Technological autonomy and quantum technologies in defense: the Brazilian case
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5902/2357797598717Keywords:
Quantum technologies, Technological autonomy, Global South, Defense, Triple HelixAbstract
This article analyzes how Brazil organizes capabilities and alliances in quantum technologies applicable to defense, aiming at the construction of prospective technological autonomy — that is, before international standards, supply chains, and strategic dependencies become entrenched. It adopts a qualitative, exploratory, and explanatory design, based on document analysis of public sources and a qualitative process reconstruction of a national case with four analytical subunits. It examines the Córtex Project, the Brazilian Army's Department of Science and Technology (DCT), FNDCT Program 09, QuIIN, the QuantumTec infrastructure, the RNP Map of Quantum Technologies, and the Rio and Hermes Quantum Networks. India and South Africa serve solely as contextual contrasts. The study evidences the formulation of a public agenda and the emergence of an institutional architecture, without claiming system-level or operational autonomy. The central argument is that Brazil exhibits initial conditions for selective autonomy through anticipation, whose consolidation will depend on turning agenda into absorbed knowledge, prototypes, testing, integration, intellectual property, a productive chain, demand, and sustainment.
Downloads
References
ABREU, Diego; VASSOLER, Gabriel; FARIAS, Fernando. Mapa das Tecnologias Quânticas no Brasil: Plataforma de Observação do Ecossistema Nacional. Anais do I Simpósio Brasileiro de Computação e Comunicação Quânticas, 2026. DOI: 10.5753/sbccq.2026.23309. Disponível em: https://sol.sbc.org.br/index.php/sbccq/article/view/43266. Acesso em: 10 ago. 2026.
ACHARYA, Amitav. Global International Relations (IR) and Regional Worlds: A New Agenda for International Studies. International Studies Quarterly, v. 58, n. 4, p. 647–659, 2014. DOI: 10.1111/isqu.12171. Disponível em: https://academic.oup.com/isq/article/58/4/647/1807850. Acesso em: 16 jun. 2026.
BEACH, Derek; PEDERSEN, Rasmus Brun. Process-Tracing Methods: Foundations and Guidelines. 2. ed. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2019. DOI: 10.3998/mpub.10072208.
BOOTH, Ken. Security and emancipation. Review of International Studies. 1991;17(4):313-326 DOI: 10.1017/S0260210500112033.
BOWEN, Glenn A. Document Analysis as a Qualitative Research Method. Qualitative Research Journal, v. 9, n. 2, p. 27–40, 2009. DOI: 10.3316/QRJ0902027.
BRASIL. EXÉRCITO BRASILEIRO. DEPARTAMENTO DE CIÊNCIA E TECNOLOGIA. Missão, Visão e Valores. 8 maio 2024. Disponível em: https://www.dct.eb.mil.br/institucional/missao-visao-e-valores. Acesso em: 09 jun. 2026.
BRASIL. 2025a. Decreto nº 12.725, de 18 de novembro de 2025. Aprova a Política Nacional de Defesa, a Estratégia Nacional de Defesa e o Livro Branco de Defesa Nacional. Disponível em: https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2023-2026/2025/decreto/D12725.htm. Acesso em: 13 mai. 2026.
BRASIL. 2025b. EXÉRCITO BRASILEIRO. DEPARTAMENTO DE CIÊNCIA E TECNOLOGIA. Exército Brasileiro e Governo do Paraná firmam Acordo de Cooperação Técnica para o Projeto Córtex. 22 dez. 2025. Disponível em: https://www.dct.eb.mil.br/noticias/exercito-brasileiro-e-governo-do-parana-firmam-acordo-de-cooperacao-tecnica-para-o-projeto-cortex. Acesso em: 21 jun. 2026.
