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

The Ministry of Industry, Foreign Trade and Services (MDIC) has opened two new opportunities for Brazilian companies that want to develop research and development (R&D) projects in partnership with foreign companies. MDIC extended the registration for the Brazil-Germany Call for Cooperation Projects until October 30, 2017. In addition, a call for proposals for Brazil-UK Cooperation Projects was launched being opened until May 3, 2017.

The Programme invites Brazilian companies to form partnerships with foreign companies to submit proposals for cooperation in R&D that will result in the development of new products, processes or services aimed at commercialization in the domestic and / or global market. Proposals should demonstrate adequate balance of the participation of industrial partners from the two countries, with complementarity between companies and contributions from both sides to the research development.

Approved projects may have joint funding from institutions for innovation support from both partner countries. Brazilian companies are eligible for the innovation supports lines of the National Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES) and a grant from the Brazilian Industrial Research and Innovation Company (Embrapii), in case they develop their technology in partnership with an Embrapii Unit.

In Germany, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy funds national companies through the Central Programme of Innovation for SMEs (ZIM Programme). In the United Kingdom, the Innovate UK has reserved a fund of £ 2.5 million (approximately R$ 10 million) to support British companies within these partnerships.

The Call with Germany is open to projects from all sectors and has a system of internal deadlines for receiving projects: March 3, 2017, June 30, 2017 and October 30, 2017.

The call with the UK is specific to projects in smart cities, and covers three major areas: integration and governance of a city systems; Urban infrastructure and smart and affordable mobility; and sustainable urban environments. Included in this scope are technologies like the internet of things, big data, smart grids, clean energy, water and waste management and green infrastructure.

For more information access: http://www.cooperacaointernacional.mdic.gov.br/