Brazilian research university offering South American secondment capacity in graphene materials science and marine spatial planning.
Instituto Presbiteriano Mackenzie is one of Brazil's largest private universities, based in São Paulo, with research capacity spanning engineering, natural sciences, and environmental governance. In H2020, Mackenzie contributed as a third-party research host in two MSCA-RISE staff exchange programs — one focused on advanced graphene-based nanocomposites for electromagnetic and thermal applications, and another on marine spatial planning and coastal governance in developing-country contexts. Their role in both projects was to provide South American research infrastructure and academic expertise, enabling EU and non-EU researchers to carry out secondments in Brazil. They bring value primarily as a well-connected Brazilian academic institution rather than as a narrow technology specialist.
Mackenzie participated as a third-party host in Graphene 3D (2017-2022), a project developing multifunctional graphene-based nanocomposites with electromagnetic shielding and high thermal conductivity properties, including 3D-printed cellular structures.
Mackenzie contributed to PADDLE (2017-2023), an EU-Africa-Brazil project on marine spatial planning, fisheries policy, cartography, and nature conservation in developing-country coastal zones.
Both H2020 projects are MSCA-RISE staff exchange schemes, and Mackenzie's consistent role as a third-party host institution in Brazil confirms its function as a structured secondment destination for EU researchers.
Both H2020 projects began in 2017 and ran in parallel, so the apparent shift from graphene materials to marine governance does not reflect a true chronological evolution — it reflects two entirely different faculties engaging with different EU research consortia at the same time. This simultaneous breadth across engineering and environmental science suggests Mackenzie operates as a large, multi-faculty institution where different departments independently pursue international collaborations. There is no clear directional trend discernible from only two concurrent projects in divergent fields.
With only two simultaneous projects in unrelated domains, no reliable directional trend can be established — Mackenzie appears opportunistic rather than strategically focused, joining EU networks where Brazilian academic capacity is valued.
Mackenzie has participated exclusively as a third party — meaning it is not a formal consortium member but a contributing host institution, typically receiving seconded researchers rather than holding decision-making authority in the project. Both projects involved large, geographically dispersed consortia with 28 unique partners across 14 countries, pointing to Mackenzie's role as a peripheral but internationally networked node rather than a core driver. Working with Mackenzie likely means engaging through an EU lead partner who manages the formal relationship.
Mackenzie has connected with 28 unique partner organisations across 14 countries through just two projects, reflecting the broad multi-partner structure typical of MSCA-RISE consortia. Its geographic footprint spans Europe, Africa, and Latin America, consistent with the EU-Africa-Brazil framing of the PADDLE project.
Mackenzie's primary value in EU research networks is its position as a large, credentialed Brazilian university that can host EU researcher secondments in São Paulo — a major scientific and industrial hub in Latin America. For consortium builders who need a South American academic partner to satisfy MSCA-RISE geographic requirements or to access Brazilian research environments in materials science or environmental governance, Mackenzie offers institutional stability and broad disciplinary coverage. Its dual presence in advanced engineering and environmental policy makes it a flexible third-party option across very different project types.
