Its constitution guarantees the state research foundation, known as FAPESP, 1% of the state government's tax take.

ECONOMIST: Science in Brazil: Go south, young scientist | The

And whereas other states' research agencies have such guarantees routinely ignored, Fapesp's growing prestige over the years has made it increasingly hard for local politicians to interfere or pinch its money.

ECONOMIST: Brazilian science

Ever since the 1960s, Fapesp has been guaranteed, by law, a fixed share of all the tax collected in Sao Paulo (first 0.5%, later 1%) and independence from the political meddling that is endemic in Brazilian public institutions.

ECONOMIST: Brazilian science