BRASIL. 2025c. MINISTÉRIO DA CIÊNCIA, TECNOLOGIA E INOVAÇÃO. Fundo Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico. Termo de Referência — Programa 09: Promoção da Autonomia Tecnológica na Área da Defesa. Documento SEI nº 12888871, 2025. Disponível em: https://www.gov.br/mcti/pt-br/acompanhe-o-mcti/fndct/paginas/planejamento/programas-estruturantes-e-mobilizadores/TR_Programa_09_readaDefesa.pdf. Acesso em: 12 jun. 2026.
BUZAN, Barry; WÆVER, Ole; DE WILDE, Jaap. Security: A New Framework for Analysis. Boulder: Lynne Rienner, 1998.
COOPER, Andrew F.; HIGGOTT, Richard A.; NOSSAL, Kim Richard. Relocating Middle Powers: Australia and Canada in a Changing World Order. Vancouver: UBC Press, 1993.
EDLER, Jakob; BLIND, Knut; KROLL, Henning; SCHUBERT, Torben. Technology sovereignty as an emerging frame for innovation policy: defining rationales, ends and means. Research Policy, v. 52, n. 6, 104765, 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2023.104765. Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2023.104765. Acesso em: 14 ago. 2026.
EMBRAPII. Centro de Competência Embrapii em Tecnologias Quânticas (QuIIN — SENAI CIMATEC). [s.d.]. Disponível em: https://embrapii.org.br/centro-competencia/centro-de-competencia-embrapii-em-tecnologias-quanticas-quiin-senai-cimatec/. Acesso em: 16 jun. 2026.
ETZKOWITZ, Henry; LEYDESDORFF, Loet. The dynamics of innovation: from National Systems and “Mode 2” to a Triple Helix of university–industry–government relations. Research Policy, v. 29, n. 2, p. 109–123, 2000. DOI: 10.1016/S0048-7333(99)00055-4.
FARRELL, Henry; NEWMAN, Abraham L. Weaponized interdependence: how global economic networks shape state coercion. International Security, v. 44, n. 1, p. 42–79, 2019. DOI: 10.1162/ISEC_a_00351. Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.1162/ISEC_a_00351. Acesso em: 25 ago. 2026.
GILLI, Andrea; GILLI, Mauro. Why China Has Not Caught Up Yet: Military-Technological Superiority, Systems Integration, and the Challenges of Imitation, Reverse Engineering, and Cyber-Espionage. International Security, v. 43, n. 3, p. 141–189, 2019. DOI: 10.1162/isec_a_00337. Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.1162/isec_a_00337. Acesso em: 25 mai. 2026.
IBICT. 2025. CBPF inaugura Laboratórios de Tecnologias Quânticas e de Inteligência Artificial para a Física. 17 jun. 2025. Disponível em: https://www.gov.br/ibict/pt-br/central-de-conteudos/noticias/2025/junho/cbpf-inaugura-laboratorios-de-tecnologias-quanticas-e-de-inteligencia-artificial-para-a-fisica. Acesso em: 06 jun. 2026.
ICTP-SAIFR. Especial Quântica – Comunicação quântica – Brasil. 14 jul. 2025. Disponível em: https://outreach.ictp-saifr.org/quantica-comunicacao-quantica-brasil/. Acesso em: 19 jul. 2026.
INDIA. DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. National Quantum Mission (NQM). New Delhi, atualização de 21 maio 2026. Disponível em: https://dst.gov.in/national-quantum-mission-nqm. Acesso em: 22 ago. 2026.
INSTITUTO MILITAR DE ENGENHARIA. IME ativa canal quântico pioneiro e avança rumo à Internet Quântica no Brasil. 12 nov. 2025. Disponível em: https://www.ime.eb.mil.br/home/noticias/ime-internet-quantica-no-brasil. Acesso em: 16 jul. 2026.
JORDAAN, Eduard. The concept of a middle power in international relations: distinguishing between emerging and traditional middle powers. Politikon, v. 30, n. 1, p. 165–181, 2003. DOI: 10.1080/0258934032000147282.
