INTERVIEW

Brazil-Sweden: trust for a solid and long-lasting relationship

Marcos Pinta Gama, Brazilian Ambassador to Sweden

In this interview, the Brazilian Ambassador to Sweden, Marcos Pinta Gama, shows us that the FX-2 Program, with the joint development of a new generation of Gripen NG fighter jets, is paving the way for new initiatives, both inside and outside the aeronautics industry. In his view, this program will be a catalyst for future projects for innovation between companies and academic institutions in both countries. In addition, the CISB will have a key role to play within the encouragement of new projects.

1. You took over as Brazil’s representative in Sweden and in Latvia on August 22, 2014. How has your experience in Sweden been so far, considering the cultural differences between Brazilians and Swedes?

It has been an excellent experience for me, as ever since my first day on my mission as Brazilian Ambassador in Stockholm, I have enjoyed a cooperative attitude taken up by my several Swedish interlocutors, whether in the Government institutions, in the private segment or academic circles. I believe that the Swedish people is particularly close to Brazil, and have shown interest in the scale and also the variety of Brazilian culture, and also the symbolism of the enigmatic Queen Silvia, whose mother was Brazilian.

2. Apart from the aeronautics area, what are the other sectors where the cooperation between Brazil and Sweden stands out? What are your expectations with regard to cooperation in the industrial development and innovation between Sweden and Brazil, from now on?

The field of investment is also of fundamental importance in relations between Sweden and Brazil. Sweden is a traditional source of productive investments in Brazil, as there are more than two hundred Swedish companies in the country, some of them having been in the country a long time, such as Ericsson (since 1924). The flow of the so-called Direct Foreign Investment to Brazil from Sweden has increased every year. In 2014, according to the Brazilian Central Bank (BACEN), this financial flow came to USD 674 million, compared with USD 408 million in 2013 and USD 214 million in 2009. According to recent studies, most Swedish companies that have set up in Brazil have plans to invest in the short term, which shows the vision and also the trust they have in Brazil’s immense potential. About the bilateral cooperation in industrial development and innovation, I believe that the implementation of the FX-2 program, through which Brazil and Sweden shall jointly develop the new generation of Gripen NG fighter jets, will open the way to new initiatives within the aeronautical industry and also outside it, and will be a catalyst for future projects of innovation between companies and academic institutions of both countries. CISB is sure to play a relevant part in encouraging new projects in this area.

3. In your opinion, what benefits are brought to the two countries by the joint production of the Gripen fighter jets by Brazil and Sweden? How is this partnership being regarded in Sweden?

As mentioned, the joint production of the NG fighter jets will be an important catalyst as well as having an important addition and even symbolic power. A project of this type, related to both countries, capacity of defense, and with significant content and technological complexity, could only be taken forward between countries that are true partners, that are available to trust and cooperate in a way that is solid and long-lasting. In other words, the FX-2 Program gives an even more current and concrete aspect to the Brazil-Sweden Strategic Partnership agreed by the respective Governments in 2009, with a positive impact on the image of Brazil as held in this country. The Swedish press, for example, often brings news about the FX-2 program, such as the process of talks between the two countries for the implementation of this project. However, other segments of society also monitor this process with interest and have great expectations about the success thereof.

4. Sweden is considered as one of the most innovative countries in the world, thanks to their triple-helix model (Government, academia and industry), which has been an inspiration for many countries. How do you think we can step up the exchange between the two countries, to absorb the knowledge from this successful Swedish model?

We surely have a lot to gain in using the Swedish triple-helix model which has already inspired so many countries. I believe that the partnership between Brazil and Sweden will bear fruit, to the extent that the different agents, from both nationalities, construct a relationship based on mutual knowledge and trust, whose favorable experiences lead to more and more ambitious targets. In other words, the co-operation between the countries is based on human exchange of information.  We have the expectation that the flow of people involved in the development of the Gripen NG jet will be highly significant, as the transfer of technology and knowledge shall be robust. Swedes and Brazilians will have the opportunity to become more aware of local reality, including people and institutions, and also to exchange experiences about the success stories and the difficulties of each one. In this way, they will be able to develop a joint standard of work seeking effective and innovative results, backed up by a plentiful network of relationships between players from Government, business and academic circles.

