President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said this Saturday (23) that Brazil "is not smaller than anyone, less competitive than anyone" while inaugurating the new headquarters of the Health Technology Development Center (CDTS) at Fiocruz, in Rio de Janeiro. "We just need to dare, have courage and act," he declared. ✓
Press quotes (1)
""O importante aqui é o gesto de inauguração de um centro tecnológico que dá ao Brasil a certeza de que a gente não é menor do que ninguém, menos competitivo do que ninguém. Basta a gente ousar, ter coragem e fazer", disse o presidente."
Lula argued that investment in research is essential for national competitiveness. "You wouldn't find oil if you didn't have research. Research must be done for everything," he said, citing Embrapa as an example of a scientific institution that transformed Brazilian agriculture. ✓
Press quotes (1)
""Fazer investimento em pesquisa nem todo mundo gosta de fazer... Vocé não encontraria petróleo se você não tivesse pesquisa. Para tudo tem que ser feito pesquisa"... "a Embrapa, se não fizesse pesquisa, a gente não teria a revolução que a agricultura brasileira teve""
The president also criticized resistance to investments in science. "Usually, what we hear a lot in government is 'Oh, it costs too much. It's very expensive. There's no money'," he stated. "People never stop to ask how much it costs not to do it." ✓
Press quotes (1)
""Normalmente, o que a gente ouve muito no governo é 'Ah, custa muito. É muito caro. Não tem dinheiro'. Isso é o que a gente mais ouve. As pessoas nunca param para se perguntar quanto custa não fazer""
At the same ceremony, Lula launched Fiocruz's CAR-T Therapy Development and Production Center, with a R$ 330 million investment from the federal government. The construction of the new CDTS headquarters received R$ 370 million, plus R$ 35 million in equipment. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"O presidente também lançou o Centro de Desenvolvimento e Produção de Terapias CAR-T da fundação. O investimento foi de R$ 330 milhões do governo... A construção do prédio-sede recebeu um investimento de R$ 370 milhões. O investimento em equipamentos foi de R$ 35 milhões"
Event occurred on Saturday, May 23, 2026, during inauguration of Fiocruz's CDTS in Rio de Janeiro
New CDTS headquarters has 15 thousand square meters and functions as health innovation hub
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (1)
Specific investment amounts (R$ 330 million for CAR-T, R$ 370 million for construction, R$ 35 million for equipment)
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What was the specific context that motivated Lula to make this statement about Brazil's competitiveness?
Why it's still unknown: Sources only report it was during the CDTS inauguration, but don't mention if there was any recent event or specific criticism that prompted this defense of Brazilian competitiveness.
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What are the specific projects that Fiocruz's new CDTS will develop?
Why it's still unknown: Sources mention the center will develop 'technologies, medicines, vaccines, diagnostics' but don't detail concrete projects already planned.
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How does the R$ 735 million investment in CDTS compare to other research investments by the current government?
Why it's still unknown: There is no comparison with other science and technology investments by the government to contextualize the magnitude of this amount.