Campinas, Brazil, April 28, 2012 – Canadian university presidents travelled to Campinas today to visit the University of Campinas (Unicamp), a hub for research and innovation in Brazil. About 30 presidents taking part in the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada’s mission to Brazil toured the facilities and discussed joint strategies for transferring university research to the private sector to help build prosperity in both countries.
Eight Canadian universities signed agreements with Unicamp today in areas ranging from student and faculty mobility, to research collaboration, to the development of joint academic programs.
“Unicamp is an outstanding example of the benefits that will accrue to Canadian students and faculty, and Canadian society, through university partnerships with Brazilian institutions,” said Stephen Toope, president of The University of British Columbia and chair of the board of AUCC. “This university is an incubator of fresh ideas and entrepreneurship, a catalyst of new knowledge and private sector engagement. Collaboration with institutions such as Unicamp will help Canada cultivate the skills and talent needed to seize new opportunities in global society.”
Today’s visit began with an address by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, on the topic of transferring university research to the private sector to create innovative communities, and remarks by the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Canada’s Minister of State for Science and Technology. Canadian university presidents and their Brazilian partners also took part in a panel on this topic. This afternoon they will observe a demonstration of the Synchrotron Light Laboratory Brazil (LNLS) in connection with the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan.
“Strengthening Canada’s ties to the global supply of ideas and talent is central to our science and technology strategy,” said Minister Goodyear. “The agreements signed today will promote greater cooperation between Brazilian and Canadian institutions conducting world-leading research. This will provide great benefits for companies seeking to grow through innovation, and will enhance the quality of life of our citizens, by creating high-quality jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity.”
Over the past year, Brazil’s synchrotron has been adapting CLS software that enables scientists to remotely access synchrotron beamlines, analyze data and store information so researchers and their students can collaborate and exchange information and ideas half a world away. This link will make it possible for future Brazilian graduate students working at the CLS to connect with their faculty supervisors in Brazil, who can observe their experiments in real time.
“Seeing first-hand the high-calibre of facilities for research and innovation in Brazil is inspiring,” said Peter MacKinnon, president of the University of Saskatchewan and member of AUCC’s board of directors. “With so many synergies between the research capacities and interests in Canada and Brazil, we see incredible potential to accelerate our bilateral partnerships and collaboration in the months and years ahead.”
The delegation of Canadian university presidents now travels to Rio de Janeiro to visit other world-class research institutes and then to Brasilia for meetings with government partners and visits to higher education institutions and research facilities.
The AUCC university presidents’ mission to Brazil is being led by the Governor General. AUCC is the national voice of Canada’s universities, representing 95 Canadian public and private not-for-profit universities.
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Note to editors: A full list of today’s announcements is included in the backgrounder.
Media Contacts:
In Brazil:
Helen Murphy
Communications Manager
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
hmurphy@aucc.ca
613-563-1236 ext. 238
Cell. +1-613-608-8749
Atendimento à Imprensa no Brasil
MAPA Comunicação Integrada – São Paulo
Karoline Pereira – Atendimento
karoline@mapacomunicacao.com.br
Débora Kojo – Coordenadora de Núcleo
55 (11) 6182.4881 / 5096.3137 / 2501.8374
www.mapacomunicacao.com.br
In Ottawa:
Mélanie Béchard
Communications Officer
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
mbechard@aucc.ca
613-563-1236 ext. 306
