At the forefront of international initiatives to achieve sustainable development, the Amazon region occupies a central role, not only as a vast ecosystem of global importance, but also as a natural laboratory for academic cooperation. At the conclusion of the G20 International Symposium on the Amazon and Tropical Forests, representatives of research institutions highlighted the importance of inter-institutional cooperation in developing solutions to scientific, technological and environmental challenges.
Coordinated by Nicole Arbour, Director of the Belmont Forum, the Academic Collaboration Committee included renowned experts such as Jaime Alberto Barrera García, Deputy Scientific Director of the Amazon Scientific Research Institute (SINCHI) in Colombia; Dalila Andrade Olivera, Director of Institutional and International Cooperation and Innovation at the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq); Denis Pires de Carvalho, President of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES); and Max Bergmann, Professor of Social Research and Methodology at the University of Basel (Switzerland). The discussion focused on effective strategies to expand research networks and encourage joint projects, not only to promote scientific progress, but also social and economic development in the region.
“Sharing knowledge and resources is essential to maximizing the impact of academic research in solving critical issues for the Amazon and the world,” Arbour said. “We are at a critical moment where collaboration between nations and scientific institutions can accelerate the development of innovative solutions to conserve this unique biosphere.”
Transnational Collaboration: The Future of Research in the Amazon Region
The Amazon region is home to rich biodiversity and natural resources. However, deforestation, climate change, and socio-economic pressures pose challenges to the region’s sustainability. In this scenario, academic collaboration emerges as a key factor in mitigating these impacts and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources.
“The Sinchi Institute in Colombia has been instrumental in building networks of collaboration with other Amazonian countries,” explained Jaime Barrera García. “We are working to strengthen scientific and technological capacities, while developing viable solutions that positively impact local communities and biodiversity.”
Brazilian Scientific Internationalization Initiatives
In Brazil, institutions such as CNPq and CAPES play key roles in promoting the internationalization of science. Among the actions implemented are programs to promote research projects in partnership with foreign institutions and support the training of Brazilian researchers abroad.
Dalila Andrade Oliveira, Director of CNPq, presented Brazilian initiatives to promote the internationalization of science. She highlighted CNPq’s role in promoting research projects in partnership with foreign institutions and supporting the training of Brazilian researchers abroad.
Dalila stressed that “international cooperation is essential for the advancement of science in Brazil, especially in strategic areas such as the Amazon.”
She also pointed to the need for greater attention to regional disparities in the distribution of research resources in Brazil, where the northern region, where most of the Amazon is located, receives a much lower proportion of grants and funding. “We need policies that reduce these inequalities and promote scientific development in a more balanced way,” she concluded.
Denis Pires de Carvalho, President of CAPES, presented the institution’s actions to promote postgraduate studies in the Amazon region. Denis highlighted CAPES’ role in evaluating and funding master’s and doctoral programs throughout Brazil, and highlighted the recent growth in postgraduate courses in the North.
“In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in the number of postgraduate scholarships dedicated to the Amazon region, but there is still much to be done. The region is strategic for Brazil, and our commitment is to continue expanding funding so that research programs in the Amazon region become increasingly robust,” said Denis.
She also stressed internationalization as one of CAPES’ priorities. Our goal is to strengthen partnerships with leading institutions around the world, bringing new knowledge and technologies to Brazil.
Global and local challenges
Max Bergmann, professor at the University of Basel, provided a critical perspective on the challenges facing science in the Amazon. For him, academic collaboration needs to go beyond descriptive research, focusing on practical solutions that can be applied directly in the Amazon region.
“It is not enough to simply study the problems of the Amazon; it is necessary to look for solutions that involve local communities and other actors, such as the private sector. Science must be applied in a practical way to have a real impact,” Bergman said.
“Scientific collaboration between Amazonian countries and other international partners is a cornerstone for developing evidence-based public policies,” Nicole Arbour concluded. “Only by working together will we be able to address the challenges threatening the Amazon, and thus the planet.”
Text: Frida Montalva – Ascom OTCA
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