IIASA leadership strengthens partnerships during mission to Brazil

Travelling across Brasília, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro to deepen engagement with Brazil’s scientific and policy communities, Schellnhuber and Lips built on a long and productive relationship between IIASA and Brazil. Brazil was a member of IIASA from 2011 to 2024, represented first by the Center for Strategic Studies and Management (CGEE) and later by the Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education (CAPES). Over the past several years, cooperation between IIASA and Brazilian institutions has involved more than 60 organizations and resulted in over 140 joint scientific publications addressing issues ranging from climate mitigation and ecosystem resilience to health systems and disaster risk.

Over the course of the week, the IIASA delegation exchanged ideas with leaders from organizations including the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), the Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA), Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE), the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), and the Serrapilheira Institute. The delegation also met with representatives from leading universities including the University of São Paulo (USP) and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), as well as several other academic and nonprofit partners. They additionally held discussions with Brazil’s COP30 Ambassador, André Corrêa do Lago, whose role is especially important in shaping Brazil’s international climate diplomacy and preparations for the upcoming UN Climate Conference.

The discussions highlighted strong alignment between IIASA’s systems-based research approach and Brazil’s priorities in areas such as climate change, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, energy transitions, and public health. Participants repeatedly emphasized the importance of international collaboration to address interconnected global environmental challenges.

“Brazil is home to extraordinary scientific talent and world-class research institutions,” said Schellnhuber. “By combining Brazil’s expertise with IIASA’s systems analysis and global research networks, we can accelerate solutions for climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development.”

In Brasília, the IIASA delegation met with government representatives and national research organizations to discuss pathways for expanding cooperation and strengthening institutional links. Conversations focused on joint research opportunities, scientific mobility, and mechanisms to foster collaboration even before formal institutional partnerships are established.

Meetings in São Paulo highlighted the role of state-level research funding agencies and universities as hubs of innovation. Discussions with the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) explored the possibility of a renewed memorandum of understanding and the organization of a joint scientific meeting in Brazil to bring together researchers from across Latin America to advance collaboration on topics such as tipping points in Earth systems, sustainable urban development, and One Health approaches.

The mission concluded in Rio de Janeiro with visits to leading research institutions including COPPE at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), and the Serrapilheira Institute where participants discussed opportunities for joint work on climate and health, systems modeling, and science diplomacy.

These discussions also highlighted the depth of existing scientific ties. IIASA researchers have collaborated with Brazilian partners on major international projects such as the Amazon FACE initiative studying the response of the Amazon rainforest to climate change, the ENGAGE consortium developing pathways to meet the Paris Agreement, and the REACH project examining the impacts of floods and heat on maternal and child health systems. Such initiatives demonstrate how systems analysis and advanced modeling can inform policy and support evidence-based decision making in Brazil and beyond.

Throughout the trip, partners highlighted Brazil’s strong commitment to multilateral scientific cooperation and the importance of bringing together diverse institutions, from national ministries and research centers to philanthropic foundations, global health organization, and universities, to tackle complex sustainability challenges.

The visit reaffirmed the strong foundation for deeper collaboration between IIASA and Brazilian institutions. Brazil’s combination of scientific excellence, innovative research centers, and openness to international cooperation provides fertile ground for future breakthroughs in systems science.

“International collaboration is ultimately about people,” said Lips. “Across Brazil we met inspiring leaders who share a commitment to working together on the environmental and societal challenges facing our planet. We are eager for the next phase in transforming promising conversations into collaborative projects that advance global sustainability.”