Jonas Brändström, head of the International Collaboration Division of VINNOVA
Marcelo Prim, head of Technology and Innovation at SENAI

In May this year, the National Service for Industrial Training (SENAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Swedish innovation agency VINNOVA. Based on this agreement, a public invitation was called to select proposals of feasibility studies for joint research and innovation projects in the field of aeronautics, between Brazil and Sweden, thereby collaborating with the development of a plan for long-term strategic co-operation between the two countries, in this segment. In this interview, the head of the International Collaboration Division of VINNOVA, Jonas Brändström, and the head of Technology and Innovation at SENAI, Marcelo Prim, tell us more about this initiative.

What experience does SENAI have in terms of international co-operation? What are your expectations regarding co-operation with Sweden?

Marcelo Prim – In its several lines of business, SENAI has plenty of experience with international co-operation. The most recent was the launch, in 2015, of a co-ordinated call for innovative projects between SENAI and Innovate UK, within the scope of the Newton Fund, exploiting three distinct areas: water, solid residue and energy. The expectations we have regarding co-operation with Sweden is that of boosting interaction and exchanges between the two countries, thereby benefiting Brazilian industry and also strengthening the value proposals of the SENAI Institutes, serving Brazilian industrial innovation.

What are the main bases of the Memorandum of Understanding and also of the invitation process?

Marcelo Prim – The co-operation agreement is in line with, and also a complement to, the additional protocol for innovation in industrial co-operation of high technology between the Brazilian and Swedish Governments, as signed in October 2009. The invitation process is co-ordinated and organised by VINNOVA in Sweden and by SENAI in Brazil. The main aim of this process is the development of innovative solutions that could be used to develop the aeronautics segment and other industrial segments as well. Its main goal is therefore the strengthening of bilateral networks for co-operation in research and development, leading to innovations, and thereby contributing towards the sustainable development and economic growth of both countries. The target is to boost strategic research and development partnerships that bring about innovation.

What results are expected in the short, medium and long terms?

Jonas Brändström In the short term, we expect that these actors shall set up consortiums that are able to develop and adapt new solutions. In the medium term, we hope to establish long-lasting and long-term ties between Swedish and Brazilian institutions, supporting the development and the strengthening of networks, both new and established.

How shall the proposals chosen in this selection process get supports?

Marcelo Prim – SENAI and VINNOVA shall select the ten best proposals for projects. For each project thus selected, SENAI shall make a payment, according to the rules established for the SENAI SESI Invitation for Innovation 2016, of a sum of up to BRL 100 thousand for the Brazilian side of the consortium. VINNOVA shall make an equal payment for the Swedish consortium. In addition, the network of SENAI Innovation Institutes shall give active support to the preparation of the projects and their respective feasibility studies.

How projects applied will be evaluated?  Shall there be a bilateral committee for assessment?

Jonas Brändström – First of all, a national assessment process shall classify the best projects from the national perspective. Later, a bilateral committee shall agree on the best projects that meet the interests of both countries. 

Why was the area of aeronautics chosen?

Jonas Brändström  - In Sweden, the aeronautical industry has a well-established system for innovation, in which many actors cooperate fruitfully to develop new knowledge and new solutions. Several organisations in support of innovation are also firmly committed. This is also an excellent starting point for expansion in other areas. In addition, a high-level group specialised in aeronautics was set up last year, with strong commitment from several organisations both in Sweden and in Brazil.

And for SENAI, what is the importance of supporting more projects focused on aeronautics, from the long-term standpoint?

Marcelo Prim - The aeronautics segment is multidisciplinary by its very nature. This means that it is conducive to collaboration between Brazilian and Swedish companies in several different industrial segments. The networks established between Swedish companies and institutions, their counterparts in Brazil, and the SENAI Innovation Institutes form a necessary substrate for the development of more dynamic ecosystems of innovation, thereby catalysing the economic sustainability of the two countries in the long term.

Have any other joint actions been planned?

Jonas Brändström – The Memorandum of Understanding has just been signed, and right now we need, first of all, to check the results, assess them, and only then decide how we shall proceed.

