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

European and Brazilian researchers will now be able to cooperate more easily on issues ranging from fighting neglected tropical diseases such as the Zika virus or Dengue, to developing sustainable biofuels, safer airplanes and 5G technologies.

This is thanks to an agreement that the Commission signed today with three Brazilian funding agencies. The Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, the Brazilian Funding Agency for Studies and Projects, and the Brazilian National Council of State Funding Agencies together represent the largest providers of funding to researchers in Brazil.

Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, said:

This is a great day for research in the EU and Brazil. We are putting in place a very practical arrangement to support our research communities to cooperate on some of the most important challenges facing our societies. We are unlocking the potential of some of the best minds on both sides of the Atlantic.

The agreement (“administrative arrangement”) will enhance Brazilian participation in Horizon 2020, the EU’s research and innovation programme, and foster cooperation between the two regions. It establishes three different mechanisms for cooperation: greatly extending the national co-funding of Brazilian participation in projects under Horizon 2020, promoting cooperation between parallel projects under coordinated calls for proposals in Brazil and the EU, and twinning existing projects in areas of common interest.

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The EU and Brazil Science & Technology Agreement, in force since 2007, has led to intensive collaboration in research and innovation with more than 350 common projects. The main areas for cooperation include marine research, information and communication technologies, health, transport and environmental research.

Brazil ranks 5th in terms of participation among non-EU and associated partners in Horizon 2020. Brazilian entities have participated 135 times in 82 signed grants, including collaborative projects, Marie Skłodowska-Curie researcher mobility actions and European Research Council projects. The success rate of proposals with Brazilian partners is 18.2%, higher than the overall success rate under Horizon 2020 of 15%.

DOWNLOAD THE INFOGRAPHIC DEVELOPED BY THE EC SHOWING 10 YEARS OF EU-BRAZIL COOPERATION!