Living Lab Biobased Brazil (LLB) celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. What began as an initiative to strengthen our labor market has evolved into a successful platform for biobased innovation and collaboration. LLB facilitates international cooperation and knowledge exchange in research projects that contribute to the materials and energy transition. Recently, the first PhD researcher successfully crossed the ocean to complete her program.

In 2014, Living Lab Biobased Brazil was established under the leadership of MNEXT. Today, the network includes seven partner universities in Brazil—UFMG, UFSJ, UFOP, UFV, PUC Minas, UFJF, and UFLA—and five knowledge institutions in the Netherlands: Avans, HZ, NHL Stenden, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, and Maastricht University. The original goal was to strengthen international cooperation between the Netherlands and Brazil in education and research through partnerships among knowledge institutions, governments, and businesses. Jappe de Best, professor of Biobased Resources & Energy at MNEXT and one of the founders of LLB, recalls: “We quickly identified shared themes around biobased innovations. That’s how the first steps toward joint projects were taken.”

Shortly after LLB’s establishment, the first students ventured to a continent entirely new to them. Since then, over 260 students have completed internships in either the Netherlands or Brazil, and numerous joint research projects have been carried out. This past year marked a new milestone: the first PhD candidate completed her multi-year research program at the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), spending one year at MNEXT. Bruna Rodrigues earned her doctorate with the dissertation “Sustainable Solutions for Pulp Mill Sludge Management”, supervised in Brazil by Claudio Silva, a professor in the Forest Engineering Department (DEF) at UFV, and in the Netherlands by Jappe de Best, Alexander Compeer, and Qian Zhou.

Broadening Horizons

The collaboration within LLB offers valuable experiences and perspectives for everyone involved. Twan Lemlijn, a Mechanical Engineering student at Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, is currently conducting his research internship at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG). For Twan, the program is not only an academic challenge but also an opportunity to experience a completely different culture and environment. “This experience has made me more independent. I’m now living in a city of 2.5 million people, completely different from my small village in the south of the Netherlands. Here, you feel the effects of climate change directly. Every year, new heat records are broken, and droughts and wildfires have a major impact. The youth here are especially aware that they need to take action for nature. That awareness is growing quickly.”

Ana Binow Bitar came to the Netherlands during her studies through LLB and used the experience as a springboard to build a career in the Netherlands. Her story illustrates how LLB not only crosses borders but also retains knowledge and talent for the Netherlands. After her internship, Ana had the opportunity to stay in the Netherlands and, after completing a master’s degree, started working at Deerns, a renowned engineering firm offering integrated solutions in areas such as building physics. At Deerns, she works on projects focusing on wind analysis, ventilation, energy efficiency, acoustics, fire safety, and daylight design. She notes significant differences between the construction sectors in both countries: “Sustainable construction is not strictly regulated in Brazil, and while the field of building physics is developing there, it’s not as advanced as in the Netherlands. In Brazil, the focus is more on cost-effective structural solutions, whereas here, strict environmental regulations emphasize energy efficiency and building comfort.”

Knowledge Exchange as a Vehicle for Innovation

The collaboration between Brazil and the Netherlands within Living Lab Biobased Brazil has resulted in numerous research projects and valuable knowledge exchange. Claudio Silva emphasizes the importance of this exchange: “It’s not just about students learning from us, but also about students bringing new ideas and problem-solving approaches from the Netherlands to us.” Claudio commends the contributions of students like Martijn Eikelboom, who served as the first author of the article “A Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis of Management Alternatives for Anaerobically Digested Kraft Pulp Mill Sludge”, published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE. This article provided new insights into a significant issue for the pulp and paper industry, which is of great importance to Brazil.

Jappe de Best echoes this sentiment: “The strength of LLB lies in the diverse backgrounds of students and researchers, who approach challenges from different perspectives and, in doing so, enhance the quality of research.”

Looking Ahead

The 10-year collaboration between the Netherlands and Brazil through LLB is a success, but according to Jappe de Best, the horizon is far from reached. “We’ve built a strong foundation, but the world is changing rapidly, and there are still many opportunities ahead. The focus will increasingly be on strengthening research ties, further developing PhD exchanges, and creating new collaborative projects that address the major global challenges in the materials and energy transition.”

