FUNDACAO UNIVERSIDADE DE BRASILIA

Their core work

The University of Brasília is a major Brazilian public research university that contributes specialized knowledge to European research consortia, primarily as a third-party or partner institution. Their H2020 involvement spans biomedical research — particularly cancer treatment through photodynamic therapy and oxygen-carrying nanostructures — as well as social science research on Amazonian indigenous communities and digital forensics for combating human trafficking. They serve as a key Latin American bridge for EU projects requiring expertise in tropical environments, Brazilian policy contexts, or South American fieldwork.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015-2019), UnB's H2020 involvement centered on food safety risk assessment (EuroMix) and Amazonian environmental observation (ODYSSEA), reflecting a broad natural sciences and social sciences baseline. From 2019 onward, their portfolio shifted markedly toward biomedical nanotechnology (OXIGENATED), indigenous rights and feminist epistemologies (AWAREFOREST), and security/digital forensics (HEROES). The recent phase shows a more socially engaged and interdisciplinary profile, moving from background participant roles toward more defined thematic contributions.

UnB is diversifying from environmental science toward biomedical innovation and human rights research, making them increasingly relevant for projects needing Latin American social science perspectives or cancer therapy expertise.

How they like to work

UnB primarily joins EU consortia as a third party or partner — never as coordinator — indicating they provide specialized regional or disciplinary contributions rather than leading project management. With 87 unique partners across 33 countries from just 5 projects, they consistently operate in large, diverse consortia. This suggests they are comfortable in broad international teams and valued for filling a specific niche (Brazilian/Latin American expertise) rather than driving the overall research agenda.

Despite only 5 projects, UnB has connected with 87 partners across 33 countries, reflecting participation in large-scale EU consortia. Their network is genuinely global, with strong ties to both European institutions and Latin American research contexts.

What sets them apart

As one of Brazil's top public universities, UnB offers European consortia something hard to find elsewhere: deep institutional knowledge of Latin American social, environmental, and regulatory contexts combined with strong research capabilities in both hard sciences and social sciences. Their dual strength in biomedical nanotechnology and Amazonian indigenous studies makes them unusually versatile. For any project requiring a credible Brazilian partner with proven EU collaboration experience, UnB is a ready-made choice.

Highlights from their portfolio

• OXIGENATED
  Combines biomedical nanotechnology with cancer therapy — UnB's most technically specialized H2020 contribution, running through 2024.
• AWAREFOREST
  Addresses indigenous women's rights and extractivism in the Ecuadorian Amazon — reflects UnB's unique position bridging European research with Latin American social realities.
• HEROES
  Tackles child sexual exploitation and human trafficking through digital forensics — an unusual pivot into security for a university primarily known for natural and social sciences.