FINEP, the Brazilian Agency for Financing Studies and Projects (FINanciadora de Estudos e Projetos), despite lack of funding and political pressures, achieved remarkable results in mission-oriented research during the 1980s. It was involved in practically all the major Brazilian biotechnology programs, with a basic policy of overcoming development gaps, for instance, in genetic engineering, cell culture, and molecular biology. This paper discusses FINEP's evolution and structure in the 1980s, followed by a description of its main projects in biotechnology. Illustrated in more detail is FINEPs support for its main beneficiary, the Federal University of Vicosa, state of Minas Gerais. Then the reasons for FINEPs success are described, including the staff dedication to overcoming Brazilian development problems by funding projects that would eventually replace imports, and by carefully assessing the track records of the institutions and the individuals applying for funding. A high priority was given to projects for which there was a significant domestic market potential, and to individuals deemed capable of actually bringing such products to market.
