11/08/2023

President Lula visits IMPA Tech construction site.

Foto: Ricardo Stuckert / PR

President Lula visited the construction site of IMPA Tech this Thursday (10), the first undergraduate course at IMPA (Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics), which will be located in Porto Maravalley – a technology hub developed by the city of Rio de Janeiro. At the ceremony, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Luciana Santos, the Minister of Education, Camilo Santana, the Mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes, and the Director-General of IMPA, Marcelo Viana, signed the protocol of intentions between the federal government, the city and the institute.

"When Eduardo Paes proposed creating a mathematics college, I didn't hesitate. I believe this country cannot continue allowing its geniuses to leave Brazil to work abroad when we can train them here," said President Lula.

The undergraduate program will accommodate up to 100 students in its first year, with an investment of R $ 16.7 million, and at the end of 4 years, 400 students, at a cost of R$ 55.9 million. The federal government funds will be transferred by the Ministries of Education and Science, Technology and Innovation . The city government will provide housing for the students.

"Our challenge is to accelerate the transfer of technology to generate products and services that meet the demands of society and the country, developing innovative solutions in strategic areas such as combating hunger, biodiversity, energy transition, and digital transformation," said Luciana Santos.

The undergraduate program in Mathematics of Technology and Innovation will have four areas of emphasis: Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science, and Physics. The selection process will take into account the performance of students from all over Brazil in knowledge olympiads, such as the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematics Olympiad for Public Schools).

“Through IMPA Tech, we want to offer these young people an excellent education in mathematics for technology and innovation, empowering them as agents of development for the country. The visit of the President of the Republic to the future IMPA Tech facilities will bring a new dynamic to this strategically important project that we have been working on with the Rio de Janeiro city government and the federal government,” said Viana.

The signing of the letter of intent took place in the warehouse where IMPA Tech will operate – a 10,000 square meter space whose construction was financed by the municipal government.

"The 400 brightest minds in this country will come here, study and live in Rio, and from here they will help build a better Brazil. IMPA Tech will begin next year training the best minds in Brazil," said Paes.

Camilo Santana, the Minister of Education, reiterated his commitment to continue working for the benefit of society. "IMPA is being recognized as a higher education institution so that it can establish a mathematics faculty, which, incidentally, has already been well-evaluated by INEP (National Institute of Educational Studies and Research) and will soon be able to support the next students who will be part of the undergraduate program."

OBMEP medalists move President Lula

Fifteen OBMEP medalists accompanied the president on his visit to the space. Among them was Ricardo Oliveira da Silva, who has won five gold and two silver medals in the Olympiad. He received his first gold medal from President Lula in 2009. Born in Várzea Alegre, in the interior of Ceará, the medalist suffers from spinal muscular atrophy and uses a wheelchair. Due to a lack of resources, the young man attended school transported by his father in a wheelbarrow. He began regular schooling at age 17, enrolled in what was then the 5th grade.

“In my first year of school, I participated in the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools) and won a medal. I didn't know if my math skills were basic or advanced, but I always had that desire to study, and my effort materialized through the OBMEP; it was there that I was able to showcase my talent.”

Ricardo completed the Industrial Mechatronics Technology Course at the Federal Institute of Education and Technology (IFCE), in the city of Cedro.

Also participating in the meeting were: Camilo Santana, Minister of Education; Rui Costa, Minister of the Civil House; Anielle Franco, Minister of Racial Equality; Márcio França, Minister of Ports and Airports; Rita Serrano, President of Caixa Econômica Federal; Tabata Amaral, Federal Deputy; Renan Ferreirinha, Municipal Secretary of Education of Rio de Janeiro; among other authorities.

: Foto: Ricardo Stuckert / PR