Insertion of the Project on National Defense Policy


            For the Brazilian Federal Government, science, technology and innovation are matters of state, which go beyond governments and should be treated as commitments that are transferred from one government to the next. Because of its own nature, public policies are developed in various ministries, and to coordinate them and give unity to these activities, the Government uses the preparation of plans that facilitate the various action lines, indicating the instruments for their implementation and showing what the guidelines should be followed.

 

The Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology, in line with the Federal Government Plan for Accelerated Growth, has made its Action Plain for 2007-2010, which was presented to the scientific, technological and business community and the Brazilian people. The plain has the following goals: the consolidation of Brazilian scientific and technological research infrastructure, by the promotion of individual and collective projects, including networks formed by universities, research centers and technological institutes; improvement of the mechanisms and instruments for promoting the development of C, T & I, by the expansion of  resources to current programs and the creation of new programs geared to meet the growing demand for research and development of various areas of knowledge; the expansion of the National Network of Education and Research (RNP), to link the entities of the National System of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation; consolidation of MCT units of research on condition of national laboratories or core coordinators of thematic networks in strategic areas for the country autonomous development, stimulating association with these state and municipal units of P, D & I.

 

Moreover, it also intends to promote research and development of technologies focused on the priorities of the National Policy of Defense and public safety, by supporting the infrastructure of research institutions of science and technology - the ICT's areas, the training of human resources, and innovation in domestic companies. It will be also supported partnerships between ICT and public agencies for the formulation, implementation and evaluation of public policies of security and crime combat.

 

The science, technology and innovation are in the contemporary world scenario, fundamental tools for development, economic growth, employment and democratization of opportunities . The work of technicians, scientists, researchers and academics and the engagement of many companies are determining factors for the consolidation of a model of sustainable development, capable of meeting the just demands of the Brazilian social and permanent strengthening of national sovereignty. Again, this is a matter of state, which goes beyond governments.

 

The document that this project is submitted to has priority themes that have direct relationship with the strategic areas of the action plan in C, T & I, including itself the National Defense.

 

 In Brazil, there are guidelines to incentive scientific research in the area of National Defense. Regarding the area of Science, Technology and Innovation, the site of the Ministry of Defense announces that the ministry has the mission of enabling solutions and scientific-technological innovations to meet the needs of the country pertaining to Defense and national development. Thus, a  design of National Defense interest areas was created, and the detailing of these strategic is bounded by three axes that are able to create vectors and coordinated, called Technology for National Defense of Interest:

 

·         Defense axis – incorporates military specifications and requirements of National Defense to be met by weapons systems. It relates primarily to the expressions of Military Policy and National Power.

·         Science and Technology  axis - Technology Strategic Areas incorporates necessaries to meet the specifications and requirements set for the Systems of National Defense. It relates primarily to the scientific and technological expression of National Power.

·         Industry axis - incorporates innovative capacities and industrial own characteristics to meet the specifications and requirements for the Systems of National Defense. It relates primarily to the Economic and Psychosocial Expressions of National Power.

 

Among the technologies of national interest defined by the Ministry of Defense are: Data Fusion, the Intelligence Machine & Robotics and Integration System.

 

Other initiatives were the edicts of this ministry for the development of research and projects within the program Pro-Defense (Support Program for Education and Scientific Research and Technology in National Defense). In this case, it was a partnership between the Ministry of Defense and Capes (Foundation for the Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel). Its goal is to finance and stimulate the production of scientific and technological research and training of post-graduates in the area of National Defense.

 

Aiming to reduce the technological gap in relation to most modern armies and the dependence of the war outside, aligned with the policy of National Defense and with the policies and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Defense, the General Guidelines of the Brazilian Army Commander, as an armed force, will continue acting in line with the Brazilian Navy and the Brazilian Air Force, both in its strategic planning and preparation in their jobs.

 

In these guidelines, the Brazilian Army will continue to search for effective competence of scientific knowledge and technological innovation capacity, in order to provide the ground force with modern systems produced, primarily by the national Defense industry, whose recovery will continue to be as objective pursued.

 

Gradually, more advanced technology will be aggregated, always giving priority to the applied research and projects of dual technology. Among the projects, it should be considered as concentrators of the technological efforts the development of  the Brazilian Armored Fighting Vehicles New Family, the Anti-aircraft Defense System and the Command and Control System in Combat.

 

In the same guideline, there is the continuity of the work started by previous commands to expand the exchanges between military and civilian institutions in the areas of education, scientific research and culture, training of human resources for the areas of science and technology.

 

 The last paragraph emphasized the agreements already made between the Brazilian Army and the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). In 2004, a meeting with the commander of the Brazilian Army and the rector of Unicamp was done for the preparation of a laboratory inside the university. Currently, subordinated to the Technological Center of the Army - CTEx, an office has been implanted in UNICAMP. In 2006, a ceremony held at the Office of the Rector for signing of an agreement between the UNICAMP and the Command of the Brazilian Army, through its Science and Technology Department. In 2007, signing of two agreements with the CTEx. This partnership, provision of scientific and technological service in the area of development of focal plane of InGaAs and silicon “bolômetros”, it will involve resources of about $ 1.2 million, funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology - ERM and Funding for Research and Projects - FINEP.

 

The Arsenal de Guerra de São Paulo (AGSP) is an important unit of the Brazilian Army that Aims terrestrial mobility and assistance to the driver. Its mission is to contribute to the operation of Brazilian Army through manufacturing and recovery of military material. Among these activities, there is a mission to deploy and maintain the Group of Armored and Military Vehicles with the aim of supporting the projects of experimental development of military systems made by CTEx through the promotion of applied research activities in the area of armored and military vehicles and training of human resources used in projects. The AGSP intend to be a centre of excellence in military material, particularly in the area of land mobility.

 

As auxiliary and reserve forces of the Brazilian Army that integrate the Public Security and Social Protection Brazil, in the states we have the military police, which are public security forces units that are responsible for the police ostensible primary function and the preservation of public order - Article 144 of the Federal Constitution of 1988. They are subordinated, in conjunction with the civilian police, to the Governors of States, the Federal District and the Territories - art. 144 § 6 of the Federal Constitution of 1988.

 

Another important aspect in the development of scientific-technological research in Brazil, especially when there are from military, refers to the acquisition of technologies and equipment manufactured in other countries. Centered in favor of national industry, in September 2007, the Federal Government announced the establishment of the Strategic Plan of National Defense. Expected to be launched in September 2008, the plan aims to present a policy of national defense combined with a long-term strategy to reactivate the industry of defense material in the country and reequip the Armed Forces. In addition, earlier this year of 2008, cooperation in military strategy mark the staff of meetings with the holders of Defense, Nelson Jobim (Brazil), Hervé Morin (France), Anatoli Serdiukov (Russia) and Nilda Garré (Argentina). In January 2008, Brazil and France assigned a strategic alliance for the Defense sector.