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Londres (28 de março) – O ministro da Indústria, Comércio Exterior e Serviços, Marcos Jorge de Lima, e o Ministro de Comércio Internacional do Reino Unido, Liam Fox, presidiram hoje a 10ª reunião do Comitê Econômico e de Comércio Conjunto Reino Unido – Brasil (JETCO na sigla em inglês), realizada em Londres.

“Estou convicto de que o JETCO ganha em relevância nesta nova fase de nossas relações comerciais e este encontro certamente cria as base para resultados concretos e mutuamente benéficos para nossos países”, declarou o ministro Marcos Jorge.

Para o secretário Liam Fox, como a maior economia da América do Sul, o Brasil tem um enorme potencial que as empresas britânicas podem utilizar. “Continuaremos a trabalhar em estreita colaboração com o governo brasileiro para derrubar as barreiras ao comércio e apoiar nossas economias em benefício mútuo”, disse.

Acordos

Durante a reunião, Marcos Jorge e Liam Fox assinaram um Memorando de Entendimento para fomentar temas importantes no comércio bilateral, como facilitação de comércio, cooperação regulatória e promoção da cultura exportadora, com estímulo para maior participação das micro, pequenas e médias empresas (MPMEs) no comércio exterior. Além disso, o Memorando alcança ainda o apoio para reestruturação do Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial (INPI) e para a implementação de instrumentos de compliance para permitir o acesso do Brasil à Organização para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Econômico (OCDE), candidatura oficializada em maio de 2017.

Marcos Jorge ressaltou a importância da parceria com o Reino Unido. “Acredito que uma das características mais importantes de nosso relacionamento tem sido a capacidade de inovar na identificação de meios de fomentarmos projetos de desenvolvimento associado, como é o caso da cooperação no contexto do Fundo da Prosperidade, o “Prosperity Fund”declarou o ministro.

O Prosperity Fund é o fundo de cooperação do Governo Britânico financiado pelo Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Ministério das Relações Exteriores Britânico). Entre 2011 e 2016, o fundo britânico o investiu mais de 14 milhões de libras em projetos no Brasil, com o intuito de melhorar o ambiente de negócios, bem como atrair novos investimentos em infraestrutura com melhorias no ambiente regulatório e capacitação em parcerias público-privadas.

Intercâmbio comercial

O ministro também destacou as trocas comerciais entre o Brasil e o Reino Unido, que chegaram, em 2017, ao valor de cerca de US$ 5,15 bilhões. “Apenas nos dois primeiros meses deste ano, nosso intercâmbio de bens já cresceu 30% de lado a lado, o que demonstra o potencial existente para o incremento de nossas trocas comerciais”, afirmou.

Em termos de investimentos, o Brasil possui estoque de US$ 30 bilhões e o Reino Unido, US$ 4 bilhões.
“Isso demonstra o grande esforço e empenho de nossas empresas para o incremento das relações bilaterais. Por isso, Brasil e Reino Unido, inclusive por intermédio do engajamento do MDIC e do DIT no JETCO, têm trabalhando com afinco para dar mais fluidez ao ambiente de negócios”, lembrou Marcos Jorge. .

Parceria INPI-UKIPO

Durante o Jetco, o diretor-executivo do Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial (INPI), Mauro Maia, e o diretor-executivo e controlador-geral do Escritório de Propriedade Intelectual do Reino Unido (UKIPO, na sigla em Inglês), Tim Moss, assinaram um acordo que vai acelerar a análise de pedidos de patentes.

O acordo prevê a colaboração entre o INPI e o UKIPO através de um projeto piloto de Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH). Neste modelo de parceria entre dois países ou regiões, o solicitante da patente poderá pedir que o exame de seu pedido seja priorizado em um dos países, após ter sido concedido pelo outro.

Deste modo, um pedido de patente já concedido no Brasil poderá ter seu exame acelerado no Reino Unido, ao mesmo tempo em que uma solicitação deferida no instituto britânico poderá ser agilizada no INPI. Em média, segundo o INPI, o prazo é reduzido de cerca de 10 anos para nove meses, via PPH.

Segundo o ministro Marcos Jorge, é importante destacar que “patentes concedidas com agilidade são essenciais para estimular a inovação e a competitividade das empresas, inclusive para as que pretendem investir no mercado externo. Também contribuem para atrair investimentos no Brasil”, informa.

Neste PPH entre o INPI e o UKIPO, que entrará em vigor no terceiro trimestre de 2018, poderão ser incluídos até 100 pedidos de patentes por ano. Os campos tecnológicos ainda serão definidos pelos dois institutos.

Atualmente, o Brasil possui projetos de PPH com os Estados Unidos, o Japão, a China, o Escritório Europeu de Patentes e os países latino-americanos que fazem parte do projeto denominado PROSUR.

