Putting societal goals at the heart of a transformative economic agenda in Brazil

Professor Mariana Mazzucato, Founding Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation & Public Purpose (IIPP) and author of Mission Economy: a moonshot guide to changing capitalism, is working with the Government of Brazil on its ambitious agenda for economic transformation, including its industrial strategy and ecological transition plan.

As part of this collaboration, IIPP has committed to working with the Ministry of Innovation and Public Service Innovation (MGI) and the National School of Public Administration (ENAP) to support their efforts to build the capabilities, tools and institutions needed to implement Brazil’s transformative agenda.

The aim is to bring new economic ideas to the Brazilian government, improve state management and promote fair and sustainable economic growth.

This transformation requires a shift in the government's role, from correcting market failures to shaping markets, especially in a "mission-oriented" way that addresses key societal challenges.

The project will be structured around six priority areas: public sector innovation, state capacity development, digital transformation, institutional design, state-owned enterprises, and public procurement.

Professor Mazzucato said: “IIPP is thrilled to kick off this partnership with MGI. The new Brazilian Government has an ambitious agenda, and effective public sector reform and a new story about government will be crucial for it to succeed. MGI’s focus on redesigning procurement policy, state-owned enterprises, and digital government aligns well with IIPP’s areas of expertise. We look forward to moving ahead with this work.”

Professor Mazzucato advises policymakers around the world on innovation-led inclusive and sustainable growth. This project builds on her previous work in Brazil and in the wider region, including the report Professor Mazzucato wrote for the UN’s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in 2022 on Transformational Change in Latin America and the Caribbean: A mission-oriented approach.

Read more on the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose website

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From left to right: Francisco Gaetani, Viceminister of Management and Innovation; Betania Lemos, President of Enap; Esther Dweck, Minister of Management and Innovation; Mariana Mazzucato, Founding Director of UCL IIPP; Christina Kiomi Mori, Viceminister of Management and Innovation; Elisa Leonel, Secretary for state-owned enterprises

Links 

• UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose
• Professor Mariana Mazzucato
• UCL in Latin America
• Lula meets Italian economist Mariana Mazzucato (Brazilian Government News, in Portuguese)