EU-Brazil cooperation on the rise Enhanced cooperation between Brazil and EU Member States has created durable partnerships that are furthering research, innovation and science in novel ways. Digital Economy Fundamental Research © Onur Akkurt, Shutterstock Brazil, Latin America’s largest country and the world’s seventh biggest economy, represents a strong potential partner for bilateral cooperation with the EU in science, technology and innovation (ST&I). The EU-funded B.BICE+ (Brazilian bureau to enhance the bilateral cooperation between Brazil and Europe) project reinforced cooperation in these areas. It fostered reciprocity, strengthened collaboration in innovation, and streamlined coordination between Brazil and EU countries. More specifically, the project promoted policy dialogue in ST&I and developing an EU-Brazil ST&I roadmap. It helped to build long-lasting partnerships across the Atlantic and encouraged joint initiatives between two important world regions. In addition, the project team raised awareness in both regions on Brazilian, European and other programmes that favour research, innovation and collaboration. The project consortium, which boasts public and/or private organisations from Brazil, France, Germany and Greece, has produced several valuable results. These include a complete database of Brazilian calls for projects, particularly those open to EU participation. B.BICE+ also organised numerous information days to promote the EU’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme in Brazil, and conducted a feasibility study for a joint liaison office of European research organisations. A joint task force also supported specific EU-Brazil sessions during the Bio Latin America Conference and South-South Workshop on Tropical and South Atlantic Research Collaboration. The project team organised two ST&I forums in Brazil and Europe on best practices in technology transfer and intellectual property management, in addition to publishing the Online Guide to Innovation and fostering twinning activities. A joint ST&I cooperation committee developed the EU-Brazil ST&I Cooperation Scoreboard and furthered the role of state-level institutions in the EU-Brazil ST&I partnership. These initiatives render the innovation framework conditions of both Brazil and the EU understandable to the relevant ST&I communities. They support exchanges, from giving travel grants to encouraging twinning, in order to strengthen the research-to-innovation chain. By highlighting funding opportunities and supporting agendas for research, development and innovation, Brazil and Europe have begun building durable partnerships that strongly benefit both their economies. Keywords Bilaterial cooperation, ST&I, B.BICE+, technology transfer, intellectual property management
