Fiocruz’s Center for International Relations in Health (Cris) and Euraxess Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) promoted, on July 3rd, a scientific meeting with the Fiocruz community to present Horizon Europe, an initiative of the European Commission. The event was attended by the regional coordinator of EURAXESS Brasil and LAC, Charlotte Grawitz, in addition to professionals from the Fiotec Project area and other members of Fiocruz, such as Maria de Lurdes Aguiar, vice president of Research and Biological Collections, and Paulo Buss, Cris/Fiocruz coordinator.

During the opening of the event, Paulo highlighted the importance of the cooperation between the two regions, Europe and Latin America, to solve the issues that devastate the entire world. He said that, after the Covid-19 pandemic, “we had to innovate in health research so that the necessary answers could be found for the problems identified in the Brazilian health system”.

Representing the consortium, Charlotte presented Horizon Europe, the European Commission's research and innovation initiative, the largest of its kind in the world. She explained to the participants that there are two types of calls for the HE: one for individual researchers and legal entity; and the other with the participation of at least three different institutions.

The expert explained that EURAXESS is a European Commission platform divided into five axes: job positions and opportunities; qualification modules; partners; practical information; and partners that bridge the gap between member countries.

Representing Fiotec, Thaissa Takamoto and Nina Fernandez presented the Projects area of the institution and its role in the submission of Fiocruz projects. Nina reiterated that the partnership between the foundation and the researchers is very important for the execution and accountability of the projects. The collaborators also took the opportunity to give examples of projects financed by the European Community and managed by Fiotec.

In addition to those mentioned, the coordinator of the Carlos Borborema Clinical Research Institute (Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Carlos Borborema), Marcus Lacerda; the coordinator of PICTIS/Fiocruz, Carlos Eduardo de Andrade; and the Cris/Fiocruz advisor for Cooperation with European Institutions, Ilka Vilardo attended.