1st Innovation Learning
Laboratory Brasil – Germany 2011
Federative Republic of Brazil
Dilma Rousseff
President
Summary
Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade
Presentation
5
Innovation on the Technological
Cooperation Agenda between
Brazil and Germany
7
Opportunities in the Oil and Gas
Sector
11
Focus on the Health Sector
13
Opportunities in the Area of Clean
and Renewable Energies
16
Otávio Camargo
Head of the President’s Office
The Olympics and The World Cup
as Profitable Businesses
19
Roberto dos Reis Alvarez
Manager, International Affairs
Prospects of Bilateral Innovation
Projects
25
ABDI Technical Staff
The Health Care Industry
37
Sporting Events and the 14 Bis
Project
41
Conclusions of the Laboratory
44
Fernando Damata Pimentel
Minister
Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development
Mauro Borges Lemos
President
Clayton Campanhola
Director
Maria Luisa Campos Machado Leal
Director
Roberto dos Reis Alvarez
Eduardo Jorge Valadares de Oliveira
Carlos Nogueira da Costa Júnior
Joana Wightman
Bianca Schnaider Smolarek
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Presentation
The core mission of the Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development is to promote the
implementation of industrial development policies. Aware of the international reality, the
Agency seeks in the cooperation with innovative countries, effective ways to enhance
Brazilian competitiveness.
One of the tools designed to facilitate international cooperation in the industrial field is the
Innovation Learning Laboratory, a platform for public-private dialogue focusing on international
business, internationalization and innovation, involving Brazilian and foreign organizations
for the purpose of establishing technological partnerships that generate advantages and
competitiveness for participants.
In this context and based on the long history of economic, scientific and technological
cooperation, the 1st Brazil-Germany Innovation Learning Laboratory was held on March
24-25, 2011.
Industrial cooperation focused on innovation between Brazil and Germany is a logical and
necessary goal between the two countries, in view of the remarkable German experience in
innovation and Brazil’s scientific and technological capital, which together provide a feasible
scenario to strengthen economic and industrial ties, thus generating mutual gains in this
important bilateral relationship.
It is in this sense and in the light of these elements that this Innovation Learning Laboratory
was capable of and successful in identifying relevant complementarities and opportunities for
industrial cooperation between Brazil and Germany, through efforts involving bilateral dialogue.
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March . 2011 . São Paulo
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Business
Innovation on the Technological
Cooperation Agenda between Brazil
and Germany
In the 1st Brazil-Germany Innovation Learning Laboratory 2011 held in São Paulo, topics
on the agenda ranged from technologies in the health care industry to investments for the
World Cup and the Olympics. The event was a joint initiative of the Brazilian Agency for
Industrial Development (ABDI) and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Institute (FhG)
Innovation, technology, scientific research, partnership and economic development
- these were some of the key words that guided the 1st Brazil-Germany Innovation
Learning Laboratory 2011, sponsored by the Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development
(ABDI) and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Institute (FhG). For two days, March 24 and 25,
some 100 entrepreneurs, government agents and Brazilian and German researchers
gathered at the Holiday Inn Anhembi in São Paulo to present ideas and discuss new
business opportunities for both countries in areas as diverse as oil and gas, orthopedic
prostheses and technologies for major sporting events like the World Cup or the Olympics
that will be held in Brazil in 2014 and 2016, respectively.
“The presence of Germany in Brazil’s
industrial development has always been
significant. The Ministry of External Relations
(MRE) is proud of the fact that the ‘diplomacy
of innovation’ has advanced significantly
with the country. “
_¬ Ademar Seabra da Cruz Júnior
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| March. 2011
March
. 2011. São
. SãoPaulo
Paulo
The Laboratory was part of the activities of the Brazil-Germany Year of Science,
Technology and Innovation, established in 2010-2011. The meeting was an opportunity
for including innovation on the Brazil-Germany bilateral agenda. Relations between the
two countries in the field of technological cooperation have existed for 40 years, although
the chambers of commerce and industry of both countries have been working together
now for almost 90 years. To get an idea of this proximity between the two countries, in
2007 the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) approved an
action plan to promote the areas of education and research, and a year later the German
government decided to strengthen the internationalization of these two areas. Therefore,
the I Innovation Laboratory was held in a scenario that is not only conducive but also
open to partnerships.
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7
Business
Roberto Alvarez, International Affairs Manager
of ABDI started the presentations on the
first day of the Laboratory. Motivated by
the presence of professionals from different
areas, Alvarez reminded participants of the
main objective of the meeting: to enhance
the intertwining of innovation initiatives from
both countries and thus stimulate cooperation
and competitiveness in the industry. “German
investments have always had a crucial role
in the Brazilian economy. But in recent years,
with Brazil accumulating a significant wealth of
economic, human and technological resources
and the establishment of laboratories focused
on technology, a greater involvement with
foreign partners is likely to occur,” he said.
The manager of ABDI also noted that the FhG,
co-organizer of the event, should open new
horizons for cooperation between the two
countries, because it is an institution of world
renown and a reference in terms of services in
the area of technological innovations.
To Bierduempel Eckart, coordinator of the
International Networking and Latin America of
FhG, the contact between business and pure
research (universities), which occurs at the
institute, is what enables a constant flow of
fresh blood. Altogether, the FhG has 80 units
and 60 research institutes and over 17,000
employees working in different sectors,
always with a focus on industries. Its annual
research budget is 1.65 billion euros, of which
two thirds comes from research contracts
for industrial and public projects, and onethird from the government, thus ensuring
permanent contact with what is produced in
basic and applied research. In Tokyo, Japan,
the Institute has been active since 1977
and remains in operation despite the recent
problems experienced by the country; in Chile
the FhG relies on government funding; and by
starting its operation in Australia, the Institute
is diversifying its geographical focus which,
for many years, had been restricted to Asia,
the United States, and Europe. “The FhG is
now coming to Brazil, a country with which it
has even more contacts than with Chile (just
to mention Latin America), but so far there has
been no official funding. Negotiations with
the Brazilian government are moving forward
and hopefully we will have good news soon,”
said Bierduempel.
Science and Technology Division, Ministry of
External Relations (MRE) then pointed out
that the Ministry does not produce science
and technology, but is increasingly promoting
innovation through what he dubbed “diplomacy
of innovation”. This concept, as he defined
it, corresponds to the interaction between
research
and
development
institutions,
governments, businesses and academia, with
the goal of ensuring an effective transfer of
technology to both industry and productive
sectors in Brazil. “The presence of Germany
in Brazil’s industrial development has always
been significant. The MRE is proud of the
fact that the ‘diplomacy of innovation’ has
advanced substantially with the country
by being present at critical stages of the
Brazilian industrial development in vital areas
such as the automotive, pharmaceutical and
energy sectors, among others. Furthermore,
the two countries have a tradition of engaging
in fruitful scientific partnerships,” said Seabra.
According to him, German investments in the
country have grown exponentially, especially
after the global financial crisis. However, a
special type of investment is required for
the benefit of all: that which helps create
a knowledge economy in the country and
strengthen German companies.
“Brazil has achieved a full-fledged level
of economic, human and technological
resources which opens new possibilities for
deeper cooperation with foreign partners”
Roberto Alvarez
Bierduempel, Seabra and Alvarez: real possibilities for partnership and business
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“Infrastructure exploration centers, maritime
support, refineries, underwater pipes, super steel
plates, everything remains to be done, entailing
extraordinary opportunities not only for the
domestic industry but also for all foreign suppliers
and technology partners that add to this unique
moment in Brazil”.
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE
OIL AND GAS SECTORS
_ _ Jorge Luis Ferreira Boeira
Oil exploration in the pre-salt layer was the main topic of the Panel on Oil & Gas of
the 1st Brazil-Germany Innovation Learning Laboratory 2011. Jorge Luis Ferreira Boeira,
responsible for the Oil and Gas sector at ABDI, emphasized the urgent need to develop
the entire chain in Brazil, pointing out that pre-salt discoveries should double Brazil’s
reserves, but also raise to the nth power the country’s needs for cutting-edge technology.
