THE FINANCING OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES - A BRAZILIAN CASE IN POINT

FINEP, the Brazilian Agency for Financing Studies and Projects (FINanc iadora de Estudos e Projetos), despite lack of funding and political p ressures, achieved remarkable results in mission-oriented research dur ing the 1980s. It was involved in practically all the major Brazilian biotechnology programs, with a basic policy of overcoming development gaps, for instance, in genetic engineering, cell culture, and molecula r biology. This paper discusses FINEP's evolution and structure in the 1980s, followed by a description of its main projects in biotechnolog y. Illustrated in more detail is FINEPs support for its main beneficia ry, the Federal University of Vicosa, state of Minas Gerais. Then the reasons for FINEPs success are described, including the staff dedicati on to overcoming Brazilian development problems by funding projects th at would eventually replace imports, and by carefully assessing the tr ack records of the institutions and the individuals applying for fundi ng. A high priority was given to projects for which there was a signif icant domestic market potential, and to individuals deemed capable of actually bringing such products to market.