Does VINNOVA have any other agreements, right now?

Jonas Brändström – We have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with FAPEMIG, in Belo Horizonte, in support of spin-offs generated at the ‘AIMDay Smart Industries’ workshop. AIM Day is a concept created by the University of Uppsala, which brings industry closer to academic circles, and we shall give our support to Swedish spin-off projects, in the same way as FAPEMIG shall give similar support in Brazil. Since 2009, we have maintained contact with several Brazilian institutions, and we are now actively involved in expanding and deepening this collaboration.

The development of projects in the areas of aeronautics and defence shall also
open new innovation fronts in other segments of the economy.

Apart from boosting the aeronautics and defence sectors, the co-operation between Brazil and Sweden shall also provide a new stimulus for other sectors of the Brazilian economy. For co-operation to continue its progress, it shall be necessary to define resources at different levels to give support to the projects, and also to involve industrial activity in both these countries. This was the main conclusion reached by the seminar A high-tech focus area for a new level of Brazilian-Swedish cooperation, which was held in the city of Brasília, on 16 May, by the Swedish-Brazilian Innovation and Research Centre.

This seminar had the presence of some 60 participants from the triple helix in Brazil and Sweden, and here we highlight the following: Brazilian and Swedish Ministries of Defence; Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI); National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq); Ministry Of Development, Industry And Trade (MDIC); Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development (ABDI); Brazilian Air Force; Swedish Armed Forces; Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), among others.

The dean of the Technological Institute of Aeronautics (ITA), Anderson Correia, one of the speakers at this event, considers that the Gripen fighter jet is a landmark in the co-operation between the two countries. “The Gripen fighter jet has opened a wider area of co-operation between Brazil and Sweden, which shall surely further encourage the development of the Brazilian aeronautics segment”, he said. Also according to Mr. Correia, this is the only high-technology exporting segment that has produced a surplus in Brazil. In 2014, this sector was accounted for some USD 1.5 billion out of Brazil’s total export volume which came to USD 225.1 billion.

In his opinion, no other segment of the Brazilian economy has an environment so favourable to innovation as the aeronautics segment does, from the standpoint of research and development. “With this partnership, we are sowing in fertile soil”, he stressed. The climax of the seminar, according to Mr Correia’s appraisal, was the fact that it showed that universities and institutes in both countries are already structuring joint projects. “Now, we need to decide on the way we will give support to these projects, and bring the companies into the projects, which, in other words, means effectively moving on the development phase”, he said.

Success story – One of these projects is AeroLogLab-ITA, which is an aerospace logistics engineering laboratory which was presented at the seminar by Colonel Fernando Abrahão, of ITA, and by researcher Diego Galar, from Luleå University of Technology (LTU). The laboratory shall carry out research and education activities in logistics for the Gripen fighter jet and also for the KC-390 cargo aircraft during the whole useful life cycle of the fleets, which has been estimated at 30 years. Based at ITA, its research is being carried out in partnership with LTU. Apart from innovation, it shall also have the mission of training professional people to manage the logistics of these aircraft. “We expect that some 90% of the professional people who shall be working with the Gripen fighter jet and the KC-390 shall be trained in this laboratory”, Col. Abrahão said.

The AeroLogLab-ITA Project should also carry out research projects, in partnership with companies of the segment. “We are already discussing possible projects with Embraer, Saab and Akaer”, he added. He also said that there are plans to establish a Counselling Committee for the laboratory, a committee which shall include members of academic circles, Government and the industrial segment. According to his appraisal, the laboratory shall also be very important for civil aviation. “Logistics within the aeronautics segment is essential so that the operation of the aircraft becomes economically feasible. In many cases, the losses incurred with an idle aircraft which is being serviced is higher than the expenses incurred with the components”, he said, by way of example.

Tip of the iceberg – Another lecturer at this event was the head of the INNOVAIR programme – Swedish strategic agenda in R&D&I in aeronautics sector, Anders Blom. One of the points that Mr Blom mentioned was the economic importance of this project, showing that, in Sweden, the financial return obtained with the Gripen fighter jet was almost three times as much as the initial investment, with technology transfer alone. This gives an idea of what gains Brazil is due to make through this partnership.

