Policy Considerations on EU-Brazil Future Scientific Cooperation

The global financial crisis 2007-2008, considered by many economists to have been the worstfinancial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930’s, resulted in investment instability worldwide. This reflected differently in education and research implementation policies in different countries; in some there was a reduction of funding, in others there was a boost in investment to relaunch competitiveness. Such competitiveness is in terms of sources, capacity building, costs, and importantly, technology. Investments in R&D can have a significant impact on a nation’s GDP, nevertheless policies and opportunities may not reflect it, especially when it comes to unions of states, such in the case of European Union and Brazilian Federation. Challenges and expectations of those sub-continental areas are different; the EU’ member states belong mainly to the category of “developed countries” that are facing increasing of competitiveness from new emerging economies. Brazil, labeled as emerging country of the BRICS group in early 2000, is a federation facing the double challenge of reducing its social inequality and increasing its competitiveness in the global market place. This paper provides a perspective view from the EU and from Brazil and from member states, about the role that science policies could have on nation development and how internationalization may support science development and society.