5. The CISB has had the pleasure of your participation in the special Open Innovation Learning Week program held in Sweden in June. What is your opinion about this initiative? In your previous experience, have you had any contact with any similar program?

It was a great pleasure for me to participate, last June, in the Open Innovation Learning Week. At that event I could witness the creation of a fluid environment of dialogue and thought, between Swedes and Brazilians, which is necessary to strengthen the opportunities for cooperation between Brazil and Sweden in all areas of bilateral relationships, particularly in the innovation area.  It was very important that Brazilian and Swedish agents had the opportunity to get to know each other and also the respective environments of innovation, and the Brazilian Embassy in Stockholm will always be available to contribute towards the success of initiatives of this type.

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Reaping the fruit of the Swedish experience

Pablo Viana, Secretary for Science and Technology of the State of Alagoas

The visit made by Brazilian researchers to Sweden, with funding provided by CNPq, CISB and Saab, within the scope of the Science without Borders programme, has not been limited to the completion of their post-doctoral projects. Back in Brazil, the former grant recipients continue to reap fruit from their international experience, as has been the case with Pablo Viana, who is now the Secretary for Science and Technology of the State of Alagoas, and Renato Machado, a professor at the Federal University of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul (UFSM).

In Pablo’s case, the fruit was reaped only ten days after he returned from Sweden. At the end of 2014, the Alagoan State Governor Renan Filho chose him to be the state secretary for Science and Technology. One thing that worked in his favour was his impressive curriculum (with master’s degree and doctorate in Computer Science) and his experience in Sweden – a country where he worked on more than one post-doctoral project.

“I was able to experience the Swedish ecosystem for innovation, where the University works together with industry and the Government, promoting a synergy that does not involve major industry, but which also seeks articulation with small companies that supply the Swedish aeronautics chain”, Mr Viana said. This knowledge, which was picked up in several different meetings which took place at the different units of Saab AB associated to technology parks, gave Mr Viana the necessary clout to replicate this knowledge here on Brazilian shores.

Renato Machado, professor at the Federal University of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul (UFSM)

In the Alagoan State Government, there started to be more meetings where all the players of the triple helix structure were present, for example. “The Government has had systematic meetings with Information Technology companies, and also representatives of academic circles have regularly taken part in these meetings. We are starting to do this with other production chains”, he says. The same applies to the Swedish model of co-operation. “In any collaboration with Swedish participation there is an equivalence of powers and knowledge between the different partners; a model that we try to follow to avoid any kind of dependence”, he says.

Another Swedish concept that Mr Viana is trying to exploit over here is that of sustainability. In Sweden, sustainability permeates productive activity. “We already have projects that show a change in view, influenced by the Swedish experience”, he says. The development of an automatic system for sustainable irrigation, based on solar and wind energy to support agriculture in the region in and around the Sertão is just an example. This project is being developed by professors from the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL) which makes use of space of the Agrofood Hub at Arapiraca for tests with prototypes.

As the secretary, Mr Viana also intends to seek partnerships with Sweden in the area of biomass for the production of ethanol. “Here we have significant expertise in energy generation and in the production of ethanol, and we are now investing in second-generation ethanol, produced from sugar cane biomass”, he highlights. This surely goes well beyond his initial project in Sweden where, together with Saab and Linköping University, he worked on the development of technology resistant to cosmic radiation, used to protect electronic circuits in aviation.

Expanded Co-operation

Professor Renato Machado, in turn, is now expanding the prospects for co-operation between his University and Sweden. He studied at post-doctoral level at the Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH), in Karlskrona, where he worked in partnership with Saab for the development of target-detection algorithms, which could be used in the monitoring of illegal activities in areas where there is dense natural camouflage (forests, for example), which is a typical scene along Brazil’s land borders. On returning to Brazil, through a bidding process, he managed to bring to Brazil one of the most important international specialists in radar: Dr Mats Pettersson.

