Fapespa and Confap participate in the Science and Technology for Society Forum (STS) in Kyoto, Japan
Since its first edition in 2004, the event has established itself as one of the most relevant in the world in the field
One of the largest international platforms dedicated to science, technology, and their implications for society, the Science and Technology for Society Forum (STS) is being held in Kyoto, Japan. Since its first edition in 2004, the event has established itself as one of the most relevant in the world in the field. This is the 22nd Annual Meeting of the STS Forum, which opened last Sunday (5), with the presence of the 126th Emperor of Japan, Naruhito.
This year, for the first time, the STS Forum includes the participation of the National Council of State Foundations for Research Support (Confap), represented by the president of the entity, Márcio de Araújo Pereira, and the vice-president, Marcel do Nascimento Botelho, who is also the president of the Amazon Foundation for Support of Studies and Research (Fapespa) and represents the government of Pará.
The meeting annually brings together prominent names in science, global political leaders, business sector representatives, industry, and academia to discuss the challenges of science and technology for the future of humanity. In 2024, the 21st edition of the Forum had around 1,400 participants, including Nobel Prize-winning scientists, leaders from over 80 countries, state ministers, rectors, and executives from multinational companies, in a global and interdisciplinary agenda.
From Thursday (9) to Saturday (11), the guests will participate in the closing program of the STS Forum, which includes meetings with science and technology institutions and a visit to the Brazilian Embassy in Tokyo.
"It is certainly an opportunity to expand international relations and partnerships, inserting the Council into relevant global discussions on science and technology, with benefits for the State Foundations for Research Support in Brazil," celebrates the president of Confap, Márcio Pereira.
The vice-president of Confap and representative of the government of Pará, Marcel Botelho, highlighted the importance of the Japanese Forum in discussing the future of the planet, in line with the themes that will be on the agenda at COP30, which will be held in Belém.
"Here in Japan, we do not have the presence of diplomatic authorities to establish global agreements. The goal is to promote a scientific debate, with the participation of representatives from the private sector and governments, a clear demonstration of the triple helix model in the search for solutions that will certainly reach Belém at COP30," explained Botelho.
This Wednesday (8), the representatives of Confap visited the Brazil Pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka – Expo 2025, an international event whose theme is "Designing the Future Society for Our Lives." Starting this Thursday (9), the program continues in Osaka, where new presentations on innovations, scientific advances, and strengthening diplomatic relations in the areas of science and technology are scheduled.
Forest and Climate are highlighted themes in the program
The program is also a great opportunity for the establishment of international partnerships through Fapespa. Thus, the Confap/Fapespa partnership will have the possibility of new studies with international funding. "In this context, the themes of Diplomacy and Biodiversity, and the Bioamazon Valley gained prominence during these days of dialogue," details the representative of Pará, Marcel Botelho.
"The first, scientific diplomacy, as a strategy to reduce global asymmetries and seek new partnerships with emerging countries like Brazil. The second agenda, biodiversity, highlighting the central role of resource-rich countries and the need for the involvement of ancestral and traditional populations of these regions as indispensable actors, once again showing that our Pará is at the forefront of the global climate agenda," acknowledges Botelho.
"Finally, a special highlight that has everything to do with the discussions here in Japan was the announcement of the Bioamazon Valley, recently launched by Governor Helder Barbalho in New York, during the 'Climate Week', which represents a step forward in these negotiations for sustainable and fair development for the local populations of these countries," celebrates Botelho.
