The BNDES uses non-reimbursable funds to support scientific and technical research, as well as technical studies, targeted at reporting social and economic trends, in order to strengthen the BNDES’ strategic plans and priorities and to allow the development of structuring projects to benefit society. 


» Financing Categories

Eligible technical studies and research are classified into the following categories: 

Scientific Research Category: This refers to research or a series of research undisputedly targeted at reporting the main trends concerning Brazilian economic and social development in order to strengthen the BNDES’ strategic plans, priorities, and policies. 

Prospecting Category: This concerns technical research focused on producing information and data required to draft public policies or to spot potential structuring projects to deliver valuable economic and social benefits, stemming from long-term legal relations between public authorities and the private sector. 


» Submission of Previous Inquiry - Scientific Research Category

In order to finance scientific research, the Economic Research Division posts a “Call for Projects” on the BNDES’ website, disclosing the themes and conditions, annually defined in the Funding Application Plan (FEP) – Scientific Research Category. 

Those interested in financing for their projects should submit their scientific research projects via Previous Inquiry to the BNDES within 60 days of the call. 

- Brazilian private institutions lawfully responsible for teaching and research activities, provided that they are non-profit entities with an unquestionable ethical and professional reputation, proven through minimum classification of 5 from the Coordination for Enhancement of Graduated Professionals of the Ministry of Education (CAPES) in the field of research; and 

- Brazilian public institutions lawfully responsible for teaching and research, provided that they are non-profit entities, with an unquestionable ethical and professional reputation in the field of research, to be proven by the BNDES’ Division requiring the research, even if they do not achieve a classification of 5 from CAPES. 

These institutions may be directly financed or financed by their supporting foundations, as per Law Nº. 8,958, of December 20, 1994. 

Consortia formed by the above-mentioned research institutions and other research institutions may also be financed provided that at least 70% of the project’s funds are directly applied to institutions with a minimum classification level from CAPES. 

Coordinators and/or researchers are not allowed to take part in simultaneous research projects supported by the BNDES. 


» Submission of Previous Inquiry - Prospecting Category

Requests for support to carry out studies and research in the Prospecting Category must be presented by the interested parties, by means of an inquiry letter, in response to a Public Call for Projects published by the BNDES. 

The inquiry letter must be submitted as per the BNDES’ template and comply with the terms and conditions established in the Public Call for Projects. 

Legal entities (companies) established under private and public law, with headquarters in Brazil, individually or in consortium, properly qualified to benefit from the financial cooperation set forth in this Public Call for Projects may borrow non-reimbursable funds. 

For Brazilian institutions lawfully responsible for teaching and research, provided that they are non-profit entities, with an unquestionable ethical and professional reputation – proven by a classification awarded by CAPES, equal to or higher than five, in the field of research –, financing may be granted directly or by their supporting foundations, as per Law Nº. 8,958, of December 20, 1994. 


» Selection and Operation

After previous inquiries have been submitted, the selection will be made by FEP's Selection Committee, formed, at least, by 3 members: 

I. The BNDES President’s Chief of Staff, who will convene and preside over the FEP's Selection Committee meetings; 
II. The Deputy Managing Director of the Project Structuring Division (AEP); and 
III. The Deputy Managing Director of the Economic Research Division (APE). 

In addition, the Deputy Managing Directors of the BNDES’ Core Units related to the study/research being analyzed will also be on FEP’s Selection Committee. 

FEP’s Selection Committee will rely on technical supported in the Scientific Research Category from the Economic Research Division, and in Project and Prospecting Categories from the Project Development Division. These divisions are in charge of developing office activities, providing input to the Committee’s selection process and submitting results to superior decision. 

Selection of technical studies and research will take into consideration whether they meet FEP’s objectives, according to the guidelines established. The projects are analyzed for accuracy and sufficiency of the information provided. Moreover, the financing of studies and research in the Scientific Research and Prospecting categories must comply with the provisions of the BNDES’ General Operational Rules (RGO) and Operational Policies (PO). 

Technical studies and research selected by the Selection Committee to be supported and developed with FEP’s funds will be subject to approval by the BNDES’ Board of Directors. 

Technical studies and research related to the Prospecting Category are coordinated by the AEP, which manages contracts or financing arrangements, supervises studies and research, develops and designs projects or guidelines for public policies and liaises with the relevant governmental bodies and entities. 

Scientific Research is coordinated by the APE, which develops and manages the agreements, supervises the research, develops and designs research and liaises with the relevant public and private entities. 


» Public sector support

The BNDES supports governmental entities in structuring projects in public concessions or public-private partnerships. In the Project Category, FEP’s funds may be invested in one or more technical studies, whose scope directly allows a structuring project to benefit society, which may bring significant public or private investments. 

Governmental entities interested in obtaining some kind of support should submit their proposals to the BNDES, containing, when applicable: 

- Characteristics and Benefits: A brief description of the Project and its social-economic benefits, attesting that it meets FEP’s objectives and the guidelines established in item 4.2; 

- Regional comprehensiveness: The physical reach of the Project, describing the region expected to be directly affected by the investments estimated; 

- Sector: Accurate identification of the sector and the activity involved; 

- Institutional Structure: Description of the applicable law, licenses, approvals and other institutional apparatuses required to implement the Project; 

- Existing information and necessary studies: identification of any studies already performed, informing their availability and usability, and technical studies required to complete the Project; 

- Draft of Risk-sharing Arrangement: General description of the assignments of the person in charge of implementing the Project and the responsibilities undertaken by the public authorities; and 

- Economic and financial feasibility: preliminary estimate of investments and expenditures, displaying the capacity to give any financial consideration undertaken by the public authorities. 

If financial support is approved, the BNDES will promote the development of technical studies and provide the necessary technical support to develop the project. Financial support will be granted upon the signing of a technical cooperation agreement between the BNDES and the governmental entity, which should set forth: 

- the work plan outlining the field of study, deliverables, stages and schedule, an investment plan and estimate for the completion of the studies; 

- specification of the assignments and responsibilities of each participant, such as the BNDES’ contracting and coordinating the studies with FEP’s funding, and the commitment of the governmental entity to monitor studies and to supply all necessary information and conditions; 

- description of any financial or non-financial consideration from the governmental entity; and 

- if the technical studies directly facilitate a project that may be the subject matter of a bidding process held by the governmental entity, the agreement will outline this entity’s commitment to promote the bidding process, as well as its obligation to include, in the call for bids, a rule expressing that the winning bidder will reimburse the BNDES for all the expenses incurred.


» Contacts

- Prospecting Category 
- Research Category 
- Public Sector Support