INCOBRA - Increasing International Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation between Brazil and the European Union

The strengthening of bilateral cooperation between Brazil and Portugal, which began 30 years ago, was discussed this week in São Paulo (SP), by government representatives from both countries. The Portuguese delegation presented the project of the Azores Research International Station (AIR Center). The expectation is that Brazil participates in the research to be developed in the areas of energy, sea, climate change and Earth observation.

The project was shown to members of the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), in Brasília (DF), and the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) in São José dos Campos (SP). In addition to the strategic geographical location, the research center has infrastructure to house a spaceport, facilities for atmospheric radiation measurement and a department of oceanography and fishing.

The Minister of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications (MCTIC) of Brazil, Gilberto Kassab, and the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education of Portugal, Manuel Heitor, agreed to create a working group of representatives from the two ministries to identify actions and develop a joint agenda towards strengthening the cooperation.

The Portuguese Minister highlighted the partnership of the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), based in Braga, with the National System for Laboratory in Nanotechnology (SisNano), coordinated by MCTIC, and the availability of scientific repositories of the Brazilian Institute for Information in Science and technology (Ibict) and suggested arrangements for joint research in agriculture and sustainable cities.

One of the possibilities opened up by dialogue between the ministers is to hold a workshop on cooperation between the two countries on the occasion of the 11th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Portuguese Language Countries Community (CPLP), scheduled for November.