The projects are part of the Federal Government’s New Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) and are financed with resources from the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FNDCT) of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI).
Both are part of the federal government’s strategy to strengthen science, technology, and innovation in Brazil. During the visit, Luciana Santos highlighted the importance of Orion, which will be the world’s first maximum biosafety laboratory connected to a synchrotron light source, Sirius.
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Luciana Santos, the CNPEM Director-General, José Roque, and the delegation during the visit
The Minister highlighted that the unprecedented infrastructure represents a decisive advance for Brazil’s scientific and technological sovereignty, allowing the country to be prepared to respond to future epidemics more quickly with the development of medicines, vaccines, and treatments. “The Lula government is working to anticipate pandemics and ensure solutions that improve the lives of the Brazilian people,” stated the Minister.
CNPEM General Director, Antonio José Roque, highlighted the importance of the visit and of the MCTI’s support. “It was very important today to welcome Minister Luciana and her team. She came to monitor the progress of phase 2 of Sirius and the works on Orion, as well as learn about other relevant projects in areas such as renewable energy, biomass transformation, health and medical equipment, in partnership with the Ministry of Health. The MCTI and federal government’s support has been helping to transform Brazil, bringing sovereignty and solutions to society’s challenges”, he said.
In addition to José Roque, took part in the visit representing the CNPEM directors Maria Augusta Arruda, Director of the Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio); Harry Westfhal Jr., Director of the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS); Mario Murakami, Director of the Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory (LNBR); James Francisco Citadini, CNPEM Deputy Director of Technology; and Sérgio Rodrigo Marques, CNPEM Deputy Director of Infrastructure.
The Minister was accompanied by the City Councilman Gustavo Petta, the parliamentary advisor Augusto César Lima e Silva, the vice-president of PCdoB Campinas, Márcia Quintanilha, the president of PCdoB Campinas, Carlos Eduardo Siqueira Pinheiro, and the Minister’s chief of staff, Rubens Diniz Tavares.
After visiting CNPEM, where she toured the Sirius facilities and the Orion construction site, the Minister also visited CPQD, also in Campinas.
About CNPEM
The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) is home to a state-of-the-art, multi-user and multidisciplinary scientific environment and works on different fronts within the Brazilian National System for Science, Technology and Innovation. A social organization overseen by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), CNPEM is driven by research that impacts the areas of health, energy, renewable materials, and sustainability. It is responsible for Sirius, the largest assembly of scientific equipment constructed in the country, and is currently constructing Project Orion, a laboratory complex for advanced pathogen research. Highly specialized science and engineering teams, sophisticated infrastructure open to the scientific community, strategic lines of investigation, innovative projects involving the productive sector, and training for researchers and students are the pillars of this institution that is unique in Brazil and able to serve as a bridge between knowledge and innovation. CNPEM’s research and development activities are carried out through its four National Laboratories: Synchrotron Light (LNLS), Biosciences (LNBio), Nanotechnology (LNNano), Biorenewables (LNBR), as well as its Technology Unit (DAT) and the Ilum School of Science — an undergraduate program in Science and Technology supported by the Ministry of Education (MEC).
