In April 2011, the Brazil Institute organized and hosted the first annual Brazilian Congressional Study Mission on Innovation. The initiative was held in partnership with Brazil’s Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association – Interfarma, who represents 42 companies operating in Brazil. Through seminars with experts from academia, government and industry, the missions aim at promoting the understanding of innovation policies and best practices. Beginning in April 2011, eighteen members of the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate took part in conferences hosted at the Wilson Center, the Department of State, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The second Brazilian Congressional Study Mission, with eleven senators and deputies in attendance, was held in Europe in April 2012. It opened with a seminar hosted by the Brazil Institute of King’s College London. The third Mission took place in California in partnership with the Institute of the America's in San Diego.

The Fourth Congressional Study Mission took place in San Diego, CA, once again as well as in Washington, DC. Pleaes note this this is a by-invitation event only. 

On April 16th, 2015, Representative Marcus Pestana (PSDB-MG) authored this piece on his reflections from the Congressional Study Mission [in Portuguese].