Brazil advances in nuclear technology and innovation.

Partnership with China marks a new chapter in radiopharmaceuticals.

On Thursday, November 13, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Luciana Santos, met with the Chairman of the Board of the China Isotope and Radiation Corporation (CIR), Xiao Yafei, in Brasília. The meeting sealed commitments to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the production of radiopharmaceuticals — essential inputs for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases.

During the negotiations, authorities discussed expanding national production by the Institute for Energy and Nuclear Research (IPEN), technology transfer, and intellectual property protection. The proposal aims to guarantee greater technological autonomy and direct benefits for Brazilian healthcare.

According to Xiao Yafei, the partnership could advance throughout 2026, with the creation of a subsidiary in Brazil and the formation of a specialized team. Tax issues related to the import of inputs are among the practical points under discussion.

Green innovation at COP30: investments in bioeconomy

On Wednesday (12), Finep presented at COP30, in Belém, Brazil's leading role in clean technologies and sustainable economy. The agency's president, Luiz Antonio Elias, highlighted that Amazonian science, integrated with local knowledge, represents a strategic advantage for Brazil and the planet.

Among the priority themes are decarbonization of transport, sustainable fuels, energy generation and storage, bioeconomy, and circular economy. The agency announced three new public calls for proposals:

Investments announced

Pro-Amazon Public Notice: R$ 150 million for research infrastructure in the Legal Amazon.

Investment fund: aimed at bioeconomy startups

Scientific collections: Call for cultural and scientific projects

Over the past two years, more than 400 startups have been supported by programs such as Tecnova, Centelha, Inovacred, and direct economic subsidies, demonstrating a focus on reducing regional disparities.

Technology and health: equity under debate.

FISweek 2025, the largest health innovation and trends event in Latin America, brought together approximately ten thousand people with 700 speakers across 14 stages. The highlight was the role of technology in ensuring accessibility and equity in the healthcare system.

Former Health Minister José Gomes Temporão warned about Brazil's technological dependence: 90% of the active ingredients for medicines are imported. He emphasized the need to reduce this vulnerability and cited the Fiocruz-private partnership in the Covid-19 vaccine as a successful model.

Fernando Pares, founder of ISA Saúde, pointed out that about half of hospitalizations could be treated at home, especially for chronic and age-related diseases — the fastest growing segment.

Climate technology transfer under negotiation.

At COP30, technology transfer emerged as one of the most challenging issues in climate negotiations. The Paris Agreement provides for technology transfer and capacity building for developing countries in mitigation and adaptation actions.

To date, 111 countries have submitted reports on climate targets. The executive director of COP30 highlighted that this issue was one of the few that did not reach an agreement at the preparatory meeting in Bonn in June, signaling complexity in the final negotiations.

Photo by Tao Yuan on Unsplash