FAPESP signs cooperation agreement with Dutch agency NWO

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Agência FAPESP* –By Karina Toledo


Agência FAPESP – FAPESP and the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) signed a Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement on November 21 that foresees over € 4 million (R$ 10.7 million) in investments over the next five years. 
 
According to FAPESP President Celso Lafer, this is a broad-spectrum partnership involving opportunities in all fields of knowledge and will allow closer relationships between researchers in São Paulo and the Netherlands. 
 
“It makes space for cooperation between universities, for public-private partnerships and also for projects inside small and medium-sized companies,” said Lafer. 
 
The first call for proposals is expected to be announced on December 1, with a final deadline to present projects in March 2013. The total investment will be € 2.1 million (approximately R$ 5.6 million), with up to € 300,000 (approximately R$ 804,000) per proposal. 
 
According to President Jos Engelen of the NWO, the Netherlands’ principal research support agency, the first call is expected to include topics related to the so-called “bioeconomy”, which can include projects on bioenergy, the use of biomass for the production of chemical products, hydrological resources and agribusiness. 
 
“The life sciences are where we initially found common ground to begin the collaboration. But it is just the beginning. The agreement can be renewed after the first five years,” said Engelen.
 
The document was signed at a ceremony held at the São Paulo State capital building, the Palácio dos Bandeirantes. Attending the ceremony were Willem-Alexander, the Prince of Orange and the Princess of the Netherlands, Máxima Cerruti.
 
The heirs to the Dutch throne were received by Geraldo Alckmin and the First Lady, Lu Alckmin. The prince led a delegation composed of representatives from Dutch companies and universities that came to Brazil intending to strengthen commercial, educational and scientific ties with Brazil.
 
The committee also included the Prime Minister of Aruba, Mike Eman, and the Ambassador of the Netherlands, Kees Rade. 
 
Better education
 
Another agreement was signed during the ceremony. The agreement, between the São Paulo State Secretariat of Education and the Netherlands’ Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, enables the creation of activities involving technology, technical job training and English-language instruction in São Paulo State’s schools. 
 
The Netherlands is a benchmark for technical education and is developing a successful project for teaching foreign languages in the first years of primary education—experience that will be able to help improve projects developed within the state school system. 
 
“Two different initiatives will be created within this agreement,” said Herman Voorwald, Secretary of Education and member of the FAPESP Board of Trustees. One of the projects aims at promoting teacher and student mobility and enhancing the performance of language centers in state schools. In addition, it will enable study and work in Holland. 
 
“We also want to learn how technology like servers and tablets is used in the classroom in the Netherlands. This is because the Secretariat of Education is finalizing a project for a public-private partnership—the largest formed in the education sector in Brazil to date—so that within 10 years, every classroom in the 5,500 state-run schools will have access to this technology,” said Voorwald.
 
The other initiative included in the agreement with the Dutch ministry will be developed together with the School Protection System for education through peace. It will involve a program for respecting diversity and a violence and intolerance prevention program. 
 
This project will be carried out together with the Anne Frank Foundation and is expected to begin in 2013 in 20 schools in the East Zone of São Paulo city. “The Anne Frank Foundation has similar projects in 45 nations, but Brazil’s will be their largest. The goal is to reach 500 schools in four years,” said Voorwald. 
 
Meeting between universities
 
As a follow-up to the discussions on possible collaborations, the Meeting on Scientific Cooperation between universities in The Netherlands and São Paulo was held at FAPESP headquarters on November 22. 
 
The meeting was attended by representatives of 8 of the Netherlands’ 14 universities, including Delft University of Technology, Erasmus University Rotterdam and VU University Amsterdam. Also present were representatives from the Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) and the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA).
 
During the event, the profiles of the teaching institutions were presented, and possible joint research projects were featured. A cooperation agreement between USP and Maastricht University was also signed. 
 
According to Adnei Melges de Andrade, executive vice-rector of International Relations at USP, the partnership includes areas such as psychology, economics, business administration and law. 
 
The signing of two other agreements between USP and Dutch universities (the University of Twente and Eindhoven University of Technology) was scheduled on the same day.
 
“USP already has quite a few partner universities in the Netherlands, but today’s greatest challenge is getting European universities to send us students. Each of these agreements is a step forward in making Brazil better known and bringing investment to the country,” said Andrade. 
 
The meeting also included a presentation on the NWO’s profile by the Dutch funding agency’s Director, Jan Karel Koppen. The institution currently funds 6,500 researchers. Its 2012 budget was € 700 million (approximately R$ 1.8 billion). 
 
Additional information on the FAPESP/NWO agreement can be found at www.fapesp.br/en/7372.

