2002: Fiocruz decides the creation of the CDTS

The creation of the Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS in its Portuguese acronym) was proposed by the Presidency of Fiocruz to the institution's 'Internal Congress', the high-level Forum that discusses every four years the future directions and strategic planning of the organization. The 4th Internal Congress met on 25-28 November 2002 and the 340 delegates approved the following recommendation:

"The technological development of products and processes relevant to science, technology and innovation in health need facilities, equipments, organization, management and work practices that are different from those of research and manufacture. As Brazil needs to strengthen its capability in this area Fiocruz should create its Center for Technological Development in Health (Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde, CDTS).

The CDTS should develop products and processes selected by the Strategic Plan for Technological Development of Fiocruz. The candidate products should be of high quality in terms of immunogenicity, safety and efficacy as required in pré-clinical and clinical trials following good clinical practices.

The objective of the CDTS is to increase Brazil's manufacturing capacity of biotechnological goods and supplies needed by national health systems and to decrease the country's dependence on external suppliers. It should establish bridges between research, production and innovation and articulate internal and external goals.

Fiocruz should go beyond the 'imports substitution model' of the 70s' and 80s' as well as beyond the neoliberal model that have so negatively affected Brazil's social and economic development.

The planning and implementation of the CDTS will require alternative sources of funding and a business plan addressing technological, physical, financial and management issues in order to ensure efficiency, resource optimization and timely achievement of objectives and goals."