To the country, this would simultaneously translate into a great opportunity and a huge
technological challenge, with risks substantially higher and different than everything that
has been done so far, with a consequent increase in the need for heavy investment in
innovation and technology.
Boeira also talked about the geological risks of pre-salt exploration, which will drill more
than 4,000 meters of rock, including passing through layers of lethal gases. He stressed
that this challenge is virtually unprecedented in the world. He also noted that Petrobras
investments in technology have grown exponentially in recent years, from US$5 billion
in 2002 to US$42.5 billion, as recorded in the latest business plan for the period 20102014. “Another challenge is the need to create or enhance a global supply chain, a huge
global chain ‘to get the job done’ with regard to the world’s largest private investment in
the sector,” he added. “Centers for infrastructure exploration, maritime support, refineries,
underwater pipes, super steel plates, everything remains to be done, entailing extraordinary
opportunities not only for the domestic industry but also for all foreign suppliers and
technology partners that add to this unique moment in Brazil,” Boeira concluded.
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Opportunity and challenge: Boeira
(between Coester and Domingos),
points out that the pre-salt should
double Brazilian production and
increase domestic needs for
cutting-edge technology.
Next, the representative of the Fraunhofer
Institute for System Production and Technology
Design, David Carlos Domingos, explained all the
responsibilities of the entity, which range from
manufacturing nickel-based alloys and managing
bilateral and multilateral projects to abrasive
machining, micromachining and the production
of wind turbines. All that to say that they would
be prepared to collaborate in activities including
planning the layout of facilities and the actual
installation of turbines and other equipment
within a holistic view of processes: “We not only
sell the technology, but we also have this holistic
vision that is so fundamental when it comes to
such a sensitive and high-investment sector,”
said Domingos.
Also pointing out investment options,
representatives of Rio Grande do Sul made
a didactic presentation about the region
as an excellent option for investment and
partnerships. Carlos Fortis, from the Federal
University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and
Marcus Coester, president of the Agency for
Development and Investment Promotion of
Rio Grande do Sul (AGDI), highlighted the state
as a center of excellence in several related
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March . 2011 . São Paulo
technologies, as well as a reference in the
shipbuilding industry. The professor from UFRGS
also recalled the importance of the Physical
Metallurgy Laboratory (LAMEF), at the same
university, which already has Petrobras as its
main client.
Finally, the German representative in the panel,
Andreas Schnabel, from the Business Development
and Marketing of the Fraunhofer Institute for
Non-Destructive Testing, explained the many
necessary safety and monitoring devices that are
vital for the proper execution of the ambitious
pre-salt project. Schnabel mentioned aspects
such as the importance of crack prevention,
interpretation of waves, monitoring of key parts
of the system, critical pre-damage alerts and
prevention of corrosion, analysis of failure and
resonance fatigue testing, among many others.
He also noted that the German experience and
knowledge should be considered for the possible
provision of services and consultancy within the
technological framework that will bring the presalt oil to the surface with maximum efficiency
and, especially, safety.
FOCUS ON THE HEALTH
CARE SECTOR
The second panel of the 1st Brazil-Germany Innovation Learning Laboratory 2011 addressed
opportunities for industrial cooperation in the sector of health care technologies. “The
health care sector is considered strategic in Brazil, with the government’s emphasis on the
consolidation of the industrial complex through investment and programs to strengthen
the industry, enhance the technological content of medical products, foster innovation and
build a lasting platform”, said Afonso Medeiros, vice-president of the Brazilian Association of
Industries of Medical, Dental, Hospital and Laboratory Supplies and Equipment (ABIMO).
In this market, where according to him transactions totaled US$6.8 billion in 2010,
equipment and supplies are estimated to account for over half of the business. Exports
have also increased. In 2002 the country exported between US$150 million and US$180
million in medical products. Today exports total US$600 million, and the industry
expects to export US$1 billion by 2015 in medical supplies and equipment. “Brazil is
also very strong in the dental segment precisely because it has very good materials and
extraordinary dentists,” said Medeiros, who also noted that much has been done in relation
to the technology - especially with the support of ABDI and APEX. He explained that
currently 84% of all quality systems already have ISO certification and 72% have ANVISA
certification for good manufacturing practices (GMP), in addition to being inspected on an
annual basis. “We have competitive prices, quality products, but we lack the “brand” for
the Brazilian technology. Now, with support from the government, we will seek to develop
a Brazil brand showing that we are also a technology country. Unless there is cooperation
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MORE IDEAS FOR HEALTH
with partners from the academic world, coupled
with high technology, innovation will be very
difficult to achieve,” he added.
Harald Mathis, head of Biomolecular Optical
Systems at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied
Information Technology (FIT), addressed another
area which, according to him, also offers good
opportunities for partnership: information
and communication focused on the human
being, an area in which his team operates. “In
Germany there are many elderly people; and
cases of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases
account for a large number of risk patients.
For an effective diagnosis as well as for cost
reasons, this requires monitoring patients in
their own homes,” explained Mathis. To achieve
this goal, his team designed a network of
remote assistance to patients, which consists
in developing devices that allow patients
themselves to collect small blood samples from
a finger and feed them into a monitoring device.
His team carried out studies with the industry
to define the proper design for these systems.
“We surveyed the medical characteristics
and laboratory parameters required for these
microsystems. If we look, for example, at the
time required to process a test, it could take
hours. The automated workflow in medical
laboratories in Germany is around 100 minutes,
give or take a few. We are trying to reduce this
time. I hope this event will be the seed for many
other contacts aimed at cooperation in the
search for innovation,” he said.
“In Germany there is a large number of elderly
people; and cases of diabetes and cardiovascular
diseases account for a large number of risk patients.
For effective diagnoses and cost reasons, this
requires monitoring patients in their own homes”
_ Harald Mathis
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March . 2011 . São Paulo
1. Biopharmaceuticals of oral administration
Achim Weber, group manager at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB)
introduced the concept of Nanocytes®, different types of formulations, cores, surfaces and functionalities
used to encapsulate drugs. “The development of biopharmaceuticals for oral rather than parenteral
administration (which is not done through the digestive system), is particularly appropriate for use in elderly
and frail patients. This topic has been recently discussed with the Technological Research Institute (IPT)
for a future joint project,” said Weber. He believes that the Fraunhofer-IGB can be an excellent partner for
cooperation, especially with Brazil, in both technical and scientific innovation and the development of
medical technologies and products.
2. Prosthesis cleaning and machining
The engineer Tiago Borsoy Klein, a Brazilian researcher who has worked at the Fraunhofer Institute for
Production Systems and Design Technology for nine years, mentioned two more possibilities for cooperation
with Brazil, in addition to those already pointed out by other speakers. He highlighted the development
of two other products: one for cleaning and another for machining prostheses, using both metals and
advanced ceramics, materials very much in vogue in Germany today. Another innovation that could count
on investment, according to Klein, is selective laser melting for the production of prostheses.
3. Investment in the academic area
Professor Marcus Vinicius Lia Fook, coordinator of the Science and Technology Center at the Federal University
of Campina Grande (UFCG) offered proposals in the academic area. One of his ideas is to create masters and
doctoral programs in the area of biomaterials, which currently do not exist in Brazil. Furthermore, as a way
of boosting technological development he suggested that the Ministry of Science and Technology / CNPq
should establish research centers in the area of biomaterials in order to meet the demands of the Unified
Health System (the Brazilian Public Health System - SUS) and subsequently turn Brazil into an exporter of
medical products with high added value. Fook also mentioned the possibility of creating a network that could
contribute significantly to overcoming the challenges of the orthopedic implants industry.
