In the ever-evolving landscape of international scientific collaboration, the partnership between the state of São Paulo in Brazil and the United Kingdom stands out as a beacon of innovation and academic synergy. Over the last decade and a half, this transatlantic alliance has generated more than 18,000 co-authored research articles, reflecting a scholarly output imbued with a citation impact that is quadruple the global norm. Such a metric not only highlights the high quality of collaborative work but also underscores the meaningful integration of expertise across continents. Yet, despite this notable achievement, both scientific communities recognize the untapped potential in burgeoning fields such as artificial intelligence, energy transition, biotechnology, and biodiversity, which are rapidly ascending as global priorities.
This dynamic collaborative spirit was palpably on display during the recent FAPESP Week in London held at the prestigious Science Museum. The event, scheduled from June 2 to June 4, 2024, serves as a strategic platform designed to deepen and expand cooperative scientific endeavors between São Paulo’s researchers and their British counterparts. Its overarching mission is to unravel new dimensions of partnership, focusing on areas of mutual strategic interest that promise impactful scientific breakthroughs and societal benefits.
FAPESP President Marco Antonio Zago poignantly reflected on the tumultuous period since the last FAPESP Week in London in 2019, highlighting the profound disruptions wrought by the global pandemic. The world experienced the tragic loss of over seven million lives, including 600,000 in Brazil, and scientific pursuits were deeply impacted. Publication rates declined, academic exchanges halted, and research funding contracted sharply. Despite these headwinds, Zago emphasized the resilience and reinvigoration of the scientific community, underscoring how the current landscape is vastly transformed, with artificial intelligence taking precedence as a universal research priority reshaping the modalities of scholarship and peer evaluation.
Significant transformations within FAPESP itself mirror the evolving scientific ecosystem. The agency now disburses over 10,000 grants and scholarships annually, showcasing a remarkable expansion in capacity. It supports around 50 globally recognized research centers, half of which benefit from private sector co-funding. These include specialized entities such as Research, Innovation, and Dissemination Centers (RIDCs) and Applied Research Centers (ARCs), which serve as hubs of high-impact scientific and technological activity, fostering environments where academia and industry converge to accelerate innovation.
Among the strategic imperatives charted by FAPESP’s Board of Trustees for the forthcoming three years are seven thematic priorities designed to catalyze bilateral cooperation. These span the domains of biotechnology; energy transition; biodiversity and sustainable food production; digital transformation and artificial intelligence; quantum sciences and technologies; human and animal health; and issues of violence and public safety. Each theme resonates with both local relevance and global urgency, offering fertile ground for joint research ventures and technology development.
The economic and scientific heft of São Paulo further elevates the significance of this alliance. Accounting for 40% to 60% of Brazil’s scientific output, the state is a powerhouse in innovation and technology. It harbors approximately 22% of the nation’s technology workforce and more than half of its deep tech startups, underscoring its status as a vibrant hub for cutting-edge research and entrepreneurial activity. Educational institutions such as the University of São Paulo (USP), the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), and São Paulo State University (UNESP) consistently rank among Latin America’s elite, further bolstering the state’s intellectual foundation.
From the UK’s perspective, the partnership with São Paulo is heralded as one of the most enduring and effective models of international cooperation. Francis Wood, Director of International Partnerships at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), articulated the mutual benefits of this alliance. She underscored that the complexity of modern scientific challenges transcends borders and that collaborative endeavors are essential to addressing them. Despite internal organizational changes within UKRI, the commitment to international partnership remains resolute, aligning priorities closely with FAPESP in fields such as agrotechnology, biodiversity, and climate science.
Concrete collaborative initiatives illustrate the depth of this bilateral engagement. The Transatlantic Platform, jointly chaired by FAPESP and UKRI, exemplifies multinational coordination in the humanities and social sciences, enabling researchers to navigate British research councils under a responsive agreement established in 2009. In an emblematic move in 2024, the Medical Research Council launched a bilateral call focused on artificial intelligence applications in health, supported by a €6 million investment and yielding six funded collaborative projects. Partnerships with institutions like King’s College London and the University of Birmingham expand cooperation into environmental sciences, urban transport, and health, reflecting the multifaceted nature of this scientific diplomacy.
The strategic importance of São Paulo’s innovation ecosystem cannot be overstated. Despite the state encompassing a mere 3% of Brazil’s land area, it commands 70% of the country’s knowledge-based workforce, and its annual investment in research and development approaches BRL 1.8 billion, equating to 11% of its annual budget. São Paulo’s status as Latin America’s sole representative among the world’s top 100 startup ecosystems—rated 26th globally—further highlights its economic dynamism. Particularly in fintech, São Paulo boasts the world’s largest ecosystem. The state government’s role is characterized by support rather than intervention, nurturing nearly 100 innovation hubs comprising incubators, technology parks, and innovation districts that collectively house over 2,200 startups alongside 700 large companies.
Moreover, Brazil’s broader strategic vision integrates “innovation diplomacy” as a core element. Alexandre Brasil, Minister-Counselor at the Brazilian Embassy in London, elaborated on this approach, emphasizing science and technology as pivotal drivers not only of economic growth but also of national sovereignty, social equity, and global influence. Initiated in 2017, this program deploys science, technology, and innovation units across major Brazilian embassies and consulates. It leverages the quadruple helix model, which synergizes government, academia, industry, and civil society around common objectives, fostering international partnerships that transcend traditional diplomatic boundaries.
The selection of the British Science Museum as the venue for FAPESP Week London provided a symbolic backdrop linking scientific diplomacy with cultural engagement. Shri Mukundagiri, Deputy Executive Director of the museum, highlighted its historical ties to Brazil and the power of science communication to fortify international relationships. Recent exhibitions like “Amazonia,” “Water and Fire,” and an adaptation of “Injecting Hope”—chronicling the race for a COVID-19 vaccine—demonstrate the museum’s commitment to fostering mutual understanding through science, especially vital at a time when public trust in science faces unprecedented challenges in both the UK and Brazil.
Looking ahead, the trajectory of FAPESP Week is poised for continued expansion and impact. Initiated in Washington, D.C., in 2011, and subsequently hosted in Latin America and Europe, the event has catalyzed a measurable increase in joint research proposals, underscoring its role as a valuable facilitator of academic and technological exchange. Confirmed future editions in the Netherlands (October 2026) and Canada (2027) promise to sustain this momentum, creating sustained opportunities for networking, partnerships, and collaborative innovation across continents.
In sum, the São Paulo-UK scientific partnership illustrates an exemplary model of international cooperation, blending scientific excellence with strategic foresight. It exemplifies how science transcends geographical and cultural boundaries, becoming a catalyst for profound societal benefits and global progress. As technological frontiers advance and new challenges emerge, such partnerships will be indispensable in navigating the complex, interconnected future of research and innovation.
Subject of Research: International Scientific Collaboration, Artificial Intelligence, Energy Transition, Biotechnology, Biodiversity, Innovation Ecosystem
Article Title: São Paulo and the UK: Forging a Robust Scientific Partnership in the Age of Innovation
News Publication Date: June 2024
Web References:
- https://fapesp.br/week/2026/london
- https://agencia.fapesp.br/57682
- https://www.transatlanticplatform.com/
- https://www.sp.gov.br/sp/institucional/estrutura/secretarias/ciencia-tecnologia-inovacao
- https://fapesp.br/11698
- https://fapesp.br/16081
Keywords
Scientific collaboration, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, energy transition, biodiversity, innovation hubs, transatlantic partnerships, scientific diplomacy, research funding, São Paulo innovation ecosystem, UKRI partnership, science communication
