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

The European Commission, Brazil and South Africa signed in 13^th of July, 2017, the Belem Statement on Atlantic Research and Innovation Cooperation.  EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas, the Brazilian Minister of State for Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications Gilberto Kassab and Minister of Science and Technology of South Africa Naledi Pandor were the policy makers conducting the high-level Ministerial event.  

The Statement builds on existing bilateral agreements from the European Commission and Brazil, the Joint Declaration of Intent between the European Commission and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Brazil”, signed on 17 of November, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro and the “Declaration of Intent between South Africa´s Department of Science and Technology and the European Commission on Marine Research and Innovation Cooperation” signed on 3 of October, 2016.

This agreement will, thus, link research activities in the South Atlantic and Southern Ocean with those in the North Atlantic, by exploring synergies also with other initiatives.

Committed to take further the collaborative efforts in the Atlantic Oceans and intend to cooperate in a sustainable way on marine research, the 3 regions agree in:

• Linking research activities in the South Atlantic and Southern Ocean with those in the North Atlantic;
• Sharing of research infrastructures, access to and management of data and platforms;
• Developing common understanding and interrelations,
• Promoting and facilitating human capital;
• Providing a platform for scientific and technological cooperation and;
• Encouraging new models for cooperation.

The agreement also lists priority areas for this cooperation, as follows:

• Climate variability and ecosystem approaches;
• Ocean observation (including seabed mapping), forecasting and monitoring processes and systems;
• Food security, fisheries management, aquaculture and biodiversity;
• Oceans technology (including for observation and renewable marine energy);
• The effects of emerging pollutants; and,
• Polar research (especially interconnections between the Atlantic, the Southern Ocean and Antarctica).

This agreement launches a New Era of Enlightenment for Atlantic collaboration between the European Commission, Brazil and South Africa, by tackling together the grand challenges and opportunities of the Atlantic ocean system.