On a bilateral level, the three institutions have been working together for some time: TUM and UQ have had a lively student exchange for many years and offer a Double Degree in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. Via the TUM Graduate School a joint support and supervision for doctoral students of UQ and TUM is planned. With UNESP a university-wide agreement is in place since 2013, which created many new relationships and joint projects since then.
The idea of a trilateral cooperation emerged during a visit of Prof. Michael Rychlik of the TUM Chair of Analytical Food Chemistry to Brazil. The trip was funded via the TUM Global Incentive Fund. While being on site in Brazil, as well as during preparing the symposium in Munich, Prof. Rychlik was strongly supported by TUM São Paulo Liaison Officer Sören Metz.
During their stay at TUM, the delegations from Australia and Brazil also visited the TUM locations Weihenstephan and Straubing. In Straubing, the guests were introduced to the new campus, and PhD students from TUM presented their ideas of cooperation projects. Highlight of the symposium was the signing of the Global Bioeconomy Alliance by TUM Senior Vice President Prof. Juliane Winkelmann, TUM Straubing Rector Prof. Sieber, the director the UQ delegation Prof. Paul Young, and the Chief of Staff of the Rectorate of UNESP Prof. Carlos Vergani.
The many technical discussions with the Australian and Brazilian colleagues in recent days have shown us, how fruitful the close cooperation in the field of bioeconomy is and how much it has brought us forward. It is all the more important that the Global Bioeconomy Alliance between UQ, UNESP and TUM is now also formally established and further filled with life. – Prof. Dr. Volker Sieber, Rector TUM Straubing
In 2019, TUM, UQ and UNESP scientists will meet in Brazil in a Summer School, where Doctoral students from the three universities should be involved. The TUM Liaison Office in São Paulo will be supporting these activities.