merrion street

Irish companies and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have announced a number of significant strategic alliances across a range of sectors, as part of this week’s Enterprise Ireland education and trade mission to Brazil. The mission, which was led by the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn TD, was aimed at increasing Irish exports and deepening business and education links between Ireland and Brazil.

During the mission, eight Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and agreements were signed between leading Irish and Brazilian Universities and Institutes of Technology, and several Irish companies expanded their business partnerships or opened new facilities in Brazil. These announcements and partnerships secured during the mission underpin the on-going success and export growth of Irish colleges and companies as they continue to win new business and expand their reach in the huge Brazil market.

The Brazil market offers tremendous potential for Ireland. There are already very strong education links between Ireland and Brazil, and this year over 1,200 Brazilian students have come to study at Irish Higher Education Institutes as part the Brazil Government’s Science without Borders scholarship programme. This is having a significant impact on the Irish economy and could be worth up to €100 million over the coming five years. Likewise, on the research and collaboration front, links between both countries are steadily increasing. Year on year, Irish companies across a whole range of sectors increase their export footprint in Brazil, and this trade mission is about building on this growth.

Minister Quinn described the mission as very important in terms of deepening Ireland’s trade, education and economic ties in the region.

“This was a highly successful mission in terms of business partnerships secured and connections made. It is tremendously encouraging to see the strong progress being made by Ireland’s Higher Education Institutes and Irish companies in this vast but highly competitive market. Their success speaks volumes about the high standing in which they are held, and provides the basis for a continued upward expansion of the education and business partnership between Ireland and Brazil, to the mutual benefit of both countries.”

Among the agreements with some of Brazil’s leading universities, announcements and one-to-one meetings held were:

CIT (Cork Institute of Technology) signed MOUs with UNESP and UNICAMP

WIT (Waterford Institute of Technology) signed an agreement for staff and student exchange with UNESP

UCC (University College Cork) signed a bi-lateral agreement with USP

LIT (Limerick Institute of Technology) signed an MOU with UFSJ

UL (University of Limerick) and Cruzeiro do Sol

DBS (Dublin Business School) and Cruzeiro do Sol

CIT and UFPel

CIT and UNICAMP

Brandtone, one of the fastest-growing mobile marketing companies, focused exclusively on high growth emerging markets, officially opened its new Brazil office in Sao Paulo.

aPperbook, who provide an interactive ebook platform to publishers and schools, explored business potential with Grupo Abril.

Cartrawler met with Apontador.com, the leading Internet geolocation company in Brazil, on developing the Brazilian online travel market.

OpenJaw Technologies and GOL Linhas Aéreas on opportunities in developing the Brazilian travel and tourism markets.

Jennifer Condon, Head of Internationally Traded Services and Software at Enterprise Ireland, who is accompanying Minister Quinn on the mission, added: “This trade mission has been a considerable success for the Irish companies and education institutes. Brazil is a highly significant market where Irish businesses are already successfully doing business and building education links. We see great potential here for further growth, and Enterprise Ireland will continue to provide every support to Irish companies and colleges to secure more business in Brazil and Latin America, boosting the economy and sustaining and creating jobs in Ireland.”