In his presentation, Mr Blom showed the technologies which could be developed in the co-operation with Brazil, within the scope of the internationalisation of the INNOVAIR agenda, and which sectors, apart from aeronautics, could benefit from these, including the automotive segment, mining, civil security, telecommunications, and robotics. This is what has been called triple-use technology, which should encourage the formation of spin-outs in both countries.

Mr Blom also presented the desired projects, such as an unmanned system aimed at defence and security, a new generation of fighter jets and commercial aircraft. “The next generation of fighter jets shall still maintain the characteristics of the fifth generation, with incremental changes. However, some radical innovations shall be implemented throughout the life cycle of the aircraft”, he said. According to Mr Blom, commercial aircraft are being developed with a focus on environmental issues and also cost aspects. “Therefore, new materials, new production techniques, a logistics based on cost-benefit, and maintenance procedures shall also be important”, he said.

 The director of INNOVAIR also showed the importance of the Bilateral Committee in Aeronautics to establish different forms of support to the projects at different levels. “We want to advance from a co-operation in research of low TRL to activities of demonstration personnel in components or systems that bring significant returns with shared costs. In order to meet the targets expected, as also common goals, there is a need to invest in professional people who are duly qualified and also infrastructure, on the part of industrial companies and also of Governments of both countries”, he said.

A meeting held in Belo Horizonte brings together executives from Swedish and Brazilian companies,
and also researchers from the two countries. Financing agencies shall lend their support to several products.

On 19 May, eight companies and some 80 scientists from Brazil and Sweden took part, in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte, in the state of Minas Gerais, in the ‘AIMDay Smart Industries’ workshop, which brought together representatives from academic circles and also from large companies, in order to find solutions for the challenges presented by smart industry. The meeting was organised through an unprecedented multi-institutional partnership between the Swedish-Brazilian Research and Innovation Centre (CISB), Uppsala University (UU Innovation), Linköping University (LiU), the Research Support Foundation of the State of Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG), the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and the initiative known as the Swedish Academic Collaboration Forum (SACF).

The term smart industry refers to what has been known as “the new industrial revolution”, a process which integrates manufacturing activities with the state of the art of information technology (IT) and communications, thereby connecting people, machines, and processes, in an intelligent manner.

The methodology used in the workshop combined the companies’ needs for additional knowledge and the expertise shown by academics of both countries in solving challenges. The companies sent their questions in advance, and the scientists made an effort to find solutions. During the event, there were discussions in small groups, in which each question was thoroughly analysed for a whole hour. This methodology was developed by Uppsala University (UU Innovation) and is already successfully used in universities such as Edinburgh University and Oxford University.

“About 20 different questions were proposed by industry and there was significant interest from the academic world. The questions generated discussions with active participation from people in general, and tended to be prolonged and captivating. In addition, we also had good representativity in geographical terms. The meeting was held in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, but we had the presence of several researchers from elsewhere in the country, such as Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Espírito Santo and Rio Grande do Sul”, said Antônio Braga, a specialist in artificial neural networks who participated in the event. He is a professor at the Electronic Engineering Department at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG).

According to Mr Braga, now the groups are getting organised to send project proposals to the financing agencies who attended the event. There are two different lines of financial support to help these initiatives. One is that of FAPEMIG and VINNOVA – the Swedish innovation agency – with the launch of a joint invitation for proposals. The other has the support of the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research  (SSF). There is funding for the initial stages of the projects, with seed capital. “The areas that should bring projects include mining, residential automation, autonomous vehicles, and communications”, Mr Braga summarised.
In his opinion, some companies are already familiar with the methodology, but most of them are not, as yet. “This was the first time I have participated in the AIMday and I have found the methodology very objective indeed. I feel this is an initiative that has the merit of providing information to both sides involved: businesses and academia”, says Roger Berg, the head of Technology Management of the SAAB Group.

