551. Brazil welcomes the inclusion of this subject on the agenda of the TRIPS Council. As we all know, innovation is closely related to intellectual property and, as more and more policymakers worldwide are coming to realize, to trade as well. We believe that this TRIPS Council, by addressing these three issues in a coherent way, could provide valuable contributions to the design of effective, national and regional innovation policies. In its efforts to overcome the effects of the severe economic crisis, Brazil is focusing on innovation as a tool to increase productivity and improve standards of living. One of the challenges now facing us is how to ensure that the solid scientific production which has been growing for decades results in more and more innovative solutions responsive to the country's problems. We are convinced that, along with universal high-quality education and other elements, a balanced and effective IP System in line with the objectives set forth in Article 7 of TRIPS is key to achieving the sustainable innovation environment.
552. We are also attempting to address the innovation imperative by increasing international cooperation and partnerships. Most notably, Brazil's research institutions in such areas as agriculture, public health, climate and others have been partnering with their counterparts in other MERCOSUR and Latin American countries. Embrapa, Brazil's agricultural research centre, along with its counterparts in Paraguay and Uruguay, developed computer programs aimed at the management of genetic resources. In addition, Fiocruz, Brazil's public health research foundation, has partnered with Argentina for the production of yellow fever vaccines.
553. Later this month, Brazil will be hosting the ninth Academic Meeting on Intellectual Property, Innovation and Development, co-sponsored by our Industrial Property Institute and with the participation of Latin American and Caribbean countries.
554. Brazil is also an active member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries. We have been conducting a long-standing cooperation with African nations such as Mozambique, Angola, Cape Verde and Sao Tome - again, focusing on agriculture and public health. In addition, Brazil and Portugal have just agreed, about two days ago, to a partnership for setting up the Azores International Research Centre - AIR Air Centre – which will house space observation facilities, a lab for monitoring atmospheric radiation as well as centres for oceanography and fishery studies.
555. As a member of the BRIC, Brazil has been supporting initiatives aimed at fostering increased research and development partnerships with Russia, India, China and South Africa. Among other initiatives, we have been discussing the creation of a joint agricultural research centre as well as programmes for the prevention of disaster in coastal regions.
556. To conclude, Brazil's other international partnerships for innovation, notably with the United States, Canada, EU countries, Switzerland, Japan and other nations, are outside the purview of this discussion on regional innovation models while the initiatives I mentioned are concrete with encouraging results so far. We have a lot more to do. We look forward to continued discussions in the TRIPS Council and elsewhere to share experience with other countries and regions.
