The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Marco Antonio Raupp, participated this Monday, June 18, in the launch of the Vale-Capes Science and Sustainability Award, during the forum Sustainable Development: New Dimensions for Businesses and Society. The event organized by the Vale Technological Institute (ITV) was held in Rio de Janeiro.

In his speech, Mr. Raupp praised the initiative, highlighting the similarities of the project with the concepts of the Ministry, and called for greater interaction between public and private sectors. It also emphasized the scientific advancements of Brazil, as well as programs for the reproduction of clean energy, emphasizing the important role of wind energy, which, he says, should compose 7% of the energy sources in 2014.

"It's the kind of event that I am pleased to participate in because it has its focus on the construction of concrete actions to solve current problems," said the minister.

"The forum and the award have in essence the same orientation as the policy of the MCTI for the promotion of inclusive green economy. It is an approach that focuses on growth, aiming at a sustainable intervention of man in nature.

The National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation presents this like one of the greatest challenges of the Brazilian industry, to obtain leadership for natural growth in the economy, which presents itself as the safest way to combine both economic growth and sustainability in all its meanings."

The award, a partnership between Vale (a Brazilian mining company) with the Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Capes/MEC), will recognize Master’s and Doctorate’s theses with ideas, solutions and innovative processes related to the following topics: reducing consumption of energy and water, reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs), use, reuse and recycling of residue and/or waste, and socio-environmental technology focused on fighting poverty.

Union between sectors

To the minister, the rapprochement between the sectors is necessary for the construction of an inclusive green economy, within an overall strategy to strengthen sustainable economic practices.

"This forum and the award clearly show that the government is not alone in this effort," he said. In his view, the Brazilian private sector has given examples of consistent leadership and boldness in the environmental area, and the interaction between Vale and Capes is a good example of this work.

"We hope that these partnerships grow and multiply. We will only have success in this bold endeavor to promote the green economy if there is synergy, not only in public policy, but also between institutions and people. We need to get to know nature and understand it in a more intelligent way. That is the way promised by sustainability. "