FUNDACAO UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO ABC

Their core work

UFABC is a Brazilian federal public university in Santo André (São Paulo metro area) with an active research profile in chemistry, nanomaterials and biomedical polymers. In the H2020 context they act as the Latin American research arm for European consortia working on self-assembled polymer nanostructures, peptide/saccharide-based materials and ocular drug delivery. Their researchers contribute wet-lab capability in soft matter synthesis, green sonochemistry and the characterisation of biocompatible nanocarriers. They are typically the non-EU partner that European teams tap when a project needs tropical biomaterial expertise or access to Brazilian academic infrastructure.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

The 2016 NANO-SUPREMI engagement was about imaging tools (super-resolution microscopy of bioprocesses), positioning UFABC as a characterisation partner. From 2019 onward their role shifts decisively toward synthesis: NanoPol (2019-2024) brings in nanogels and ocular pharmaceuticals, and PEPSA-MATE (2020-2025) adds peptide and polysaccharide chemistry plus green sonochemistry and bioplastics. The clear trajectory is from observing nanomaterials to designing and sustainably producing them for health and materials applications.

They are moving toward sustainable, bio-based nanomaterials — peptides, polysaccharides, green sonochemistry — which positions them well for future consortia on bioeconomy, biomedical formulation and eco-friendly polymer manufacturing.

How they like to work

UFABC consistently joins as a partner (third-party in MSCA-RISE staff exchange projects), never as coordinator. Across three projects they have already worked with 26 distinct partners in 14 countries, which is a wide network for so few projects — a signature of MSCA-RISE consortia that rotate researchers across many labs. Expect them to bring researcher mobility and specialised lab work rather than project management.

A genuinely international network: 26 unique partners spread over 14 countries, anchored by repeated participation in European MSCA-RISE exchange schemes. Acts as the South American node bridging European polymer and nanomedicine groups to Brazilian academic capacity.

What sets them apart

UFABC is one of the few Brazilian universities that appears repeatedly inside Horizon 2020 MSCA-RISE nanomaterials consortia, making it a natural gateway for European teams that need a trusted Latin American partner for staff exchange, field access or biomaterial sourcing. Compared with larger Brazilian universities, UFABC is young and research-intensive, with strength concentrated in interdisciplinary chemistry and nanoscience rather than spread across a full university portfolio. For a consortium builder, they are the easy choice when a call rewards Brazilian participation in polymer nanomedicine or sustainable materials.

Highlights from their portfolio

• NANO-SUPREMI
  Earliest H2020 engagement and the only one focused on super-resolution microscopy, showing an imaging-side capability alongside their synthesis work.
• NanoPol
  Five-year MSCA-RISE (2019-2024) on soft polymeric nanostructures for ocular drug delivery — their clearest entry into nanomedicine.
• PEPSA-MATE
  Most recent project (2020-2025), combines peptides, polysaccharides, green sonochemistry and bioplastics in one unusual, sustainability-oriented package.