Dr Pettersson is coming to Brazil as a guest professor of the UFSM. He shall spend several two-month periods in Brazil over the next three years, alternating his activities here and in Sweden. “We shall continue the work that was started in Sweden, trying to increase the network of co-operation with the inclusion of new partners”, said Mr Machado. With this aim in view, Mr Pettersson shall interact with other researchers of the area here in Brazil, participate in events and give lectures, among other activities. In the meantime, back home in Sweden he is already tutoring some of Mr Machado’s graduate students.

Mr Pettersson shall also help with the continuity of development of radar research which was started as part of Mr Machado’s project, with the support of the CISB and carried out at the BTH. The Brazilian researcher works on the statistical modelling of images obtained through synthetic aperture radar (SAR, the English abbreviation) which allows one to obtain high-resolution images. In this type of radar, the sensors capture data through special antennas that receive the reflection of electromagnetic pulses (in the VHF and UHF bands) that were originally transmitted by some mobile platform (aircraft, helicopters and satellites). The systems used in the Project were shipped on small aircraft to allow the obtaining of SAR images. This technology can also be used to obtain high-resolution topographic maps.

In Brazil, Mr Machado continues his research, carrying out tests for the identification and detection of targets, such as vehicles, drug routes, deforestation and also illegal construction in forest areas. “At the frequency band at which these radars operate, the foliage of the trees is transparent for the signal, meaning that targets situated below the boughs of the trees can also be identified”, explains the Brazilian. “We are now carrying out tests with the algorithms that we have developed, and also analysing different types of data collected in campaigns run together with Saab in Sweden”, he adds. “With this initiative, we seek to encourage the growth of this research area at the UFSM and also in Brazil as a whole”, he completes.

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Workshop on Green Corridors unveils paths towards a Brazilian proposal

European projects inspire and also provide parameters for methodologies for Brazilian initiatives in progress

Experts from several countries, as well as representatives from academic circles, of the Brazilian Government and companies in general, meet on 15 and 16 September to discuss green corridors, which is a new trend in logistics which has already involved the European Union (EU). This meeting took place during the International Workshop on Green Corridors: European Experience and Brazilian Prospects.

Held at the FEI University Centre in the city of São Bernardo do Campo, in Greater São Paulo, the event has suggested paths so that Brazil may rethink its transport logistics, with the European experience as an example. This event was organized by the Brazil-Sweden Innovation and Research Centre (CISB), together with the Lindholmen Science Park and the Innovation Centre in Logistics and Infrastructure (CILIP), of the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo (USP).

George Panagokos, a PhD in traffic engineering and transport optimization at the University of Denmark, reminds us all that the concept of transport corridors is by no means new. “One example is the Silk Route, which connected China to Europe for centuries and remains an important transport corridor to this day”. In his opinion, in the European Union this approach started in 2002, with the establishment of the Brenner Action Plan, engendered by Italy, Germany and Denmark. “The idea was to reduce the presence of lorries carrying goods along the roads, as well as optimizing the use of energy and reducing the emission of polluting gases as much as possible”, Mr Panagakos sums up.

The concept of green corridors arose in the wake of these experiences. They are corridors for long-distance goods transport, in which the implementation of advanced technology and the use of several transport modals bring greater energy efficiency and also the reduction of the environmental impact together with goods transport. Some examples of Green Corridors in Europe include GreCOR (which links Oslo and Amsterdam), and the String Corridor (connecting Oslo, Stockholm and Hamburg).

“To implement this concept, we have selected several indicators of performance: transport costs, for the user; time or speed; reliability; the frequency of the service; and the emission of equivalent carbon dioxide and sulphuric acid”, Mr Panagonos explained.  

