The areas of research in SAR (Synthetic-aperture radar) processing, remote sensing, radio concealment, and autonomous vehicles are considered strategic in both Brazil and Sweden. As a result, the Aeronautical Technology Institute (ITA) and the Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH – Blekinge Tekniska Högskola) have been carrying out joint projects with each other and in partnership with other institutions and companies from both countries.

This union came about because of research grants funded by CNPq, CISB and Saab, which made it possible for Professor Renato Machado from ITA to go to Sweden to develop his radar research project with Professor Mats Pettersson from BTH. “I was impressed by the quality of Brazilian researchers and the amount of new ideas that emerged from this exchange,” comments Prof. Pattersson.

One of the researches stands out: the development of a SAR system capable of detecting targets or camouflaged objects in dense forest areas, such as the Amazon Forest. Prof. Renato says the project would bring solutions to pressing issues such as selective deforestation, arson, identification of routes used in drug trafficking, identification of aircraft wreckage from falls in dense forest areas, among other applications.

It is important to highlight that the educational institutions in Brazil and Sweden have the same level of responsibility in the project. “The role of each institution is to add value to the innovation process of the projects that are being developed within the framework created from this partnership that is already well established,” says Professor Renato.

“The continuity of exchanges between researchers of both institutions is fundamental for the partnership to continue to flow well. Thus, we also intend to continue investing in projects that enable this two-way flow of researchers between Brazil and Sweden,” points out Prof. Machado. Moreover, Prof. Patterson also states, “In addition to technical learning, from a human point of view, knowing new cultures and understanding other points of view is fundamental for any researcher.”

In addition, the partnership already aims at the expansion and insertion of new actors. “We are currently preparing a project proposal involving the participation of ITA, UNICAMP, BTH and Chalmers University of Technology. Also participating in the project is a Brazilian company and a Swedish company. The names cannot be disclosed yet because we do not have an official confirmation of the companies, but we hope to make it official by March 2020,” concludes Prof. Renato.