Projects – One of the challenges that the company has taken over to this meeting was that of working with robotised welding in combined spaces, especially in submarines. Together with professors of the School of Engineering at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), SAAB decided to propose a pre-project in order to obtain financing. Mr Berg stressed the engagement of the researchers involved. “I was most impressed with the professors I met. They were all strongly involved, competent and interested in the issues that were proposed.”

Bruno Vilhena Adorno, from the Electrical Engineering Department of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), is one of the professors involved in the SAAB project. “We are currently trying to understand the problem, and then we shall send the project over to the two lines of financing. The seed capital would cover the conceptual side and, possibly, also the conception of the prototype. If it is proved to be technically feasible, then we shall move on to the implementation stage, close to the industrial scenario”, he explained.

“In this case, the idea would be to develop a robot to carry out tasks that human beings are not able to do, in areas that are difficult to reach, such as submarines and tanks”, Mr Berg summed up. “It is possible to create a robot that works autonomously, or one that is teleoperated, from a remote location, or also decide on shared autonomy, in which teleoperation has a high level of abstraction: part of the actions are carried out by the robot, and another part by the human being. We are inclined to prefer this last option”, Mr Adorno completed.

While the partnership between SAAB and UFMG is established, professor Antônio Braga, from the Minas Gerais university institution, announces that the creation of a National Institute for Science and Technology (INCT) dedicated to smart industry has been approved at the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

Wide expanses of land, territorial borders and also a long coastline
all provide challenges to which autonomous systems may contribute.

Autonomous systems are a set of technologies that have already been bringing changes to society in general and also to the industrial segment, especially in countries that have been investing more heavily in the area. For this reason, their development amounts to a scientific, technological and social challenge, both for the developed world and for emerging nations, such as Brazil.
This issue was addressed at the Workshop on Autonomous Systems, which took place on 20 May in Rio de Janeiro. Organised by the Swedish-Brazilian Research and Innovation Centre (CISB), in partnership with the Military Institute of Engineering (IME) and Linköping University, this workshop had the participation of some 70 people, including Swedish and Brazilian experts (both civilians and military personnel) to map and analyse the challenges and opportunities in the area of autonomous systems.

Apart from lectures given by professors Lars Nielsen, from Linköping University, and Janito Ferreira, from the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), the workshop had three parallel thematic sessions: defence and maritime; transport and logistics; and institutional co-operation. Each of these had a moderator and a range of participants.

“It was a great pleasure to be part of the workshop and to have had the opportunity to preside over a session. At the event, participating institutions, including the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), the IME, Petrobras, the Institute of Naval Research (IPqM) and SAAB shared, within their respective presentations, several considerations about autonomous systems and their importance, currently in the future”, said Gunnar Holmberg, from SAAB, in his description. Mr Holmberg is the co-ordinator of the Wallemberg Autonomous Systems Programme (WASP), and he was the moderator of the Defence and Maritime section.

Also according to Mr Holmberg, during the week when the Brazil-Sweden Excellence Seminar took place (see note in this edition) there were many meetings between Brazilian and Swedish researchers, with most of these meetings including discussions about Autonomous Systems, which have been attracting significant interest, both in Sweden and in Brazil.

“The area of autonomous systems is vast, and brings together many different disciplines, to allow a system to understand its situation and context, to be able to identify and understand the possible methods of action, therefore being able to “think” about its method of action, autonomous or working with some degree of human interaction, to finally carry out what is decided”, Mr Holmberg sums up.

Mr Holmberg considers that important trends include collaboration between heterogeneous systems in a network with different degrees of autonomy, where one can expect that previous technologies as assimilated with individual autonomous systems shall be able to operate in more complex environments, with more sophisticated ways of interacting with human beings, for example, through tactile interaction. “SAAB recognises autonomy and intelligent systems as key areas for the future development of defence and naval systems. For this reason, there has been a focus on autonomous vehicles, including aircraft, surface vehicles and also subaquatic vehicles.”

