NRC IRAP opens doors for Canadian SME collaboration with Brazil

- Ottawa, Ontario

The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) and the Brazilian Agency of Research and Industrial Innovation (EMBRAPII) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to facilitate industrial collaboration opportunities between Canada and Brazil. With this agreement, both organizations have formalized a cooperative research, development and innovation framework that will allow Canadian and Brazilian companies to pursue co-innovation projects leading to successful entry into international markets and the global value chain.

“International cooperation in research and development and innovation (R&D&I) has played a crucial role in enhancing global competitiveness and opening access to new markets. This partnership with NRC IRAP will allow a wide range of opportunities to be explored by Brazilian and Canadian SMEs in many fields of global relevance such as mining, graphene, among others. We are very happy to formalize this partnership and look forward to working together.”

Dr. Jorge Almeida Guimarães,
President, EMBRAPII

This MoU adds to other existing relationships NRC IRAP has with Brazil. For instance, NRC IRAP collaborates with the São Paulo Research Foundation in Brazil (FAPESP) under their own MoU to facilitate and support industrial research and development projects between Canadian and Brazilian SMEs. To date, there have been 3 calls for proposals for collaborative projects, which resulted in 8 joint industrial R&D projects between Canadian and Brazilian innovators.

Dr. Jorge Almeida Guimarães, President, EMBRAPII and David Lisk, Vice President, NRC IRAP holding up signed copy of MoU

“We look forward to increasing Canadian and Brazil collaboration opportunities through this valuable new partnership with EMBRAPII. This agreement will allow Brazilian SMEs, as well as the 61 EMBRAPII-accredited research and technology centres, to form R&D partnerships with Canadian firms and research institutes, something we are really excited about.”

David Lisk,
Vice President, NRC IRAP

Canada and Brazil’s long history of collaboration and cooperation also involves industrial research cooperation under the Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP). CIIP supports collaborative industrial research and development projects with high potential for commercialization between Canada and partner countries, and is delivered by Global Affairs Canada in partnership with NRC IRAP.

“2020 marks the 10th anniversary of the Framework Agreement for Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation between Canada and Brazil. This agreement reflects our shared understanding of the importance of international scientific collaboration, as well as the importance of the private sector in developing solutions and technologies for economic growth and development.”

Dr. Heather Cameron,
Consul General of Canada in Sao Paulo

NRC IRAP’s international initiatives are focussed on providing support in a number of key areas, including direct support to SMEs with international interests, technology partnering and joint research and development projects. To learn more, see our current international collaboration opportunities.

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About EMBRAPII

The Brazilian Agency of Research and Industrial Innovation (EMBRAPII) supports strengthening Brazilian industrial companies’ innovation capacity through their network of EMBRAPII Units and collaboration with non-profit private research institutes, universities, and foreign collaboration partners.