In order to prepare a preliminary analysis of the Brazilian National Innovation System in Biotechnology (NISB), we conducted several interviews and used e-mail questionnaires with different kinds of actors in the system, i.e. university teachers, financing agents, businessmen, etc. The study suggests that Brazil has a few important strong points, like the scientific tradition in biotechnology, the financing to basic research and the strength of the agricultural sector in the last decade. But there is still a long way to go; sector regulation, the start up companies financing and the cultural aspect of business aversion by researchers seem to be the main obstacles for the country to become a significant player in this sectorCon el objetivo de preparar un análisis preliminar del Sistema Nacional de Innovación en Biotecnología de Brasil (NISB), se llevaron a cabo numerosas entrevistas y se emplearon cuestionarios enviados por correo electrónico a los diferentes actores en el sistema, por ejemplo profesores universitarios, agentes financieros, ejecutivos, etc. El estudio sugiere que Brasil tiene unos pocos puntos fuertes importantes, tales como la tradición científica en Biotecnología, el financiamiento existente para el desarrollo de investigación básica y la fuerza del sector agrícola en la última década. Pero aún hay mucho por hacer; regulación del sector, el financiamiento de las compañías Start upIn order to prepare a preliminary analysis of the Brazilian National Innovation System in Biotechnology (NISB), we conducted several interviews and used e-mail questionnaires with different kinds of actors in the system, i.e. university teachers, financing agents, businessmen, etc. The study suggests that Brazil has a few important strong points, like the scientific tradition in biotechnology, the financing to basic research and the strength of the agricultural sector in the last decade. But there is still a long way to go; sector regulation, the start up companies financing and the cultural aspect of business aversion by researchers seem to be the main obstacles for the country to become a significant player in this sector