Brazilian challenge – Autonomous vehicles are, without any doubt, a definite world trend in the automotive and defence industries. “The expectation is that autonomous vehicles shall cause a revolution to transport and mobility as we know them today. They are already being introduced in Europe, in Japan and also in the United States”, says Magnus Hjälmdahl, the moderator of the session about Transport and Logistics of the Workshop. According to his appraisal, in Brazil, the challenge for autonomous driving is definitely that of infrastructure, in first place, followed by the drivers’ culture.

“An autonomous vehicle should obey traffic rules. If the others are travelling fast, changing lanes, or even using two lanes at the same time, how shall they react when faced with a vehicle that strictly obeys all the rules, all the time?”, he asks.

Mr Hjälmdahl says that Brazil is still some years behind when compared to countries like those mentioned above, with regard to the introduction of autonomous vehicles, but believes that within the space of twenty years Brazil shall definitely be an important market. “I was not aware there was so much going on in this area, in Brazil. There are several autonomous vehicles on the roads here, as experiments, in research projects. I do believe that possibly Brazil could even lead the way in some areas, with special mention of public transport. I would not be at all surprised if Brazil was one of the first countries in the world to introduce Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems with automated routes.”

He stresses that the workshop has allowed the commencement of discussions and also the generation of many ideas. “I think that now we have a better idea of the interests and the competences that each party brings along. What we now need are good opportunities for financing. I hope to see a joint Swedish-Brazilian project on autonomous vehicle driving within a few years.”
According to Mr Holmberg, from WASP, there are many applications for unmanned systems in Brazil, which extend well beyond driverless vehicles. “There are wide expanses of land in Brazil, territorial borders and a long coastline, which supply challenges at a scale which allows possible contributions from autonomous vehicles. In addition, there is a plethora of other applications, as diverse as agriculture, silviculture, traffic and logistics, public security and policing, not to mention the military applications which seem to bring an immense untapped potential.”

The areas of Aeronautics and Defence are now the showcases of the successful model of the innovation platform of CISB.

On 17 May, the Swedish-Brazilian Research and Innovation Centre (CISB) celebrated its fifth anniversary – these five years being a period when it has been consolidated as an international hub for encouraging collaboration between Brazil and Sweden in terms of research, development and innovation (R, D&I), generating concrete results for their members and partners. On that occasion, a special dinner was held in Brasília, with the presence of several members and partners.

Alessandra Holmo, the Managing Director of the CISB, in her speech, highlighted the most important points along the track record of the Centre. With an operational model inspired by the Swedish technology parks, and based on the principles of challenge-guided innovation, open innovation, and the triple helix, the CISB currently has 18 members and is active in five different segments: Aeronautics, Defence & Security, Sustainable Energy, Transport & Logistics, and Urban Development.

“The general area of Aeronautics, Defence and Security is living proof of just how far we can go, working like this”, she said. She also stressed that the CISB has played an essential part in the creation of a Bilateral Aeronautics Committee with the participation of top executives from both countries.

Also according to the director of the Centre, the philosophy of the CISB is based on a strong conviction that it is possible to obtain tangible and extraordinary results, by two countries joining forces, even with cultures that are so different. “The CISB already has a track record of some 60 projects on its portfolio – almost half of these being in the aeronautics area. Some of these have a great potential to have a positive impact on other segments of the economy”, she stressed.

To structure these, the CISB made feasible a whole range of actions: establishment of a strong research network; calls to projects within the scope of the Science without Borders programme, in partnership with the CNPq and with Saab AB; calls to finance the creation of projects through the financing of international missions; organisation of several different workshops to bring together researchers from industrial and academic circles with expertise in the area; management of a programme of chairs for professors from renowned Swedish universities at the Technological Institute of Aeronautics (ITA), just to mention some examples.

On 16 May, there was the seminar in the aeronautics field: A high-tech focus area for a new level of Brazilian-Swedish cooperation. The next event shall be a workshop to be held in Sweden this coming October, associated with the Aerospace Technology congress 2016. Another new development that has been announced is that the CISB 6th Annual Meeting shall have a new format. “Part of the programme of events shall take place in Sweden, and the other part in Brazil”, she said.

