INTERVIEW

Closer ties

Petter Krus, aeronautical engineer, Linköping University

In this edition, we have interviewed aeronautical engineer Petter Krus, from Linköping University, the first Swedish professor to have participated in the programme Chair for Swedish Aeronautical Professor in Brazil within the scope of INNOVAIR. This is a Swedish platform which has been conceived to establish closer ties between academic circles, Government and industry in Brazil and Sweden, to strengthen the interchange of advanced innovations and technologies in the aeronautical segment. In his first period as a visiting professor, Mr Krus stayed in the city of São José dos Campos (SP), at the  Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA), between 19 May and 6 June. From now on, Mr Krus and two other Swedish professors should take turns remaining in Brazil for between two and six months a year, with the key mission of deepening the bilateral co-operation between the two countries in this area. In this interview, he talks about some of the plans for this initiative.

How would you rate your experience as the first professor of the Chair for Swedish Aeronautical Professor in Brazil?

I have not really started so much as yet, but I am very excited at this experience. I have also already had extensive collaboration with universities in Brazil before, so this will be a way to formalise this further. I see there is a lot to be gained from this collaboration.

In recent years you’ve had extensive collaboration with different universities in Brazil. Which are the main contributions of Brazilian institutions (like universities and research institutes) to research agendas in aeronautics?

Overall Brazil has a strong tradition in aeronautics. It is probably the area where Brazil can claim world-class competence, especially for civil aircraft. When it comes to universities, ITA is the University that has been most specialised university in aeronautics. Of course there are also other parts of DCTA that are very important for the research agenda, as these represent the air-force branch of aeronautics research.

There is also a strong group at USP in São Carlos, and then we have the UFMG with a long tradition in aeronautics. I have had a long-standing collaboration with UFSC in Florianopolis in aircraft actuation systems. Overall I think it will be necessary to build a university network in Brazil to ensure the development of a world class university system in the aeronautics field, as no university can do everything alone.

One of your assignments is to improve the bilateral cooperation for research, education and innovation projects among Brazil and Sweden. How do you intend to do that? What kind of initiatives is expected from you?

I will be, and already have been, involved in the organisation of workshops and conferences to encourage networking among researchers. I also encourage exchange of researchers in both directions. I will also be directly involved in courses and research at universities in Brazil, this will also include my colleagues. I also think that being a partner in research projects allows me to give advice and directions on how to most effectively collaborate between university and industry.

You’ve worked in a future combat aircraft concept in Sweden and, as informed during the workshop organized by CISB and ITA, you expect to build a second prototype at ITA. What is the need of a second prototype? How long it will take to get it built? How many professionals are involved in this project? Do you intend to do a flight test mission in Brazil with this new model?

The plans are not finalised yet. It could well be that we build a next iteration of the future combat aircraft concept in Brazil. The idea is to do flight test missions in Brazil with this model. We will have two researchers from LiU coming over to assist in the construction of the prototype, in addition there will be two professors, and a few students at ITA will also be involved.

Regarding the first prototype, the intention is to make a flight test mission in Sweden, a wind tunnel model in Brazil that can be tested there as well as CFD modelling. In this way aero data can be obtained from different sources and compared.

As you mentioned, aeronautics is a broad technology area with dual or triple use and often spills over its effects into other areas.  Which areas exactly could be benefited with this spillover? How long does it take for a rising technology in aeronautics to be useful in other areas, on average?

In my own case I work in Sweden both with aeronautics and with construction machines and hydraulics. Both these areas have similar problems regarding actuation systems. There are also similarities in the overall system design from conceptual to architectural design. Similar methods such as CAD modelling, system simulation and design optimization can be used.  However, the aircraft application is the most complex and challenging and, therefore, this application is more likely to drive the development. It is the same in many other areas, such as, communication, sensors, autonomy, materials, etc.

In your opinion, what is the importance of innovation platforms like CISB in a country likeBrazil?

They are important facilitators and support structure for collboration between Brazil and Sweden. They are a small and effective organisation that already has been very useful in making this collaboration happen. They also have other roles to promote innovation which I also think are important.