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OPPORTUNITIES IN THE
AREA OF CLEAN AND
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Opening the session, the moderator Alexandre Moreira, one of the representatives of the
Fraunhofer Institute in Brazil, noted the timeliness and relevance of the panel’s topic and
passed the floor to the Brazilian speaker Fernando Landgraf, Innovation Director at IPT, who
focused his presentation on technological alternatives for sugarcane bagasse.
After presenting the structure and purpose of IPT, Landgraf explained that the institute receives
about 50 million euros in investment from the state government of São Paulo a year, but what
actually keeps it running is the provision of services, with about 60% of its annual budget
coming from the sale of services to corporations and public agencies. He described what he
called the main focus of IPT studies in the sector today: a mega biomass project, which is
already being partially tested in São Paulo. He also added that many important products can
be derived from sugarcane bagasse, a strategy that is very little known. Landgraf also made a
quick assessment of the figures involved in the energy generated from sugarcane bagasse in
Brazil - almost 10 billion euros in 2009.
However, Landgraf pointed out that biomass is sensitive to scale and, throwing a challenge
for the pursuit of a joint solution with the Germans, opened the dialogue on the search for
partnerships to address the issue. He invited potential partners to discuss the matter with him
directly through his email address ([email protected]).
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March . 2011 . São Paulo
According to INMETRO, investments in energy security and in transformation of biofuels into commodities have
increased in recent years. But there is still the need to define a certified reference and set standards for the product.
The big problem is water content in biofuels, which challenges standardization
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THE OLYMPICS AND
THE WORLD CUP AS
PROFITABLE BUSINESSES
Brazilian and German specialists
highlighted the potential of biofuel
research and the need to ensure the
supply and standardization of the product.
The representative of the National Institute of
Metrology, Quality and Technology (INMETRO), Janaína
Marques Caixeiro, highlighted that investments in
energy security and in the transformation of biofuels
into commodities have increased in recent years.
In this regard, and in general, she drew attention
to the importance of the certified reference and
establishment of standards for biofuels - bioethanol
or biodiesel - and to the growing quest for the
harmonization of specifications. According to Janaína,
“the problem is water content”, which challenges
standardization, quality and large-scale use. Finally, she
invited the audience to participate in this discussion on
the INMETRO website. Dario Azevedo, from Pontifical
Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS),
then presented the TecnoPUC, PUCRS’Science and
Technology Park, an interesting experience of the
institution in the topic.
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March . 2011 . São Paulo
Barbara Waelkens, a scientist from the Fraunhofer
Institute specialized in biotechnology, raised the
issue of biogas, with an emphasis on the assumption
that “everything that is organic and digestible
can generate biogas.” She pointed out the true
competition that already exits between energy
production and food production. She also recalled
the examples of corn, sunflower and soybean.
“Never forget the food!” she warned.
The Panel coordinator, Martins Moreira, also from the
Fraunhofer Institute, closed the session reminding
participants that the “homework” is working to solve
old problems of infrastructure, production flow and
improper or inefficient land use due to extensive
and obsolete cattle raising practices.
How to transform the two largest sporting events in the world into good market opportunities?
This was the topic of the fourth panel of the event, which began with the presentation by
Professor Eduardo da Costa, from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) and CEO of
Ideas 2000. He introduced the 14 Bis Program, an initiative of the private sector and various
universities in partnership with the Brazilian government, named after the airplane created by
the Brazilian inventor Santos Dumont in 1906. Besides doing business, the objective of this
program is to improve the image that the country intends to project in the international scene.
In justifying the importance of the project, Costa argued that the 2014 World Cup should
be seen by half the world population, with a global audience of 3.3 billion viewers. “Santos
Dumont wanted to delight, surprise and thrill. We want the same and, in addition, bring in
foreign currency. We are here to seek ideas and partnerships with our German friends so that
we can achieve this goal,” said Eduardo. Among other ideas, the project includes technological
innovations in the area of genetics as well. (Check out the ideas on page 24).
Benjamin Ihle, Project Manager of the Media Group at the Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent
Analysis and Information Systems (IAIS) presented the LIVE system. In use since the 2008
Olympics, it offers features such as interactivity, multiple images on one screen and subdivision
of the main channel of access to transmission in an attached menu, through which viewers
can check, for example, if the main channel is showing the event they want to watch or choose
a different one. The system also offers possibilities for feedback, comments and choice of
events among other features, through direct interaction between viewers and the broadcaster.
“One of the main goals of the system is to transform the simple viewer into a commentator
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with various communication possibilities, within a
concept of ‘shared TV’. There is always more than
one good story to be told simultaneously in major
sporting events,” said Ihle.
“Santos Dumont wanted to delight, surprise and
thrill. We want the same and, in addition, bring
in foreign currency. We are here to seek ideas
and partnerships with our German friends so
that we can achieve this goal”
_ Eduardo da Costa
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The engineer Sandra Brix, head of Virtual Acoustics
at the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media
Technology (IDMT) was pleased to hear that
information and communication technologies
related to the 2014 World Cup would be discussed,
since she worked in this area during the 2006
World Cup in Germany. Born in Brazil, Brix has
lived in Germany for many years and works in
the development of new media technologies for
professional markets and the home entertainment
industry. “For the future of sound reproduction, it
becomes increasingly important to create natural
and realistic sounds. My research is focused on
creating natural surround sound environments, with
emphasis on audio signal processing for obtaining
these environments through multichannel or objectfocused systems,” she said. One of the systems she
mentioned was the Wave Field Synthesis (WFS),
originally invented in the 1980s, which enables
designing pioneer sound reproduction systems. “The
WFS creates natural sound fields for each room or
seat, through the use of a speakers ring around the
environment. The new technology brings potential
benefits for movie theaters, play houses, live shows,
multimedia facilities, night clubs and ballrooms,
planetariums and virtual reality applications. The
engineer also pointed out another technology that
could be used in the event: the amplification of
spoken announcements or alarms or sirens in panic
situations (that could be integrated to the stadium’s
sound system), besides interactive and 3D TV.
Michael Eisenbarth, who works in the software
development area at the Fraunhofer Institute
for Experimental Software Engineering, was
also in the support team during the 2006 World
Cup in Germany, in the area of information and
communication technology solutions. At the
time, his team spoke with small and medium
entrepreneurs and concluded that fans were not
the only customers, but also the government, the
press, the public and, of course, the teams and
their athletes. “So we developed with them plans
and marketing strategies for business innovation
at various levels for different types of companies
and clients, for the various phases of the event
such as the preparatory phase, when it is already
possible to generate revenue; the event itself; and
the post-event phase when, of course, you can still
continue to make money,” he said. Among the tools
developed by Eisenbarth’s team are the ‘Cloud’
system for the provision of data storage and the
integration between emergency services that are
relevant to the work of police and firefighters.
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EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS UNDER THE 14 BIS PROGRAM
“We are All Alike”
Said the geneticist Sergio Penna, from the Federal University of Minas Gerais.
The researcher developed the theory that race is a scientifically wrong concept, which was proven and
published by him in prestigious international specialized journals. By studying two apparently homogeneous
populations, Penna conducted regression analyses of DNA and found more genetic coincidences between
an individual from two different groups than between two individuals from the same group - which obviously
is not an intuitive process. Thus, Penna’s idea is that we are all different. “The concept of race has not held
true for some generations now,” said the researcher.
Interview | ECKART BIERDUEMPEL
“It is the perfect platform
for personal meetings
and a path to possible
partnerships in bilateral
cooperation”
During the 2014 World Cup, as explained by Eduardo Mota, CEO of 2000 Ideas and a professor at the
Federal University of Santa Catarina, the idea is to collect DNA samples from all players of all countries
through saliva samples, to perform the DNA regression test and prove to the world that the concept of race
is scientifically wrong. The researchers’ goal is to fight racism, which has become a problem especially in
soccer stadiums.
Electronic Passport
What are your general impressions of the Brazil-Germany laboratory?
