Lei do Bem stimulates innovative culture in Brazilian companies

“We need to change the culture, create the DNA of innovation in Brazilian companies. The Lei do Bem is an instrument in which the federal government is sharing the risk of innovation with the entrepreneur, as we know that to innovate, test, enable and scale up a large volume of resources is needed", highlighted Jorge Mario Campagnolo, Director of Policies and Innovation Support Programs of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications (MCTIC), at the event held on August 3, in São Paulo, by Finep in partnership with ABES.

"The innovative entrepreneur takes the risk, opens new markets and needs support to generate economic development based on knowledge. Lei do Bem contributes to companies in this sense", reiterated Jamile Sabatini Marques, director of innovation and development at ABES. "When adjusting the tax benefit, it is important for companies to demonstrate the risk of innovation and its importance, considering that this item is extremely important for the benefit of the law to exist," he added.

Campagnolo also highlighted that the Lei do Bem is recommended for companies that opt to declare income taxes based on real profit and that innovation in services can also be benefited, after the Legal Framework for Science, Technology and Innovation (Law) came into effect. No. 13.243/2016), which was regulated in February 2018.  

“We need to take advantage of the science that Brazil produces, adding it to the production cycle. The legislation brings legal certainty, including, for the technology transfer agreements of science and technology institutes (ICTs) to the private sector”, he explained.

In relation to the debates about the continuity of the Lei do Bem, Campagnolo declared that he is confident in its strengthening, as businessmen, once they learn to use this development instrument, do not stop using it. “Accountability must be performed properly, with details of expenditures and considering only investments in research, science and innovation. One company, for example, declared payment of R$ 25 million in one year to a single researcher, which is very unlikely, and ended up being questioned”, he warned.   

With the digital transformation, the executive recognizes that there will be a reduction in traditional jobs, but there will be a very large offer of new business models that will be new sources of income. “We must still work hard on entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurial education, from undergraduate to graduate, to place our masters and doctors not only in innovation departments, but also ahead of their own businesses”, he ponders.

Embrapii (Brazilian Company for Industrial Research and Innovation) was cited by Campagnolo as an important partner in innovation projects under the Lei do Bem, as it has excellent accredited ICTs throughout Brazil and a tripartite funding scheme.

The full presentation on the Lei do Bem is available. on this link.