The “Postdoc in Germany” workshop series in Porto Alegre and São Paulo

March is traditionally the month dedicated to the “Postdoc in Germany” workshop series, with events held in Brazil and other South American countries. The Brazil Centre at the University of Münster organises and represents the university in these and other initiatives, participating in the delegation alongside other institutions. Cíntia Toth Gonçalves, Director of the Brazil Centre’s Liaison Office in São Paulo, was in Porto Alegre from 2nd to 5th March for the first edition of the event in Rio Grande do Sul. She also took part in the series in São Paulo. Besides the University of Münster via its Brazil Centre, the following institutions participated in the events: the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the German Research Foundation (DFG), the Ruhr University Alliance (UA Ruhr), Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin), the Brazil and Latin American Centre at the University of Tübingen, the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the University of Potsdam, the University of Heidelberg, the Fraunhofer Society and the Ibero-American Institute (IAI).

Porto Alegre: innovation and science in the spotlight

The first day in Porto Alegre featured institutional presentations and productive discussions with lecturers from various fields at PUCRS. Led by the German Centre for Research and Innovation São Paulo (DWIH-SP), the German delegation - including the Brazil Centre of the University of Münster - visited the PUCRS Science and Technology Park – TECNOPUC. The delegation comprised representatives from German funding, research and higher education institutions.

TECNOPUC is an innovation hub driving scientific and technological development in the state and across Brazil. It’s notable as the birthplace of GetNet, Brazil’s first ‘unicorn’ – one of the pioneers in electronic payments. Among the facilities visited, the Centre for Scientific and Technological Development Support (Ideia), now integrated into TECNOPUC, stood out. The centre has laboratories dedicated to prototyping innovative projects, services offered to companies and which are also available to the internal and external academic community.

Workshop attracts record attendance in southern Brazil

The second day marked the opening of the “Postdoc in Germany” workshop series – the first held in southern Brazil – and already attracted a record number of attendees for this type of event: 101 participants. Following the established format, German institutions presented an overview of Germany’s academic and scientific system, as well as the various research funding opportunities, through presentations from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH) and the German Research Foundation (DFG). Participating German universities, including the University of Münster, and research institutes showcased their institutions and funding options. During the event, participants had the chance to speak individually with representatives to ask them questions and receive personalised advice.

We thank Prof. Dr. Draiton Gonzaga de Souza, Vice-Rector for Research and Postgraduate Studies at PUCRS, for organising the event and hosting us over the two days. We also thank our alumnus, Prof. Dr. Abilio Baeta Neves, for his warm welcome and ongoing dialogue aimed at strengthening Brazil-Germany ties.

Closing event in Porto Alegre and event in São Paulo

On the third day in Porto Alegre, a brief presentation and exchange of experiences took place with lecturers from various departments at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), including the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Pedro de Almeida Costa. UFRGS was the first Brazilian institution to sign an agreement with the University of Münster and is now the second Brazilian university with the highest number of collaborations with the university, in terms of co-authored publications, according to data from Scival, the platform for analysing and visualising the performance of research institutions.

The final event in the Brazil series took place in São Paulo, as usual, at the Goethe-Institut, following the same format. In total, 57 participants had the opportunity to learn about the main research and funding opportunities for postdoctoral studies in Germany. Since its first edition, the workshop in São Paulo has consistently attracted between 50 and 60 interested participants annually.

This overview demonstrates the strength and vitality of scientific cooperation between Brazil and Germany, offering excellent opportunities for researchers in both countries to advance their academic careers. At the University of Münster, this collaboration occurs through joint projects and independent research conducted within the institution.