As part of the Pequeno Príncipe Complex, the Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Research Institute has contributed to the advancement of research in Brazil and around the world. On April 26th, the unit reaches 17 years of commitment to the health of thousands of people delivering more than 350 publications in several lines of research. Among the studies developed, there are contributions to early diagnosis, assertive treatment methods, and a reduction in infant and juvenile mortality.

The Institute, which is a reference in scientific research, had its trajectory directly impacted by the greatest soccer player of all times, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé. In 2006, with the support of the “King of Football”, the Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Research Institute started its activities. It is the only social project that has Pelé as patron. As it is a non-profit philanthropic institution, the partnership with the “King” was paramount for several research projects to be carried out, benefiting thousands of children and adolescents.

The director-general of the Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Research Institute, Ety Cristina Forte Carneiro, highlights the importance of science. “It has been 17 years of valuing science. Science is extremely important for new discoveries and innovations, and indispensable for guiding public policies, generating commercially valuable applications, and improving people’s quality of life. Besides, of course, seeking new methods of diagnosis and treatment. It also brings important impacts such as the advancement of knowledge, the training of high-level professionals and the production of innovation,” she emphasizes.

The Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Research Institute in numbers:

• more than 350 scientific articles published;
• counts on 17 main researchers;
• has partnerships with 57 institutions, 21 of them being international;
• together with Pequeno Príncipe College, it qualified more than 130 masters and doctors.

Panorama of research in Brazil

Brazil is the 13th producer of scientific knowledge in the world and published 372,000 papers between 2015 and 2020, which is equivalent to 3% of the world’s scientific production – which reached almost 12 million published studies. The data are from the most recent research conducted by the Center for Management and Strategic Studies (CGEE, abbreviation in Portuguese), a social organization linked to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI, also in Portuguese), in 2021.

The investment in research in Brazil is 1.6% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while the world average is 2.2%, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The country still has a lot to advance, offering incentives and investments to science, which can save the lives of countless people around the world.