Brazilian Government announces R$ 150 million from the Amazon Fund for the "Amazon Challenges" Programme, part of the Amazônia+10 Initiative, for innovation in socio-bioeconomy production chains

The initiative will enable support for at least 18 collaborative projects and nearly 600 research grants; the announcement took place in Manaus (state of Amazonas) in the presence of President Lula

On Wednesday (27 May), in Manaus (Amazonas), the Brazilian Government announced an investment of R$ 150 million from the Amazon Fund in the "Amazon Challenges" (Desafios da Amazônia) programme to boost research, development and innovation projects aimed at solving concrete challenges in the socio-productive chains of the Legal Amazon. The programme will be coordinated by the Amazônia+10 Initiative of the National Council of State Research Support Foundations (CONFAP).

The initiative will be made possible with resources from the Amazon Fund, managed by the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) and coordinated by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA), in partnership with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI).

The investment approval letter was signed by João Paulo Capobianco, Minister of Environment and Climate Change; Luciana Santos, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation; Luciana Aparecida da Costa, Director of Infrastructure, Energy Transition and Climate Change at BNDES; and Márcia Perales Mendes Silva, President of the Amazonas State Research Support Foundation (FAPEAM), representing CONFAP.

"This is an important day for the Amazônia+10 Initiative and for CONFAP. This approval reflects the role of science, technology and innovation in solving concrete challenges faced by society, beginning with those faced by the populations who keep the forest standing," highlights Marcel do Nascimento Botelho, President of CONFAP.

The President of FAPEAM stressed that the signing of the agreement represents a strategic advance for consolidating the Amazônia+10 Initiative and for strengthening science, technology and innovation policies geared towards the Legal Amazon.

"The signing is an important step towards consolidating the Amazônia+10 Initiative, whose main objective is to foster research within the Legal Amazon in partnership with other states and countries, seeking answers to the questions seen as obstacles we want to overcome in the Amazon. CONFAP thanks the ministries involved and reaffirms its commitment to this, one of its most relevant programmes in the fight against regional asymmetries," commented Márcia Perales.

The programme, also implemented in partnership with the Arthur Bernardes Foundation (Funarbe) and with the support of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), foresees the launch of up to two public calls to support at least 18 collaborative projects, with an average investment of R$ 7 million per project. The initiatives must bring together at least two Scientific and Technological Institutions (ICTs) and one Socio-productive Organization (OSP), all based in the Legal Amazon, and may also include ICTs from anywhere in the country. In addition to the R$ 150 million provided by the Amazon Fund, the programme will count on around R$ 30 million in counterpart funding from the State Research Support Foundations.

In its first call, the programme's resources will support the development of technological solutions for the açaí, cocoa, Brazil nut, babassu and fish production chains, focusing on value addition, sustainable development, the strengthening of the bioeconomy, and income generation for Amazonian populations. The programme also foresees support for implementing the solutions in the territories, institutional strengthening, and the awarding of research grants, including community grants.

Expected results include the development of around 36 technological solutions for bottlenecks in Amazonian production chains, the direct participation of at least 72 scientific and technological institutions from across the country, and the involvement of around 630 researchers from the Legal Amazon.

The President of BNDES, Aloizio Mercadante, highlighted the strategic role of science and innovation for the sustainable development of the Amazon. "The development of the Amazon depends on valuing the knowledge produced in the region itself. With the Amazon Fund's support for the Amazon Challenges Programme, we are strengthening universities, research institutes and local organizations to transform science, technology and innovation into concrete solutions for the bioeconomy, income generation and forest preservation," he states.

Projects must be led by science and technology institutions in the Legal Amazon, but may bring together research institutions from all over Brazil. Eligible to make up the projects are public and not-for-profit private universities, research institutions and federal institutes, in partnership with community associations and cooperatives.

Amazon Fund

Created in 2008, the Amazon Fund finances actions to prevent, monitor and combat deforestation, as well as initiatives for the conservation and sustainable use of the Legal Amazon. Since 2023, after four years on hold, the Amazon Fund has expanded its support for projects focused on the bioeconomy, indigenous peoples, science, innovation, forest restoration and sustainable development in the Amazon region.

Since 2023, more than R$ 1.6 billion from the Fund has been allocated to sustainable productive activities, with the expectation of benefiting more than 100,000 people and supporting around 300 local organizations across all states of the Legal Amazon. Throughout its history, the instrument has benefited 287,000 people, generated R$ 364 million in revenue, and supported 600 institutions, consolidating itself as one of the country's main mechanisms for financing the bioeconomy and forest conservation.

In keeping with its commitment to transparency, the Amazon Fund website makes information available on all the projects it supports.

Amazônia+10 Initiative

The Amazônia+10 Initiative is an alliance of Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) funding agencies launched in 2022. Established within the National Council of State Research Support Foundations (CONFAP), the Initiative brings together national and international partners with the aim of expanding funding for research and innovation in the Legal Amazon, so as to drive the transition towards fairer, more sustainable models of economic development that are connected to the realities of Amazonian territories.

The Initiative's main results:

●     R$ 162.5 million made available for funding to date

●     7 calls already launched (3 from the Initiative and 4 from partners)

●     61 inter-institutional research projects currently underway

●     25 international collaboration workshops with the United Kingdom and France

●     10 fellows in the United Kingdom (partnership with the British Council)

●     More than 1,900 participating researchers

●     25 FAPs and 16 national and international partners

Foto: Ricardo Stuckert/PR