Unicamp and Inpe (National Institute for Space Research) signed a protocol of intentions with the aim of promoting research activities; joint supervision of postgraduate students; exchange of students, researchers and teachers; and dissemination of research results through publications in the area of ​​policy and management of science, technology and innovation in the aerospace industry, valid for five years. 

The protocol of intentions was signed on the 10th by José Tadeu Jorge, rector of Unicamp, and Leonel Perondi, director of Inpe. “Inpe is a very traditional, consolidated research institute, which has made great contributions in several areas that are also handled by Unicamp. Establishing this type of partnership means that the two institutions can complement each other and contribute even more in the areas in which they operate”, said Tadeu Jorge. 

Leonel Perondi recalled that Inpe and Unicamp – through the Department of Technological Scientific Policy (DPCT) – have been carrying out joint studies on industrial policy, the industry itself and training in the area of ​​spatial analysis. “Over the years there have been several studies on these industrial policy arrangements. This protocol expresses a formalization that goes beyond sporadic academic work, aiming for a more continuous relationship, with work in a new format and duration.” 

Professor André Furtado, from DPCT, explained that the protocol of intentions is aimed at the area of ​​innovation policy and management applied to the Brazilian aerospace sector. “A platform is being created to develop cooperation between Unicamp and Inpe, an institution with multifaceted activities, focusing on the scientific, technological and innovation fields, and promoting behind it an industry of suppliers for the space industry. This involves both scientific policy and industrial policy, an interface in which the DPCT has been working a lot.” 

After signing the protocol, Leonel Perondi went to the IG auditorium to give a talk on “Preparations for the launch of CBERS-4” (acronym referring to the Sino-Brazilian Earth Resources Satellite), scheduled for December. “We are launching the fifth satellite of this cooperation with China: we had CBERS-1 in 1999, CBERS-2 in 2007 and CBERS-2b in 2007, all of which operated in orbit fulfilling their mission of generating images of the national territory with a large number of applications. We attempted to launch CBERS-3 last December, but lost the satellite due to problems with the launcher. Now, the expectations are very high.” 

Professors Roberto Perez Xavier, director of the Institute of Geosciences (IG); Leda Maria Gitahy, head of DPCT; André Tosi Furtado, also from DPCT, and André Luiz Sica de Campos, from the Faculty of Applied Sciences (FCA). The director of Inpe was accompanied by advisor Milton Chagas.