Are you interested in contributing to the research projects of Living Lab Biobased Brazil as a student or project partner? Contact Margot Verwei at mgp.verwei@avans.nl.

Attention students of UFSJ, UFJF, and UFOP! Are you passionate about sustainability and eager to tackle real-world environmental challenges? Don't miss the opportunity to join the Biobased Battle 2024, taking place from October 27-30, online. This event offers a collaborative and educational space for students from Brazilian and Dutch universities to think together on innovative solutions to pressing environmental issues within the construction sector. Engaging in this challenge will enhance your interdisciplinary and intercultural teamwork skills, as well as knowledge about the biobased economy, and the activity could potentially be used for elective credits in your study programs. Interested students are invited to contact their university's international office for further details and registration. 

Hi all, my name is Victor, I am a 4th year electrical engineering student from UFMG in Brazil. At the moment I am in Breda, the Netherlands, on an internship at MNEXT (Materials and Energy Transition), a group that is part of Avans University of Applied Sciences and HZ University of Applied Sciences. 

Back in Brazil I first heard about Living Lab Brazil by a friend who participated in the program, I asked him about the details, because I always had the dream to have experiences abroad, then I decided to apply, even though, at first, I couldn’t see much correlation between the topics presented and my studies. In my course, the interface between the biology and electrical studies is not really worked, despite that, I had an interest in developing new skills. So, when I discovered the Smart Energy department, a department that would work mostly on the energy transition at MNEXT, I decided to apply for topics in that subject as it would feel closer to my background. 

In the end, I was selected for research on the effects of electrical treatment in mycelium bio composites. Mycelium is the underground network of fungi and when grown in a substrate in a desired shape, it can form a resistant material. This was interesting for me because it would allow me to use my background knowledge to find better results. At first, it was a bit overwhelming with so many new information, but I was kindly helped by Sander, Stefano and Ilse, my supervisors. Afters this first adaptation, I was able to apply all my knowledge for the research and start experimenting on the lab, which you can see in the image with one of my supervisors, Ilse Rovers. 

Before getting to the Netherlands, I had to talk to my school to understand how I could deal an internation internship, the rules, and the preparations I needed for them. Later, I registered and sent all the documents so that I could apply for the Visa and later pick it up. Lastly, I had to apply for housing and packed everything to fly. 

The first impressions of the Netherlands were that it would be a bit too cold and sad because of the almost always cloudy weather. However, that was just the first impression, because when I met the people, all changed, I was so well welcomed that all the winter weather went by quickly and I was able to adapt. Also, once you are settled you can explore more the Dutch culture and its beautiful places. The experience has been amazing, I learned so much from the people and the problems I had to face here. Also, as a non-Dutch speaker I thought I would have more trouble communicating, but everyone here speaks good English. 

If I could give you any advice for further interns, especially those coming from a distant background from biology or chemistry, is that your knowledge will be valuable here and you will be able to add a lot to the research you are involved in, also you will be helped by the amazing professionals that work here. Smart Energy was a nice surprise for me as I was able to find myself among people from a closer background at the same time I was dealing with biologists. If you are interested, prepare your rain coat and warm up your legs for cycling and then you will have an amazing experience. 

Reflecting on our experiences as exchange students, we realize just how much we’ve learned and grown. Taking part in the Living Lab Biobased has been an amazing journey filled with challenges and discoveries. Our primary goal was to improve our English skills, and we've made significant progress. Initially, we were very insecure, even to order food. Now, speaking English has become more natural to us. Living in the Netherlands has taught us many things about adapting to a new culture and way of life. For instance, we learned that surviving having just a sandwich for lunch is possible, something we hadn’t considered before. We also discovered that traffic lights can be noisy when crossing the road and that a two-hour drive can be too far away, we don’t know how. The Dutch weather presented its own set of challenges. Wind and rain can be formidable adversaries, while sunny days and bright blue skies become treasured events. 