Topo »

Workshop on aeronautics and defence has deepened the discussion about 26 projects currently under consideration, and has made possible the prospection of new ones

Organised by CISB and ITA, this meeting had the participation of over 30 people from Sweden,
paving the way for the implementation of a co-operation agenda between the two countries

The 2nd edition of the Brazilian Swedish Workshop on Aeronautics and Defence, held on May 28 and 29 at the Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA) in São José dos Campos, State of São Paulo, had a total of 180 participants, including representatives from companies, Universities and the Government of both countries, to intensity the discussions about the 26 projects that are currently in the initial study phase for research, development and innovation (R, D&I), within the partnership between Brazil and Sweden.

Organised by the Swedish-Brazilian Research and Innovation Centre (CISB) and by the Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA), this meeting confirmed the intention, shown by the two countries, to construct a long-term agenda in the segments of aeronautics and defence, as well as showing good prospects for other areas.

Sweden’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Jan Salestrand, was present at the workshop and said that Sweden is proud of its partnership with Brazil, a country that is now an emerging economy, and that his own country is also firmly committed to innovation. “I would like to stress the desire that this partnership may extend well beyond the commercial sphere. Brazil has a strong tradition in the aerospace industry, and producing the Gripen aircraft here shall only further strengthen the country’s position in the aeronautics market”, Mr Salestrand said. He was referring to the fighter jets that the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) purchased from the Swedish company Saab AB, in 2014, a transaction in which the respective purchase contract included a clause for the transfer of production technology from the Scandinavian country to Brazil.

The Director of Future Business at Saab, Lars Sjostrom, has stressed that there is a significant overlap between opportunities offered through the co-operation between the countries and the possibilities of the selection of good projects. “Both countries have been trying to establish an agenda, and there is a high-level group that has the mission of establishing areas and lines for co-operation. Among other factors, this includes looking at the other areas that could benefit from the technologies which have been developed for the aeronautical sector and expand the scope of neutral platforms for innovation, such as CISB”, Mr Sjostrom pointed out.

In the opinion of Petter Krus, who was the first professor to take part in the programme known as Chair for Swedish Aeronautical Professor in Brazil (an initiative by Swedish platform INNOVAIR to strengthen the exchange of innovation and advanced technologies in the aeronautics segment), this is a question of promoting co-operation for the next generation. “What is happening right now is only the tip of the iceberg. This collaboration should generate a large spill-over into other areas, both in Sweden and here”, he adds.

The signing, at the opening of the event, of the Memorandum of Understanding with ITA – by the Chalmers University of Technology and also by the Luleå University of Technology – should encourage the creation of future joint projects, as well as the development of those which are already in progress.

Theme Groups

At this event, several theme groups have been put together to share experiences and also map the support that is necessary for the execution of the 26 projects which are in the initial study phase. “This workshop is a result of the first meeting, held last November, when several new ideas of collaborative projects came to light”, remembers Alessandra Holmo, the Managing Director of CISB.

At that time, CISB opened two calls to support international missions to nurture the development of projects in collaboration between Brazil and Sweden, in the aeronautical segment. A total of 26 projects were selected, and the structuring thereof required 42 different international missions that were thus supported.  “Now, the next step shall be that of finalising the structuring of the projects, and then seeking funding so that they may be implemented.”

Alessandra Holmo also stresses that the construction of this agenda extends well beyond the Gripen jet. “One of the projects currently being considered shall allow the development of a fighter jet, in subscale, to test new concepts and technologies for combat aircraft”, she says., These projects shall be executed following a model of co-operation, based on the triple helix concept involving industry, academic circles, and also Government, in both countries. “Starting out from a neutral environment, we shall be nurturing collaboration to establish an agenda of co-operation between Brazil and Sweden in the aeronautical field, to later share this experience with the other areas of CISB and expand our co-operation”, Ms Holmo finalises.

