Debureaucratize the registry and guarantee legal certainty for researchers. These are the main objectives of the scientific research registration module of the National System for the Management of Genetic Heritage and Associated Traditional Knowledge (SisGen), launched on the afternoon of 4/19, by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), through the Secretariat for Research and Scientific Training (SEPEF). This new functionality, associated with the Genetic Heritage Management Council (CGen/MMA), was developed by RNP in partnership with the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the Genetic Heritage Department of the Biodiversity Secretariat of the Ministry of the Environment (DPG/SisBio/MMA).

The module meets what is established by the Decree 10,844, of October 2021, which simplifies the registration of Genetic Heritage and Associated Traditional Knowledge for research purposes, reducing the bureaucracy of the model until then in force and providing greater legal certainty to researchers, thus boosting scientific research in Brazil. The difficulties faced by researchers in managing their research at SisGen created an obstacle to the promotion of scientific, technological and innovation development in the sustainable use of Brazilian biodiversity.

“This is an important delivery for RNP and important for research in Brazil. A joint effort that brought together, mainly, RNP and CNPq, and here goes my thanks to CNPq for having supported us so much in this journey of building a system that could meet the identified needs for training, research and processing of all demands in research we have with our genetic heritage. We had little time, an urgent need to be met to ensure the flow and security of information. I am very happy to be able to be here today and deliver it to the community, together with the MCTI”, highlighted the director general of RNP, Nelson Simões, during the launch in a virtual event.

In this first moment, an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) was built to offer, in an agile way, the main needs for the use of the platform. In this way, the module to be launched has restricted functionalities, however, with the reduction of bureaucracy and legal certainty necessary for users to register their surveys. The final project will continue at a later date.

The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Paulo Alvim, highlighted the role of RNP and CNPq in the work of understanding the needs and making available the features specifically aimed at researchers who use the platform.

“It is a milestone as it is yet another delivery built in cooperation, not only with government entities (MCTI and MMA), but also internally within the MCTI. It is essential to highlight the contribution of the technical teams of RNP and CNPq, with the eyes of our users. This is a fundamental point and the strategy of simplification, streamlining, and the possibility of continuous improvement, this is fundamental. This action is also part of digital government policies. We are making a significant contribution to our scientific community, which is also involved in the public policy of digital transformation. So, we congratulate the teams involved and ask that the researchers use the platform and contribute significantly to the advancement of the tool, which is fundamental for the advancement of research and legal certainty”, said the minister.

Also participating in the launch event were the Secretary of Research and Scientific Training (SEPEF), Marcelo Morales and the director of management and IT of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Thales Marçal.