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

Meeting was considered an initial step for a cooperation between Brazil and Ireland in science, technology and innovation (CT & I).

In a visit to Brazil on Tuesday (14), the Minister of Training, Skills and Innovation of Ireland, John Halligan, presented the model of promotion of science and technology (S&T) as a motivator for the development of the country. In Ireland, the initiative resulted in a jump in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from € 9.2 billion in 1951 to € 103.9 billion in 2003 - an increase of 4.7% a year on average.

In a meeting with Minister of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications, Gilbert Kassab, Halligan said that the combination of investments in labor qualification with low taxes has made Ireland an attractive country for pharmaceutical and technology and software companies.

"Brazil is a country that can benefit a lot from the Irish model since we are no longer a poor country to be a highly developed in just one generation," said the Irish minister, who invited Kassab to visit the Irish technology centers.

For Kassab, the meeting was the initial step of a cooperation between Brazil and Ireland in science, technology and innovation (CT&I). "We will draft a document to create a closer relationship between our countries," he said.

"Without a doubt, a partnership with Ireland would be very beneficial for these fields in our country," added Alvaro Prata, MCTIC's Secretary for Technological Development and Innovation.

(ABIPTI Agency, with information from MCTIC)