The industry's performance in 2012 was not encouraging. Indicators such as hours worked in production, the use of installed capacity and employment show that the expectation of economic growth that existed at the beginning of the year was frustrated. To reverse these results in the short term and ensure long-term growth sustainability, Brazil needs to become more competitive. And it will only achieve this if it faces challenges in the areas of innovation and education.
The 2012 Competitiveness Survey, carried out by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), places Brazil in an intermediate position in terms of technology and innovation. It is ranked 7th among 13 countries with similar economic and social characteristics and position in the world economy. Specifically, regarding research, development and innovation activities in companies, Brazil drops to 8th place in the ranking, behind countries like Russia, India and South Korea. either by cultural problems or by difficulties of incentive.
In terms of education, we have advanced in terms of universalization, but we are still making slow progress in terms of quality. If it follows the current pace, only in 2021 will Brazil have the proficiency and average performance of elementary school students that developed countries had in 2007. Regarding who is already in the market, the numbers are not encouraging: 21% of workers in industry do not even complete elementary school. Those who have completed high school are just over half (54%).
If we do not change this situation in both education and innovation, we will have little chance of reaching an acceptable level of competitiveness. A new situation will only come if Brazil urgently changes its educational matrix, preparing its human resources, including technical education, and including innovation in its policies for growth.
From the point of view of innovation, the Inova Empresa Plan, announced by President Dilma Rousseff on March 14, represents an important advance for the country. R$ 32.9 billion are foreseen in resources to finance projects and the creation of the Brazilian Industrial Research and Innovation Company (Embrapii). Allied to the responses of the private sector, Brazil has the chance to make a qualitative leap in its global insertion.
The National Service for Industrial Learning (SENAI) will make important contributions for Brazil to advance in the direction of competitiveness. The Brazilian Industry Competitiveness Support Program began to carry out a vast project of innovation and professional qualification. The resources are substantial: R$ 1.5 billion in BNDES financing and another R$ 400 million in own resources.
The program will install a network of Institutes of Innovation and Technology that will reconfigure technical education and innovation in the country. Twenty-three SENAI Innovation Institutes will train higher-level professionals aligned with the needs of the productive sector. The objective is to generate knowledge for key areas such as microelectronics, surface engineering and information and communication technology, to name just three. Students, focused on applied research, will be encouraged to work on anticipating technological trends.
This innovation network will operate in an integrated manner with 61 Institutes of Technology, which, in addition to maintaining professional education courses, including higher education, will offer companies chain services and laboratory tests, many of which are currently carried out abroad.
The two pillars of SENAI, the Institutes of Innovation and Technology, will join the reinforcement of new 81 mobile units and 53 professional training centers. The goal is to reach 4 million enrollments in 2014 – practically double the 2.4 million registered in 2011.
I have no doubt that, with this enormous effort, the country will be better prepared to face the permanent challenges of innovation and competitiveness, establishing itself as one of the main actors – and not a mere extra – in the world's leading role.
Rafael Lucchesi is an economist and director-general of SENAI