Increasing international science, technology and innovation cooperation between Brazil and the European Union - INCOBRA

Abstract

INCOBRA - Increasing Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) International Cooperation between Brazil (BR) and the European Union (EU) - is a 36-month Coordination and Support Action aiming to increase, enhance and focus Research and Innovation (R&I) cooperation between BR and EU. INCOBRA is expected to contribute to (i) Increased cooperation patterns - by supporting cooperation networks among BR and EU R&I actors (Work Package -WP2), (ii) Enhanced framework conditions - by fostering coordination and alignment of R&I funding in BR and EU (WP3), (iii) More focused BR-EU R&I cooperation - by identifying emerging topics and opportunities in priority R&I areas for cooperation (WP1). Capacity building, sustainability will also be fully addressed by INCOBRA (WP4 and WP5, respectively). INCOBRA's approach is completely aligned with the EU Strategy for International R&I Cooperation, the EU Roadmap for R&I Cooperation with BR, the BR-EU Policy Dialogue priorities and with the work of the Strategic Forum for International STI Cooperation (SFIC). It thus draws upon a multilateral perspective (interests and needs of BR-state level, BR-federal level, EU and EU-Member States), whilst capitalizing and going beyond the outcomes of the previous R&I cooperation project with Brazil (B.BICE+). INCOBRA's approach also assumes innovation (holistic concept) as a key driver for BR-EU STI cooperation and Strategic Foresight as a relevant tool to anticipate R&I trends of mutual interest for BR and EU R&I actors, while promoting mutual openness of BR and EU R&I funding programmes to encourage cooperation. The INCOBRA consortium comprises 13 partners (7 from EU and 6 from BR), including Universities, Research Organizations, International Organizations, Technology Parks, Private Companies and Funding Agencies. Building upon a stakeholder-driven basis, INCOBRA already incorporates 36 organizations as members of the Stakeholder Group to be deployed during the project. Fapesp will be a general cross-cutter contributor to all the activities of the consortium. As a funding agency with regional range of activity, FAPESP major contributions will be towards promoting the alignment of R&I funding programmes priorities for increasing the impact of BR-EU cooperation and provide substantial inputs to the remaining tasks. (AU)