Some countries are already experimenting with this idea, by installing electronic turnstiles in customs
facilities. In Brazil, some kind of biometric information will be associated with the device, such as fingerprint,
iris and face matching or some other technology, so that people can enter the country without being
stopped, as they will be more easily identified. Eduardo da Costa defends the project by remembering that
Brazil was the first country to hold an all-electronic national election and have the results published on the
same night. The idea will be an embryo for several other devices that will generate products and services
for production and sale.
ECKART – We had a very interesting and successful meeting, with fruitful discussions. According
to information I have received, feedback from German participants was unanimously positive, so I
consider the event a complete success.
Green World Cup
A few years ago Brazil became an “eco-villain” because of the Amazon rainforest. But according to Costa,
this scenario is changing, since the country has several alternatives that are still little known abroad such
as ethanol and biomass, for example, that could be disseminated during the event.
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How will the event help build a solid communication and cooperation channel
between Brazil and Germany?
ECKART – An event like this is undoubtedly an excellent start to build connections and initiate
cooperation, as it allows people to exchange ideas and get to know one another. Besides, it is the
perfect platform for personal meetings and a path to possible partnerships in bilateral cooperation.
Our laboratory was a first step to building a strong communication and cooperation channel between
Germany and Brazil in the field of innovation. However, only one meeting of this kind probably will
not be enough. I think a few more meetings will be necessary for us to fully achieve this goal. As
mentioned several times during the workshop, cooperation only bears fruit if the partners remain
consistently in direct contact and, ideally, if they can meet regularly. Taking such conferences as a
1st Innovation Learning Laboratory| Brazil - Germany |23
solid foundation for long-term cooperation, a very interesting proposal arose during our discussions:
the idea of establishing a joint living lab. I believe that this would be really important and we should
try to put the idea into practice.
How did you se the participation of Brazilians in the laboratory?
ECKART – I was very impressed with the high-level participation on the Brazilian side. Additionally,
there was a lot of interaction among participants. I can say that all our German participants have met
at least one Brazilian of high interest to them. In short: great selection, the right people!
PROSPECTS FOR
BILATERAL INNOVATION
PROJECTS
Were any specific agreements signed during the event?
ECKART – The event was very well organized and a great success, from my point of view. But no
concrete agreement has been signed yet, at least to my knowledge. But I’m sure that the contacts
established there will have a major impact on future cooperation between Germany and Brazil in the
field of applied research, and will certainly be a sound basis for the future. I would like to take this
opportunity to thank our colleagues at ABDI for their excellent work in preparing the event!
On the second day of debates and presentations, participants in the 1st Brazil-Germany
Innovation Learning Laboratory 2011 discussed the prospects for bilateral innovation projects
and resumed some of discussions of the previous day. Among the issues discussed were
research and development, opportunities for connections and joint projects between Brazil
and Germany, the concept of innovation and future prospects, the industrial health care
complex and, again, the 14-Bis Program as one of the ideas for sporting events.
Germany’s productive investments in Brazil are significant for the country’s economy and
the presence of German industries is important for the dissemination of new technologies
and efficiency standards in our industrial park. It is essential to also say that the Brazilian
economy today has resources (economic, human, scientific, etc.) that allow a new form of
engagement with the rest of the world. The number of Brazilian companies that have been
internationalized and investments in innovations grow in the country. Clearly, innovation is the
foundation of contemporary Brazilian policies.
In the country’s current scenario, new opportunities for connections and commitments with
Germany emerge, following the present level of Brazilian capitalism, to which traditional
economic ties are added. Clayton Campanhola, director of ABDI, stressed the importance
of innovation and the relationship with academia, but also drew attention to the difficulties
facing the Brazilian market. “Brazil is in good macroeconomic conditions in the world scenario,
but still faces many problems related to infrastructure, logistics and technology innovation in
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The debates have shown that the
Brazilian economy today has resources
(economic, human, scientific, etc.) that
enable a new engagement with the rest
of the world.
The number of Brazilian companies
internationalized and investments in
innovation are increasing in the country.
“Our challenge is to connect the right
companies to join them and understand
the problems they face, because these
are related not only to innovation,
but also to management, access to
technology and human resources”
its companies,” said Campanhola, who presented
the results of a study carried out by various
institutions in the country about the domestic
industry. According to this study, in terms of
innovation and exports, the companies are divided
into four groups: leaders; followers; emerging; and
weak. The leaders are those that export, that are
capable of getting great prices for their products
and emphasize innovation.
In a universe of 30,000 companies, they represent
only 4%, or precisely 1,184 companies. They
form what Campanhola termed “the core of our
industry” - accounting for 50% of Brazilian industry
revenues and a quarter of jobs in the country. “This
is very important because these are the companies
that can bring improvements to the production
chain. Buy a lot, sell a lot, but also import a lot,”
he added. “This is the problem we have now: we
need to take care of our supply chain, but unless
we look at the whole industrial chain, we will not
have a vision of the industrial structure required to
support the development of the production chain.
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It is our challenge. We are making progress, we
have many tools to deal with it, but also difficulties
to reach the right companies, bring them together
and understand the problems they face, because
they are related not only to innovation, but also
to management, access to technology and human
resources,” he pointed out.
Campanhola added that he counts on the Germans
to improve and learn, “not only to bring their
companies to Brazil, but also to share technologies,
joint ventures and seek new approaches when
using all the expertise accumulated over the years”.
Eckart Bierduempel, coordinator of International
Networking and Latin America of FhG, one of the
institutes responsible for organizing the event,
said he is confident that the partnership between
Fraunhofer and ABDI will yield good results in
the future. “The first contact between the two
institutions was established just a year ago and
considering all the actions taken by the two entities
since then, it seems like much longer!” He said the
German Ministry of Foreign Affairs is planning the
Year of Germany in Brazil for 2013.
Roberto Alvarez, manager of International Affairs at
ABDI said the meeting represented an opportunity not
only to exchange ideas but also to absorb views on the
development, design and implementation of a network
of organizations that provide technology services. He
also mentioned projects that already have the support
of the German institute. “Today we have a contract
with CERTI Foundation, a Brazilian research institution
led by Gustavo Donatelli that counts on the support of
the FhG in two projects: one focusing on high-power
magnets and another on orthodontic implants. There
was a meeting with the Ministry of Science, Technology
and Innovation (MCTI) recently on the design of
magnets, where I saw many opportunities. I hope that
in the implementation phase of projects, we can count
on the participation not of Brazilian companies only,
but of German firms as well,” he suggested.
The manager of ABDI also mentioned another
project currently under discussion - the creation
of a technology center for INMETRO to work with
the automotive sector -, which is being developed
by the institute itself, together with ABDI and the
FhG. “I certainly count on the support of the MRE
to sensitize the German side, so that we can find
a way to make this project a reality,” said Alvarez.
To Ronald Martin Dauscha, CTO of Siemens Latin
America, a meeting like the one held during the
laboratory is important for addressing innovation
from the standpoint of industry, and universities
should, indeed, be engaged in a structured,
systematic and comprehensive manner. “And
when it comes to collaboration, the focus should
be on practical goals as well on as shared values
and results, which represent the foundation for
collaboration, connections and joint projects. I
believe that collaboration between companies,
universities and governments should be based on
the vision of important bilateral values,” he said. He
also raised some issues to be considered from now
on: in which university, in which institute, in which
company? How to detect skills, many of which are
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hidden? What types of incentives the governments
of both countries can provide to stimulate joint
structural development? What types of incentives
the governments of both countries can offer to
innovation in projects of multinational companies?
“I think multinationals are the best channel to
connect the countries, since they are based in
Germany and have subsidiaries in Brazil and can
easily stimulate joint projects,” he pointed out.
