The Foundation’s delegation carried out institutional visits through an agenda organized in partnership with the Brazil-Germany Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK).

In April, the Espírito Santo Research and Innovation Support Foundation (Fapes) conducted the Fapes-AHK Germany Mission 2026, a strategic initiative aimed at identifying opportunities for international cooperation in the fields of healthcare, innovation, professional education, and technological development. The agenda, developed in partnership with the Brazil-Germany Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK), included institutional visits to research centers, university hospitals, innovation agencies, and technical education institutions in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany — one of Europe’s leading technology hubs.

Throughout the mission, the Espírito Santo delegation — which included members of Fapes’ Executive Board and representatives from the Secretariat for Science, Technology, Innovation, and Professional Education (Secti) — had access to world-class experiences, with emphasis on solutions in hospital innovation, oncology, neurosurgery, assistive technologies, health techs, and professional training models. Key visits included institutions such as the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, the University Medical Center Freiburg, the University of Mannheim, the innovation agency BioPro Baden-Württemberg, the University Hospital Tübingen, and the Robert Bosch Hospital.

During the visits, innovative initiatives with potential application in Espírito Santo were identified, including the use of wastewater analysis for epidemic tracking, integrated healthcare innovation platforms, smart hospital environments equipped with patient-monitoring sensors, as well as advanced robotics and medical diagnostic solutions. The German model of integration between research, healthcare delivery, and technological development — especially in the hospital sector — also stood out.

In the field of innovation, the mission highlighted the role of platforms connecting universities, research centers, and companies, such as Inspire and Cubex, in addition to the strong international network fostered by BioPro. These experiences pave the way for startups and technology-based companies from Espírito Santo to join global innovation networks, particularly within the healthcare sector.

Another key aspect was the delegation’s contact with the German dual education model, which combines technical education with hands-on training in companies and is internationally recognized as a benchmark in professional qualification. The experience may support future adaptations and partnerships aimed at workforce development in Espírito Santo.

“We had the opportunity to learn from highly advanced models and identify concrete paths for cooperation that can generate real impacts on the development of our state, especially in strategic areas such as healthcare and technology,” highlighted Fapes Director-General Rodrigo Varejão.

Among the opportunities identified are potential partnerships in oncology with German hospitals, exchanges in neurosurgery and stroke treatment, collaboration in epidemiological surveillance, and connections between companies from Espírito Santo and international institutions such as the Bosch Group and BioPro. Initiatives aimed at integrating health techs from Espírito Santo into global innovation ecosystems are also under evaluation.

The mission also resulted in the definition of strategic next steps, including the articulation between hospitals in Espírito Santo and German institutions, the development of a portfolio of startups with internationalization potential, and the beginning of discussions on cooperation in technical education.

“The Fapes-AHK Germany Mission 2026 reinforces Fapes’ role as a facilitator of international partnerships and a driver of public policies focused on science, technology, and innovation, expanding Espírito Santo’s opportunities for global integration and strengthening its STI ecosystem,” Varejão added.

Press Information:

Fapes Communications Office
Samantha Nepomuceno | Igor Gonçalves
+55 (27) 3636-1867 | +55 (27) 3636-1858
comunicacao@fapes.es.gov.br