Virtual Canadian Nanotechnology in Life Sciences R&D Partnering Mission

Request for Expression of Interest

Global Affairs Canada through the Consulate General of Canada in São Paulo, the trade office in Recife, and the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), will be pleased to receive your application to participate in the “Virtual Nanotechnology R&D Partnering Mission to Brazil”, which will take place from 18th to 22nd of October 2021, coinciding with NanoCanada’s “From Earth To Space Conference Launch”.

Note that interested companies must apply no later than September 10th, 2021 *extended*.

Mission Objective

The R&D Partnering mission will focus on introducing Canadian SMEs to potential Brazilian partners for industrial R&D collaboration specific to nanotechnology with applications in biotechnology, medicine, and pharmaceutical sectors.

Examples of R&D collaboration being targeted include:

• validation of Canadian technology to the Brazilian or other markets;
• adaptation of Canadian technology to meet Brazilian or other market characteristics; or,
• joint development of new products or services by combining Canadian and Brazilian technology.

Canadian Delegate Profile

Canadian participants should meet the requirements below to benefit from this initiative:

• Profit-oriented, small- or medium-sized enterprise (500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees) incorporated in Canada;
• Previous experience in commercializing technology for domestic or international markets;
• Capacity and interest to co-develop technology with Brazilian partners;
• Committed to expansion to the Brazilian market; and,
• Sufficient working capital and human resources to undertake a multi-year R&D collaboration and commercialize the results.

Technology and products of particular interest in the Brazilian sector include applications for:

• Biotechnology and Medicine including nanobiomaterials, nanodiagnostics, nanomedicine and regeneration of tissues; and
• Pharma and Therapeutics including nanoparticles or nanostructures for the delivery and controlled release of drugs.

Mission Description

The Canadian Nanotechnology R&D Partnering Mission to Brazil will take place from the 18th to 22nd of October 2021 and will coincide with the NanoCanada’s “From Earth To Space Launch Conference”. The primary aim of the NanoCanada conference is to connect innovators from across the globe to showcase the latest emergent nanotechnologies and foster strong collaborations with the goal of solving global challenges.

Elements of the 5-day mission may include:

• Tailored B2B virtual meetings with Brazilian companies (MNEs and SMEs), and Research Centers to discuss R&D collaboration opportunities;
• Small group discussions on specific topics of interest, to foster opportunities of collaboration;
• Participation in on-line organized webinars;
• Speaking opportunities for Canadian participants to present their company capabilities for industrial R&D collaboration to Brazilian companies, industry associations, researchers, and public agencies.

Why Brazil?

Brazil is the leading country in nanotechnology research in Latin America. The country has been the first in South America to implement a national action plan that aims at stimulating the Nanotechnology sector to innovate and develop applications in areas such as biotech, medicine, and pharma. The Brazilian action plan also focuses on establishing a collaborative environment between the industry and academia, which will combine the necessary expertise to create and maintain a sustainable platform for the commercialization of disruptive innovation.

Over the years, Brazilian firms have been eager to seek opportunities for research, commercialization activities, collaborations, and further engagement with nanotechnology programs abroad. Thus, Canada’s life sciences sector has the right ecosystem to serve the demands of Brazil in a manner that is mutually beneficial to both Canadian and Brazilian companies, while also serving other international markets as well.

Brazil has shown great potential in the Life Sciences sector, with a combination that offers both a scalable and robust internal market, and a health ecosystem that is among the most innovative in the world. Brazil’s pharmaceutical industry is a market leader in the production and consumption of generic drugs, which has given local pharmaceutical companies the fundamentals to seek greater investments in new technologies and innovation. As such, these investments have transformed the sector into a dynamic and innovative playfield for the leading local pharma, such as Aché, Eurofarma, Libbs, Cristália, and EMS, all of which have expanded locally and abroad and are continuously seeking strong partnerships.

During the pandemic, Brazil’s R&D pharma industry has been agile; it has risen to the challenge by increasing international cooperation with numerous technological and commercial partnerships signed due to the worldwide race for development, manufacture, and distribution of vaccines and medicines to fight the Covid-19 virus. As such, Brazilian research institutes have been actively participating in clinical research of coronavirus vaccines candidates, which as a result, will eventually advance the local industry and encourage more drug research and development.

How to Apply for Participation

1. Interested companies should request an application form from Izabela Duarte (Izabela.Duarte@international.gc.ca), Life Sciences Trade Commissioner at the Canadian Trade office in Recife.
2. A complete application form requesting information on your company, your technology and your interest in discussing possible R&D opportunities will be sent to you;
3. Completed application forms are due no later than September 10th 2021 *extended* to Izabela Duarte (Izabela.Duarte@international.gc.ca);
4. The Consulate General of Canada in São Paulo, the trade office in Recife and NRC-IRAP will select companies to participate in the mission. Selected applicants can expect to be notified no later than September 17th 2021 *extended*.

Please note: Participation is limited. Applications submitted will be assessed and vetted to determine the eligibility and the relevance of the Applicant to participate in the PDA based on the quality of the information provided regarding the technology and the appropriateness of the technology for the target CIIP PDA market.

Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP)

CIIP supports industrial R&D collaborations between Canadian SMEs and companies in key markets. Global Affairs Canada (GAC) in collaboration with the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) delivers CIIP in Brazil. Collaborative R&D projects (i.e., validation, adaptation and co-development) between Canadian and Brazilian companies resulting from the Canadian Nanotechnology PDA Mission to Brazil may be eligible to apply for CIIP project funding.