The Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) coordinates the implementation of the programmes and activities that consolidate the National Policy for Science, Technology and Innovation and is the leader of a group of institutions that encourage and carry out research.  The MST develops research and studies that are used to generate knowledge, new technologies and the creation of products, processes, management and national patents.

The area of science and technology has not always benefited from having a ministry to concentrate and carry forward the activities of the National System for Scientific and Technological Development that was instituted in 1975 under the responsibility of the Ministry of Planning.  At that time the organ responsible for coordinating the System was the National Counsel for Research, today the National Counsel for the Scientific and Technological Development, which has kept the initials CNPq.

We can say that the movement to create the Ministry began in the 1970s and finally succeeded 10 years later.  In this context it is worth noting one of the first attempts to integrate national activities in Science and Technology.  This was when the Ministry of Planning created a national programme that included the four main research agencies - CNPq, the Financing Body for Studies and Projects (FINEP), the Coordinating Body for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) and the Secretariat for Industrial Technology.

This led to the appearance of the Support Program for Scientific and Technological Research (PADCT) the aim of which was to test methodologies in the planning, evaluation and implementation of projects.  Planning and evaluation of advisers tested different ways of integrating common actions between the four agencies.

The idea began to develop of creating a ministry that would be specifically concerned with Science and Technology activities.  Politicians, among them Renato Archer, and members of the scientific community went into action and sent a proposal to the first government of the New Republic.  The group's request was accepted by Present-elect Tancredo Neves and in the subsequent chain of political events President Jusé Sarney honour the commitment made by Tancredo, set up the Ministry and appointed Renato Archer as Minister in 1985.  One of his first actions was to put into practice the successful experiment of the PADCT.

Archer's administration was followed in quick succession by four administrations headed by ministers in this area until the Ministry of Science and Technology was merged with the Ministry for Development, Industry and Trade in January 1989.

In March of the same year a provisional measure divided the two areas of responsibility and what has been a ministry became the Special Secretariat for Science and Technology, the main Federal Government organ responsible for this area.

Still in 1989 the Ministry of Science and Technology was re-formed by another provisional measure and in 1990 President Fernando Collor dissolved it once more and created the Secretariat for Science and Technology, which was linked to the Office of the President of the Republic.  At that time the National Institute for Research in Amazonia (Inpa) and the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) were included in the structure of the new Secretariat.

In 1992 Present Itamar Franco signed a new provisional measure that once more created the Ministry which remains responsible for this area until today.