Delegation trip to Brazil led by Bavarian State Secretary for Economic Affairs Tobias Gotthardt: Transformation to a green economy

Salvador / São Paulo / Campinas – Following the motto ‘Bavaria to Brazil: Transforming Today for a Greener Tomorrow’, a Bavarian business delegation consisting of companies and institutions from the fields of hydrogen, bioeconomy, circular economy and environmental technology travelled to Brazil from 5-12 October.

Under the leadership of the Bavarian State Secretary for Economic Affairs Tobias Gotthardt, the delegation visited various companies and research institutions, held talks with political representatives and attended networking events for Bavarian and Brazilian companies and institutes.

The visit to the reference centre for research, development and innovation Senai Cimatec in Salvador in the state of Bahia highlighted the potential for renewable energies and biomass for the production of hydrogen and synthetic fuels, which is estimated at more than 60 million tonnes of green hydrogen per year.

Among others, innovative research and development projects by companies, universities and start-ups are to be promoted and pilot projects implemented in the CIMATEC Park, an industrial innovation complex in the Salvador metropolitan region covering an area of 4 million square metres.

Another highlight was the visit to the Hydrogen Dialogue Latam in São Paulo, the Brazilian affiliate event of the Hydrogen Dialogue in Nuremberg.

In his opening speech at the Hydrogen Dialogue Latam in São Paulo, the State Secretary emphasised Bavaria’s role in the hydrogen economy:

‘Here in Brazil, we are bringing together what belongs together. Bavaria produces high technology that can also be used to produce hydrogen in Brazil. At the same time, we and our energy-intensive industry are a reliable long-term buyer of green hydrogen. We need international sources for procurement. That’s what our Bavarian hydrogen strategy says, which we are consistently implementing.’

In a separate Bavarian panel, the State Secretary called for closer cooperation with partners from Brazil. Adriano Piotto (Siemens), Amanda Furni Andrade (Ascensus Group, sales partner of Quantron in Brazil) and Carolin Reiser (H2.B) also took part in the panel. The strength of Bavaria as a business and research location in the field of hydrogen was emphasised, as were existing and future opportunities for cooperation between Brazil and Bavaria.

The trip provided important insights into Brazil’s central role in the fight against climate change, as well as the great potential offered by the innovative growth market of Brazil. As an established business and research centre, Bavaria is proving to be an important cooperation partner here.

Pictures: Bastian Brummer / StMWi, Ruy Hizatugu Filho / photographer, Carolin Reiser / H2.B