KEOHANE, Robert O. Lilliputians’ dilemmas: small states in international politics. International Organization, v. 23, n. 2, p. 291–310, 1969. DOI: 10.1017/S002081830003160X.
MAZZUCATO, Mariana. O Estado Empreendedor: desmascarando o mito do setor público vs. o setor privado. Tradução de Elvira Serapicos. São Paulo: Portfolio-Penguin/Companhia das Letras, 2014.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY. Turning atoms into waves to measure gravity and acceleration. 2026. Disponível em: https://www.nist.gov/quantum-information-science/quantum-sensing-explained/turning-atoms-waves-measure-gravity-and. Acesso em: 24 ago. 2026.
NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL. SUBCOMMITTEE ON QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE. National Quantum Initiative: Supplement to the President’s FY 2025 Budget. 2024. Disponível em: https://www.quantum.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NQI-Annual-Report-FY2025.pdf. Acesso em: 22 jul. 2026.
OECD. A quantum technologies policy primer. OECD Digital Economy Papers, n. 371, 2025. DOI: 10.1787/fd1153c3-en. Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.1787/fd1153c3-en. Acesso em: 17 jul. 2026.
OLIVEIRA, Thays Felipe David de; AZEVEDO, Carlos Eduardo Franco; ARAÚJO-MOREIRA, Fernando M. Tecnologias quânticas na defesa do Brasil: desafios, oportunidades e roadmap. Revista Brasileira de Estudos de Defesa, v. 13, n. 1, e026007, p. 1–37, 2025. DOI: 10.26792/rbed.v13i1.75486. Disponível em: https://rbed.abedef.org/rbed/article/view/75486. Acesso em: 16 jul. 2026.
ROSEN, Stephen Peter. Winning the Next War: Innovation and the Modern Military. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1991. Disponível em: https://cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9780801481963/winning-the-next-war/. Acesso em: 12 mai. 2026.
SAINT-PIERRE, Héctor Luis. “Defesa” ou “segurança”? Reflexões em torno de conceitos e ideologias. Contexto Internacional, v. 33, n. 2, p. 407–433, 2011. Disponível em: https://www.scielo.br/j/cint/a/7hYQwTNRzvcqfr9dqMd3PKJ/. Acesso em: 16 ago. 2026.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE. SA QuTI: Driving Quantum Technologies, [s.d.]. Disponível em: https://saquti.org/. Acesso em: 19 jul. 2026.
SUTER, Viktor; PÖHLMANN, Gina; MA, Charles; MECKEL, Miriam. Quantum technologies and geopolitics: comparing parliamentary rhetoric. EPJ Quantum Technology, v. 13, art. 10, 2026. Publicado online em 19 dez. 2025. DOI: 10.1140/epjqt/s40507-025-00456-w. Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-025-00456-w. Acesso em: 16 jul. 2026.
TERZIS, Petros; TEN OEVER, Niels; VAN HOBOKEN, Joris. “Scale Quantum, not bureaucracy”: policy logics and geopolitical anxieties in the standardization of quantum technologies. Journal of Standardisation, v. 5, 2026. DOI: 10.59490/jos.2026.8497. Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.59490/jos.2026.8497. Acesso em: 28 ago. 2026.
UNITED KINGDOM. Un-jammable quantum tech takes flight to boost UK’s resilience against hostile actors. 13 maio 2024. Disponível em: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/un-jammable-quantum-tech-takes-flight-to-boost-uks-resilience-against-hostile-actors. Acesso em: 22 jul. 2026.
VAN DEVENTER, Oskar et al. Towards European standards for quantum technologies. EPJ Quantum Technology, v. 9, art. 33, 2022. DOI: 10.1140/epjqt/s40507-022-00150-1. Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-022-00150-1. Acesso em: 09 jun. 2026.
WALTZ, Kenneth N. Theory of International Politics. Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1979. 251 p.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
