In the post-crisis global context, can the Brazilian economy keep growing without incorporating new knowledge in various sectors of the economy?
　  Between 2000 and 2010, successive Brazilian governments have used the reference of knowledge economy as the central pillar of their economic development policies. The concept points up the need for growing investments in the Science & Technology Research System. Throughout the decade, Brazil sought to strengthen its national innovation system and create the foundations for the sustainable growth of its economy. Besides, the concern with economic growth must be accompanied by the use of knowledge to benefit social development. What is the country's capacity to maintain a high rate of growth and face international competition with an economy based on exporting commodities, heavily dependent on demand from other countries? Is it possible to be a knowledge-based economy with industrial firms that do not develop radical innovations? How can Brazil deal with the need to promote new technological solutions but that also meet the demands of environmental protection?
　 The study will present the most significant changes in the structure of the Brazilian national innovation system, assess the impacts of these changes, evaluate the challenges to be faced in order to ensure the sustainability of economic growth through the upgrading of innovation capabilities.