The German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) has announced a significant expansion of its international operations through two new partnerships in Brazil. The agreements were signed at the Hannover Messe, where Brazil is currently featured as the official partner country. The DFKI has formalised Memoranda of Understanding with the innovation hub NEXUS AI Campus and its long-term collaborator SENAI CIMATEC. These deals focus on advancing applied research and sustainable industrial transformation.
A central part of this expansion involves the DFKI Robotics Innovation Center in Bremen and its history with SENAI CIMATEC. The two organisations have worked together since 2013 when the Brazilian Institute of Robotics was established in Salvador. Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Frank Kirchner served as the Scientific Director for that project. One of the most notable results of this alliance is the FlatFish autonomous underwater vehicle. This technology is used to inspect energy infrastructure located offshore. The new framework agreement seeks to build on these foundations by focusing on industrial innovation and robotics.
In addition to deepening existing ties, the DFKI has welcomed the NEXUS AI Campus as a new strategic partner. Based in Joinville, the NEXUS hub operates in the industrially developed southern region of Brazil. It serves as a bridge between universities and private companies to develop market-ready solutions. The partnership will cover several high-tech fields including generative AI, computer vision and quantum computing. Other key areas of focus include health tech, cognitive robotics and the use of AI in agriculture and smart cities.
The main objective of these two collaborations is to speed up the development of innovative AI technologies. The organisations also plan to increase the exchange of talent and knowledge between Germany and Brazil. This move is expected to provide a new boost for the commercial use of artificial intelligence.
“With Brazil as the partner country, this year’s Hannover Messe offers a particularly fitting setting to showcase the further development of our collaborations. Intensifying our collaboration with partners such as SENAI CIMATEC and NEXUS AI Campus opens up additional opportunities for us to translate our European AI research perspective and expertise into industrial applications and to further expand our international network with like-minded partners,” said Prof. Dr. Antonio Krüger, CEO of DFKI.
