The government’s role in collaboration in research

During the third seminar of the series held by the Center in 2020, the government’s role in promoting research partnerships with mutual benefits was discussed. The event brought examples of how the Victorian Economic Development Office, in the state of Victoria, has been working in Latin America with a focus on the educational sector.

The panel showcased the strategic role of universities in attracting foreign investments to Victoria, being a decisive element in the region’s development process. Known in Australia as the “Education State,” Victoria leverages this competitive advantage in attracting and retaining companies seeking an operational base in the Asia-Pacific region. This educational differential, largely based on a broad process of internationalization of higher education in the state, has brought various benefits over time.

Chilean lawyer Nathalia Gorromo started the conversation as a representative of the Victoria Development Agency in Latin America. The office she coordinates supports companies from the Australian state doing business in Latin America, in addition to leading corporations from the region to establish operational bases in the country.

“We invite Latin American companies to explore the advantages of establishing themselves in Victoria,” she explained. According to her, research collaboration between companies and universities, as well as joint projects between higher education institutions from both continents, has been crucial for closing deals and mutual investments with Latin American countries. Large Brazilian companies such as Marco Polo, JBS, and Natura have established themselves in Victoria, also due to the available opportunities for research collaboration and training.

The state of Victoria has a highly competitive educational sector, being one of the main destinations for international students in the country, attracting a large number of students from around the world and practicing the so-called “Knowledge Diplomacy” for decades as a means to establish influence in the world of collaboration in global study and research networks.

The provision of educational services by Australian companies in Latin America is also an important source of business and trade for Victoria. Hence, the importance of higher education internationalization activities for the agency.

Next, Andrea Voto-Bernales, educational director of the agency in Latin America, explained that the geographical priorities for establishing partnerships in the educational sector, including research collaboration, are currently: Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Peru, and Colombia. The state has two universities among the top 100 in the world, and 8 among the top 400 in the same ranking, being a global reference in education and research.

Between 2015 and 2019, the agency signed memorandums of understanding with the governments of the states of Paraná and São Paulo to expand academic mobility and joint training programs between Brazil and the state of Victoria. Currently, according to Andrea, there are 5 ongoing projects between Brazilian and Australian higher education institutions, one of them involving PUCRS.

Dr. Jega, the climate change expert from RMIT University, also brought concrete examples of mutual research interests between Brazil and Australia. These are themes related to the similar geographical characteristics of the two countries that facilitate the design of collaborative projects with mutual benefits for the parties involved, including the acquisition and optimization of research funding budgets.

According to him, the fact that both countries are located in the southern hemisphere and have vast and diverse territories in terms of climate, water resources, forests, and intense agricultural activity, creates many common research interests. As an example, he mentioned a stormwater project in which he is currently involved, as part of a research collaboration between his institution and the State University of Maringá, with funding from the governments of Australia and India.

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