PRESS RELEASE                                  

UK and Brazil join forces through alliance

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between representative technology transfer associations, Unico (UK) and FORTEC (Brazil) will support UK and Brazilian universities in their drive to commercialise innovations.

This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Unico and FORTEC will:

• share best practice in innovation management;
• facilitate the licensing of Brazilian technology in Europe and the licensing of UK technology in Brazil;
• support UK spin-out companies wishing to enter the Brazilian market. 

The MoU also provides benefits for members of both associations and ensures that all members are entitled to reciprocal membership rights.

Strongly supported by the Brazilian team of the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills – Science and Innovation Network (BIS-SIN) and as part of its drive to foster international links for the benefit of UK trade, it is hoped that this relationship will help drive new ventures between the two countries.  Damian Popolo, Vice Consul in Brazil for Science and Innovation of the SIN commented: “This MoU is an important achievement in our work promoting UK-Brazil collaboration in science and innovation. The agreement between Unico and FORTEC is a success in itself, but it also creates opportunities for its members to work on bilateral licensing and/or the establishment of UK spin-outs in the Brazilian market”.

Professor David Secher, Chair of Unico, said, “I am delighted that Unico has signed this MoU with FORTEC.  The MoU continues the drive by UK government to build scientific collaboration and to find ways of addressing global challenges.  It will support UK and Brazilian universities and public research organisations in their efforts to commercialise the results of their innovative research.”

Marli Elizabeth Ritter dos Santos, FORTEC President adds, “This MoU is an important step towards strengthening the relationship and widening the opportunities for technology transfer between Brazil and the UK”

The Unico and FORTEC MoU was signed at Unico’s annual conference in Brighton.

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Notes to Editors

About Unico

Unico is the UK's leading representative body of professionals realising the potential of university and public sector research through commercialisation.

Unico members maximise the impact of UK research to benefit society and strengthen the economy.  On a daily basis they identify markets for research discoveries, protect intellectual property, license new research, create quality 'spinout' companies and provide businesses with world-class expertise and facilities.

 

About FORTEC

FORTEC is the leading association of technology transfer offices in Brazil, representing both public and private universities.  It is the Brazilian counterpart for Unico and the association representing the best universities' Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) in Brazil.

 

More about the MoU

The terms of this agreement allow members from either organisation to receive members’ discounted rights at each other’s Annual Conference, training programmes or courses, and other related events where such members’ discounts are offered.  In addition, both parties will reciprocally circulate newsletters, annual conference information, and appropriate promotional materials through each other’s secretariat and distribution networks with the aim of increasing awareness of each other’s events.

Caption: Unico and FORTEC signing Memorandum of Understanding

From left to right: Dr Marli Elizabeth Ritter dos Santos (President, FORTEC), Professor David Secher (Chairman, Unico), Professor Shirley Virginia Coutinho (Regional Coordinator, FORTEC)