The Vice-Rectors of Research at USP, Unesp and Unicamp, Sylvio Canuto, Edson Botelho and João Romano, respectively, sent, yesterday, July 14th, to the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovations, Marcos Pontes, a letter requesting the restoration of the import quota for materials and equipment that will be used in national research projects.
According to the letter, resources were reduced from US$300 million to US$93 million, which “is seriously affecting hundreds of ongoing research projects that depend on the acquisition of imported materials, which only exist on the international market. This abrupt interruption of imports places scientific research in our country in a very delicate situation and points to a possible halt in several important projects.”
Read the full statement below, which was sent on behalf of the Council of Rectors of São Paulo State Universities (Cruesp).
Your Excellency Mr. Minister Marcos Cesar Pontes,
Minister of Science, Technology and Innovations
São Paulo, July 14, 2021
Mr. Minister:
The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) is the federal body that accredits the import of materials and equipment that will be used by national research projects, making them beneficiaries of Law No. 8010, of 29/3/1990 , which exempts taxes arising from import processes.
In 2021, the quota value for imports of materials and equipment was drastically reduced to US$93 million, compared to values over recent years, which have been, on average, US$300 million. This is a significant cut, leading to a quota that is 31% of the value established in recent years, that is, it is equivalent to around a third of the resources spent in previous years.
As a natural consequence, this reduction is seriously affecting hundreds of ongoing research projects that depend on the acquisition of imported materials, which only exist on the international market. This abrupt interruption of imports places scientific research in our country in a very delicate situation and points to a possible stoppage of several important projects.
This situation is particularly serious at this time when we are experiencing a unique health crisis, which has led the country to an extraordinary effort of scientific development and which could be paralyzed, enormously affecting Brazilian society as a whole. We should mention that, among these affected projects, there are several dedicated to obtaining a national vaccine, as well as medicines to combat Covid-19.
Note, therefore, sir. minister, that the recovery of the traditional values normally attributed, namely the value of US$ 300 million, is imperative in this reality that we live in which, in addition to maintaining research projects that generate development, will also benefit the country's fight for the recovery of conditions sanitary and health of Brazilians. This is a unique moment in the history of Brazil and the need for scientific development has never been so clear.
It is in this scenario that we turned to Your Excellency with the request for necessary and appropriate measures to recover the import quota worth US$ 300 million, which represents the average value of imports over recent years.
Best Regards,
Prof. Dr. Sylvio Canuto, Pro-Rector of Research at USP
Prof. Dr. Edson Botelho, Pro-Rector of Research at Unesp
Prof. Dr. João Romano, Pro-Rector of Research at Unicamp
Read the original content on the website Journal of USP
