This paper presents the Graduate Program on Information Systems of the Federal University of the Rio de Janeiro State (UNIRIO) and its strategies to foster IS research in Brazil. These strategies include the design of IS research areas and the curricula for its Master degree course; the organization of graduate software development courses; the students’ involvement in extension projects and the structuring of a healthy relationship with industrial partners. The paper concludes with the challenges faced by the Program to enforce its strategies and IS research in Brazil.