Ronaldo Mota, Secretary of Technological
Development and Innovation at the Ministry of
Science, Technology and Innovation, emphasized
how much Brazil has advanced in research and
development, mentioning as examples Petrobras,
the Brazilian Aeronautics Company (EMBRAER)
and bioethanol. “Until the middle of last century
the country was quite isolated in scientific terms
and the institutional basis for research was very
weak. Until World War II our industry focused
mainly on traditional sectors and was dominated
by transnational corporations,” he said. According
to him, one of the turning points was the
creation of the National Council for Scientific and
Technological Development (CNPq), an agency of
MCTI, and of the Coordination for the Improvement
of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), established
in the mid 20th century to support graduate
programs. Also according to Mota, Brazil has
increased its scientific production, but without
transferring knowledge to the industry. One reason
for that is the difficulty facing innovation in the
country, coupled with a relatively small scientific
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community. Another reason is that there is still a
clear lack of R&D (research and development) in
the Brazilian scientific community, as well as lack
of continuity concerning science and technology
funding policies. “Clearly, the scenario has changed,
but we’re still in the beginning when it comes to
synchronizing these policies. The latest action plan
for innovation in science and technology has been
defined as a strategic priority for the promotion of
technological and business innovations,” he said.
In summarizing the technology system in Brazil,
Mota explained that the concept of innovation
involves at least three components: technology
services, technology extension and innovation
itself. “By technology services we mean metrology
(the science that ensures the accuracy required in
the production process). It makes no sense to think
about innovation if there are no means to support
it, if there are no services available for calibration,
testing, performance analysis, standardization,
accreditation and, finally, all the services offered
by INMETRO, which has been for some time now
a very important benchmark for the country,”
he said. With respect to the second component,
Mota said that the issue lies in providing access,
especially to small and medium enterprises, for
connecting with scientific and technological
institutions in the country.
With respect to innovation centers, the idea,
according to Mota, is to find a way to connect
the excellence of the science and technology
To Sabine Krieg (IgB) researchers need to have a sense of entrepreneurship for the results of their work to reach the market; to Mota
(MCTI) Brazil has increased its scientific ´production, but without transferring knowledge to the industry. This is due, among other
reasons, to the lack of R&D in the Brazilian scientific community and the lack of continuity of funding policies.
The establishment of personal and institutional contacts between officials of both countries favors the construction of bridges also
between academia and industry.
1st Innovation Learning Laboratory| Brazil - Germany |29
community and have it prepare itself to meet
the demands of companies. The issue therefore
lies in building bridges between the scientific
community, research centers and universities and
companies, whether national or not. “It is clear that
in the future we will have a much larger and more
consistent structure. Regarding Brazil-Germany
collaboration, we will endeavor to create a system
that is competitive on the world stage, although
we still need to realize that we have a relative lack
of R&D and innovation. We have to change this as
soon as possible,” he added.
To Sabine Krieg, from the Business Development
sector of the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial
Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB), Brazil has
plenty of potential because it is a young and
large country. She believes that all over the world,
the knowledge of both the available forces and
challenges in the research industry depends on a
number of factors: building trust through personal
contacts, and developing a common language. “If
I don’t speak the language of the industry and the
industry does not speak mine, i.e., the language of
researchers, we will not understand each other,”
she said. According to Sabine, the construction
of this language involves even more ingredients,
such as communication between people and
institutions, education and training - not only in
traditional settings, because education means “to
go where the music is playing” - which also leads
to mobility. She also mentioned the importance
of joint projects in research and industry, which
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require two secondary but not less important
ingredients: feasibility and mutual trust and joint
programming, in addition to infrastructure and,
above all, patience, without neglecting speed.
“Researchers need to be patient, but also need
to have a sense of entrepreneurship, so that the
results of their work will reach the market for the
benefit of the people,” she said.
During the session, the importance of relations
between industry, government and academia was
also pointed out by Ademar Seabra da Cruz Júnior,
head of the Science and Technology Division at
the Ministry of External Relations (MRE). “The idea
of being here would not have materialized if both
governments had not decided on a preferential
partnership. The Year of Germany in Brazil was an
important innovation agent not only as regards the
‘diplomacy of innovation’, but also for its own merit
within the country,” he said.
To him, dialogues such as this should become
permanent, as institutionalized tools for the
implementation of projects.
One such project, by the way, is that signed
with the CERTI Foundation of Santa Catarina. As
Gustavo Donatelli, director of the entity explained,
the objective of CERTI is the constant search
for technological innovation and, to this end, it
maintains collaborative relations with universities
and other German institutions like the FhG and the
National Laboratory of Germany. To him, the secret
lies in how to learn more. “We need to identify the
bottlenecks that hinder cooperation in scientific
innovation, which can arise at any level of the
process,” he said. “When it comes to innovation,
decisions need to be made quickly; otherwise the
novelty becomes an old idea.
viable proposals under the 2 + 2 concept, bringing
together a German and a Brazilian company, as
well as an R&D institution from each country, with
the aim to develop ideas and generate business
opportunities,” he completed.
Another issue to be considered in terms of scientific
cooperation is timing: if one of the parties starts to
work a year earlier, there will be no sync and the
work might not produce good results. It is necessary
to identify also the strategic levels of the idea and
follow its development day after day,” he added.
Regarding the new aspects of this partnership,
Donatelli said that the institution has two projects
underway: one on magnets and another on the
manufacture of prostheses. Another initiative
is raising funds to create a cluster, i.e., physical
facilities for the development and manufacture of
products. “I believe that we offer interesting and
The engineer Harald Holeczeck, from the
Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering
and Automation, sees a growing confidence in
Brazil to conquer international markets. However,
he also warned that it is necessary to have more
technological capabilities and know-how to
operate in the German market. “The interaction
between Brazilian and German companies and
researchers can contribute significantly to building
the framework of possibilities for this cooperation.
But it is also important to remember that several
changes are required to ensure success,” said
Holeczeck adding to what had been said by Sabine
“The Year of Germany in Brazil
represented an important innovation
agent, not only as regards the
‘diplomacy of innovation” but because
of its own merit within the country”.
_ Ademar Seabra da Cruz Júnior
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+ More ideas
Krieg, from the Business Development sector of
the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering
and Biotechnology (IGB), in the previous Plenary
Session. “She talked about some of the most
important ingredients for success in an innovation
project. In my opinion, it is the personal contacts, the
trust built over time, mutual respect, but also similar
although not identical ways of thinking, because if
you think the same way as your interlocutor there
is no potential for discussion. On the other hand, if
the differences are huge, you may become friends
and develop confidence in one another, but you
will never succeed in innovation projects, simply
because the ways you see things are not sufficiently
in tune to ensure success,” he said.
Professor Dario de Azevedo, from the Catholic
University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUC – RS) said he
was anxious to hear about the next steps and agreed
with Holeczek as regards the basic need to build
mutual trust and respect. “From our experience, I
believe we need, first of all, to identify priority areas,
and this requires government action. Contacts
between researchers working on the same issues
with different visions, but with similar although not
identical thought, and above all with the same goal.
For such an interaction to begin, you need some kind
of basic funding before seeking something bigger.
“It is crucial to have the support of governments at
this stage, because later on we will be able identify
partners in the industry,” he pointed out.
Finally, Seabra closed the discussion panel noting
that in addition to a very productive conversation,
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the meeting had led to the perception of needs
for sharp connections and the design of bridges
that need to be built for cooperation. He also
highlighted another concrete initiative, already put
into practice, which is the idea of the Automotive
Technology Center, and another proposal in
progress, which is the establishment of technology
platforms between industry sectors. “In this regard,
discussions have already started with German
institutions and in Brazil with related institutions.
We also seek to involve the private sector, so that
everyone can have the necessary information before
we start to talk, such as funding schemes, how to
boost actions and then, with prior knowledge of
each other, start negotiations,” he advised.