Topo »

Swedish Open Innovation Learning Week: positive appraisal from the participants

The “Swedish Open Innovation Learning Week”, a programme organised by the CISB and held in three Swedish cities between 7 and 12 June, had the participation of twelve company representatives, research institutions, consultancy service providers, and organisations of the Brazilian Government, as well as special guests, at some moments. The results, as assessed by the participants, were highly positive because, apart from expanding the networks of relationships and the possibility of partnerships, it also supplied an overall wide understanding of the Swedish innovation system.

 “The week was highly profitable, both regarding the information obtained as also the contacts and ideas that arose”, said André Alves Macedo, a Technology Engineer at Akaer, and one of the participants in this mission. “New paths were opened, working towards collaboration in innovation projects with clear understanding of how these processes occur on the Swedish side”, he highlighted.

He explained that Akaer already has partnerships with institutions such as ITA and IPT, in Brazil, and Saab and KTH (Royal Institute of Technology), in Sweden. Akaer also has great interest in developing joint projects with Chalmers University and Linköping University. Contacts made during the Innovation Week should be a great help in this regard, in his opinion.

An advanced model

According to Alessandra Holmo, Managing Director of CISB, one of the core goals of the “Swedish Open Innovation Learning Week” was that of explaining the operation of the Swedish innovation system and also its culture, which makes Sweden a leader in innovation. “We have been able to show Swedish practices, its collaboration models, and also brought part of the values and culture of Swedish society, particularly those aspects which have made it so efficient. For Sweden, it is important that possible partners find out more about the country, and CISB has provided this opportunity.”

Rozangela Curi Pedrosa, director of the Technical Innovation Department of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), feels that the trip to Sweden was very important in this regard. Ms Pedrosa studies the open innovation systems in several different countries. She highlighted that the Swedish model is a clear improvement on the French system, proposing a relationship between research institutions, the Governmental companies and society in general, with a greater level of integration between the parties, at all levels – local, regional, national and, most importantly, international. “Different from the triple helix model operated in countries such as the United States, Israel, Germany and China, the Swedish system clearly adds society as being the fourth player in the process of innovation”, she said.

Technological development and innovation, she adds, is guided by demand from society, not just by market demands. Ms Pedrosa also noted that the Swedish innovation system also stresses small to medium technology companies, but at the same time does not exclude major companies and corporations from the processes. “Another interesting difference is the concentration on one single agency, VINNOVA, for policies of innovation and also financing of R&D.”

She also highlighted that the visit has been a great help in the formation of her networking. “We can pool information about some UFSC research projects that could be worked upon in partnership with the universities that have been visited, and possibly with SAAB itself”, she said.

Schedule

So that the participants could get a wide view of the Swedish innovation system, CISB put together an extensive schedule of events. In Linköping, visits were made to Linköping University (LiU) and to the Air Force Museum. The group also attended lectures about the Swedish programme for innovation in the aeronautics segment, about the programme for financing for research and innovation in this segment, the triple helix model, and the future needs of the Swedish Armed Forces. The participants were also able to visit the Gripen production line in the Saab group, where they found out more about the FX-2 and also about the future technological advances that face the company.

In Göteborg, they visited the Lindholmen Science Park (LSP), discussed the Open Innovation Arena with a researcher from Chalmers University of Technology (CTH), and also checked out the operation of a simulator of maritime traffic management. They also watched a lecture about collaboration in the areas of transport and logistics, and another two lectures about two projects of the Security Arena of the LSP. They also had the opportunity to attend a lecture about a methodology to speed up the transfer of technology from Lund University (LU).

In Stockholm, the group went to the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), where they became aware of the challenges of the University. They were introduced to the LIGHTer Arena, and were also at the Swedish Security & Defence Industry Association (SOFF), an association which brings together different companies active in the defence segment. They also attended a lecture given by the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), a research agency of the Swedish Armed Forces.

This Group was also at VINNOVA. The Brazilian Ambassador, Marcos Pinta Gama, participated in the last day of the mission. The INNOVAIR programme, which nurtures research and innovation in aeronautics, was then discussed. The programme ended with a round table, bringing together the Brazilian participants.

Next steps

As the next steps, the CISB shall share information about the 26 pre-studies in the areas of aeronautics and defence, which they have been supporting, to that the participants in the mission may check to see if there is any similarity with their research lines or technological demands. If common interest is identified, then the CISB intends to support and catalyse the partnership. Due to the success of this mission, the CISB is already planning a new mission, scheduled for 2016.