<p><b>By Karina Toledo</b></p>
<div><b><br />
</b></div>
<div><b>Agência FAPESP</b> – FAPESP and the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) signed a Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement on November 21 that foresees over € 4 million (R$ 10.7 million) in investments over the next five years. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>According to FAPESP President Celso Lafer, this is a broad-spectrum partnership involving opportunities in all fields of knowledge and will allow closer relationships between researchers in São Paulo and the Netherlands. <br />
 </div>
<div>“It makes space for cooperation between universities, for public-private partnerships and also for projects inside small and medium-sized companies,” said Lafer. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The first call for proposals is expected to be announced on December 1, with a final deadline to present projects in March 2013. The total investment will be € 2.1 million (approximately R$ 5.6 million), with up to € 300,000 (approximately R$ 804,000) per proposal. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>According to President Jos Engelen of the NWO, the Netherlands’ principal research support agency, the first call is expected to include topics related to the so-called “bioeconomy”, which can include projects on bioenergy, the use of biomass for the production of chemical products, hydrological resources and agribusiness. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>“The life sciences are where we initially found common ground to begin the collaboration. But it is just the beginning. The agreement can be renewed after the first five years,” said Engelen.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The document was signed at a ceremony held at the São Paulo State capital building, the Palácio dos Bandeirantes. Attending the ceremony were Willem-Alexander, the Prince of Orange and the Princess of the Netherlands, Máxima Cerruti.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The heirs to the Dutch throne were received by Geraldo Alckmin and the First Lady, Lu Alckmin. The prince led a delegation composed of representatives from Dutch companies and universities that came to Brazil intending to strengthen commercial, educational and scientific ties with Brazil.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The committee also included the Prime Minister of Aruba, Mike Eman, and the Ambassador of the Netherlands, Kees Rade. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><b>Better education</b></div>
<div> </div>
<div>Another agreement was signed during the ceremony. The agreement, between the São Paulo State Secretariat of Education and the Netherlands’ Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, enables the creation of activities involving technology, technical job training and English-language instruction in São Paulo State’s schools. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The Netherlands is a benchmark for technical education and is developing a successful project for teaching foreign languages in the first years of primary education—experience that will be able to help improve projects developed within the state school system. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>“Two different initiatives will be created within this agreement,” said Herman Voorwald, Secretary of Education and member of the FAPESP Board of Trustees. One of the projects aims at promoting teacher and student mobility and enhancing the performance of language centers in state schools. In addition, it will enable study and work in Holland. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>“We also want to learn how technology like servers and tablets is used in the classroom in the Netherlands. This is because the Secretariat of Education is finalizing a project for a public-private partnership—the largest formed in the education sector in Brazil to date—so that within 10 years, every classroom in the 5,500 state-run schools will have access to this technology,” said Voorwald.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The other initiative included in the agreement with the Dutch ministry will be developed together with the School Protection System for education through peace. It will involve a program for respecting diversity and a violence and intolerance prevention program. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>This project will be carried out together with the Anne Frank Foundation and is expected to begin in 2013 in 20 schools in the East Zone of São Paulo city. “The Anne Frank Foundation has similar projects in 45 nations, but Brazil’s will be their largest. The goal is to reach 500 schools in four years,” said Voorwald. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><b>Meeting between universities</b></div>
<div> </div>
<div>As a follow-up to the discussions on possible collaborations, the Meeting on Scientific Cooperation between universities in The Netherlands and São Paulo was held at FAPESP headquarters on November 22. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The meeting was attended by representatives of 8 of the Netherlands’ 14 universities, including Delft University of Technology, Erasmus University Rotterdam and VU University Amsterdam. Also present were representatives from the Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) and the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA).</div>
<div> </div>
<div>During the event, the profiles of the teaching institutions were presented, and possible joint research projects were featured. A cooperation agreement between USP and Maastricht University was also signed. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>According to Adnei Melges de Andrade, executive vice-rector of International Relations at USP, the partnership includes areas such as psychology, economics, business administration and law. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The signing of two other agreements between USP and Dutch universities (the University of Twente and Eindhoven University of Technology) was scheduled on the same day.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“USP already has quite a few partner universities in the Netherlands, but today’s greatest challenge is getting European universities to send us students. Each of these agreements is a step forward in making Brazil better known and bringing investment to the country,” said Andrade. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The meeting also included a presentation on the NWO’s profile by the Dutch funding agency’s Director, Jan Karel Koppen. The institution currently funds 6,500 researchers. Its 2012 budget was € 700 million (approximately R$ 1.8 billion). </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Additional information on the FAPESP/NWO agreement can be found at <b><a href="http://www.fapesp.br/en/7372">www.fapesp.br/en/7372</a></b>.</div>
<div> </div>