1. Resources to increase investment
Currently there are more Brazilians working at the Fraunhofer institutes than ever before. Of the 60
existing entities, 28 are already developing projects, cooperating, or maintaining contact with Brazilian
partners. And what is missing for this participation to grow even further? As stated by Eckart Bierduempel,
coordinator of International Networking and Latin America of the FhG, there are still many bureaucratic
obstacles in Brazil, such as the requirement of registration at the Brazilian National Registry of Legal
Entities (CNPJ, in the Portuguese acronym), which prevents some institutes such as the FhG from
implementing joint projects with their Brazilian counterparts. “It seems that Chile has already found the
solution by deciding that the Fraunhofer model is ideal for leveraging the advanced research community
in that country. The model requires some basic funding, in this case provided by the Chilean government,
subject to the establishment of an international center of excellence in the country and to joint work
with local partners, as well as to knowledge transfer and learning, resulting in profit. Brazil has incredible
potential, because it presents numerous opportunities not only for being a much larger country but also
for having several of the institutes working here with many local partners, and this can exponentially
expand cooperation between Brazil and Germany,” he said. Bierduempel also argued that the important
thing is that the Brazilian government should be interested, through the ministries involved, in offering
Fraunhofer the possibility to come to the country and establish an international center of excellence
here. “Then we will be able to work with potential local partners that have already expressed interest.
The institution wishes to have a more widespread presence in Brazil, but it needs basic funding for any
activity, regardless of where it occurs,” he noted.
2. Universities as strong partners
“To me it is very important that German research institutes and universities have ‘entities’ here,
as that would allow them to establish better connections with Brazilian organizations in order to
eliminate the geographical distance,” said Bertram Heinze, director of the Science and Technology
House of Germany. The institution intends, by the end of the year, to have the infrastructure for
the establishment of about 10 local German research institutions, mainly universities or university
associations. Heinze sees potential in the fact that the FhG is the German reference in applied
research and innovation, but believes that universities are also strong partners in this process,
mainly because in the last two or three decades they have advanced gradually to become top-tier
partners. “In my travels around the country, I noted that Brazil has business incubators with high
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rates of success, such as those in Florianópolis, in the University of São Paulo (USP) and in the
State University of Campinas (Unicamp), which generate very efficient companies. There must be
communication and the universities should not be neglected because they can offer products and
services to both the market and the industry,” completed Heinze.
3. More factories
With regard to concrete plans, Ronald Dauscha, director for Innovation and CTO of Siemens Brazil
announced that the company, which has 14 plants in Brazil, will open four more in the next six months,
one of them in the area of household appliances. In addition, Siemens will establish another R&D
center in Rio de Janeiro, based on what the company calls “technology beyond the pre-salt” for the
underwater oil and gas sector and sustainable energy technologies, such as solar, wind, photovoltaic,
biomass and ethanol energy. “In Germany we would say that I am a ‘fan’, someone who supports
initiatives structured to do things systematically. I believe we should analyze things point by point,
in order to advance systematically. It is essential that we do something practical for research and
innovation in the country,” he said.
4. Exchange of information
Sabine Krieg, from Business Development at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and
Biotechnology (IGB) highlighted the willingness of Brazil and Germany to promote integration. “Over
the past 10 days I attended two very interesting workshops, one of them on creating value through
biological resources, and I found it interesting that the conclusions of the workshops, including this
one here, were very similar. We both have strengths, challenges and the willingness to work together.
The only difference between us is the way we deal with situations,” she said. For her, the combination
of possibilities and strengths would be the innovation to create a new market and new ideas. “I believe
we can really learn from each other, and not only that you can learn from us. We have different
innovation models and this is something I respect a lot when I talk to people here,” she said.
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5. Generation of products and patents
Marcos Vinicius L. Fook, from the Biomaterials Laboratory at Federal University of Campina Grande,
in Paraíba, suggested an agreement for the promotion of programs in the country, aimed to generate
products and patents within the scope of the Brazil-Germany cooperation. “The partnership with
Germany would be essential. But within this cooperation, it would also be possible - even as a
provocation to agencies such as MEC, MCTI, WHO and ANVISA - to establish a biomaterials research
center. In Campina Grande we have availability to jointly develop a center like this, considering that
health care has been defined as a priority issue,” said Fook.
6. Transnational corporations
Ary Plonski, president of the National Association of Entities Promoting Innovative Enterprises
(ANPROTEC), noted that there are several Brazilian transnational corporations operating in Germany
and vice versa, and leveraging this presence would be a good way to reflect on the partnership
between the two countries. “I think the suggestion of building bridges between headquarters and
subsidiaries is a good topic for discussion,” he said.
7. Knowledge to understand the market
A World Bank study published between 2005 and 2006, led by the Russian researcher Alexander
Kusnetslov, made a diagnosis of the Chinese innovation system. According to this survey, 70% of
investments in that country between 1985 and 2000 came precisely from China’s connections
with P&D centers and laboratories in the U.S. and Europe. “This study has always impressed me.
It was very important for investors to understand how the Chinese think and interact, which led
them to reach a level of confidence high enough for them to invest in the country,” said Ademar
Seabra da Cruz Júnior, Head of the Science and Technology Division of the Ministry of External
Relations (MRE).
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8. Boosting investment
The engineer Harald Holeczeck, from the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and
Automation believes it is necessary to create tools to boost bilateral funding. “On the Brazilian side,
through the CNPq, FINEP and other agencies, and on the German side using existing channels to
cater to common innovation purposes. It is never too much to say that companies, too, should pay for
innovation and innovation research out of their own pockets,” he said.
THE HEALTH CARE
INDUSTRY
9. Knowledge transfer and private sector
For Afonso Medeiros, vice-president of the Brazilian Association of Industries of Medical, Dental,
Hospital and Laboratory Supplies and Equipment (ABIMO), what is expected of an event such as this
is the transfer of knowledge in the public health care sector, continuous training in the development
of innovations - to expedite the incorporation of new technologies - and partners’ investment to
ensure domestic investment. “What do we have to offer? Flexible companies; reliable partners; a
buying domestic market; public investment in the form of loans; tax benefits guaranteed by the
Innovation Law; the Public Procurement Law, which states that domestic products shall be offered to
the government at prices up to 25% higher than those of imports. We are also willing to take moderate
risks, as domestic industry in the sector is characterized by family businesses, which are not willing to
expose their assets to risk,” said Medeiros, who also highlighted the role of private sector. According to
him, private companies need to be motivated to invest in science, technology and innovation in areas
with recognized potential for growth, such as biotechnology, microbiology and engineering, especially
biomedical engineering. “While innovation contains the industrial, technological and foreign trade
polices launched by the Brazilian government as essential requirements for the country’s development,
changes are needed. This should be expressed in the management of patents, processes and products.
We can not wait five years to obtain the protection of intellectual rights through patents, which is
often subject to delays. Looks like this will finally be resolved,” he said.
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The German industry has a tradition in the research and development of new health care
resources, in both pharmaceutical and medical and hospital equipment. This development
is possible due to a consistent research base and interaction between German companies
and research institutes. Brazil, in turn, universalized access to the health care system in
1988 - at a cost that reached R$250 billion in 2009. Because access is universal, costs grow,
as do demands and opportunities for the development of new technologies and solutions.
For this reason, efforts are being made to restructure the industrial health care complex in
the country, the key element of which is improved coordination between the production
of scientific and technological knowledge and its incorporation into new products. In this
panel, the goal was to bring the experiences of the two countries together with regard to
new technologies for the health care industry.
The first speaker was Professor Francelino Grando, Secretary for Innovation at the
Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (MDIC). After congratulating the
FhG on its recognized efforts in the technological development of Brazil, he said it is
possible to improve cooperation. “We should work more closely from now on. In the
country’s industrial health care complex there are many possibilities and a huge horizon
ahead, which should not be neglected,” he said. The fact is that we struggle for budget
resources so that all Brazilians can have access to better health care technology. We
are a continental country with 200 million people and theoretically each of us should
have access to the best there is in health care. Therefore, there are huge business
opportunities in this area,” he added.
