Fiocruz signs cooperation agreement with Robert Koch Institute in Berlin

Fiocruz's president Mario Moreira signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in Berlin on Monday (12/04) for collaboration in research, surveillance, technological development and innovation. The agreement was signed by the vice president of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and director of the Center for International Health Protection (ZIG), Johanna Hanefeld, in the presence of Brazil's Minister of Science, Technology and Innovations (MCTI), Luciana Santos.

Mario Moreira and Johanna Hanefeld signed the agreement 

The document provides for the articulation of opportunities for collaboration between the two institutions, both linked to the Ministries of Health of their countries and considered national and international benchmarks in health research and surveillance. The MoU lays the foundations for the cooperation to be developed in the areas of teaching, research, technological development, communication, information, management and policies in the field of health in general. Thus, it paves the way for the joint application of projects to development agencies and to promote the launch of joint research calls to stimulate cooperation, gather research groups and create networks.

"The agreement signed this morning represents another step towards the internationalization of Fiocruz's Science and Technology system, seeking to strengthen our ties with sister institutes in Germany and Europe," said Moreira.

The agreement, which is valid for five years and can be renewed, also allows for the organization of academic exchange programs and plans, workshops, seminars, technical visits, training for researchers, students and staff, and other activities aimed at training people and strengthening institutions.

The initiative is part of the Foundation's Internationalization Strategy, whose ordinance was published on October 23rd and which aims to establish actions aimed at technological development, innovation and appropriation of technologies and products of interest to the Unified Health System (SUS), following Fiocruz's Innovation Policy.

Contact in October

The memorandum originated during the Foundation president's trip to Berlin in October for the World Health Summit. On that occasion, Moreira and the vice president of Research and Biological Collections (VPPCB/Fiocruz), Maria de Lourdes Oliveira, visited three institutions in the German capital: the Robert Koch Institute; the Charité; and the Paul Ehrlich Institute. The aim was precisely to map out the possibilities for cooperation in research, surveillance, technological development and innovation.

The RKI is a national public health institute, which acts as the German government's main institution for the areas of disease surveillance, control and prevention and applied biomedical research. The visit in October marked the first meeting between the presidents of the two-century-old institutions. Fiocruz's delegation was welcomed by president Las Schaade, accompanied by vice president Johanna Hanefeld. On that occasion, possible synergy issues were discussed, resulting in the memorandum signed on Monday.

The synergy with Robert Koch will also occur through the World Health Organization (WHO) Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, based in Berlin, as both the institute and Fiocruz are founding members of the Hub.

MCTI also signs an agreement

On the occasion, Minister Luciana Santos also signed a technical cooperation agreement with the Robert Koch Institute on the construction of the NB4 maximum biological containment laboratory – the NB4 –a project under the responsibility of the National Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), in which Fiocruz is also a member by delegation of the Ministry of Health. At that same time, Moreira discussed with the minister and director of CNPEM, Antonio José Roque da Silva, other ongoing and future cooperation in the field of biotechnology and vaccine production.

In the afternoon, Moreira joined the Brazilian mission to Germany. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is visiting Germany after attending the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.