D expenditures would rank both India and Brazil among the world’s top 15 R&D-performing nations." (pag. 4-57).

Não resta dúvida que o Brasil passa a ter um papel de destaque em ciência e tecnologia e começa a aparecer. Contudo, há há muito a ser feito e o investimento precisa ser continuado. O próximo governo precisa se comprometer em manter e ampliar o esforço de financiamento de C&T realizado pelo governo do Pres. Lula.  Precisamos deixar no passado as oscilações dramáticas de financiamento ao setor. Sem um investimento continuado será impossível ter um bom desempenho.