Brazil

Nanoscience and nanotechnology are considered a strategic area in Brazilian science, technology, and innovation policy. In view of the human and material resources devoted to the field, Brazil occupies a leading position in the Latin American region. A national policy for nanotechnology began construction in late 2000 and has been consolidated during President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's two terms (2003 to 2006, and 2007 to 2010), resulting in a significant strengthening of Brazilian capabilities in the field. The construction of the national policy for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology began under the government of Fernando Henrique Cardoso (term 1999 to 2002) with a workshop held in Brasilia in November 2000, called “Tendencies of Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies,” organized by the Secretariat of Policies and Programs of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MS&T) and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). In this meeting, researchers from different backgrounds and policy makers reached an agreement about the necessity of creating a national program in the field. Immediately after, a Working Commission identified 192 researchers working in the country in five areas: nanoinstruments, nanosensors, and nanoelectronics; nanoestructured materials; nanobiotechnology and nanochemistry; nanoscale processes with impacts and applications on the environment and agriculture; and nanometrology.

CNPq acted rapidly in order to promote the establishment of multidisciplinary research networks, launching a call for research to form Cooperative Networks of Basic and Applied Research on Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies in 2001, with the purpose of creating and consolidating the national expertise in this field. Three million reais were allocated for the four-year project ($1 million, according to the exchange rate at the time). The outcome was the creation of four research networks: nanostructured materials, molecular nanotechnology and interphases, nanobiotechnology and the network of semiconductor, nanoinstruments and nanostructured materials. Each network was composed of scientists, universities and research centers from different regions of the country.