We learned that there are hundreds of species of tulips and that we live in Limburg – not Holland – and that is a huge difference (we have vlaai!). We were also very impressed that lots of dialects exist in one country that is almost 205 smaller than ours. We learned that Albert Heijn is everywhere and that a train can derail and you will be left behind at the station because the warning was given in Dutch and you didn’t understand. We learned that it’s not Van Gogh it’s Van Rrrrrroooorrrh.

In Portuguese there’s a word calling “saudade”. It means a nostalgic longing to be near again something or someone that is distant. We experienced that “saudade” can hit different when we are 9000 km and +5 hours away. Despite that, we’ve made incredible connections here. The Netherlands has given us a new Brazilian family while here and have taught us a lot about friendship. Additionally, we have also made wonderful Dutch friends who have welcomed us with open arms and shared their culture with us.

During our exchange program at CHILL, the laboratory experience was transformative, providing us with invaluable practical skills and a deeper understanding of scientific research methodologies. The handson experience with advanced laboratory equipment enhanced our technical proficiency and confidence in conducting experiments. Collaborating with international peers exposed us to diverse perspectives and approaches to problem-solving, enriching our analytical skills and contributing to a collaborative spirit. These immersive lab experiences not only reinforced our theoretical knowledge but also taught us the significance of teamwork, communication, and adaptability in a research setting. Every day, we learn more about gratitude and seizing opportunities. The initial anxiety and nervousness we felt upon arriving have gradually given way to growing confidence. We’ve learned that the world is huge and that life can be surprisingly simple.

Yet, there are still mysteries to unravel—like how to ride a bike without using both hands. Maybe one day we’ll master that skill too!

Met vriendelijke groeten!

Adriano, Ana Laura, Bianca, Bruno, Isabella, Sofia and Thales.

About a year ago I (Jappe de Best) received a request from Claudio Mudadu, a professor that I met several times on my trips to Belo Horizonte and who received several Dutch students for an internship at Universidade Federal de Vicosa (UFV). He asked if I would be willing to receive one of his PhD students. This student received a sandwich PhD grant from Capes PRint and wanted to come to The Netherlands to do part of her research at Avans-MNEXT. She was especially interested in pyrolysis and LCA. Two main research topics of my research group. I liked the idea immediately because I think it is a perfect way to further develop cooperation within the living lab, and it offers PhD students the opportunity to go abroad. Since it was the first time for a PhD exchange within the Living lab Brazil it took a bit of time arranging the exchange, but it was worthwhile waiting. In September 2023, Bruna joined my research group. During her stay she has been able to link the research that she did in Brazil with the research we do at Avans-MNEXT. It definitely enriched our knowledge and experience and will also lead to 2 nice publications.

When end of last year I got another request for a PhD exchange, this time from Sonia Carvalho Ribeiro from UFMG, it was not hard to say yes. In April2024, Ana Carolina Mendes dos Santos came to Avans-MNEXT for a stay of 3 months. Ana receives a grant from Programa de Doutorado-sanduíche no Exterior (PDSE) from Capes to fund her exchange. During her stay she looks into drivers and barriers in the implementation of the circular bioeconomy in the Netherlands and how this could help implementation of circular bioeconomy in Brazil. I think it is very nice that in this way we can learn from each other.

All-in all, I am very happy with the first 2 PhD exchanges that we realized within the living lab Brazil. I can recommend it to everyone, and I would be very happy to receive more PhD students in future.

If you want to know more about the grant that Bruno and Ana received you can look here:

• Programa Institucional de Internacionalização – CAPES - PrInt
• Programa de Doutorado-sanduíche no Exterior (PDSE)

If you want to know more about the experiences of Bruna you can read an interview with her:  https://www.biobasedbrazil.org/2023/11/23/phd-on-waste-management/.

Jappe de Best

Together with Brazilian students Gabriel Domingues, Mariana Gouvea, Ana-Flavia de Oliveira and Matheus Mugayar, Zuyd produced a video to reach future Brazilian students. And to quickly inform coordinators and professors of the Brazilian universities on the impact of the exchange for their Brazilian students. The video shows a very realistic view of the applied research projects in the laboratories that they participate in for a semester. Enjoy the enthusiasm of the Brazilian students in the video. Link to the video.

