INL and Universidade Franciscana Strengthen Collaboration in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) has reinforced its scientific ties with Brazil through a newly formalised cooperation agreement with Universidade Franciscana (UFN). This partnership, established in 2024, fosters the exchange of scientific and technical knowledge in the fields of nanosciences and nanotechnology, further strengthening INL’s longstanding engagement with Brazilian research institutions. Through this collaboration, both institutions aim to facilitate academic mobility, joint research projects, and knowledge transfer.

The agreement has already yielded significant developments, including the approval of an international cooperation project funded by Brazil’s National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). Titled “Nano-strategies for Environmental Remediation: Modelling, Simulation, Synthesis, and Toxicological Evaluation of Nanomaterials“, the project brings together an international consortium of institutions, including UFN, the Federal University of Goiás (UFG), the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), the University of Porto (Portugal), Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (Germany), and Jammu University (India), alongside INL.

INL researchers are actively engaged in this initiative, providing expertise in nanomaterials synthesis and characterisation, as well as advanced modelling techniques. The collaboration has also facilitated researcher mobility between UFN and INL. Notably, INL research group leader Prof. Dr. Pedro Alpuim visited UFN in August 2024 to participate in the XI Workshop in Nanosciences: Nanobiotechnology and Advanced Materials. Additionally, UFN PhD student Júlia Vaz Schultz is currently conducting a six-month research stay at INL as part of her doctoral studies.

Further reinforcing the partnership, UFN Prof. Dr. Solange Binotto Fagan and Prof. Dr. Mirkos Ortiz Martins recently spent three months at INL conducting research within the environmental nanotechnology project. This exchange has been instrumental in deepening scientific collaboration and expanding joint research efforts. Looking ahead, additional UFN postgraduate students are expected to undertake academic exchanges at INL in 2025.

This agreement reflects INL’s commitment to fostering global partnerships and advancing nanoscience research with international impact. By strengthening ties with leading institutions in Brazil, INL continues to play a pivotal role in facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration and training the next generation of researchers in nanotechnology.