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Afonso Medeiros, vice-president of the Brazilian
Association of Industries of Medical, Dental,
Hospital and Laboratory Supplies and Equipment
(ABIMO) then took the floor to add that last year
the association created the New Health Care
Award for companies that have projects already
implemented in processes, products and services,
and that have benefited patients or contributed
to the balance of payments of the company. The
award is given in May, during the Hospital Fair.
“This year, in the second edition of the award,
we had 34 registered projects, showing that the
health care sector is interested in innovating.
We do not expect to find 34 extraordinary
innovations, but I can assure you that the desire
to innovate is clear,” he said. He added also
that the introduction of innovative mechanisms
in the industry of medical and dental supplies
and equipment brings benefits to patients
and efficiency to health care professionals, in
addition to boosting the economy by creating
new businesses. For him, what will make a
difference in the health care industry scenario
are public and private investments in education,
science, technology, research and development.
“Innovation does not occur necessarily in genius
creation processes, but it usually results from
a talent management system that promotes
innovation in processes, products and services
for companies. Worth noting is the increasingly
frequent use of the concepts of qualification
and competence in the social and scientific
discourse. That’s where the role of universities
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fits into the innovation inclusion strategy. All
scientific knowledge should find its practical
application, defended Medeiros. He believes
that innovation can and should contribute to
improving the quality of life of people.
Also about the public health care area, the
engineer Valéria Nascimento, Secretariat for
Science and Technology at the Ministry of
Health explained that the goal of the Secretariat
has always been to increase access to health
care by the Brazilian population, through either
low-cost, generic medicines or in terms of
regulation - both for the purchase of supplies
and in relation to public-private partnerships.
With respect to the industrial complex, the
Secretariat has projects to stimulate innovation
in health care products with high added
value by encouraging both public and private
partners through private competitiveness.
“We have a list of strategic goods which are
a priority to the area, with tax incentives and
resources from the Brazilian Innovation Agency
(FINEP), the National Health Fund itself and the
Pan- American Health Organization (PAHO).
A major problem in the health care industrial
complex is the trade deficit, which renders the
Unified Health System (SUS) very vulnerable,
making the reduction of this vulnerability
also a priority,” she said. And what would the
means of encouragement be? One is the use
of public-private partnerships, which already
“We should work more closely from now on. In the
country’s industrial health care complex there are
many possibilities and a huge horizon ahead, which
should not be neglected”
_ Francelino Grando
Secretary for Innovation,
Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign
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total 20 projects, bringing together nine public
and 17 private laboratories, both domestic
and foreign. In the field of pharmaceuticals,
for example, Valéria pointed out that there are
several projects underway, in addition to BioManguinhos partnerships with Pfizer and the
Aché, among others.
Then Harald Mathis, head of Biomolecular Optical
Systems at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied
Information Technology (FIT), said that in his
department, in the area of Applied Information
Technology (FIT), his team works to develop
technology for hardware in the health care and
biotechnology sector. According to him, what
currently matters most to the computer scientists,
physicists, chemists, biologists and biomedical
engineers in his department is information. He
recalled a topic addressed in the previous day,
related to the field of mobile applications for the
elderly - increasingly numerous in Germany. “We
have sensors for the physical side, but not for
biological markers, which becomes a big problem
when it comes to telemedicine. I can imagine, for
example, that in your rural areas you can also
use simple and inexpensive biometric devices,
but the problem will still be the sensors for
biological markers, without the presence of the
physician,” he added. Microsystems technologies
are available in Brazil, and according to him, all it
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would require would be to know how to combine
and integrate them. “Mobile applications allow
the elderly to spend more time at home, in
good health, and monitored when they present
risks. This action is very strong in Germany, and
without it we could not contribute to a better
quality of life for these patients,” he said. He also
stressed that with the use of such equipment,
the possibility of hospitalization of elderly people
can be reduced to one third. According to Mathis,
the cost of one day in the ER in Germany is 2,000
euros, and the mobile device would cost 2,000 to
4,000 euros. “This is not a problem but rather a
solution, since they will be staying at home and
not in a hospital,” he said.
Mathis also said that in Germany the health
care system has a very conservative structure,
while the younger generations think differently.
“Perhaps you’ll have the chance to not make
the same mistakes that we made in the last 30
years. Devices with a good cost-benefit ratio
must be developed, both here and in Germany
where, given the profile of our health care
system, which, I repeat, is conservative, makes
it difficult for people to accept innovations,” he
said. He also stressed that the question is finding
out how the devices would facilitate the lives of
patients, who would not have to commute from
their homes to the hospital.
SPORTING EVENTS AND
THE 14 BIS PROJECT
In the coming years, Brazil will host two major world sporting events. Besides requiring
significant investments in infrastructure, the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics
will bring new opportunities for business and technological advances with the use of IT,
communications and software. In this regard, there is a large universe of solutions for
the media, communications and social networks among other fields, which possibly will
benefit audiences around the world. It is estimated that during the World Cup alone the
country will receive between 600,000 and 1 million visitors who will be connected to
friends, relatives and colleagues around the globe.
Brazil already plays a major role in the use of media and social networks, and it is important
to remember that Portuguese is the second most used language on Twitter, which is widely
disseminated by mobile communication technologies in Brazil and around the world. In
addition, new businesses and technologies in these areas emerge very quickly. In view of
this reality, the panel discussed possible projects, technologies and businesses that can be
created focusing on two main issues: what kinds of research and projects can be connected
in both countries to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves? What can
be done to develop a culture of entrepreneurship in the two countries?
One of the first topics in this panel was the 14 Bis, a program presented the previous
day by Eduardo da Costa, a professor at the University of Santa Catarina and CEO of
Ideas 2000. José Eduardo Fiates, director of CERTI Foundation, the Technology Park in
Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, is working to build specific partnerships for the project with
1st Innovation Learning Laboratory| Brazil - Germany |41
that will be moving around the country during
the competitions, both in stadiums and surfing
the Internet,” he said. Altogether, the team set
10 priority areas: social networks; education;
entrepreneurship; green technologies; security
(human systems); and the so-called “cross-cutting
areas” such as information and communication
technology (ICT); media; marketing; system
management; and universal design.
Fiates, from the CERTI Foundation: “The country is discussing
how to include topics such as science and technology in the
organization of the World Cup and the Olympics. There is
a great opportunity in relation to the public that will move
around Brazil during the competitions, both in stadiums and
surfing the internet.”
a team led by himself and Costa. “It’s an idea
that emerged two years ago, when the Brazilian
government began to discuss the organization
of the World Cup and the Olympics. The main
issues then were stadiums, infrastructure,
airports, the road system. The MCTI then began
to discuss how topics on science and technology
could be included. And, as we know, there is
a great opportunity in relation to the people
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March . 2011 . São Paulo
Benjamin Ihle, Project Manager of the Media
Group at the Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent
Analysis and Information Systems (IAIS) also
presented his ideas on the work carried out
with social networks and the media. The day
before he had talked about LIVE, a system that
already offers interactivity features. “In Germany
there are some innovations in progress, such
as for example combining television with
social networks. And not only in interactive TV
systems, which we did in 2008 in Austria, but
at a higher level of interactivity, which is social
TV - that integrates social networks and mobile
devices, so that people can interact wherever
they are. I think this would be a good idea for
cooperation between Brazil and Germany,” he
said. Cynthia Rocha, adviser on Partnerships for
the Government of Minas Gerais, showed what
the State has already done in this regard. “The
government of Minas Gerais, as well as other state
governments has established a Secretariat for
World Cup Affairs. The areas are similar to those
mentioned by Fiates, i.e., environment, energy,
ICT, security, health care and infrastructure and
urban mobility, which is a critical issue for the
state. In this regard, the governor has signed
an agreement with BHTRANS, the municipal
traffic regulation agency in Belo Horizonte
and the Innovation System of Minas Gerais
(SIMI). The aim of this cooperation is to develop
actions that help the Urban Mobility Plan
of the city, bringing BHTRANS and cuttingedge research institutions to apply solutions
in Belo Horizonte,” she said, highlighting
also the ICT area. “Minas Gerais has great
excellence in this sector, and the Department
of Computer Science at the Federal University
of Minas Gerais (UFMG) is a national reference.
