Brazil

Brazil and the EU share a long-standing relationship based on strong cultural, economic, historical, and linguistic ties; Brazil was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the EU.

The EU-Brazil framework cooperation agreement (1992) governs relations. The Strategic Partnership in 2007 led to a significant widening of the scope of the cooperation, with several sectorial policy dialogues and collaborative frameworks including on science, technology and innovation.

The Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the European Union and Brazil on research and innovation (signed in 2004, into force in 2007 and most recently extended for 5 years in 2022) is the main framework of the scientific and technological collaboration.

It aims to encourage, develop, and facilitate cooperative activities in areas of common interest, based on the principles of mutual benefit, timely exchange of information, reciprocal access to activities and protection of intellectual property rights.

The Joint Steering Committee meetings (JSCM) under the Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement steer, guide and design the strategic orientations of the bilateral cooperation. The 11th EU-Brazil Joint Steering Committee meeting took place in December 2023..

• Under the bilateral Scientific and Technological cooperation agreement, in 2016, the European Commission and the Brazilian National Council of State Funding Agencies (CONFAP) signed an Implementing Arrangement under the bilateral Scientific and Cooperation Agreement,  to enhance cooperation between Brazilian researchers and research teams funded by the European Research Council (ERC).
• Also under the bilateral Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement, the European Union’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI)  signed a Cooperation Arrangement in 2013. The arrangement was most recently extended for 5 years in January 2023. It aims to strengthen cooperative activities in the areas of disaster prevention and crisis management (forest fires monitoring, droughts, forest degradation and deforestation); climate change, standardisation /alternative methods to animal experiments, etc.

Following the success of the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation, the European Union, Brazil and South Africa co-signed the Belém Statement on Atlantic Research and Innovation Cooperation in July 2017, aimed at improving the scientific knowledge of marine ecosystems and the links between oceans and climate change, technology, food and energy systems and enhancing collaborative scientific efforts in the Atlantic Ocean through the All Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance.

Brazil and the European Commission are among the signatories of the Washington Declaration of 2022, a roadmap for bringing forward the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance.

In 2018 the European Commission and the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications of Brazil signed a Cooperation Arrangement concerning Copernicus Earth Observation and Monitoring programme. Under this arrangement, the European Commission provides Brazil with open and free access to the data from the Copernicus Sentinel satellites. Brazil can facilitate access to in-situ data from regional observatory networks, including geophysical and meteorological networks, to support the enhancement of the Copernicus data architecture.

An agreement between the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) and Brazil has also been signed. The Agreement for cooperation (CA) between the European Atomic Energy Community and the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil, which entered into force in 2013.

This Agreement aims to intensify cooperation between the parties in the areas covered by their respective fusion research programmes, on the basis of mutual benefit and overall reciprocity, in order to advance in developing fusion energy as future sustainable energy source.

Areas of Cooperation

Areas of mutual interest for continued and future collaboration include:

• biodiversity, ecosystems and sustainability notably the possibilities for strengthening research and innovation collaboration in the Amazon and other Brazilian biomes
• energy: (e.g. sustainable biofuels and through cooperation in Mission Innovation)
• Healthy oceans and Seas (notably the All Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance)
• water research and technologies
• clean aviation
• health
• digital (with the inauguration of the BELLA cable in June 2021)

In line with the EU Global Approach, Horizon Europe is fully open to the participation of Brazilian researchers and research organisations.

In principle*, the EU does not provide funding for the participation of Brazilian research entities in collaborative research projects therefore 3 Brazilian funding agencies: the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), the Funding Agency for Studies and Projects (FINEP) and the Brazilian National Council of State Funding Agencies (CONFAP) have put in place a complementary funding mechanism to facilitate funding of Brazilian legal entities participating in Horizon Europe calls. 

It foresees funding of collaborative activities such as taking part in a consortium, twinning of projects and the launch of coordinated calls, as well as actions to enhance mutual knowledge and awareness.

Brazilian researchers may of course also participate in Horizon Europe with other funding.

*In exceptional cases, the Commission or the relevant funding body may consider that the participation of a legal entity is essential for implementing the action (Article 23.2(b) of the Horizon Europe Regulation)

In addition, Brazilian entities are eligible for EU funding through the European Research Council and Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions.

European Research Council

The European Research Council offers grants to researchers in all research domains for frontier research. Brazilian researchers are welcome to apply and if selected are eligible for funding to establish a research group in Europe.

Grants are available for researchers starting or consolidating their independent career and for advanced researchers. Synergy grants are also available, where a group of 2-4 Principal Investigators (PIs) may include one PI outside the EU or countries associated to Horizon Europe, to tackle together an ambitious research problem, with all funded by the ERC.

The European Commission and the Brazilian National Council of State Funding Agencies (CONFAP) have signed an Implementing Arrangement to enable Brazilian researchers undertake short or long-term research visits and collaborate with European Research Council (ERC)-funded teams working across Europe.

Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions

Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions Offer fellowships for post-doctoral researchers from Brazil (and other countries) to spend up to 2 years in a European group – or for European researchers to spend up to 2 years in a lab in Brazil.

It also offers opportunities for Brazilian institutions to participate in Doctoral Networks and Staff Exchange consortia (Brazilian institutions are self-funded in Doctoral Networks and Staff Exchange).

EU-funded research projects involving Brazil.

You can also visit the Horizon Dashboard, which is a one-stop shop for data and statistics on the EU research and innovation programmes – from FP1 to Horizon Europe. 

More stories of particularly successful EU-funded research projects involving Brazil.

National Contact Points

Brazil has designated National Contact Points (NCPs) who provide theoretical and practical guidance, and clarifications on Horizon Europe, its mechanisms and on terms of participation.

Research enquiry service

Contact the research enquiry service to find out more about research in Europe, the EU's research and innovation funding programmes as well as calls for proposals and project funding.

European Commission

RTD-F-DIR-ASSISTec [dot] europa [dot] eu (DG Research and Innovation International Cooperation Directorate)

EURAXESS Brazil

Euraxess Brazil and LAC provides access to a complete range of information and support services for researchers in Brazil wishing to pursue a research career in Europe or looking for collaboration opportunities.  Email: brazileuraxess [dot] net (brazil[at]euraxess[dot]net).