HH Sheikha Moza explores research and cultural partnerships in Brazil

On a site visit to the CENPES oil research centre today, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser discussed partnership opportunities between the centre and Qatar Foundation.

Accompanied by three Qatari youth advocates and Dr Thomas Zacharia, Executive Vice President of Research and Development for Qatar Foundation, Her Highness visited the laboratories and saw for herself the cutting edge solutions being developed at CENPES into sustainable and diversified energy. 

Her Highness also discussed the crucial relationship between universities and technology parks with Mrs Maria das Gracas Silva Foster, CEO of the Brazilian national oil company, Petrobras. 

CENPES is the largest centre for research on oil in the southern hemisphere and one of the largest applied research centers in the world. Its mission is to undertake the research and development for Petrobras, and to drive the company’s innovation and sustainability advances.

Dr Thomas Zacharia, Executive Vice President of Research and Development for Qatar Foundation, said: 
“One of the key pillars of Qatar National Research Strategy is to address challenges of energy and the environment. CENPES is a world leader in this field and could become a valuable partner. Qatar Foundation R&D looks forward to exploring concrete actions and mutually beneficial collaborative opportunities with CENPES.” 

The Qatar National Research Strategy has a strong commitment to renewable energy, including solar and biofuels. Qatar Foundation Research and Development through the Qatar National Research Fund has already funded an ongoing project on Fluid separations in porous media in collaboration with Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Federal University of Ceara, and Universidade Estadual de Maringa.

Later, Her Highness took a step closer towards developing cooperation between the Qatar National Library and the National Library of Brazil. Meeting with Dr Renato Lessa, President of the National Library Foundation and Mrs. Monica Rizzo Soares Pinto, Director of the Library’s Reference and Diffusion Centre, Her Highness viewed a historic collection of maps and manuscripts from the Arab world, and also saw the Library’s restoration work. 

In view of the 2014 Qatar-Brazil Year of Culture, Her Highness discussed the possibility of exploring ways to showcase the contribution of Arab culture to Brazilian history.