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Federal Minister Prof. Annette Schavan and her Brazilian counterpart Dr. Sérgio Rezende opened the German-Brazilian Trade Fair and Congress on Sustainability Technologies ECOGERMA in São Paulo

Twenty German companies and research organisations presented their latest products and research findings in the field of environmental technologies from 12 to 15 March 2009 as part of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) Initiative on "Research in Germany".

The exhibitors were very satisfied with the event: "ECOGERMA was a complete success for us. We were already able to make highly-promising contacts on the very first day," commented Sabine Krieg from the Fraunhofer IGB in Stuttgart. Prof. Annette Schavan, Federal Minister of Education and Research, opened the Trade Fair.

In an interview with the AHK São Paulo, the German Federal Minister also highlighted the close partnership between Brazil and Germany: "Brazil is Germany's foremost partner country in Latin America for scientific-technical cooperation."

In talks between their two governments, Schavan and Rezende, agreed to cooperate more closely in the field of long-term sustainability research. This will particularly take the form of collaborative research projects, with a focus on environmental technologies, water and land use. A Technology Congress was also held on the topic of Sustainability as part of ECOGERMA 2009. The BMBF organised two symposiums on the topics of "Research and Environmental Innovations for Future Markets" and "Evolving Sustainable Innovation Systems/Dialogue for Sustainability."

Further information: www.research-in-germany.de