Thus, we have opportunities for national and
international partnerships, in order to develop
technologies for the World Cup, which we will
definitely need,” she continued. The adviser
also highlighted the case of FAPEMIG, the state
research support agency that is funding the
research of a Swiss company, CSEM, on a smart
ticketing system that consists of data on the
ticket holder and anti-counterfeiting elements.
Another important issue raised by Cynthia
was related to environmental technologies,
such as environmentally friendly engines to be
developed with Fiat and its engine company,
Fiat Power Train, and a Google research center
in the state. “We have the skills, but I believe
we could use a coordination tool for joint
cooperation projects,” he concluded.
Donatelli, from CERTI Foundation: “We need to identify the bottlenecks that hinder cooperation in scientific innovation.
When it comes to innovation, we need to make quick decisions, work in sync, identify the strategic levels of the idea
and follow its development day after day.”
1st Innovation Learning Laboratory| Brazil - Germany |43
CONCLUSIONS OF THE
LABORATORY
The event enabled identifying opportunities that the partnership with Germany and the
Fraunhofer Society can offer to Brazilian organizations (companies and research institutions),
especially with respect to innovation projects. The manager for International Affairs of ABDI,
Roberto Alvarez, made an assessment of the main points raised during the “1st Brazil-Germany
Innovation Learning Laboratory” which is part of a series of joint bilateral actions that the two
countries have been developing.
The manager of ABDI said that the laboratory opens up new possibilities, with results in
the short, medium and long term. In the short term, Alvarez pointed out the pre-projects
on rare earth magnets and orthopedic prostheses that have been completed and are
currently being discussed with Brazilian and German companies and institutions to enable
their implementation.
In the medium and long term, new projects are under development seeking solutions that
include the joint governance of public and private organizations, aimed at ensuring greater
flexibility in the generation and implementation of bilateral innovation projects.
Roberto Alvarez reminded that there are different instruments to support innovation in both
countries. In Brazil, he pointed out a well developed set of instruments to support innovation,
such as the significant increase in the budget of the Brazilian Innovation Agency (FINEP) and
a new pro-innovation legal and institutional framework implemented by ABDI.
44 |
March . 2011 . São Paulo
To leverage innovation in Brazil, Alvarez elected
public-private partnerships as fundamental factors.
The German model of the Fraunhofer Society is a
good example, and in this case Brazil has much to
learn. In the 60 Fraunhofer institutes, one third of
the budget is provided by the public sector. The
remainder must be raised through projects, and
one third must necessarily come from projects with
companies,” said the manager.
“Moreover, the governance of the Fraunhofer
Society institutes is public-private, because
executives from German companies sit on boards
of directors. The interests of the industry define
the research agendas of the Fraunhofer institutes
and this is critical for the success of the German
innovation model. In Brazil we still have to advance
in the implementation of this type of arrangement.
But we are on the right track,” he said.
To develop the projects, ABDI expects to work
with partners within the Brazilian Government,
as well as with companies, business entities
and research institutions, in order to create
new opportunities for business and technology
projects involving Brazilian organizations in
knowledge intensive areas. “Today, Brazil is able
to engage in complex projects with organizations
in Europe. We have accumulated resources and
expertise that enable us to do that. In addition,
we have the ambition to hold an important
position among the world leaders in innovation,”
concluded Alvarez.
Currently, 28 of the 60 Fraunhofer institutes
have projects with Brazil. ABDI finances two of
these projects focused on industrial undertakings
(rare earth mineral magnets factory / orthopedic
prostheses factory/ laboratory), in addition to a
structuring project with the National Institute of
Metrology, Quality and Technology (INMETRO).
The possibilities for the development of technology
and business projects related to the sporting
events of 2014 and 2016 were also discussed
during the laboratory
“Today Brazil is capable of engaging in complex projects with European
organizations. We have accumulated resources and technical expertise
that enable us to do that. In addition, we have the ambition to hold an
outstanding position among the world leaders in innovation”
_Roberto Alvarez
International Affairs Manager, ABDI
1st Innovation Learning Laboratory| Brazil - Germany |45
Technical Data
ABDI
Clayton Campanhola
Roberto Alvarez
Patrícia Vicentini
Carlos Venicius Frees
Ricardo Martins Araújo
Cássio Marx Rabello da Costa
Valdênio Miranda de Araújo
Joana Wightman
Adriane Aragão
Bianca Smolarek
Ana Cláudia Caputo
Paulo Mizushima
Cynthia Santos Rocha
Priscila Gomes da Silva
SEBRAE
José Cursino Raposo Moreira
State University of Paraíba
Daniel Scherer
EMBRAER
Lucas Peccin Mendes
Rodrigo Carlana
Advanced Health Institute - FIPASE
Erico Carvalho Moreli
Juliana Souza Scriptore
SENAI
Marcelo Oliveira Gaspar de Carvalho
Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
Carlos Eduardo Fortis Kwietniewski
Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and
Foreign Trade
Francelino Grando
Institute for Technological Research
Fernando Landgraf
João Carlos Savio Cordeiro
Eduardo Valle
Luciana Silva Colepícolo
National Association of Entities for the
Promotion of Innovative Enterprises - ANPROTEC
Guilherme Ary Plonsky
Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and
Innovation
Ronaldo Mota
INATEL
Adonias Costa da Silveira
Paloma Reis Rufino Marins
Brazilian Ministry of Health
Valéria Monteiro
SOFTEX
Carlos Alberto Pereira Leitão
Dirceu Murakami
Mariana Araújo e Silva Bottrel
State Secretariat of Science and Technology of
Minas Gerais
Brazilian Ministry of External Relations
Ademar Seabra da Cruz Júnior
INMETRO
Janaína Marques Rodrigues Caixeiro
BNDES
CERTI Foundation
Gustavo Donatelli
Food Technology Institute, Secretariat of
Agriculture and Food Supply of the State of São
Paulo - ITAL
Luis Madi
Federal University of Campina Grande
Marcus Vinicius Lia Fook
Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de
Janeiro - FIRJAN
Marilene Carvalho
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Paulo Reis
Siemens Brazil
Ronald Martin Dauscha
Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology,
Clinics Hospital – School of Medicine, University
of São Paulo
Tomaz Puga Leivas
Feralcom Hidromecânica
Pauline Bek Costa
Research Support Foundation of the State of
Bahia - FAPESB
Elias Ramos de Souza
BrasMetal
Alex Mazine
Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul
Dario Azevedo
Tarobá Engenharia e Negócios Ltda.
Luis Carlos Pasquale Rosa
Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering
and Packaging (IVV)
Alexandre Martins Moreira
Tiago Borsoi Klein
Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing
Engineering and Automation
Harald Holeczek
Fraunhofer Institute for Non-Destructive Testing
Andreas Schnabel
Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Nano Systems
(ENAS)
Hernan Jose Valenzuela Rojas
Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering
and Biotechnology (IGB)
Barbara Waelkens
Sabine Krieg
Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software
Engineering
Michael Eisenbarth
DWIH
Bertram Heinze
National Confederation of Industry - Brazil
Paulo Mól
Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and
Information Systems IAIS
Benjamin Ihle
Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology
Sandra Brix
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (FhG)
Eckart Bierduempel
Daniela Larsen
Werner Sternad
Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and
Design Technology
David Carlos Domingos
Fraunhofer HHI
Wolf-D Konrad
Brasilien Zentium, University Tobingen
Martin Ebner
Others
Angelo Fares Menhem
José Cursino Raposo Moreira