EPS visit to Brazil strengthens ties in Energy research

A senior delegation from the College visited Brazil, earlier this spring to further develop its Energy agenda. Professor Richard Williams, Head of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, together with Professor Andy Schofield, College International Director, Dr Jonathan Radcliffe, School of Electronic, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Andréa Edwards, Director of International Development, visited the cities of São Paulo, Curitiba and Rio de Janeiro.

This was the first EPS-led delegation to Brazil whose purpose was to meet with educational and governmental partners to explore opportunities for engagement and collaboration around strategically important areas of the College, such as energy, advanced manufacturing and railways to name but three. The College already has a number of existing projects in materials and chemical engineering.

During the visit, the delegation took part in an Energy Systems and Storage Workshop in São Paulo and Parana thereby strengthening relations with key institutions in these areas, explored opportunities to increase business engagement opportunities, and met with the President of the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (Foundation for Research Support of the State of São Paulo).

In addition the delegation met with staff and students at various partner institutions and hosted high-level dinners to consolidate existing relations with government agencies, industry and research partners.

The varied and multi-stranded nature of the visit was representative of the number of different opportunities of interest to the College in Brazil, a country which has become a cornerstone of the University’s International Strategy.

Professor Richard Williams said of the visit, “Our partners in Brazil have an appetite to work with the University on a number of collaborative ventures and projects, spanning research, business, knowledge transfer and education. We have made a strategic decision to invest time and resource into developing long-term relationships with key partners in Brazil. Our latest visit has strengthened relations with these partners and given us a fantastic platform from which to build our collaborative activities. Specific opportunities lie in likely PhD funding through the ‘Science without Borders’ scheme and the Newton Scheme. There are numerous local and national funds to support academic visits to Brazil and therefore plenty of opportunity for colleagues to visit.”

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