I’m Francesca Figaroli an Italian international student from ESSET, Environmental Sciences and Sustainable Technologies and I’m currently in my first internship period. Since the beginning of my course, I knew I wanted to do my internship abroad because I always saw it as a useful and interesting opportunity and the perfect time to travel. I chose Brazil for different reasons. First of all, I wanted to experience life outside of Europe. Then two of my professors, Thais Lima de Castro and Bruno Bastos Sales are Brazilian and I had such a good impression of Brazilian people. Thanks to them that I decided to move to the other side of the world. Then of course also the will to visit such a big country with a magnificent variety of flora and fauna and cities.

Lab work

Right now I’m in the state of Minas Gerais in the city of Sao Joao del Rei a small city, in Brazilian terms, at about two hours from Belo Horizonte, working with a research group in the Federal University UFSJ. In the laboratory, the environment is really friendly and welcoming and I found it very useful working with people with different levels of experience and studies background. Indeed, there are master’s students from physics, chemistry, engineering doctorates, and undergraduates all working together to help each other. Therefore, together with them, I managed to carry out my project which is about synthesising quantum dots of different materials and applying them to solar cells that we build on a laboratory scale 

I didn't expect to enjoy lab work so much, but working with your hands and applying your study background to something you actually build and work on is something I really enjoy. Step by step, from cleaning the glasses to synthesizing the materials to applying all the different layers of materials needed, I managed to close my first cells without much effort because here you learn by doing.

The campus

The University environment is really vivid and present in any case of need. One of the most useful things in my opinion for students is the canteen which prepares proper meals for lunch and dinner at a really cheap price and it is present on all the campus of the university which is three in different areas of the city. I spend most of my time at Campus Don Bosco where my laboratories are. The Campus Tancredo Neves is the biggest one and the one where I live since the University has some apartments available for students here. I think making friends here is easy and going out in the city is really nice. The historical center is always full of life. At the same time due to the high presence of university students’ pubs, parties, and many organised activities are present. This area of Brazil is famous for the high presence of waterfalls and students love to organize walking trips to reach them.

Preparation

Before leaving I contacted my supervisor and the international office in order to have some basic important information as regarding addresses, contacts, how was it possible to have a Brazilian number, where to go to change euro into reais, which type of plug is present here, if the apartment already had wi-fi and so on. Their answers were really helpful and the response was quick. 

Tips

Some advice that I would give to a student who is willing to travel to Brazil is start to look for information regarding the Visa months before as well as for the vaccinations needed; to be ready for high temperatures and humidity so bring light clothes; everything that you need regarding medical support is present also here but always good to bring some medication which you are used to in Europe. Try all the food you can because the Brazilian food is great. Be ready to encounter people that are really curious about you and keep in mind that Brazilian would do everything to make you part of the community and to make you spend time with them which is really amazing! 

MNEXT (Centre of Expertise Material and Energy Transition)* will be organizing monthly "Lunch (or Breakfast) & Learn" sessions in the field of materials and energy transition. They will keep you updated on the program for the upcoming months via this link. Our next "Lunch & Learn" is scheduled for December 14, and it will focus on Energy Holocracy. Intrigued? Be sure to reserve the date in your calendar, as more information will follow soon.

If you would also like to lecture in a related topic, please contact our colleague Wendy van Rijsbergen.

*A collaboration of Avans and HZ University of Applied Sciences and formely known by the name Centre of Expertise Biobased Economy.

Living Lab Biobased Brazil offers a number of internships and biobased graduation internship projects. New is the addition of topics on Smart Energy and Biobased Construction.These projects take place at partner institutions, such as universities and companies. Deadline for application for the period September  2023 – January 2024 is April 1. Click here for more information.

Every two weeks we update anyone who is interested on specific themes from the materials and energy transition. During the Lunch & Learn lectures, every Thursday afternoon from 12:15 to 1:00 pm (CET), you follow presentations by experts or join a broad discussion on a topic. All Lunch & Learn lectures will be English spoken. Find here more information! If you also would like to share an interesting topic, please contact: info@coebbe.nl