Brazilian Bureau to Enhance the Bilateral Cooperation between Brazil and Europe

With growth of 7.5% of its gross domestic product in 2010, Brazil was one of the first emerging economies to begin to recover during the recent crisis. According to the OECD, Brazilian performance in some indicators of S&T is still below OECD averages, but a very fast improvement is being registered on key aspects (such as the triadic patents). In 2009, Brazilian gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) was 1.2% of GDP. Innovation is now among Brazilian Government and Enterprises priorities and, as a result, Brazilian GERD is expected to increase considerably in the next years. Such characteristics make of Brazil a key international partner for the European Research Area (ERA).

Considering the results of the EU-Brazil ST&I cooperation under the bilateral agreement signed in 2004, as well as the results of past and ongoing initiatives supporting the EU-Brazil ST&I cooperation, B.BICE+ will:

• Support the EU-Brazil ST&I policy dialogue, including dialogue on innovation issues, and contribute to the implementation of the EU-Brazil ST&I Roadmap by promoting the principle of mutual benefit and reciprocity as well as the objectives of the Innovation Union Initiative.
• Promote durable partnerships between EU-Brazil actors of the whole research-to-innovation chain and the sharing of scientific results to enhance the impact of the EU-Brazil ST&I cooperation.
• Encourage the coordination between the EU and Member States ST&I programmes and policies targeting Brazil by promoting the implementation of joint actions.
• Raise awareness among both EU and Brazilian ST&I communities on the European, Brazilian and MS&AC programmes promoting cooperation on research and innovation.

The project will extensively promote the idea of Innovation as an essential mean for tackling global challenges and will respond to the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy and its Innovation Union Initiative to promote a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy.