Angela Santana revisits the reasons for IMPA’s transformation into OSs

“IMPA is an exceptional example of the Social Organization model.” This is the assessment of Angela Santana, former secretary of State Reform at the Ministry of Federal Administration and State Reform (MARE) and current advisor to the general coordination of Capes. In an interview given to the general director of IMPA, Marcelo Viana, for the series “25 years of transformation: IMPA as a Social Organization”, Angela recalled the challenges faced and the opportunities glimpsed during the change of model.

Right-hand man of former minister Luiz Carlos Bresser-Pereira, Angela closely followed the consolidation of Social Organizations, implemented from the 2000s onwards, and recalled the resistance within the government. “Key people did not look favorably on the model of social organizations, they were very attached to the need for a state bureaucracy, research units and other bodies that deserved to have autonomy, so it was very difficult for us to get, within the government, the approval and implementation of this model.”

On the other hand, visionaries, including Bresser-Pereira and the then director general of IMPA, Jacob Palis, saw in the model the possibility of flexibility and administrative autonomy necessary for the development of research and teaching.

“Some institutions, by their very nature and the relevance of their activities, should have a lot of agility, especially in management. This motivated us a lot to recognize the segments that could adopt this new model, which should include institutions of excellence so as not to incur the risk of non-renewal of the contract. It was a prerequisite”, said Angela when explaining the reasons that led IMPA to be one of the first Social Organizations, even though it was already 50 years old at the time.

Between memories and reflections, the former Secretary of State Reform at the Ministry of Federal Administration also addressed the backstage of the relationship between the MCTI and the Organizations, the challenges of inspection and the adjustments necessary to consolidate the model in the long term.

The interview is part of the commemorative series, available on Youtube, which rescues memories and backstage of the transformation of IMPA into OS, in September 2000. The first episode with Bresser-Pereira premiered on September 29. Next week, the conversation with Cristina Perez, former advisor to the Executive Secretariat and former head of the Center for Coordination, Supervision and Monitoring of OS at the MEC, will be aired. Don’t miss it!