Representative Andre Siciliano (PT) advocated boosting the state’s economy through science and technology during a student event at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) on Monday. The event was attended by Federal Representative Marcelo Freixo (PSB) and UFRJ Science and Culture Forum coordinator, Tatiana Roque.

We have the Academy, the Health Industrial Park, Vuecruz, Federal Institutes and Universities. Siciliano said, recalling that the first doses of the vaccine against Covid-19 produced in Rio de Janeiro, by Fiocruz, had already begun to be applied. “This is an example for Brazil and we need to turn our knowledge into products,” he said.

Siciliano also cited Coppe, associated with UFRJ, as an example, which has the technology to convert natural gas, which accounts for more than 70% of Rio’s national production, into nitrogen fertilizers – attracting expected investments in the national fertilizer plan. “We had a meeting with Coppe technicians and we need to transfer this knowledge to attract investment. Last year, 90% of the fertilizers used in the country’s crops were imported.

The MP again criticized the installation of thermal power plants in the north, northwest and midwest of the country, as stipulated by a law passed by the federal government. “Instead of spending R$100 billion to move natural gas from the southeast to these areas of the country, we will only need R$2 billion to move it from the Santos Basin to Rio,” Siciliano said.