ORION at EURAXESS: Advancing the Europe-Brazil Research Agenda

On 26 March 2026, the Escola de Química at the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) hosted an information session- Oportunidades do Horizon Europe para pesquisadores do Rio de Janeiro, which quietly carried significant weight for the future of Europe-Brazil research collaboration. Organised by EURAXESS LAC in partnership with UFRJ and Rede de Assessorias Internacionais das Universidades do Rio de Janeiro (REARI), the event gathered researchers, academics, and representatives from Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), the French Consulate, and EURAXESS itself. The agenda centred on the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026–2027 and what it means for researchers in Rio de Janeiro.

ORION partner UFRJ was represented on the day by Rodrigo Gloria, who was invited to speak about his experience in the ORION project, offering direct feedback on funding, researcher mobility, and what it means in practice to be part of a large-scale international collaboration. He took the floor to present an overview of ORION, its core objectives, and the scale of its international consortium, which spans research institutions and industry partners across Norway, Portugal, France, Germany, Canada, Cape Verde, and Brazil. He shared how the group’s involvement in the project began, where it stands today, and how the consortium maintains its momentum through regular joint meetings, a key mechanism for coordination and knowledge exchange across such a geographically dispersed partnership.

One of the central themes of the day was the challenge of funding international collaborations, particularly when working with European partners. Discussions explored how aligning Horizon Europe opportunities with local funding mechanisms.

Beyond funding, the event reinforced something that sits at the heart of what ORION is building: the conviction that global challenges demand global solutions. The energy transition cannot be solved by any single country or institution in isolation. It requires the integration of different perspectives, methodologies, and areas of expertise, precisely the kind of multidisciplinary, multi-continental collaboration.

Although the session was not focused on technical topics, its value was clear. By creating awareness of funding opportunities, facilitating networking, and helping align expectations between institutions, events like this one play a fundamental role in enabling the kind of large-scale projects that are shaping the future of energy systems and digital infrastructure. When ORION was introduced to the room, the response reflected that. Interest was strong and the reception positive, a signal that the work the consortium is doing resonates well beyond its immediate partners.

What stayed with Rodrigo most from the day went beyond any single exchange. It was the breadth of opportunities available for collaboration with European partners, both in terms of funding and institutional support, and the direct access to the key stakeholders who help make those collaborations possible. In a project built on the belief that the right partnerships can change the way the world manages its energy future, that kind of clarity is not a small thing. ORION was proud to be part of that conversation in Rio de Janeiro.