Jerker Sjögren, a councilor at Lindholmen Science Park, in Sweden, is one of the people in charge of the CLOSER Project (a program for transport efficiency, launched in 2012), and presented the case of the Sweden-Italy Freight Transport and Logistics Green Corridor. This Project is in progress through to December this year and has received funding of EUR 2.8 million from the European Union (EU).
“During last year, we have selected and appraised the best practices and solutions adopted in Europe. So, we have conceived our ‘toolbox’ for the planning of daily operations and also the monitoring of these operations”, he says. Mr Sjögren also says that now they are trying to pool efforts, calling together the EU member states and asking them to collaborate. “We have funding from the European Union, but this is not enough. We are now talking to interested countries, in order to convince them to use Money that has been set aside for infrastructure for this specific Project, as all together we can get better results”, he says.

In Brazil – Fábio Castello, the Logistics Vice-President of Scania in Latin America, also remembers that the Brazilian situation of infrastructure is significantly different from that of Europe. “Less than 20% of Brazilian roads are in good condition, and most of Brazilian goods transport is by road. If we manage to improve the general condition of 25% of Brazilian roads which are now in poor condition, we would use 661 million liters less diesel fuel, which would result in a reduction of emissions of 1.77 megatons of CO2”, he reveals, mentioning the CNT Road Survey (2013) and remembering the saga of grain exporters that same year, when the glut harvest led to congestion of access to seaports, especially that of Santos, causing traffic jams that were miles long.

According to Mr Castello, the solution would be that of trying to change the panorama. “We need to be resistant, to adapt quickly, and also to work based on our reality. However, we also need to take up a leading role. We can just sit down and cry, or we can take the lead and try to change this situation”.

In this regard, a project for maritime green corridors for Brazil is being studied, with funding from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and a team from the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo (Poli/USP). The person responsible is professor Rui Carlos Botter, the coordinator of CILIP and also a head professor at the Naval Engineering Department at the Polytechnic School. This project also has the partnership of the CISB and Lindholmen Science Park. The list also includes two more key players for this Project: the Faculty of Industrial Engineering (FEI) and the Federal University of the ABC Region (UFABC).

“We believe that short sea shipping combined with road transport could be a good alternative for Brazil. It ensures the movement of cargo over relatively long distances, and is also environmentally correct, safe, and avoids congestion”, says Mr Botter.

“Lorries should only be used for short distances and door-to-door delivery”, sums up Delmo Alves de Moura, from the UFABC. In his opinion, investment in information technology and the reduction of red tape in port operations are essential. “Having quick terminals for short sea shipping operations is a major challenge for the implementation of a sustainable system of green corridors.”

Also according to Mr Botter, one must set performance indicators for corridors in Brazil, as also assess the green corridors that exist in Europe (and their respective indicators), define technologies as applicable to ships, terminals and infrastructure related to the development of corridors, define Government policies that are necessary for the implementation of the project and, last but not least, define the Brazilian green corridor.

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ITA and Luleå University sign a partnership for graduate studies in logistics and maintenance

The Aeronautical Technology Institute (Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica) – ITA, of São José dos Campos, Brazil, and  Luleå University of  Luleå, Sweden, have agreed to enter into a partnership to nurture high-level education in the areas of logistics engineering and maintenance. This programme consists of promotion of joint graduate studies for Brazilian engineers, with entitlement to two diplomas.  Next year, the first two doctoral students, both of them from the Brazilian military, shall be going. The duration of the course is three academic years.

In the medium term, this initiative should qualify specialists in logistics and maintenance, both for the market as also to work in the recently-created logistics engineering laboratory at ITA. The Aeronautics Logistics Institute (Instituto de Logística da Aeronáutica – ILA) is also part of the partnership with  Luleå University. “Right now, the first two doctoral students are from the ranks of the military, but the programme hopes to count on students coming out of industry, especially if they can continue to work at the laboratory after receiving their two diplomas”, explains Air Force Colonel Fernando Abrahão, a professor at the ITA and the person within the institution responsible for the installation of the laboratory and also for the proceedings that led to the establishment of this partnership.

He points out that, over the years, the complexity of aircraft has increased, as has that of the activities to keep them in service. He also says that the Institute, regardless of the FX2 project, but naturally reinforced by other joint initiatives engendered between Brazil and Sweden, had already been making contact with some other Swedish Universities for co-operation programmes. “The partnership with  Luleå University, however, is unique and did not arise by chance.  Luleå  has a unique unit specialized in research in the fields of operations engineering and maintenance”, he sums up.

