Apoio público à pesquisa científica e desenvolvimento tecnológico: a crise do FNDCT na perspectiva da ação pública

Abstract

This research examines the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FNDCT) since the creation of the C&T Sectoral Programs with their specific categories of budget programming, called "Sectoral Funds". The research investigates the relationship between the financial crisis currently experienced by the Fund and the process of political weakening of its decision-making structure, based on the MCT Ordinance n° 151 of April 2, 2004 and Law n° 11.540 of November 12, 2007. The theoretical approach of Lascoumes and Le Galés (2012) has been used to identify and analyze this relationship, based on the investigation of the main disputes between groups of pressure by budgetary resources. The conclusion of the research is that the crisis FNDCT has been going through cannot be interpreted as simple lack of resources. It is the result of political disputes that have led to the weakening of the FNDCT governance structure, instituted under the principie of shared management among sectoral ministries, the scientific community and productive business sectors. The failure of the Public Administration to comply with this principie amid political disputes led to the interinstitutional isolation of the MCTI as the central body of FNDCT governance and, at the same time, increased the capacity of influence of the Finance and Planning ministries and of Finep Institution on decisions over the allocation of the Fund resources. This process, within the context of fiscal and financial restrictions of the State, ended up by converging to a political-institutional crisis coupled with a crisis of lack of resources.