O Governo Britânico, em parceria com o Fundo Newton, abre as inscrições para o Prêmio Newton 2018. Os países contemplados para a chamada são Brasil, Chile, Colômbia e México. São elegíveis beneficiários existentes ou passados de projetos financiados pelo Newton Fund. O prêmio será concedido para a melhor pesquisa ou inovação que promova desenvolvimento econômico, bem-estar social ou que enfrente desafios globais.

O Prêmio Newton reconhece e celebra pesquisas e inovações de excelência financiadas pelo Fundo Newton, desde o seu lançamento em 2014. Ele busca incentivar pesquisadores e inovadores a participarem como parceiros do Reino Unido e a trabalharem para responder aos mais urgentes desafios globais.

Neste ano, cinco projetos serão contemplados, pelo menos um prêmio para cada país será concedido, no valor máximo de200 mil libras, aproximadamente 1 milhão de reais, o qual deve ser usado para avançar ou desenvolver trabalhos existentes no Fundo Newton. A lista de inscrições será analisada por um comitê independente, liderado pelo Sir Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, um dos mais ilustres cientistas britânicos, vencedor do Prêmio Nobel e presidente da Royal Society de Londres.

“A América Latina tem uma riqueza de excelentes pesquisadores trabalhando em colaboração com o Reino Unido para abordar questões diversas como biodiversidade, saúde e observação da Terra através das parcerias do Fundo Newton na região. Como presidente do Comitê do Prêmio, estou ansioso para descobrir mais sobre esses empreendimentos colaborativos”, afirmou o cientista.

As inscrições, em inglês, são feitas pelo site até o dia 25 de maio de 2018:
http://www.newtonfund.ac.uk/newtonprize/

A Downing Street spokesperson said:

Prime Minister Theresa May today spoke with President Trump to welcome the US decision to expel 60 Russian diplomats in response to the use of a nerve agent in Salisbury.

The PM said the US had delivered a very strong response and welcomed the breadth of international action in response to Russia’s reckless and brazen behaviour – with 26 countries now putting expulsions in place.

The Prime Minister welcomed the temporary exemption to steel and aluminium tariffs announced by the US last week in relation to the European Union.

She said she looked forward to constructive talks taking place between the EU and the US on making the exemption permanent.

Finally, the Prime Minister thanked the President for his personal help and support in securing the passage of the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act or CLOUD Act by the US, which will provide an important tool in the investigation of terrorist and other offences in the UK and keep people living here safer.

The next generation of navigation systems that could operate without GPS, cameras that can see round corners and truly trust-worthy methods of exchanging data are 3 of the devices and systems that could be developed in the next quantum revolution, led by UK companies and researchers.

The government has confirmed that a £20 million pioneer fund will be available to support the development of between 3 and 5 prototype quantum-enabled devices that could be used in future sensors, consumer electronics and digital services.

The investment is the part of government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, which brings together world-leading research with businesses to take on the major societal and economic challenges of our time.

Pioneer funding will be used to establish whether more significant future funding could help UK businesses to establish a global advantage.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said:

Throughout the centuries Britain has led the world in creating new products and services and this new £20 million investment will enable us to be at the forefront of discovering new innovations that could change the world.

Through our modern Industrial Strategy we are investing in the newest technologies, which will create the high-value, high skilled jobs ensuring we build a Britain fit for the future.

ISCF Wave 2 – Quantum Technology

Speaking at a National Physical Laboratory quantum industry dinner, Interim Challenge Director Sir Peter Knight, said:

In order to secure the UK lead in this area and make sure that UK companies take a significant share of this large future sector, we must act now with a focus more than ever on working across the spectrum of industry, academia and across government to achieve innovation.

The Pioneer Challenge will develop our industrial base, integrated with UK research. The rise of quantum technologies will have a huge impact on all our lives.

The Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund is the greatest single increase in government research and development funding for almost 40 years, and will deliver the science that business needs to build on our industrial strengths and deliver economic impact, jobs and growth right across the country. It will play a central role in achieving the Government’s commitment to raising the UK’s public and private spend on research and development to 2.4% of GDP by 2027.

Case studies of quantum technologies research and innovation projects

Cold atoms space payload (CASPA)

Developments in quantum technology allow cold atoms – cooled down near to absolute zero using lasers – to be used in highly precise sensors for measuring gravity.

A team led by Teledyne e2v is developing a small satellite payload to generate cold atoms in space (CASPA). The CASPA project involves the translation of leading UK science into a core technology. A demonstration of the core technology in space would represent an important step towards the future realisation of instruments that can map the changes in gravity across the Earth. As gravity can vary minutely depending on the Earth’s composition at a given point, this, in turn, would allow for applications in Earth observation, for instance enabling the accurate monitoring of polar ice, ocean currents and water sources across the globe.

The project is funded by Innovate UK, with co-funding from EPSRC, and involves Gooch & Housego, Clyde Space, XCAM, Covesion and the universities of Birmingham and Southampton.

