In an effort to forge a closer relationship between science and industry, a new measure promoting innovations and technology cooperation between public and private research organizations was signed into law this month by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. The law allows freer collaborations between companies and public research institutions. Features of the law include company access to public research organizations; the freedom for full-time professors to conduct paid research for private companies; and the elimination of a competitive bidding process between public labs for the use of products in R&D, permitting scientists to go directly to manufacturers for their laboratory instruments and materials. According to Helena Nader, head of the Brazilian Society for the Progress of Science, many regulatory and cultural obstacles have caused numerous innovations to remain stagnant in academia. This new law, however, allows full-time university employees to work as entrepreneurs and consultants in the private sector to advance innovation and technology.

Source: Science