According to the Brazilian Ambassador, the CISB, as an institution which brings together business and academic players, has a fundamental role to unleash the two countries’ potential for co-operation. “The partnership in research and innovation between Brazil and Sweden shall bear fruit to the extent that agents from both these countries consolidate a relationship based on trust, based on successful experiences that shall gradually lead to more ambitious projects. In this regard, CISB may offer an environment where these Swedish and Brazilian players may dialogue with more and more intensity, and hence act with more and more proximity”, he stressed.

Please see the list of companies and organisations that have participated in this mission: Akaer Engineering; Aerotron Industry and Commerce; Department of Science and Aerospace Technology; Institute for Industrial Nurturing and Co-ordination; Centre for the Management of Strategic Studies; Embraer; Nuclep – Nuclebrás Heavy Equipment; Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) and INVENTTA+bgi.

Topo »

Curitiba shall test hybrid buses as from next year

This project, based on the triple helix model, with the participation of companies, universities and the Government, seeks to develop more sustainable solutions for transport.

An unprecedented project for sustainable transport shall be tested in Curitiba, State of Paraná, over the coming three years: this is the project known as Smart City Concepts, which was conceived within the scope of the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed between Brazilian and Swedish institutions in 2013, to promote sustainable urban development in the city of Curitiba. This initiative involves companies such as Volvo Bus, which is based in the city, Saab and Combitech from Sweden, as well as Universities from both countries. The CISB is one of the partners in this project and has the responsibility of dissemination the project and its results, as well as co-ordinating the implementation of the work package under the responsibility of the partner Saab / Combitech in Brazil.

This initiative consists of development and testing of a hybrid bus made by Volvo Bus along the Green Line, which is a former federal motorway that cuts through the city in a North to South direction and which has recently been taken over by the municipal administration. The total length of the Green Line is 32 km, passing through 23 neighbourhoods and serving 287 thousand people, including those living in the surrounding areas (85 thousand people) and also those who need to travel through the location every day. The section where the prototype bus shall operate is 11 km long, with a flow of 3 thousand passengers per hour at peak times. The first tests with the new prototype bus shall commence next year.

According to Curitiba’s Secretary for Planning and Administration, Fábio Scatolin, this project includes a package of over 20 urban intervention work projects under the responsibility of Curitiba City Hall. In all, there are plans for total public and private investments of over R$ 4.5 billion over the next few years, in works and equipment along the total length of 32 km.

“Curitiba has an excellent track record of planning in urban mobility, with the advent of the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) system and its famous tube-shaped stations. The city is definitely at the forefront in this regard and wants to maintain its excellent position”, adds Ângelo de Souza, a consultant at CISB”.

Autonomy and savings

Volvo Bus is already responsible for several hybrid buses which circulate in important European capital cities, buses known as parallel hybrid buses, which operate on diesel most of the time, but which, at some points in time, can also run on batteries. These first models have brought diesel savings of between 30% and 35%, but their autonomy is quite low. “The recharging process, in these pioneer models, takes place automatically within the vehicle itself, with the energy generated by the brakes and also by the motor”, explains Rafael Nieweglowski, the manager of the Urban Mobility Programme of Volvo Bus.

To operate in Curitiba, however, a new model shall be developed: larger, articulated, and with higher autonomy. “This prototype shall not be charged only inside the vehicle. There shall be recharging stations, probably two in number. For this reason, the buses shall have autonomy of 10 km operating in electric mode, allowing a 50% order of diesel savings, "he says.

Multiple consortia

In the opinion of Mr Nieweglowski, however, what is most important is the collaboration between the State, academic circles and private enterprise, in a model which is often known as the triple helix model – this because, apart from KTH, other partners in the project include the Federal Technological University of the State of Paraná, the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, the Positivo University and, of course, the municipal administration.

