The Brazil Centre of the University of Münster has been fully involved in supporting and initiating the Universitys' partnerships and activities with Brazil since 2010. Since its foundation, the number of members and interested parties of the Brazil Centre has increased to around 100, and more than twenty cooperation agreements have been concluded with major Brazilian institutions. Particularly noteworthy are the cooperation agreements with Brazilian funding agencies: at the national level with CAPES, the so-called Coordination Office for Postgraduate Education, and at the federal level with FAPESP, the Brazilian funding institution from São Paulo with the largest financial resources. See also CAPES and FAPESP in the session "Cooperation".

 

Cooperation Projects

Significant cooperation projects have been carried out by different departments with Brazilian research institutions - including EU, BRAGECRIM, UNIBRAL and PROBRAL projects. Two research networks were also established: the "Research Network on Nature Products against Neglected Diseases" (ResNetNPND) and the Brazilian-German network "Welfare state and globalisation" (Jura Network).

Although the Brazil Centre is not centrally responsible for project acquisition, its support services have enabled it, since its foundation, to raise an average of 500,000 euros in third-party funding annually at the University of Münster. In most cases, the Brazil Centre played an important role in this process: by disseminating information on calls for proposals and advising on funding opportunities, as well as by initiating activities or negotiating agreements.

"wwu.usp"

The Brazil Centre coordinated from 2015 until 2021 the project known as "wwu.usp" to establish a Strategic Partnership with the University of São Paulo (USP) [en] within the framework of the DAAD funding line "Strategic Partnerships and Thematic Networks". Here, the Brazil Centre was, exceptionally, also responsible for the promotion of the project. Through exchange in form of workshops, summer/winter schools as well as scholarships for doctoral students, post-docs and professors, initially also offered for master's and bachelor's students, the cooperation with the USP has been and will be continuously expanded. In the first funding phase (2015-2018) three focus topics were dealt with, in the second funding phase (2019-2021) the interdisciplinary topic "Cities and Climate" was the main theme.

Ciência sem Fronteiras/CsF

The Brazil Centre, together with the International Office, coordinated the Brazilian scholarship programme "Ciência sem Fronteiras/CsF" (Science without Borders), which brought 70 Brazilian scholarship holders to the University of Münster between 2012 and 2016 (mostly students, but also doctoral students and postdocs).

Contacts with Brazilian scientists have existed at the Münster University for over 50 years, and Brazilian students have been coming to Münster regularly ever since. Cooperation with Brazilian institutions also has a long tradition at Münster University. At the end of the 2000s, the University of Münster therefore came up with the idea of bringing together and supporting its numerous activities with Brazil under one roof.

At the "JuraForum" of the Faculty of Law on 18 November 2008, professors and scientists from the University of Münster - Prof. Dr. Hans-Uwe Erichsen, at that time Deputy Chairman of the University Council of Prof. Dr. Hans-Uwe Erichsen - discussed the idea of a "JuraForum". Heinz-Dietrich Steinmeyer, at that time Dean of the Faculty of Law - with prominent Brazilian Münster university alumni - such as Gilmar Mendes, at that time President of the Brazilian Federal Constitutional Court and Prof. Dr. Abílio Baeta Neves, former President of the Brazilian funding agency CAPES - first discussed the idea. The panel agreed that the time had come for Brazil's activities to be institutionally anchored in the University of Münster. This was before the German Centre for Research and Innovation was founded in São Paulo and before Brazil came into focus worldwide and was chosen as the venue for the Soccer World Cup and the Olympic Games.

The Rector at that time, Prof. Dr. Ursula Nelles supported the idea from the very beginning and formed a commission to carry out a feasibility study and develop a concept.  On this basis, Münster University scientists with activities in Brazil were asked to vote on the final concept paper and decided to found the Brazil Centre on March 15, 2010.

The inauguration ceremony of the Brazil Centre took place on the afternoon of June 11, 2010 under typical Brazilian weather conditions in the Orangerie of the Botanical Garden from the University of Münster .

Chronology

 

• 2008 until 2010

  18.11.2008 - Proposal to establish the Brazil Centre

  15.03.2010 - Foundation meeting of the centre

  11.06.2010 - Opening Ceremony of the Brazil Centre

  15.12.2010 - Signing of the agreement to establish a CAPES Brazil Visiting Professorship at Münster University

  2010-2011 - German-Brazilian Year of Science, Technology and Innovation, University of Münster as project leader among German universities

• 2010 until 2012

  2010-2011 - German-Brazilian Year of Science, Technology and Innovation, University of Münster as project leader among German universities

  06.04.2011 - 25th anniversary of the cooperation UM-UFSC

  26.-30.04.2011 - Brazil Week and DAAD Brazilian Day at University of Münster

  14.02.2012 - Inauguration of the DWIH São Paulo with the office of the Brazil Centre by Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle