During her several-day trip to Brazil, Prof. Winkelmann first visited the partners São Paulo State University (UNESP), University of São Paulo (USP), and University of Campinas (UNICAMP).
UNESP has long been one of TUM's most important strategic partners – both in bilateral exchanges and in the trilateral Global Bioeconomy Alliance with The University of Queensland. This close connection has now been significantly strengthened by two new agreements: TUM and UNESP are now officially cooperating within the framework of the TUM Global Strategic Alliances. This is the first agreement of its kind in Latin America. The second agreement is intended to further intensify the partners' doctoral exchange, which is coordinated by the TUM Graduate School.
Further strengthening of the cooperation with USP and UNICAMP
Vice President Winkelmann also exchanged views with the representatives of USP, TUM's largest partner university in Brazil and at the same time our partner with the most cooperation projects and co-publications, with regard to intensifying the cooperation. For example, the cooperation with USP could be expanded through funding via the TUM Global Incentive Fund.
In addition to the contract discussions, Prof. Winkelmann – herself a neurologist and human geneticist – visited HUG-CELL, the largest center for human genome and stem cell research in South America, and was impressed by the high quality of the research.
At the meeting at UNICAMP, the TUM Ambassadors emphasized that they want to get even more involved in the cooperation. The areas of entrepreneurship and sustainability are particularly suitable here, as UNICAMP is strongly positioned in these segments. The highlight of the collaboration so far is AmazonFACE. In this project, TUM Ambassador David Lapola and TUM Professor Anja Rammig are researching the green lungs of the Amazon rainforest and the effects of increased CO2 emissions.
Contract renewal with partner in Rio de Janeiro
On the second stop of her trip to Brazil, Prof. Winkelmann renewed the long-standing student exchange agreement with the TUM partner university Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and also explored new cooperation opportunities here.
At the end of her stay, the Senior Vice President attended the 50th anniversary celebration of the DAAD branch in Rio de Janeiro, where she took the opportunity to talk to Dr. Jochen Hellmann, Director of the DAAD, about trends and developments in the German-Brazilian higher education and science sector as well as new opportunities for research cooperation.
More about TUM São Paulo
More about funding opportunities for projects with Brazilian partners
More about the Global Bioeconomy Alliance
More about TUM alumni in South America