ANP R&D,I levy - suggestions for improvements

On Wednesday I had the pleasure of attending the event "Trends for the Oil and Gas Market - Innovation", sponsored by FIRJAN, where it was mainly discussed the need to revise the ANP R&D,I regulation aiming to broaden access to resources as well as expediting the contracting of projects.

I would like to share with you the reflection of a professional who has been working for almost 30 years in the Oil & Gas industry, being half the time as a post-graduate student and researcher and the other half of the time as an entrepreneur and collaborator of an international company.

I believe it is a mistake to think that Universities are directed only to Science. Many cutting-edge technologies are created within universities, in technological centers by incubators such as the COPPE / UFRJ Business Incubator and PUC Rio's Genesis, which promote entrepreneurship and innovation and where many startups are leveraged.

Another issue that caught my attention was the fact that it is mentioned that science comes "behind" technological innovation. In some cases, innovations were launched and, once launched, gave rise to more in-depth science. However, in the Oil & Gas sector, we have to be more cautious in this regard, because failures in new technologies can have catastrophic consequences for human lives and the environment! For this reason, many companies hire third-party verification and / or qualification of new technologies, to reduce the risk of something going wrong!

Another point discussed was the demand for R & D professionals, but with the shortage of scholarships that universities have faced, it is difficult to keep young professionals doing post-graduation without research projects demanded by industry. In this context, the funding of the ANP R&D, I levy is vital for the training and maintenance of these young professionals in the university.

On the other hand, as a microentrepreneur and collaborator of an international company, I experienced how difficult it is to carry out an R&D,I projects, without resources, mainly being a small company. Being able to access R&D,I funds, which are less bureaucratic and less demanding for small Brazilian companies, could help to sustain them until they reach a higher degree of maturity.

At the end of the event, ABESPetro (Brazilian Association of Petroleum Services Companies) presented the changes they are proposing to the ANP R&D,I regulation, aiming to broaden access to resources and expedite the contracting of projects.

The proposal for the new regulation is available on the ABESPetro website: (https://abespetro.org.br/noticia/541/proposta-abespetro-para-regulamento-anp-de-pdi, accessed 20.09.2018)

ABESPetro's proposal suggests that companies can also be accredited to gain access to R&D,I funding to stimulate innovation and consequent economic growth in the industry.

The ANP closed the event stating that the regulation today allows R & D, I to be applied in companies in the meantime, there is the fear of doing so and then not getting approval of expenses. An important point discussed was that the application of the R&D,I resource has to be applied in Brazil for the development of local skills and technological development and cannot be intended to cover costs of consulting projects.

It’s worth reflecting on the best solution to the issues discussed. I believe it should be halfway, as in a better interaction between universities and industry. Part of the R & D budget, I, for example, could be earmarked for creating startups.

Finally, the only certainty is that we still have a lot to discuss and it is up to the Brazilian Oil & Gas community to learn more about the R&,I regulation, to propose improvements and to follow the changes that are to come!