Professor Semida Silveira, a researcher and manager of the project on the part of  KTH, says that this model has already been worked upon at the institution for a long time. “This is very important as the agendas of these different areas are complementary to each other, generating the dynamics that we would like to see throughout society. Multiple consortia with several different players are not trivial solutions and, for them to be successful, there is a need for commitment, dialogue, respect and tolerance – as well as a lot of work of the highest quality”, she sums up.

In her opinion, what attracts most attention in the institutional arrangement as proposed, in the Brazilian case, is the strong role of academia within these consortiums. “Fortunately, there have been some changes in academic circles in Brazil, circles which have been taking on new forms of interaction with society in general. I think our project has also made a contribution in this regard”, the professor says.

“With the prototype up and running, the partners of academic circles shall carry out studies to see if the vehicle meets the city’s needs, compare its performance with that of traditional vehicles, and also suggest any changes as may be deemed necessary”, says Mr Nieweglowski.

“This project is a great example of the operation of the triple helix model and also of the collaboration between Brazil and Sweden, and we hope that this is an inspiration for other cases in Brazil, through the divulging of the results”, says Alessandra Holmo, the Managing Director of CISB.

Topo »

Akaer, ITA and Luleå University: new members of CISB

The Swedish-Brazilian Research and Innovation Centre (CISB) has three new members: the company Akaer Engineering, the Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA) and the Luleå University of Technology, from Sweden – all three of which have been important players in the aeronautics and defence segments, and have also been well aligned with CISB’s proposal to attract more partners for the execution of collaborative projects in research, development and innovation (R, D&I) in these segments.

“We are catalysing the creation of a special agenda for R, D&I in aeronautics and defence and, for this, we need to connect several players of the Brazilian and the Swedish innovation systems in these areas”, says Alessandra Holmo, the Managing Director of CISB. “The arrival of these new members shall help to take on this challenge”, she says.

She also highlights that ITA is a key university in the areas of aeronautics and defence, while Akaer Engineering is a Brazilian company which has been recognised for the knowledge and the technology it possesses in these segments. “On the other hand, Luleå University is a Swedish institution which stands out for its research into the areas of logistics and aircraft maintenance”, Ms Holmo adds.

Open innovation – With the arrival of ITA, Akaer and Luleå, CISB now has a total of 17 members. These are companies and institutions which have interest in CISB’s main areas of activity -  aeronautics, transport and logistics, defence and security, urban development, and sustainable energy – and also in its method of operation. “CISB works as an open arena for innovation, seeking to identify, attract, develop and also support projects of R, D&I in these areas”, says Alessandra Holmo. “Our team is active as a facilitating and catalysing agent and as a manager of a collaborative network which is made up by its members and its partners”, she adds.

The current corporate members of CISB are the companies Akaer, Clavister, Saab, Scania and Volvo Cars, and also the following research institutes and Universities: Chalmers University, Franhoufer Chalmers, Halmstad University, ITA, Innventia, Linköping University, Luleå University of Technology, Lund University, Royal Institute of Technology, SENAI and SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden.

Topo »

CISB opens the enrolment process for the workshop on the green corridor

This event shall be held on 15 and 16 September at FEI, in São Bernardo do Campo.

It is already time to enrol for the “International Workshop on Green Corridors: European Experience and Brazilian Perspectives”, to be held at the FEI University Centre, in the city of São Bernardo do Campo (SP), on 15 and 16 September of this year. The workshop is organised by the CISB, by the Centre for Innovation in Port Logistics and Infrastructure (CILIP), linked to the Department of Oceanics and Naval Engineering of the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo (POLI-USP) and also by Lindholmen Science Park (LSP), from Sweden. The main aim of this event is to further discussions to boost future partnerships in research, development and innovation in this area, between Brazil and Sweden.

This is the first time that the group promotes a specific meeting to discuss the issue of “green corridors”, an issue which is still its early stages in Brazil. The expectations are that some 50 people shall be attracted, including representatives from research institutions, Government institutions, and also companies both from Brazil and from Sweden. “When we talk about green corridors in Brazil, the immediate association is with ecological corridors, and not with the intermodal and sustainable system for transporting goods, as is being developed in Europe”, explains Mayara Barbosa, a CISB researcher participating in the ‘Inova Talentos’ Programme (and who has a master’s degree in transport and is in charge of the organisation of the workshop).

