FAPESP and Uruguay’s National Research and Innovation Agency (ANII) are set to host the FAPESP Day Uruguay symposium over two days, November 13 and 14, in Montevideo. This event aims to strengthen collaborative efforts between researchers from São Paulo, Brazil, and Uruguay by focusing on strategic scientific domains of mutual interest. By fostering cross-border partnerships, this initiative elevates South American research integration and aims to propel regional innovation capabilities in key thematic areas.
The structure of FAPESP Day Uruguay is modeled similarly to the broader FAPESP Week series, which has successfully completed 24 editions before. However, for this occasion, the program is intentionally concise and selective, focusing exclusively on three pivotal thematic areas: Oceanography, Strategies and Policies for Sustainable Animal Protein Production, and Forestry for Production and Conservation. These themes not only reflect pressing scientific challenges in the region but also emphasize sustainability and innovation as core drivers of research collaboration.
Raul Machado, who manages FAPESP’s Institutional Relations Advisory and coordinates this initiative, highlights Paraná’s ambition to deepen scientific dialogue within South America. He underscores Uruguay’s role as a academically robust partner capable of contributing significantly to collaborative scientific endeavors, especially within the highlighted thematic areas. This approach envisions leveraging complementary expertise to generate solutions addressing ecological, economic, and social sustainability.
The opening ceremony will host several distinguished figures, including Álvaro Brunini, president of ANII; Marco Antonio Zago, president of FAPESP; Marcio de Castro, FAPESP’s scientific director; and Ana Vásquez, head of ANII’s Cooperation Unit. Their participation signals the institutional commitment of both agencies to fostering a fertile environment for transnational research partnerships and innovation. Officially launching the symposium sets the tone for dynamic exchanges and strategic discussions focused on advancing science and technology in the region.
The symposium’s scientific sessions will commence with an afternoon session dedicated to oceanography, featuring leading researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP), the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), and the University of the Republic (UDELAR) in Uruguay. This session will tackle current challenges in marine sciences, including coastal ecosystem monitoring, marine biodiversity, and the impacts of climate change on oceanographic processes. Collaborative research in oceanography is particularly vital for Brazil and Uruguay, given their extensive Atlantic coastlines and reliance on marine resources for economic activities.
Following oceanography, a session on forestry innovation and conservation strategies will take place, incorporating inputs from USP, UDELAR, and Uruguay’s National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA). The focus here will be on advancing sustainable forest management practices, enhancing forest productivity, and balancing conservation objectives with economic development. Discussions will delve into advanced biotechnological applications, remote sensing technologies, and policy frameworks that promote resilient forestry systems amidst climate variability and deforestation pressures.
On the second day, the morning panel will address sustainable animal protein production, an area of immense socio-economic impact for both countries. Experts from USP, UDELAR, and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) will explore innovative breeding techniques, feed efficiency improvements, and environmental management practices aiming to reduce the ecological footprint of livestock farming. This session anticipates integrating scientific insights that can inform practical policies to promote sustainable and competitive animal protein industries regionally.
Interwoven with these thematic scientific sessions, FAPESP and ANII representatives will present collaborative funding opportunities, facilitating the development of bi-national projects. These opportunities are designed to enable researchers in São Paulo and Uruguay to co-develop proposals that harness each region’s strengths. This collaborative funding model exemplifies a strategic investment in bilateral scientific linkages, catalyzing research innovation with policy relevance and socio-economic benefits.
Significantly, the symposium includes the launch of a joint call for proposals to support visiting researchers between the two countries. Ana Paula Yokosawa, FAPESP’s deputy manager of research collaboration, emphasizes the objective to stimulate researcher mobility and deepen interaction between São Paulo and Uruguayan scientific communities. This initiative aims to maximize the exchange of knowledge, foster methodological harmonization, and leverage infrastructures that will underpin robust, transnational research consortia.
The event also aligns with the Belmont Forum’s call for proposals, a global initiative linking national funding agencies to tackle global environmental change. Both FAPESP and ANII have committed to joining this funding mechanism, enabling their researchers to participate competitively in international consortia addressing earth system challenges. This engagement signals the internationalization of South American research efforts and underscores the region’s commitment to contributing scientific solutions at a planetary scale.
Alongside the Belmont Forum collaboration, the symposium will mark the launch of a new call within the PILAR consortium—the Latin American Research Network Projects. This consortium convenes national science and technology bodies from Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina (CONICET), and Paraguay (CONACYT) to foster regional research networks. The PILAR initiative promotes the integration of scientific communities across Latin America, enabling large-scale projects that transcend national boundaries and enhance scientific outputs across disciplines.
Beyond the academic program, technical visits are organized to enhance practical understanding and foster industrial-academic linkages. Participants will visit Minerva’s headquarters, a leading meat processing company, to gain firsthand insights into sustainable practices in animal protein production. Additionally, a visit to the Institut Pasteur in Montevideo is planned, culminating in the signing of a Cooperation Agreement to facilitate scientific exchanges between the Uruguayan institute and its counterpart in São Paulo. This agreement exemplifies institutional commitment to collaborative biomedical research and innovation.
The FAPESP Day Uruguay initiative, in its comprehensive scientific agenda and innovative partnership mechanisms, represents a forward-thinking model for South American research collaboration. By strategically focusing on areas critical for regional development and environmental sustainability, it paves the way for enduring scientific partnerships. The event is poised to catalyze transformative research that aligns with both countries’ socio-economic priorities, ensuring science serves as a cornerstone for sustainable development in the region.
Subject to evolving global challenges and technological opportunities, the symposium reinforces the centrality of cross-border cooperation in scientific advancement. Its focus on oceanography, sustainable animal protein production, and forestry underscores the critical nexus of ecological integrity, food security, and economic prosperity. Through this event, FAPESP and ANII exemplify how strategic collaborations can elevate scientific impact and foster a vibrant South American research ecosystem.
As knowledge exchange flourishes during the symposium, it is expected to culminate in joint publications, innovative projects, and policy recommendations that enhance the resilience and sustainability of natural resources in Brazil and Uruguay. By uniting diverse scientific communities under common goals, the event embodies a proactive approach to tackling the grand challenges of our time through collaborative, interdisciplinary research.
Subject of Research: Collaborative research on Oceanography, Sustainable Animal Protein Production, and Forestry for Production and Conservation in São Paulo and Uruguay.
News Publication Date: November 12, 2023
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Image Credits: FAPESP
Keywords: Scientific conferences, Oceanography, Animal products, Forestry, Natural resources management