Single Pixel Imaging Technology (QUANTIC)

Researchers at QuantiC have developed imaging technology using a single pixel camera that is capable of seeing through smoke, visualising gas leaks and capturing high precision 3D images.

The technology combines low-cost micro-mirror arrays and image reconstruction algorithms to capture video-rate images of a scene faster than any existing scanning system.

Working in collaboration with industry partners, such as specialised laser company M Squared Lasers and global engineering company Leonardo, QuantiC have developed prototypes for invisible gas sensing and computational 3D LIDAR systems with potential routes to commercialisation that will have a market impact in the heavy industry and defence and security sectors.

Going Deeper Underground (UK National Quantum Technology Hub in Sensors and Metrology)

Physicists and civil engineers at the UK National Quantum Technology Hub in Sensors and Metrology, in collaboration with industrial partners such as Te2v and RSK, are developing quantum gravity sensors to locate utilities buried underground without having to excavate.

The sensors have the potential to speed up the location process one hundred fold and lead to annual savings to the UK economy of several hundreds of millions of pounds.

The work builds on 2 major EPSRC-funded projects led by civil engineers at the University of Birmingham, which made huge strides in the development of a shared multisensor platform through the application of technologies such as vibro-acoustics, passive magnetic fields and ground penetrating radar.

Notes to editors

• The challenge will be delivered by UK Research and Innovation through Innovate UK and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The first briefing event for businesses and researchers will take place in London on 18th April. Further details of the event will be available shortly
• The Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund was created to ensure that research and innovation takes centre stage in the government’s Industrial Strategy, with investment earmarked for technologies where the UK can build on its world-leading strengths and help innovative businesses to tap into large and growing global markets, as well as the industries of the future. The fund is being administered by UK Research and Innovation under the leadership of its Chief Executive Sir Mark Walport. It will play a key role in strengthening the UK’s competitiveness through the Industrial Strategy

In the first event of its kind, Digital and Culture Secretary Matt Hancock, today brought together more than 100 organisations from across the digital, culture, media and sporting worlds to address diversity concerns.

The diversity forum, hosted at the world famous Abbey Road Studios, is part of the Government’s mission to create a fairer society where success is based on merit, not privilege. The forum brought together high profile figures including former paralympian Lady Tanni Grey-Thompson, CodeFirstGirls’ Chief Executive Amali de Alwis, ITV’s Head of Diversity Ade Rawcliffe, Chair of UK Music’s Diversity Taskforce Keith Harris and Sport England’s Director of Insight Lisa O’Keefe.

Too often sectors work on diversity and social mobility in silos, convinced that the challenges they face are unique. The new forum will identify and share best practice for increasing diversity and social mobility, making the sectors inclusive and representative of the communities they serve across the country.

Speaking at the event, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Matt Hancock said:

Diversity is not just a moral imperative, it makes good business sense. It’s crucial that these positive intentions are converted into good decisions.

Talent in music, sport, tech, art and design can be found anywhere but unless we look for it everywhere, we all risk losing out. We need to open up opportunities to everyone in this country – because you’ll never serve the nation unless you reflect the nation.

Sport England’s Director of Insight, Lisa O’Keefe said:

This was an invaluable opportunity to share learning from our successful This Girl Can campaign with representatives from very different industries – each with a common goal to increase diversity. We all have so much to learn from each other as we work to tackle the same big challenges of under-representation in our respective sectors – and so much more to do to. But by working together, we will achieve faster change.

Attendees also heard from Deborah Williams, Executive Director of the Creative Diversity Network. She oversees Project Diamond which tracks levels of diversity in front of and behind the camera of all UK-originated productions on BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky.

Debbie Williams said:

It was so pleasing to see representatives from across the entire DCMS portfolio in one space sharing experiences and learning from each other. Matt Hancock showed his passion for diversity and made clear there is no turning back in this agenda.

The Diversity Forum coincides with the publication of the Creative Industries Sector Deal which will see £2 million made available to kickstart an industry-led skills package. This includes a creative careers programme to encourage a more diverse intake of talent and more routes into the creative industries.

Commenting on the event the British Film Institute’s Chief Executive Officer, Amanda Nevill, said:

We strongly welcome the Secretary of State’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and believe that film, as one of the most accessible art forms, is a vital driver for change.

The BFI actively demonstrates our commitment through what we say and what we do, for example our current BFI Flare: LGBTQ+ Film Festival, the BFI Film Academy or the adoption of BFI Diversity Standards, which have become a game changer for film. The Diversity Standards are a prerequisite to receive BFI National Lottery funding but they are also enthusiastically being adopted by the industry as an essential tool to effect change through challenging recruitment decisions. They show just how determined and open we are as an industry to offer opportunity to everyone.

Notes

• The Creative Industries Sector Deal published today can be found https://www.gov.uk/government/news/creative-industries-sector-deal-launched