The successful model used by CISB, as an innovation platform, has been acclaimed by its members and partners alike. One year ago, the Centre received a special mention of thanks for the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq/MCTI). Last year, the CISB welcomed three new members: Akaer, ITA and Luleå University. “This is the result of a rapid learning process, with regard to uniting cultures as different as those of Brazil and Sweden, connecting academic agents, companies and Governments, and also nurturing opportunities that generate long-lasting partnerships in R, D&I.”

The Swedish manufacturer has opened a new laboratory for testing engines; investments of BRL 40 million shall, among other things, allow the development of new motors and components.

Scania has invested a total of USD 40 million to open a laboratory for the development, testing and certification of engines, in the city of São Bernardo do Campo (State of São Paulo). The new area of research is the first that the company has opened outside Sweden. “With this initiative, we shall bring Brazil into the context of the highest technology of the automotive segment, which at the same time reflects our firm commitment towards the country and also with a system of sustainable transport”, says Per-Olov Svedlund, the president and CEO of Scania Latin America.

The laboratory is essentially focused on engines that are more efficient in terms of usage of alternative fuels, durability of components, and also efficient consumption. Up to two engines at a time may be tested and monitored, with real-time information on the performance of the different components and also with results generated based on the burning of fuel and the issue of pollutants. This information could be a base for projects for new engines or for improvements to the engines that are already used in the vehicles of this brand.

“With this structure, on the one hand we shall respond to a rising global demand for engine tests, boosted not only by improvements to yield, but also by a search for more sustainable technologies. On the other hand, we reinforce the position enjoyed by Scania, that of being a company guided by innovation and by engineering, a leader in the use of alternative fuels and the development of new products”, explains Henrik Alfredsson, the Vice-President for Research and Development for the Swedish manufacturer in Latin America.

The laboratory is prepared to test any kind of combustion engine, including the Scania V8 engine and the new Euro 6, which does not yet have legislation in force in Latin America, but which Scania shall start exporting to European markets, as from the second half of this year.

A seminar brings together experts in areas such as 3D Printing, Big Data and Autonomous Systems, these being strategic areas to improve the defence capabilities of the Country.

Organised by the Brazilian Army and its Science and Technology Department (Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia - DCT), in partnership with the Swedish-Brazilian Research and Innovation Centre (CISB) and Linköping University, the seminar on “Cutting-edge Technologies for Powerful Defence Capabilities” has brought together three experts about different technological trends of today. This seminar took place on 16 May at the head office of the DCT, in Brasília, Brazil.

The first theme of the day was autonomous systems, with the issue being approached by professor Lars Nielsen, from Linköping University. Mr Nielsen presented the Wallenberg Autonomous Systems Programme (WASP) – which is now the largest individual research programme in Sweden -, and in his lecture mentioned the use of drones for several purposes, including some military aims. The moderator of the event, Mats Olofsson, a former head scientist with the Swedish Armed Forces, also talked about drones. “As a moderator, I have tried to focus a bit on the ethical and moral challenges presented by the use of drones in faraway countries”, he said.

Another issue to be addressed was that of 3D printing, presented by professor Lars Nyborg, from Chalmers Institute of Technology. “3D printing can be used to construct lightweight objects of free shape, produced from 3D models. This is a new way of producing objects in small series, without the need to construct heavy machines”, he summarises. The automobile industry already makes use of this type of technology.

Professor Anders Ynnerman, from Linköping University, presented the different ways to use Big Data, also within the military sphere. “Using powerful computers and advanced algorithms, you can provide the military commander with a lot of important information. Data from many combined sensors make it possible to have new resources for making decisions”, explained Mr Olofsson.

According to Colonel Tales Villela, an advisor for strategic affairs at the DCT, Mr Ynnerman’s lecture definitely attracted the attention of the audience. “He exemplified the techniques by showing the scanning of a mummy and its segmentation into layers, thereby making it possible to visualise other objects that have been buried with it.”

According to Mr Villela, in areas such as microelectronics, fine chemistry and precision machining, Brazil needs external co-operation. “These are strategic areas where it is necessary to work with additional perseverance. In addition, this type of event favours mutual trust between the institutions involved, which is the best of both worlds.”