PRESS RELEASE
TU Delft extends collaborative academic program with Latin
America for three more years
Delft, June 25, 2015 – Yesterday, the Board of the Delft University of
Technology (TU Delft) has decided to continue its collaborative academic
research and education program with Latin America from its office in
Brazil. A budget of approximately 1 mln euro has been allocated from its
strategic funds to support the further consolidation of the collaboration
with an extended program and thereby continue to its Brazilian office for
another term of three years. Various faculties and BE-Basic Foundation
will provide substantial support.
After the opening by King Willem-Alexander in November 2012 of the Brazil TU
Delft/BE-Basic office at UNICAMP in Campinas, TU Delft has been able to steadily
increase its research and education collaboration based on existing bilateral
contacts in the field of biobased and clean technology. Now it is time to
consolidate this.
Dirk Jan van den Berg, President of the Board of TU Delft: “TU Delft wishes to
strengthen and expand its international activities as part of its vision to be a
globally leading academic institution. Our Brazilian partnership with UNICAMP is
an example of how our universities can collaborate internationally at a high level
with mutual gains. We now want to consolidate these efforts and continue to
support this from the Board”.
Prof. Luis Cortez (International Relations UNICAMP) adds: “UNICAMP welcomes
the decision by TU Delft to continue the successful joint program with TU Delft
and BE-Basic, which is unique in its kind and brings mutual gains, both in its high
level joint education and in the excellent complementary research projects for
sustainable bioenergy and other biobased sectors”.
Luuk van der Wielen, distinguished professor in Biobased Economy and
responsible for the initiation of the Brazil Office, comments: “We are extremely
pleased with what has been achieved during the past 3 years, including 11 joint
research programs and 6 joint advanced courses as well as the initiation of a
Dual Degree PhD program and a joint Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on
Technology for Biobased Products. So far, nearly 13 mln euro from a variety of
Brazilian and Dutch funds has been allocated to these joint activities and we
have many more in the pipeline. We now especially wish to expand our public
private projects. Brazil has a leading position in biobased production of especially
biobased products and proves an excellent partner for further business
development with its vast amount of sustainable feedstock availability for
PRESS RELEASE
biobased production. The leading position of the Netherlands in sustainable
biobased technology provides a much appreciated basis for further
collaboration”.
The office at UNICAMP is a joint initiative of TU Delft and BE-Basic, one of the
largest public-private partnerships globally in the field of biobased economy.
Together with the other 50 partners of BE-Basic, plans are made to intensify the
research programs, amongst others in the field of biojet fuel production. A series
of advanced joint courses and MOOCs will ensure that future experts are
prepared for the new business opportunities.
BE-Basic and TU Delft have established a number of important agreements to
support this development. The program will be led by professor Luuk van der
Wielen and professor Patricia Osseweijer and will provide ample opportunities to
Dutch industries as well as young promising researchers who wish to build an
international career.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Notes to the editors
Delft University of Technology – Department of Biotechnology
Research and education in the Department of Biotechnology at Delft University of
Technology focusses on multidisciplinary approaches to industrial and
environmental biotechnology, with an open eye for the ethical and societal
aspects of technology in these fields. Our research aims at fundamental
knowledge and understanding of molecular biosciences and bioengineering.
www.tudelft.nl
About BE-Basic
BE-Basic Foundation is a leading international public-private partnership that
develops industrial biobased solutions to build a sustainable society. To switch
from fossil fuels to biomass, we require new technologies and insights for all
industries that provide us with food, chemicals, materials and energy. BE-Basic
stimulates collaborations between academia and industry, between scientists and
entrepreneurs and between the Netherlands and abroad to build a biobased
economy together. More information: www.be-basic.org
Contact information
For more information, please contact:
Prof.dr.ir. L. van der Wielen (l.a.m.vanderwielen@tudelft.nl / +31 622 80 2800),
or Prof. P. Osseweijer (p.osseweijer@tudelft.nl / +31 651 03 39 16),
or L. Surentu (L.J.Surentu@tudelft.nl / +31 (0)15 278 27 36).
For enquiries in Brazil, please contact:
E.J. Bakker (brazil@be-basic.org / +55 011 98 20 95 110).