Lakehead University has signed a memorandum of understanding with a research foundation in Brazil to allow an exchange of researchers, and create new joint research projects and training programs.

The MOU between Lakehead and Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) is for five years and represents an important step to establish a productive partnership with research institutions in Brazil.

“We believe this MOU will have many benefits for Lakehead University,” said Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Lakehead’s Vice-President, Research and Innovation. “As a comprehensive and research-intensive University, we are always looking to expand our global reach.”

Gabriela Soares Dilly, FAPEMIG’s International Scientific Advisory Manager, is also excited about this agreement.

“Starting a new partnership with an important Canadian Institution such as Lakehead University is a great way to deepen the international ties between research institutions from Minas Gerais State and Canada,” Dilly said.

“This partnership will help build new bilateral collaborations for researchers from Minas Gerais and Canada, allowing us to discuss experiences and make advances on common areas of interest.

“The next step is to elaborate joint activities – such as mobility, research and innovation projects – aimed at strengthening our existing scientific activities and fostering the establishment of new projects,” she said.

Dr. Frederico Oliveira is an assistant professor of Anthropology at Lakehead who understands the benefits of partnering with FAPEMIG.

“Minas Gerais is the state where I started my academic journey in Brazil. Similar to Ontario, it is a large state with diversified scenarios for economic, technological and academic opportunities that will benefit Lakehead University’s researchers,” he said.

The mission of Brazil’s Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais — translated as theFoundation for Research of the State of Minas Gerais — is to support and promote scientific projects, technology and innovation, and institutions or individual researchers that are considered relevant to the scientific, technological, economic, and social state of Minas Gerais.

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For more information, please contact:

Brandon Walker
Media Relations Officer
807-343-8372
mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca