Rio, 7/4/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - During the next three years the Ministry of Science and Technology will release a total of R$6.2 million for programs and projects in science and technology in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Under the terms of a contract signed with minister Robert Amaral, the state's counterpart will be R$5 million. The funding will benefit the Proteoma, Genoma, Jovem Cientista (Young Scientist), Cientista Júnior (Junior Scientist) and Pesquisa de Conteúdo (Content Research), projects that Rio de Janeiro has pioneered.

Minister Amaral also announced that the state will get R$5 million this month as part of a contract signed last year for scientific and technological development support. The total amount of the contract is R$8 million.

The minister declared that social inclusion requires technological development, and that science can play a decisive role in the fight against hunger. Amaral cited research in nuclear energy which could ensure more efficient production, conservation and distibution of food. (AB)