Fraunhofer Liaison Office Brazil
Fraunhofer Liaison Office Brazil

EnergInno Brazil 2022

EnergInno Brazil: German-Brazilian Innovator Network for Green Hydrogen and Biogas

Both Brazil and Germany are facing climatic and socio-economic challenges that are steadily increasing the demand for scientific solutions and technological innovations in the field of sustainable energy carriers Green Hydrogen and Biogas. EnergInno Brazil, a campaign led by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft as part of the BMBF's initiative “Research in Germany", supports the international networking of bright minds in Germany and Brazil and promotes innovations in the aforementioned areas of green energy.

The campaign started with a Call for Ideas & Innovation, addressing stakeholders from research and science as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups in Germany to apply with their joint projects in the fields of Green Hydrogen and Biogas. A few weeks later, also Brazilian innovators - scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, industry representatives, etc. - were also sought to submit their ideas on the same research areas in a national call in Brazil. EnergInno Brazil then invited the German winners to the Research2Industry Days and the subsequent Matchmaking Tour in Sao Paulo in May. Now, the Brazilian winners will follow the invitation of the campaign in November and visit German research institutions and companies in the field of sustainable energy as part of the German R&D Tour.  

Focused networking in São Paulo: Research2Industry Days

EnergInno Brazil hosted the Research2Industry Days in São Paulo on May 10-11, 2022. The exchange forum for the winners of the Call for Ideas & Innovation as well as for Brazilian stakeholders from research, industry, economy and politics offered information about innovative sustainable energy sources and supply and opportunities for professional networking The event, which was attended by nearly 350 participants, was opened by Dr. Johann Feckl, Director International Affairs and Internal Programs of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. He and the German Consul General Thomas Schmitt welcomed the auditorium on site as well as the virtual participants of the hybrid event. Rachel Martins Henriques, Energy Research Office of the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy, and Thomas Timm, Managing Director of AHK São Paulo, both highlighted in their subsequent speeches the importance of the German-Brazilian cooperation - especially in the field of climate-friendly research and development.

On both days of the event, stakeholders from renowned institutions such as the Brazilian Energy Research Corporation, the Brazilian Society for Industrial Research and Innovation EMBRAPII, the National Service for Industrial Vocational Training SENAI and GTAI Germany Trade and Invest were involved in presentations and panel discussions. Also companies like thyssenkrupp, Siemens Energy, SENAI CIMATEC and AES were represented. The main consensus expressed throughout the conference was that the current changes in the energy sector should be used to create and intensify structures and investments for sustainable energy sources.

German R&D Tour: Brazilian innovators explore the German green energy sector

After the Brazilian experts convinced a jury with their projects in the areas of Green Hydrogen or Biogas, they have been invited by EnergInno Brazil to the one-week German R&D Tour from November 7-11, 2022. This tour will lead them through representative German research institutions, companies, and clusters in the field of sustainable energy production and supply.

The Brazilian innovators thus gain exclusive insights into innovative German research and technology. They will also have the opportunity to hold discussions with stakeholders from the host institutions and companies at all stops on the tour. In addition, they will meet the German participants of EnergInno Brazil at some of the tour stops. This will continue and deepen the professional networking started a few months ago at the Research2Industry Days in Sao Paulo.