Institutions say there are not enough funds to pay salaries

Higher education institutions are urging the government to ensure funding in the 2027 State Budget for salaries of researchers hired under the Aliança program. The program, initiated two years ago, promised to cover 33% of salaries for permanent research positions. However, directors from various universities have expressed concern that this funding has not been included in the proposed budget. They emphasize that failing to meet these commitments would jeopardize the stability of researchers' careers and the financial health of institutions. The letter, signed by multiple university leaders, calls for the government to uphold its financial obligations under the Aliança program, which has enabled the hiring of over 1,000 researchers across 31 institutions. The Ministry of Education has yet to respond to inquiries regarding this funding.