On Tuesday, June 19, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Marco Antônio Raupp, signed an agreement between the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq / MCTI) and the British company BG, from the energy sector, along with the Brazil-UK Joint Declaration on the Development of a Platform for Innovation, together with the chief adviser on Scientific Affairs to the British Government, John Beddington. The event - part of the Rio+20 schedule - was held at the Pavilhão Brasil, in the Parque dos Atletas.

Raupp said the involvement of the company was highly welcome, and highlighted the scope of Science without Borders. "It's a program that in four years will invest a minimum of R$ 4 billion in the training of human resources and attracting technical partners, engineers and scientists to Brazil," he said. "It will greatly strengthen our ability to contribute to the industrial development of the country, introducing technology and innovations. We are strengthening this area. We understand that this is a role to be played by the government and by society," he added.

As for bilateral cooperation with the United Kingdom, Raupp drew attention to the strong relationship between the countries and underscored the terms of the exchange for Brazilian students in England.

"England is one of the main destinations for Brazilian students," he said. "The United States is first, but England comes in a close second. We have always had agreements with British organizations to receive these students, allocating them at universities over there. And today we are reaffirming this," he said.

Text: Juliana d'Arede - communications officer at the MCTI