Professor Diego Galar, who is responsible for this programme within  Luleå University, stresses that there are five main lines of research in operations engineering and maintenance, within their institution: aviation, mining, railways, energy, and industrial processes and manufacturing. “We are the largest study group in the world specialized in the areas of operations engineering, logistics and maintenance. There are over 50 researchers on our team, and we have a unique PhD programme in maintenance engineering”, confirms Mr Galar, who is a full professor in the Division of Operations and Maintenance Engineering at  Luleå University.

The Logistics Engineering Laboratory of the ITA has set a period of five years for its implementation, until self-sufficiency is reached. The main aim is to qualify five doctors during this period, through the partnership with the Swedish University. Mr Galar says that the ITA's experience in aeronautical engineering is of interest to his institution. “I really believe that a partnership that brings together the ITA and our expectations in logistics and maintenance could indeed produce fantastic results in the area of aircraft maintenance”, he declares.

Mr Abrahão sees a window of opportunity in the recent acquisition, by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), of Gripen NG (New Generation) fighter jets made by Swedish company Saab. “The purchase of a series of aircraft is a long-term project, and in this particular case we are speaking about a period of over 40 years. The number of logistic decisions that need to be made is huge. Many of the decisions made shall bring consequences over time. If they can have academic support, then things shall be better for all. This is a window of opportunity and we are closely eyeing this opportunity.”

According to the Managing Director of the CISB, Alessandra Holmo, this initiative shows that the CISB platform is already bringing concrete results for both countries. “This partnership started in the 1st Brazil-Sweden Workshop in Aeronautics and Defense, in 2014, when there was the first contact between the two institutions and the researchers”, she says. Soon afterwards, the CISB launched a call of projects, to encourage collaborative projects, which enabled the trip made by Colonel Abrahão to Sweden to forge closer relationships and also to develop the idea of the joint project with  Luleå University. “We are currently talking to Luleå University and another Brazilian institution, seeking to step up co-operation for the mining segment”, Ms Holmo points out.

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The first CISB Call for Proposal has its results disclosed

Four projects in the aeronautical area have been selected
The second request for proposal shall have its results released in October.

The first Call for Proposals launched by the CISB, in 2015, has already had its results released. This is Request for Proposals 01/2015, which was launched in support of the mobility of researchers seeking the establishment of projects of collaboration between Brazil and Sweden. Four projects were selected in this procedure. The second request for proposals, numbered 02/2015, involving senior placements abroad, shall have its results released this coming October.

Both these processes are aimed at the aeronautics area. The projects that have been approved in the first selection list are aimed at the areas of Sensory Fusion and Sign Processing, Robotics and Diagnosis, and System Control and Identification. This has involved the following institutions: Linköping University; Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC); Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES); Aeronautics Technological Institute (ITA), as well as companies Saab AB, Embraer and Petrobras. CISB shall give support in the form of funding of expenses incurred with international travel related to the meetings between the partners.

The second call-up, that is for senior placement assignments abroad, shall make available a total of five grants for Brazilian researchers, who shall spend 30 days in Sweden. The aim here is to give support to the development and/or execution of joint projects for research, development and innovation (R,D&I); and also encourage the establishment of partnerships or the start/consolidation of a research network between Brazil and Sweden.

This type of grant is another innovation of the CISB, as it is focused on senior researchers with high scientific productivity and with experience in collaboration with industry, who in many cases can not stay more than three months away from the country, says Alessandra Holmo, the Managing Director of CISB. The timeframe to sign up for this project ended on 1 September, and the results shall be informed in the month of October.

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Scania and USP develop an autonomous truck in Brazil

The research study took two years to be completed;
the investment made by the Swedish car company came to BRL 1.2 million.

In partnership with Scania, the University of São Paulo (USP) has developed the prototype of a totally Brazilian autonomous truck. The technology applied to this vehicle, a Scania G360 6x4 truck, is the result of a technological cooperation agreement signed in 2013 between the Swedish automobile maker, the School of Engineering at São Carlos (EESC) and the Mathematical Sciences and Computing Institute (ICMC).       

