Brazil's Education Ministry expands science school model, launches lab upgrade programme

Brazil education policy Ilum Escola de Ciência INOVALab programme federal university labs science training

The Ministry of Education (MEC) visited Ilum Escola de Ciência in Campinas, São Paulo, a free, full‑time science and technology school that immerses students in research at the CNPEM centre. Founded in 2022 with MEC and MCTI support, Ilum has graduated 70 students and currently enrolls 114, offering interdisciplinary curricula and full‑board provisions.

President Luiz Inácio Lula, during a related event at the Sirius particle accelerator, reiterated a commitment to invest heavily in education, citing a prospective R$200 billion ten‑year plan. The visit highlighted the school’s model as a template for other institutions.

In parallel, MEC launched the INOVALab programme, allocating R$150 million to modernise laboratories at federal universities. The initiative focuses on multi‑user labs, accessibility, digital innovation (AI, IoT, robotics, VR), and maker‑space environments. Four funding streams – QUALILab, LABInclusão, LABTec and TRANSFORMALab – will award up to R$75 million for existing labs and up to R$350 thousand per university for specialised projects. Universities must submit proposals by 19 June 2026.

Sources

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