New Industry Brazil (NIB) celebrates one-year anniversary with launch of goals for Mission 6, investments in defense industry

The Federal Government launched the Mission 6 objectives of New Industry Brazil (Nova Indústria Brasil /NIB) this Wednesday, February 12. These aim to foster the use of strategic technologies for national sovereignty and defense. With public and private investments totaling BRL 112.9 billion, this mission aims to expand Brazil's dominance in areas such as radars, satellites, and rockets.

The ceremony was attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Commerce, and Services (Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services /MDIC), Geraldo Alckmin; Minister of Defense, José Múcio; Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad; Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Luciana Santos; Director of Productive Development at Brazil’s Development Bank (Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social /BNDES), José Luis Gordon; and other representatives from the Federal Government, civil society, and the productive sector.

‘’Today, we launched the sixth mission: defense and the defense industry, including the aerospace sector. The goal is to reach 55% dominance of technologies of interest to national sovereignty and defense by 2026, and 75% by 2033. Currently, we are at 42.7%.’’ listed Alckmin, emphasizing that a greener and more sustainable industry favors decarbonization and energy efficiency in the sector. Furthermore, according to the Vice President, Mission 6 of NIB will boost investment in research, development, and innovation (R&D&I), as well as increase the volume of exports of domestic productions.

Alckmin emphasized that, alongside the re-establishment of the National Council for Industrial Development (Conselho Nacional do Desenvolvimento Industrial  /CNDI) and the one-year anniversary of the New Industry Brazil (Nova Indústria Brasil /NIB), the launch of Mission 6 enables the mapping of production chains. “NIB demonstrates a more innovative and digital industry, greener and more sustainable, implementing all measures for decarbonization and energy efficiency. It is a more export-oriented, competitive, and productive industry,” he clarified.

The Minister of Defense, José Múcio, assessed the effects of NIB on the Brazilian economy as ''clearly perceptible''. He emphasized that ''the country and society are witnesses that the public sector and the private sector have united and dedicated to the success of the process of rebuilding Brazil's industrial capacity. The defense industry already holds a prominent position in the country's economy through significant and growing export numbers.''

For the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Luciana Santos, the NIB is aligned with a global agenda by ensuring sustainable growth associated with social inclusion. ''These are new technological foundations to ensure sustainable development, and President Lula has always been convinced that this growth must be anchored in innovation. We are fully integrated into the six missions of NIB. The success of Mission 6 is the result of a great convergence among the BNDES, FINEP, and public banks to ensure development at high levels,'' emphasized the minister.

EXPORTS — Strategic for the national industry, defense product exports have stood out in the last two years. In 2024, Brazil exported USD 1.8 billion in defense products, a 22% increase compared to 2023. The previous year, exports totaled USD 1.5 billion, a remarkable 123% growth compared to 2022.

EMBRAER’s president and CEO, Francisco Gomes Neto, celebrated the one-year anniversary of New Industry Brazil and the launch of Mission 6. “It is one of the most well-structured public policies for the development of the Brazilian industry in recent years. It is of utmost importance to EMBRAER and the entire defense industry chain,” said Gomes Neto, who also listed the three pillars of NIB associated with the aerospace industry: “promotion of exports, research & development in innovation, and defense.

For the president of the Brazilian Association of Defense and Security Materials Industries, Luiz Teixeira, strengthening the defense and security industrial base is strategic and essential for Brazil's development. “Boosting innovation, technological autonomy, and the competitiveness of the defense and security sector is essential for our sovereignty and the country’s technological and economic development. A strong defense industry, in addition to protecting our sovereignty, is a driver of innovation, growth, and has direct impacts on the generation of qualified jobs, technological training, and the expansion of the national industry,” Teixeira argued.

INVESTMENT — Mission 6 has BRL 112.9 billion in investments, with BRL 79.8 billion from public resources and BRL 33.1 billion from the private sector. The public investments include the PAC Defense program, with BRL 31.4 billion allocated to projects such as the Gripen fighter jet, the KC-390 cargo plane, armored vehicles, frigates, and submarines.

PRIVATE — The private investment of BRL 33.1 billion will be divided among the aerospace and defense sectors (BRL 23.7 billion), nuclear (BRL 8.6 billion), and security and others (BRL 787 million). At the event, FINEP and BNDES signed a contract with EMBRAER for innovation projects in the sector.

The director of productive development at BNDES, José Luis Gordon, described NIB as a revolution for the industrial sector. "It places the industry at the center of the country's economic development agenda, at the center of the employment generation agenda, and at the center of the growth agenda. This is what President Lula has shown: the importance of industry for the country," he assessed.

ROCKETS — FINEP also invests in strategic projects, such as the Brazilian multipurpose reactor and the launch vehicle for hypersonic vehicles, with BRL 4.2 billion already invested and an additional BRL 331 million expected. BNDES and Banco do Brasil have already supported sector exports with over BRL 23.75 billion, and BNDES projects an additional BRL 20 billion in support by 2026.

GOALS AND PRIORITY CHAINS — The resources will pave the way for Brazil to strengthen the three priority chains of Mission 6: satellites, launch vehicles, and radars. These sectors were defined based on the existence of built local capabilities, the potential for generating high-tech export opportunities, and the creation of qualified jobs.

CRITICAL TECHNOLOGIES — The goals of Mission 6, defined by the National Council for Industrial Development (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Industrial  /CNDI), are to achieve 55% control of critical defense technologies by 2026 and 75% by 2033. Currently, Brazil controls 42.7% of critical technologies, based on a list of 39 strategic R&D projects for critical technologies defined by the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services (MDIC), the ministries of Defense and Science, Technology and Innovation, FINEP, and the Brazilian Space Agency (Agência Espacial Brasileira). In the coming weeks, the CNDI will hold meetings to deepen discussions on the priority production chains of the six NIB missions.

BRL 3.4 TRILLION — In total, the Brazilian industry already has BRL 3.4 trillion in public and private investments. The public investment amounts to BRL 1.1 trillion, including resources from the Mais Produção (P+P) plan, the financial arm of NIB, and related programs such as the New PAC (Novo Programa de Aceleração do Crescimento) and the Ecological Transformation Plan. The productive sector has announced BRL 2.24 trillion to strengthen national production in the coming years.