In all, the funding allocated to the Project was BRL 1.2 million, and Scania provided two trucks for the research study. “Scania is a company that is a front-runner when it comes to innovation and technology. Being close to the teaching institutions is a part of our business”, says Rogério Rezende, the director of Institutional and Governmental Affairs at Scania Latin America.

Even though this is still a prototype, which circulates only within area 2 of the University of São Paulo (USP) campus in the city of São Carlos, the results that have been obtained suggest that there is a bright future for autonomous trucks. Confined and off-road operations, with pre-set outlines, could use this solution to benefit productivity and also security. “The autonomous system will not be a replacement for drivers, but has been created to help the drivers to carry out their tasks with greater security and peace of mind”, adds Denis Wolf, who is a professor at the ICMC and one of the coordinators of the project. He remembers that major companies like Scania and also research institutes throughout the world have been investing in intelligent transport.

The truck has received several new features so that the autonomous system could control all movements. There has been the coupling of some small motors that act upon the steering wheel and also upon the brakes, as well as the installation of an electronic circuit in the control of the accelerator, making it possible to control the speed of the truck. “We have replaced the driver’s hands and feet by mechanical and electronic action systems. Then we have placed sensors so that they could act in a way similar to the eyes and the other senses of the human body. However, the most difficult task is still that of replacing our brain with a computer”, says Mr. Wolf. A computer linked up to all the systems of the truck is responsible for obtaining the information of the sensors, GPS system, then interpret such information and carry out the correct operation for the intended maneuver – acceleration, taking a curve, and braking. This is all to be able to arrive safely at the final destination.

This Project also has the participation of professors Fernando Osório and Kalinka Castelo Branco, both from the ICMC; Valdir Grassi Junior and Marco Terra, from EESC, and several students at undergraduate and graduate level.

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CISB promotes interaction between Brazilian students and Swedish Universities

Nine Swedish institutions present current opportunities in Sweden, at a roadshow throughout Brazil.

The Swedish-Brazilian Research and Innovation Centre (CISB) is now organizing, in Brazil, the Study in Sweden Brazilian Roadshow 2015 with the participation of nine Swedish Universities. These meetings will be held at important Brazilian teaching institutions in Brazil between 28 September and 9 October. At the same time, there is the hosting of the Sweden-Brazil Career Fair 2015, which takes place on 8 October 2015, in São Paulo. Participation in both events is free of charge and the initiatives have the support of the Swedish Embassy.

At the roadshow, the undergraduate students will have the opportunity to talk to representatives from Swedish universities about opportunities to study in the country. At the Sweden-Brazil Career Fair 2015 it will be possible to talk to the different Universities and also know more about the Swedish companies that are established in Brazil.

The roadshow will be present in the Brazilian States of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Santa Catarina, as well as the Brazilian Federal District (please check out respective dates and addresses at the official website, which is - http://www.cisb.org.br/emkt/roadshow/20150918_agenda.html). Nine Universities will be participating: the Royal Institute of Technology - KTH, Chalmers University of Technology, Lund University, Halmstad University, Linnaeus University, Linköping University, Umeå University, Kristianstad University and Malmö University.

At that time, the students may obtain information about what it is like to live and study in Sweden, the requirements to enter university, and special programs offered by the different institutions, among other information. The CISB has been hosting this roadshow in Brazil since 2013, thereby promoting interaction between Brazilian students and higher education institutions.

The Sweden-Brazil Career Fair 2015, on 8 October, will be organized by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce at the Meliá Paulista Hotel, in São Paulo, capital of the state of the same name. Representatives from the institutions as mentioned above and from the Swedish Embassy will be present. It will also be possible to talk to professional people who have already studied in Sweden and also to get to know important Swedish companies that have business operations in Brazil. At the end, there will be an “After Fair”, between 8 and 9 p.m., where students and companies will be able to interact within a more relaxed environment.

