Euro-Amazonian Forum at PCT Guamá discusses international partnerships for COP 30
Event held over two days brought together representatives from institutions in Brazil and the European Union in dialogue about sustainable development
Strengthening international dialogue and expanding strategic partnerships for sustainable development in the Amazon were the main objectives of the Euro-Amazonian Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (CT&I), held on April 24 and 25 (Thursday and Friday), at the Guamá Science and Technology Park (PCT), in Belém. Organized by the Amazon Foundation for Support of Studies and Research (Fapespa), the event brought together representatives from Brazilian scientific institutions and the European Union, with participation from Austria, Belgium, Slovenia, Finland, Hungary, Sweden, France, and Germany.
With an emphasis on the opportunities provided by COP 30 (the United Nations conference on climate change), which will take place in Belém in November 2025, the Forum sought to consolidate science, technology, and innovation as central vectors of sustainable development in the Amazon region.
“We welcomed the delegation to strengthen the internationalization of our science, technology, and innovation ecosystem. The initiative aims to attract European researchers to Pará, promoting the exchange of experiences, the appreciation of Amazonian biodiversity, and the generation of knowledge that contributes to the sustainable development of the region,” highlighted Fapespa's international advisor, Marcus Nascimento.
Search for solutions - The program began on Thursday (24) with a ceremony attended by Marcel Botelho, head of Fapespa; Dhallys Mota, Science, Technology and Innovation Officer of the European Union in Brazil; Victor Dias, head of the State Secretariat for Science, Technology and Higher, Professional and Technological Education (Sectet), and João Weyl, president of the Guamá Foundation, the institution responsible for managing the PCT Guamá.
The program included panels on international partnerships aimed at COP 30, as well as discussions on the role of science in building innovative solutions to Amazonian challenges. In the afternoon, a closed meeting between Fapespa and representatives of the EU Member States was followed by a technical visit to Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation).
On this Friday (25), there were technical visits to laboratories installed at PCT Guamá, with support from Fapespa, and to the research campus of the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, one of the most important research institutions in Brazil. The initiative promoted practical integration between research institutions and potential international partners, bringing science closer to the Amazonian reality.
Visibility - According to João Weyl, “the visit strengthens strategic bridges for the Amazon by connecting our scientific production with European centers of excellence. These ties are essential to enhance the visibility of research developed in the region, foster new collaborations, and transform knowledge into sustainable solutions aligned with local demands.”
For Dhallys Motta Nunes, "PCT Guamá stands out as a dynamic and structured hub, with the potential to lead sustainable innovation initiatives. We want to strengthen this connection, increase the state's participation in international calls, and boost new partnerships between Amazonian and European institutions.”
During the technical visit, the delegation learned about projects developed at the Supercritical Technology Laboratory (Labtecs), the Center for the Valorization of Bioactive Compounds of the Amazon (Cvacba), the Biological Engineering Laboratory (EngBio), and the Amazon Oils Laboratory (LOA), all linked to the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), as well as the Water Quality Laboratory of the Amazon (LabÁgua), from the State University of Pará (Uepa).
The Forum continued the dialogues initiated at the 76th Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Society for the Progress of Science (SBPC), reaffirming the strategic role of international cooperation in valuing the knowledge produced in the Amazon and promoting sustainable solutions to its social and environmental challenges.
Reference - The PCT Guamá is an initiative of the Government of Pará, through Sectet, in partnership with UFPA and the Federal Rural University of the Amazon (Ufra), managed by the Guamá Foundation. The first technological park in the North region, PCT Guamá's mission is to stimulate applied research and innovative and sustainable entrepreneurship aimed at improving the quality of life of the population.
Located on the banks of the Guamá River, which gives its name to the complex, the Park is situated between the campuses of the two universities and has an ecosystem rich in biodiversity, spread over 72 hectares designated for buildings and the Environmental Protection Area (APA) of the Metropolitan Region of Belém.
The complex houses more than 30 resident companies, over 40 associated companies, 12 research and development laboratories for processes and products, in addition to a technical school of the state public network.
PCT Guamá is part of the National Association of Promoters of Innovative Enterprises (Anprotec) and the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (Iasp), making up the largest innovation ecosystem in the world.
