As part of another commitment during the official mission to Portugal, Fiocruz signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) (4/23) with the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), based in Braga and created through a bilateral agreement between Portugal and Spain. The document lays the foundations for international cooperation between the institutions. The agreement was signed in Lisbon during a ceremony hosted by the Brazilian Ambassador in Lisbon, Raimundo Carreiro, at his official residence. The initiative adds to other partnerships signed in the country. On the same day, the president of Fiocruz, Mario Moreira, also signed an agreement with ApexBrasil.
The five-year MoU was signed by Mario Moreira and INL's deputy director-general, Ado Jório Vasconcelos. The document formalizes and establishes the basis for the international cooperation to be developed in research, technological development, production, and training aimed at the area of nanotechnology and its applications in biotechnology and health.
"This agreement brings together Fiocruz, a world reference in the field of public health, and INL, a world reference in the field of nanotechnology. The institutions have a very high degree of complementarity and, as a result of this agreement, we will offer a lot to society," said the president of Fiocruz.
On the occasion of the signing, Ambassador Raimundo Carreiro recalled the precursors of the partnership. "We found out about the Laboratory, invited them to talk at the Embassy, and today we are taking the first concrete step as we sign this memorandum of understanding," he said.
"In the broad thematic area of life sciences, INL and Fiocruz are powerful and complementary institutions, combining INL's expertise in biomedical engineering and Fiocruz's access to one of the largest public health systems on the planet. The partnership will fulfill the role of bringing the benefits of research and innovation to society," said INL's director-general. Also a professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), the Brazilian Ado Jório Vasconcelos plays a prominent role in the field and has previously served as the Vice President of the Brazilian Physics Society (SBF).
As a broader context, the initiative is part of one of the points addressed in the joint statement resulting from the 14th Brazil-Portugal Summit, which took place in Brasília in February, led by the Brazilian Federal Government. As part of the commitment to boost the bilateral agenda in science, technology, and innovation, the document highlights the positive prospects for cooperation in the field of nanosciences and nanotechnologies.
Joint actions are planned, such as mutual cooperation on projects, mobility of researchers and students, organization of scientific events, information sharing, funding mechanisms, among others. Within Fiocruz, the coordination of the Translational Nanotechnology Research Program (Fio-Nano) is leading the cooperation, under the leadership of researchers Fabio Rocha Formiga (Fiocruz Pernambuco) and Carlos Eduardo Calzavara Silva (Fiocruz Minas). As for INL, the leader of the Food Processing Group, Lorenzo Pastrana, and the deputy director-general, Ado Jório Vasconcelos, have been appointed.
Memorandum of Understanding
The MoU is the result of discussions between INL researchers and members of Fiocruz's Fio-Nano Program. At a meeting held in March this year, each institution presented its areas of expertise, infrastructures, and potential in the field of nanotechnology. The INL team welcomed researcher Fabio Formiga on April 24th, who made a technical visit to the laboratory's facilities and took part in preparatory meetings. On that occasion, it was agreed that the working meetings would continue, with a view to identifying priority issues, staff training, and funding mechanisms for bilateral projects.
"Nanotechnology is a cutting-edge area that offers opportunities for the development of innovative health products, such as new drugs, vaccines, medicines, and diagnostic devices. To this end, strategic cooperation is essential. The partnership with INL enables Fiocruz to take on new challenges in nanotechnology, strengthening its competencies through a fruitful internationalization initiative with this European reference laboratory," said the researcher.
International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory
The INL, founded in 2005 by a joint decision of the governments of Portugal and Spain, is an international intergovernmental research organization dedicated to cutting-edge research and development in nanotechnology. Since 2010, the laboratory has functioned as an innovation center, providing a high-tech research environment.
Besides acting as an integrator of innovation in multiple fields of application, INL collaborates with institutions from different countries and has the participation of international experts. Its governance model allows for the inclusion of new members and partners, with the goal of consolidating a global hub of scientific and technological excellence. Through collaborations with universities, industries, and research centers, INL seeks to generate knowledge, create jobs, and train highly specialized professionals, with the mission of providing scientific excellence for the benefit of society.