September 20, 2022: Partners of the Americas, the U.S. Mission in Brazil, and the U.S. Department of State announce new 100K Strong grant-winning teams between U.S. universities and colleges with higher education institutions in Brazil. This latest 100,000 Strong Innovation Fund competition is generously supported by the National Service of Industrial Training (SENAI) in Brazil, in partnership with the U.S. Mission-Brazil and the U.S. Department of State.
These new 100K Strong partnerships will result in innovative exchange and training programs for students and faculty in climate solutions, STEM, health sciences, artificial intelligence, technology, and other areas. The grant winning teams announced today will engage 18 universities and SENAI institutions in Brazil in partnership with a diversity of U.S. colleges and universities to implement inclusive education programs for 50+ students in both countries during 2022-2023.
Brazil is the third leading country in this signature regional education initiative to partner with U.S. higher education institutions to design and implement new models of inclusive exchange programs.
Douglas Koneff, Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy and Consulates in Brazil: “The Innovation Fund is a pillar of the US government’s development strategy in the Western Hemisphere. These public-private partnerships and the commitments of governments and partners will harness the power of education to transform societies, provide opportunities and stimulate economic growth. This is the second time that SENAI has partnered with the Department of State and Partners of the Americas to support new partnerships between technological and higher education institutions in both countries.”
According to Frederico Lamego, Superintendent of International Business – SENAI, SESI, IEL, “The funding agreed between SENAI and the Department of State will allow Brazilian teams and North American institutions and students to collaboratively seek solutions to global problems. We are happy to work with partners who share our vision and we look forward to seeing these teams collaborating on innovative solutions that bring the US and Brazil closer together.”
The 100K Strong Innovation Fund is the public-private sector collaboration between the U.S. Department of State, U.S. embassies, and Partners of the Americas, working with regional private, public, and academic sectors to harness the power of education to expand inclusive exchange programs between the U.S. and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Profiles of new 100K Innovation Fund teams between the United States and Brazil:
Faculdade SENAI Chapecó, Chapecó, Brazil
Olympic College, Washington, USA
Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina, Joaçaba, Brazil
STEAM for All: Using STEAM to Aid Paralyzed Patients and Inspire International Cooperation
This 100K Strong program will engage students in STEM to create an accessible Ergometer Bicycle using myoelectric conduction to assist in the recovery process from spinal cord injuries. Working together, SENAI, UNOESC, and Olympic College will inspire students to learn theory and language skills through virtual learning and in-person programming.
Faculdade SENAI Fatesg, Goiânia, Brazil
North Carolina State University, North Carolina, USA
Instituto SENAI de Tecnologia em Alimentos e Bebidas, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Training Minds to Expand Scientific and Regulatory Food Safety Capacity Between Brazil and the U.S.
This exchange program establishes a new format of academic exchange programs for students that will integrate the participation of food industry/safety professionals and undergraduate students. Students will complete food safety training and apply processes involved with complying with governmental food regulations.
Rice University, Texas, USA
Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
Instituto SENAI de Inovação para Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação, Recife, Brazil
IFCE-Rice-SENAI Program on Artificial Intelligence for
Urban Sustainability and Resilience to Natural Disasters in the Americas
This 100K Strong program integrates research and development and local partnerships to improve infrastructure systems to better handle hydroclimate extremes. The goal is to train a new generation of students in artificial intelligence for infrastructure, climate, and urban data to address challenges caused by extreme weather.
Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Texas, USA
Faculdade SENAI Fatesg, Goiânia, Brazil
Instituto Federal Goiano, Goiânia, Brazil
Data Analytics and Entrepreneurship: A Binational (U.S. – Brazil) Faculty and Student Exchange Program
This program will create an innovative exchange program in Data Analytics and entrepreneurship applications focused on water, energy, and agriculture. Students completing this exchange program will identify strategic opportunities for change that are in congruence with globalization, urbanization, and a future interconnected economy.
The Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, USA
Centro Universitário SENAI CIMATEC, Salvador, Brazil
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Optimization of Amphibious Aircraft for Amazon Rainforest Operations
This program will result in improvements in amphibious aircraft, which will increase access to fast transportation in the Amazon region and establish connections in the aerospace industry through technological innovation. The students will participate in experimental campaigns in both Brazil and the U.S.
West Virginia University, West Virginia, USA
Instituto SENAI de Inovação em Processamento Mineral, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
The Future of Mining in West Virginia and Minas Gerais: New Opportunities in Technology, Safety, and Sustainability
This exchange program will prepare students and communities for a coal-free future and address the failure of decommissioning systems and structures. Students and researchers will work together to identify common and specific societal, cultural, and environmental problems caused by mining in both regions.
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100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund (100K Strong) is the public-private sector collaboration between the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and Partners of the Americas, working with U.S. Embassies, regional companies, government entities, and academic networks to create innovative partnerships and inclusive education exchange programs. The 100K Strong Innovation Fund is the mechanism between governments, businesses, and academia that supports this hemispheric-wide education initiative to build partnerships, strengthen institutional capacity, and increase access for underserved students to inclusive academic exchange programs. As of September 2022, after 32 grant competitions since 2014, the 100K Strong Innovation Fund has awarded 282 grants ($25,000-$45,000 each) to 550 higher education institutions working in teams in 25 countries and 49 U.S. States. Currently, over 4,000 members have joined the 100K Network – including faculty and administrators from over 1,250 universities and colleges in the United States.
JOIN the 100K Network and Learn more: www.100kstrongamericas.org
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The mission of Partners of the Americas is to connect people and organizations across and within borders to serve and change lives through lasting partnerships. These partnerships create opportunity, foster understanding, and solve real-life problems. Inspired by President Kennedy and founded in 1964, under the Alliance for Progress, Partners is a non-profit, non-partisan organization with international offices in Washington, DC. Learn more at www.partners.net or via Twitter @partnersamerica.
Brazil’s National Service of Industrial Training (SENAI) was founded in 1942 as a private nonprofit institution. It provides technical education aimed at promoting industrial innovation. Its mission is centered on technology transfer, leveraging innovation for promoting industrial innovation. As the largest private technical training network in Latin America, SENAI seeks to add value to products and processes of private sector companies and industries. Currently, SENAI has 1040 vocational training units, 26 innovation institutes, 60 technology institutes, and 189 technological services labs. In 2020, SENAI had more than 2.3 million enrollments at the national level, and SENAI Institutes were responsible for more than 1.5 million lab tests and services. For more information about SENAI, visit www.portaldaindustria.com.br/senai/en/.
Press Contact: Rachel Falek | rfalek@partners.net