“CISB has been acting as a kind of neutral platform to help with the establishment of the partnership between the players in the innovation systems in Brazil and Sweden who are dedicated to this theme”, she adds. The main aim here is that of promoting the advancement of knowledge in this area, to later make it feasible to implement a system of green corridors in Brazil, thereby integrating road, sea and rail transport in a sustainable manner, from the operational, economic and environmental standpoints.

Among the speakers who have confirmed their participation, we have names such as Rui Botter, João Ferreira Neto and Newton Narciso Pereira, all researchers from USP-CILIP; Fabio Castello, the Logistics Leader of Scania Latin America, and Håkan Sjödin, the leader of Powertrain Development of this same company; Leonardo Alexandre, the corporate general manager for Rail Engineering at the Vale Technological Institute (ITV); George Panagakos, a researcher and professor at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU); Delmo Alves de Moura, a teacher at the Federal University of the ABC Region; and Wilson de Castro Hilsdorf, a professor at FEI.

The programme of the event has been divided into three main blocks. The first block shall bring discussions on the current state of the art for green corridors in Europe, with special prominence being given to the project that shall connect Sweden and Italy. In the second block, there shall be a presentation of the Brazilian scenario for the different modes of transport. The third and final phase shall address the current stage of research on the implementation of a green corridor here in Brazil. On the second day, 16 September, there shall be a series of technical visits: to the Santos Port Terminal, including a boat ride down the canal where the port is situated, to the São Paulo State Docks Company (Codesp) and also to the Anchieta-Imigrantes operational centre operated by Ecovias.

The programme of the workshop and also the enrolment form can be accessed through the Internet at: http://www.cisb.org.br/iwgc/.

Topo »

CISB is honoured by the CNPq

This is an official acknowledgement of its contributions to research activities and Brazilian technological development.

On 5 May, the Swedish-Brazilian Research and Innovation Centre (CISB) received a Special Mention of Thanks from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq/MCTI), during the prize-giving ceremony at which the ‘Admiral Álvaro Alberto’ Prize for Science and Technology was given to researcher Magda Becker Soares. “This is an official acknowledgement of the contribution that the CISB has made for nurturing research and technological development”, said Alessandra Holmo, the Managing Director of CISB.

She received the honour certificate from the hands of the Brazilian Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Aldo Rabelo; from the Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Luiz Fernando Pezão; and from the President of the CNPq, Hernán Chaimovich. “It was an honour to receive this honour, and this proves that we are on the right path to support the development and the enhancement of the CNPq, which is a key institution for the co-operation between Brazil and Sweden”, she said.

The ceremony was also enriched with the presence of several of authorities, including the Brazilian Minister for Education, Renato Janine Ribeiro; the future president of the Co-ordination for Enhancement of University Level Employees (CAPES/MCTI), Carlos Nobre; the president of Embrapii, João Fernando Gomes de Oliveira; the President of the Foundation in Support of Research of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Faperj), Augusto Raupp; the president of the Brazilian Society for the Progress of Science (SBPC), Helena Nader; the president of the Brazilian Academy of Science (ABC), Jacob Palis; and Admiral-of-the-Fleet Eduardo Bacellar Leal Ferreira, among others.

CISB has had an agreement with the CNPq ever since September 2011 and an additive term with one of its members, Saab AB. This additive term has allowed the launch of specific joint calls (CNPq-CISB-Saab) for the concession of scholarships to Brazilian researchers, within the scope of the Science without Borders Programme. So far, the partnership has already made it feasible for 25 Brazilian researchers to go to Sweden to develop research projects at Universities of excellence. “One thing that stands out in our calls is the possibility of doing work placement assignments or participating in projects within Saab itself”, Alessandra Holmo informs.

