A new partnership between Unicamp and the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae) was launched this Monday (6th), in Campinas, this time, and unprecedentedly, with the aim of acquiring new knowledge in a to improve public policies aimed at small businesses in Brazil. In addition to researchers and professors from the University, the event was attended by authorities from Campinas and Limeira involved in the topic of small businesses, as well as representatives from Sebrae from several Brazilian states, the Federal Revenue Service and the National Treasury Attorney's Office.
The project “Behavioral Insights Applied to the Economy of Small Businesses” will last 24 months and will be carried out within the scope of international cooperation Behavioral Change Initiative, established by the Public Sector Studies Laboratory (Lesp) of the Faculty of Applied Sciences (FCA) at Unicamp to carry out projects of public and social interest based on Behavioral Sciences – a multidisciplinary field that integrates knowledge from behavioral economics, psychology, philosophy, sociology, among other areas, and has been used by governments around the world, especially in the last decade, to promote public policies focused on improving the quality of life.
Milena Pavan Serafim, executive coordinator of the project and associate director of the FCA, highlights that the research work to be developed jointly aims to provide inputs that allow Sebrae and government bodies to evaluate and review their practices, their legal structures and their policies in the search for further disseminate the sustainability of small entrepreneurs and their businesses in Brazil. “This will be a long-lasting work of interaction and mutual learning, not only on the part of our students but also on the part of the different teams involved.”
The professor recalls that small businesses are responsible for more than 25% of the national GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and highlights the importance of knowing how to encourage them, especially in a scenario of macroeconomic growth accompanied by a reduction in employment levels.
After the opening table, Juliana Arruda Leite, professor at FCA, researcher at Lesp and communication coordinator for the project, presented details of the partnership and the functioning of the work to be developed. She explained that the objective of the project is to investigate, understand and encourage behavioral changes through interventions on two fronts of work. The first, with individual microentrepreneurs, especially in their behavior in relation to tax obligations. And the second, with micro and small companies, in their behavior in relation to resolving business conflicts without the intermediation of the Judiciary.
She also highlighted that Unicamp is a university that looks outward, that wants its research to have an impact on society, and spoke about how real problems do not respect disciplinary barriers. “We – Professor Milena and I – have the privilege of being at a college of applied sciences. So, for us, there is only one option: we always start from real problems, both in the Public Sector Studies Laboratory and in the Public Administration course at Unicamp, to develop knowledge about these problems, which do not respect disciplinary boundaries. Therefore, we always work in an interdisciplinary way. This is one of the pillars of our Faculty.”
The project is also coordinated by Carlos Mauro, who has extensive experience in applying Behavioral Sciences to public policies. Carlos is coordinator of partnerships and knowledge transfer.
There was also a panel of experts dealing with the topic of behavioral economics and micro and small businesses. Theoretical presentations were made by Denis Maracci Gimenez, professor at Unicamp's Institute of Economics (IE), Ricardo de Lins Horta, federal manager, and Rodrigo Lanna, panelist and also professor at the Institute of Economics. More details about the different phases of the project can be seen in recording of the launch event available on the official Faculty of Applied Sciences channel on YouTube.
See below other speeches from authorities present, both from Unicamp and Sebrae:
Increased degree of innovation and greater social justice
“I am most grateful for this partnership with Sebrae and the opportunity to work together once again – it is a pleasure for the University to be developing this activity. One of the hallmarks of our management is our great willingness to establish relationships with society in general and thus be able to increasingly collaborate with the development of our country. We know the enormous importance of small businesses for the future of Brazil, and the University has the role of being creative to the point of seeking to resolve certain dichotomies between small and large companies and innovation and build bridges towards a more inclusive future, with more income, greater competitiveness and growth, greater social justice for the country. May this partnership generate many developments and, above all, effective results so that small businesses multiply and increase their levels of innovation.” (Professor Antonio José de Almeida Meirelles, rector of Unicamp)
Importance of micro and small businesses
“There are almost 20 million micro and small companies in the country, which represent 99% of businesses in Brazil. We have 15 million Individual Microentrepreneurs (MEI) registered and 11 million active. Looking at IBGE data, over the last seven years, this was the occupation that grew the most. It is a public policy innovation that is here to stay, with all its benefits and qualities, but also with all the challenges we have to face. The fact is that, if we want to promote productive inclusion and reduce inequality, and even increase the competitiveness of our economy, it is not possible to ignore this huge segment. It is very motivating, therefore, to be working at the frontier of science to try to advance this topic that is so relevant to the country.” (Rafael de Farias Moreira, advisor to the Technical Directorate of Sebrae)
Connection of knowledge between Sebrae and University
“We have here representatives from Sebrae from all Brazilian states. We believe that this project is a new way of mobilizing actors and stakeholders in order to work on MEI's public policy, specifically, and achieve our mission in relation to default and reducing bureaucracy, through an internationally renowned methodology that Unicamp staff know so deeply. We will bring our knowledge about the realities of our clients and connect this with academic knowledge about Behavioral Sciences.” (Ana Carolina Santos, project manager at Sebrae’s Public Policy Unit)
FCA, hotbed of large projects
“It is important to highlight that, within Unicamp, the Faculty of Applied Sciences has always been a hotbed of large and important projects and extension programs and this must be recognized and congratulated. These are always very interesting and productive actions that come from the FCA. This partnership with Sebrae is another excellent example of the extensive nature of the Faculty, and many will be impacted by the results arising from this partnership.” (Professor José Luiz da Costa, representing Fernando Coelho, vice-rector of Extension and Culture at Unicamp)
30-year partnership and originality of the project
“The partnership between Sebrae and Unicamp has been going on for over 30 years, but this is the first project that aims to generate recommendations for public policies. This is a large-scale project and shows the importance with which our partners view this joint research activity. I believe that Sebrae is in very good hands and I can only leave the Dean of Research here at your disposal.” (Professor João Marcos Travassos Romano, Pro-Rector of Research at Unicamp)
Development of science-based public policies
“The satisfaction of being jointly developing a project of such magnitude is enormous. I believe that, in two years, when we are delivering the results of this partnership, we will undoubtedly have more people involved and revolutionary results. There is nothing better than being sure that we will base the development of public policies on science and thus be able to better understand how our clients – small entrepreneurs – make their choices on their path to success. The seed we are sowing today has great power to make Brazil a reference in terms of public policies that use Behavioral Sciences to improve the quality of life of its citizens.” (Elias Guimarães Borges Filho, assistant manager within the Presidency of Sebrae)
More information: bci@unicamp.br
