SUMMARY REPORT ON SIR DAVID KING'S VISIT TO BRAZIL, 26-30 MARCH 2007

Visit Headlines

  Launched the UK-Brazil Year of Science in Brazil—at State and Federal level. UK objectives for the Year of Science are:

—    to promote awareness in Brazil of UK excellence in science and innovation;

—    to strengthen and increase collaboration between the two countries;

—    to share best practices on science-based policy-making;

—    to facilitate high-tech trade and investment links between the UK and Brazil.

  Engaged key Brazilian funding/research agencies at State and Federal level to gain support for the Year of Science.

  Helped to build positively on a now developing UK-Brazil bilateral relationship by engaging with key influencers in government, academia and industry to raise the R&D profile of the UK science and innovation base and UK/EU funding opportunities; cross-referencing with the UK-Brazil Joint Action Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation (2006).

  Delivered keynote addresses on climate change, and discussed climate change aspects of Heiligendamm with key influencers.

  Bilateral ministerial and other calls with the following:

—    Omar Aziz, Vice-Governor of Amazonas, to discuss climate change;

—    Dr Imar César de Araújo, Amazon Biotech Centre (CBA), to discuss science's relation to innovation and wealth creation, and the value-added use of the rainforest;

—    Dr Rita Mesquita, Vice-State Secretary (Amazonas) for Environment and Sustainable Development, to discuss climate change;

—    Ildo Sauer, Director, Gas and Energy, at Petrobras, to discuss the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) and cooperation in biofuels;

—    Claudio Langone, Deputy Minister of the Environment, to discuss deforestation, climate change and G8+5 dialogue;

—    Reinhold Stephanes Minister for Agriculture, to discuss the Year of Science, biofuels and G8+5 climate change discussions;

—    Luis Fernandes, Acting Science and Technology Minister, to discuss the Year of Science;

—    Marco Aurélio Garcia, President's Special Adviser for Foreign Affairs, to discuss climate change, specifically G8+5 issues.

  UK delegation headed by Sir David, and comprising senior representatives from UK research institutes, intermediaries and innovation agencies: Professor John Lucas (Rothamsted Research), Professor Patricia Nuttall (Director, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology), Dr John Sime (Director, Bioscience for Business, University of York), Professor Philip Ester (Chief Executive AHRC and RCUK lead on KT), Professor John Wood (Chairman of the European Strategic Forum for Research Infrastructure), and Dr David Dent (Director, International Agriculture and Technology Centre).

  Particularly encouraging links made with the Amazonas region on biodiversity monitoring & recording, and ecosystem service valuation, and on cooperation on access to biodiversity and intellectual property rights.

  A "consultative committee" will be set up to agree an action plan based on the numerous areas for potential partnership identified by the accompanying scientists, as well as to follow up the work generated by the Year of Science and to help ensure it has sustainable impact through a framework for longer-term initiatives.

  Rothamsted Research signed MoUs with Embrapa and IAPAR during the visit. President of Embrapa very keen on further co-operation, including possible establishment of an Embrapa Laboratory on the Norwich science park campus.

  High-profile interviews; excellent media coverage during the visit.

April 2006