Topo »

CISB launches more calls to support collaborative projects in R, D&I

One of these, which shall give five grants for advanced studies in aeronautics,
is still accepting submission of proposals

In order to nurture the establishment of collaborative projects in the area of research, development and innovation (R, D&I) between Brazil and Sweden, the CISB has already launched eight calls to support the mobility of researchers, whether within the Science without Borders programme or through own calls. The last of these is still open for submission of proposals. This is the Call of Innovation Projects 02/2015 Senior Internship Abroad”, aimed at the aeronautics area.

Aimed at researchers and professors who have had a good rate of scientific and technological productivity, the main aim of this call is to offer up to five grants, each one for a period of one month, for the development and/or execution of joint projects in the fields of R, D&I, for the encouragement of partnerships and also the start or consolidation of an existing research network. Priority shall be given to proposals in the following areas: aerodynamics and aeroacoustics; conceptual design of aircraft; logistics and maintenance; composite materials; shipped systems and security; manufacturing systems; and propulsion systems.

The authors of the selected proposals shall receive financial assistance for the trip and also for accommodation while abroad. The deadline for sending proposals is 14 August. The results shall be published on the CISB site, on 2 October. Please check out the rules here.

An excellent return

According to Alessandra Holmo, Managing Director of CISB, the return obtained for all the calls has been excellent, both in terms of the number of proposals submitted as also in the technical quality of the proposals. As an example, she mentions the call known as “01/2015 Support for International Collaboration”, whose time frame for submission of proposals has ended recently. “We received 5 proposals, a good number considering the scope of the call, which required the participation of partners in academic circles and the industrial sector, of both countries, for the structuring of long-term projects”, she stresses. This call was focused on three core subareas within aeronautics: sensorial fusion and processing of signals; robotics and diagnosis; and the control and identification of systems. The result of this process was made public on 7 July.

Another successful example is the result of the 4th call for projects CNPq/CISB/Saab, in the scope of the Science without Borders programme, which also had a significant number of entries. “A total of 162 projects were submitted, which was an increase of almost 50% compared with the last edition which attracted 108 entries”, she highlights.

The CNPq/CISB/Saab calls have, so far, made it possible for 25 researchers to travel to Sweden, all with proposals of an excellent technical level. In the opinion of Alessandra Holmo, these results clearly show the interest that Brazilian researchers have shown for the aeronautical field. “After all, this is a strategic area for the CISB, its members and partners”, she adds.

Topo »

Scania opens a research laboratory in Sorocaba

One of CISB’s members, Scania, has recently inaugurated a laboratory in partnership with the Polytechnic School, the Engineering Unit of São Paulo University (POLI-USP), on the grounds of the Technology Park in the country town of Sorocaba (SP). “For Scania, a company that has been a pioneer in innovation and technology, encouragement of partnerships with learning institutions are part of our business and also bring guaranteed excellence in the solutions which we take to our clients”, says Per Olov Svendlund, the President and CEO of Scania Latin America.

The project was conceived to study the behaviour of the air flow within diesel motors. The total investment as here made was R$ 6 million – the greatest cash injection made by the car maker for activities of research and development here in Brazil. “This investigation may contribute towards improving the general performance of the motors, as also consumption and, most importantly, the reduction of the emission of pollutant gases into the atmosphere”, Mr Svedlund explains.

The laboratory has equipment that was created specifically for this project. “For example, we shall house a trial machine for air flow at the heads (the upper part of the motor), that had to be developed and assembled at the University, and also some sensors, that did not exist on the market with the specificity that the project requires”, explains professor Marcelo Massarani, from the Automotive Engineering Centre of Poli-USP, responsible for the co-ordination of this initiative. “This technology is brand new. Created by the group of specialists that came together for this specific project, it brings a series of innovations, such as the measurement of movement by laser technology and also the compacting of sensors, together with the fact that it is more efficient and has lower costs.”

The laboratory is the result of an agreement for technological co-operation, signed between the Swedish car maker and Poli-USP in 2013, and also plans to offer a course in Automotive Engineering at Professional Master’s Level. Twelve employees of the company have already signed up for the course. “This initiative that Scania has undertaken is a great example of the success of the interaction between industry and Universities, and we hope that this shall be an inspiration for other similar cases in Brazil”, finalises Alessandra Holmo, the Managing Director of CISB.

Topo »