Competition – In parallel with the roadshow and the fair, there will also be the Sweden-Brazil 2015 Roadshow Challenge, a competition for students with the prize being a Macbook Air. Those interested should fill in the enrolment form, answer a test about Sweden and another about logical and reasoning skills, and also take part in one of the meetings that have been scheduled as part of the Roadshow.

Further information about the roadshow, including dates and venues, may be obtained from the official roadshow site which is: http://www.cisb.org.br/emkt/roadshow/20150918_agenda.html. Registrations to participate in the Sweden-Brazil Career Fair 2015 will be made at the Swedish Chamber site, http://www.swedcham.com.br/en/event/sweden-brazil-career-fair-2015/. The procedures to participate in the Roadshow Challenge 2015 are explained in detail at http://www.swedenbrazil.com/pt-BR.

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KTH welcomes a delegation from Curitiba in Stockholm

In a special workshop, specialists discuss innovation with a focus on innovative cities, a project that has been developed in co-operation between Sweden and the Brazilian city of Curitiba, Capital of Paraná State.

The Unit of Energy and Climate Studies (ECS) of the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), promoted the workshop on “Smart concepts for the innovation of cities” in Stockholm, Sweden, between 24 and 28 August. This activity is part of the project known as “Smart city in Curitiba – innovation for sustainable mobility and energy efficiency”, which has been developed through a partnership between Swedish organizations and the city of Curitiba, Capital of Paraná State. As one of the partners, the CISB has the responsibility of  disclosing the project and the results thereof. The workshop has been focused on innovations and electromobility solutions.

The Brazilian delegation consisted of researchers, urban planning managers, and also representatives from the private sector: the Urban Research and Planning Institute of Curitiba (IPPUC); the Curitiba City Development Company (Urbanização de Curitiba – URBS); Volvo Bus Latin America; and the Technological Federal University of Paraná (UTFPR). They visited Stockholm to discuss issues of common interest within the cooperation between the KTH and the City of Curitiba, and also to promote the exchange of experience and knowledge between the different partners participating in the project.

“As inspiration, we show what is being done in Sweden to make the city more sustainable. The workshop has shown that this co-operation is getting more consolidated, thus opening opportunities for new initiatives”, says the organizer of the event, professor Semida Silveira, the leader of the ECS and the International Relations Director at KTH for Brazil. “One of the points that has aroused greatest interest was the discussion about controlling the quality of the air and the work that has been carried out in Stockholm and Linköping to ensure maximum levels of emissions”, she said.

The highlights of the programme included the talks by Sergio Pires, the president of the IPPUC, and Silvia Ramos, from the international relations area of the Curitiba city planning company URBS, who showed the experience of the city of Curitiba in integrated city planning, with the urban transport area standing out.

Silvia Ramos also addressed the importance of considering the whole metropolitan area when planning infrastructure, which requires collaboration between several cities. Sergio Pires said that Curitiba is working hard towards being considered the World Capital of Design 2018. The city is a finalist in the process for choosing the city to receive this honour, to be granted by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design – Icsid. “Design can be another area for joint projects with Sweden, that also has a significant track record in this area”, Ms Silveira said.

Professor Keiko Fonseca, from the UTFPR, presented some thoughts on the importance of the project as a catalyst, and highlighted the opportunity of providing the students with real data and issues about the city for their University projects. This generates a greater involvement on their part, enhancing the learning process, and the projects end up offering concrete solutions for public management. “Linköping and Curitiba have a policy of public access to data, which favours research, monitoring and also the participation of the general community”, added Ms Silveira, who also gave a lecture in which she discussed the model of co-operation between Government, industry and academic circles, and the benefits of this project carried out in co-operation with Curitiba.

Rafael Nieweglowski, a representative from Volvo, spoke about the importance of working in a consortium, so that more efficient technologies can, indeed, be adopted to achieve effective environmental improvements. Olga Kordas, from KTH, stressed the role of the user and of the citizen, in the process of transformation of cities.

The work group shall reconvene in Curitiba during the week of 9 November for a new workshop, which is part of the 5th Annual Meeting of the CISB.

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