Financing for renewable energy research in Brazil: an analysis from the Energy Sector Fund

Abstract This article aims to analyze the contribution of the Sectorial Energy Fund to foster scientific research on renewable energies in Brazil, through a Logit model, for the period from 2011 to 2015. Estimations are carried out with additional strategies, to identify the regional effect and the contribution of research institutions on scientific production in renewable energies. The data used were obtained from the FNDCT/CNPq database and from the Lattes Curriculum of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). The results obtained demonstrate an average positive marginal effect of the Sectorial Energy Fund of 2.23% on the probability of scientific production, given an increase of R$ 10,000.00 in financing. Based on the results, it is possible to justify the importance of public financing for research aimed at renewable energies.