The Amazon biome is at a critical tipping point. As the planet’s largest terrestrial carbon sink and a reservoir of 20% of the world’s freshwater and 10% of its biodiversity, its preservation is not merely a regional issue but a global imperative. Brazil holds 60% of the Amazon, while Germany is one of the world’s leading innovators in green technology, bioeconomics, and sustainable engineering. Historically, German-Brazilian scientific cooperation has been robust, driven by institutions such as the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Fraunhofer Institutes, the Max Planck Society, and the Brazilian National Institute for Amazon Research (INPA). However, these efforts often operate in silos, focusing on individual projects rather than systemic integration. The Amazon is not a singular challenge—it is a matrix of overlapping issues: illegal deforestation, biodiversity loss, energy transition, and social inclusion of traditional communities.
The rationale for this dedicated Cooperation Day is to move beyond fragmented research towards a joint mission-oriented approach. It aims to align Germany’s "Amazonia" funding priority with Brazil’s new national policy for sustainable development, specifically the "Ecological Transformation Plan." By consolidating efforts, we can transform scientific data into actionable political and economic frameworks.
German-Brazilian Amazon Research and Cooperation Day
The need for the German-Brazilian Amazon Research and Cooperation Day
................................................................................................................................................................................................
There is a pressing need to transition the narrative from "protecting the Amazon" to "developing with the Amazon." Currently, a gap exists between German technological capacity (remote sensing, green hydrogen, Industry 4.0) and Brazilian on-the-ground knowledge and biological assets. Furthermore, the urgency of the climate crisis demands acceleration. Standard academic cycles (5+ years for publication) are too slow for policymaking regarding deforestation alerts or illegal mining. Moreover, the recent establishment of the Amazon Fund (supported by Germany) has created a financial pipeline but requires a robust pipeline of bankable, science-based projects. Without a strategic alignment of research agendas, there is a risk of duplicated efforts and missed opportunities for co-patenting and technology transfer.
Event Format
................................................................................................................................................................................................
The event will be structured as a High-Level Dialogue and Matchmaking Forum, moving beyond the classic conference lecture model. It will be a one day on-line event, led by the “Amazon Programme” of the German-Brazilian Science and Technology Network (GERBRAS-SCIENCENET) .
Expected Benefits
................................................................................................................................................................................................
The event will pave the way for greater interaction and cooperation between German and Brazilian organisations, identifying possible themes for projects eligible for funding via the Amazon Fund or other international sources.
By converting research into diplomacy and science into enterprise, this Cooperation Day will cement Germany and Brazil as co-pilots in the global race to save the rainforest.
How to participate
................................................................................................................................................................................................
Participation is free of charge. To receive access details for the event, colleagues should register using the link below:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/tV8ySXQWkX
Learn more about the Amazon Programme
................................................................................................................................................................................................
The Amazon Programme is a strategic German–Brazilian initiative led by the Research and Transfer Centre Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management (FTZ NK), at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences. It aims to advance applied research, innovation, and capacity-building to contribute to sustainable development in the Amazon region, as well as strengthen German-Brazilian relations. Building on the political and scientific momentum of COP30 in Belém, the programme responds directly to the urgent need for international and interdisciplinary cooperation to address escalating environmental and socio-economic challenges in the world’s largest tropical forest. The activities of the Amazon Programme are organised around four pillars: a) Publications Documenting Scientific Research; b) Organisation of Scientific Events; c) Undertaking Environmentally Related Projects; and d) Training of Doctoral Students.
We warmly invite colleagues, researchers, higher education institutions, NGOs, companies, managers, CEOs, sustainability officers, public institutions, and other stakeholders interested in sustainability and climate change to join the Amazon Programme. By registering, you will become part of a German-Brazilian initiative aimed at fostering applied research, innovation, capacity-building, scientific cooperation, and practical solutions for sustainable development in the Amazon region.
You will also have the opportunity to register to our newsletter and receive communications about news and opportunities.
Here is the registration link: gerbras-science.net/amazon-programme-become-a-partner
