University of Warsaw expands scientific cooperation in South America

Representatives of the University of Warsaw from the Biological and Chemical Research Centre (CNBCh UW) and the Faculty of Biology visited South America to further develop scientific and institutional cooperation with local partners. The delegation included Dr. Konrad Zawadzki, Deputy Director of CNBCh UW, as well as Prof. Łukasz Drewniak and Dr. Namrata Joshi from the Faculty of Biology, UW.

The delegation attended meetings with representatives of universities and research centers, including the Catholic University of Santa María in Arequipa, Peru, the National University of the East (UNE) in Paraguay, and partners in the Brazilian state of Paraná. Discussions focused on opportunities for joint research, academic mobility, international project implementation, and further development of cooperation in biotechnology, microbiology, agriculture, and the bioeconomy.

Scientific conference in Peru and development of key projects

In Peru, the delegation participated in the VII International Congress of Pharmaceutical, Biochemical, and Biotechnological Sciences in Arequipa. During the conference, Konrad Zawadzki presented research on microbiological potential and the application of microorganisms in biotechnological processes.

The visit provided an excellent opportunity to advance international cooperation under the FNP BIOGLOBE (Team-Net) project and the DynaMF initiative, dedicated to developing Dynamic Microbiological Fertilizers. Szymon Rzuczkowski and Inga Suchodolska from UW also participated in presenting the core concepts and results achieved so far.

Knowledge exchange and innovation ecosystems

In Paraguay, Konrad Zawadzki spoke about internationalization, innovation ecosystems, and the University of Warsaw’s experience in creating environments where science, infrastructure, institutions, and external partners can collaborate to generate new solutions.

Another key aspect of the visit was the exchange of scientific experience and the presentation of ongoing research. During the international congress in Arequipa, UW representatives presented research on microbiological potential and the use of microorganisms in biotechnological processes (including as part of the DynaMF project). The principles and progress of the BIOGLOBE Team-Net project were also presented with contributions from early-career UW researchers Szymon Rzuczkowski and Inga Suchodolska.

Initiatives in Brazil: Science Station Paraná – Poland

In Brazil, the visit continued the actions initiated following last year’s visit by UW Rector Prof. Alojzy Nowak. A key highlight was the further development of the Science Station Paraná -Poland initiative, led on the Polish side by Prof. Mariusz Ziółkowski from the UW Centre for Andean Studies, and on the Brazilian side by Prof. Marcio Fernandes from UNICENTRO. Official Station spaces were opened across two UNICENTRO campuses in Guarapuava: Santa Cruz and Cedeteg.

Science Station Paraná – Poland aims to serve as a platform connecting researchers, institutions, and diverse scientific fields to support joint ventures. During the trip, the delegation also visited laboratories, agricultural producers, cooperatives, and businesses to discuss applying biotechnological solutions in agriculture, industry, and the local economy. An important additional outcome was a commitment to provide methodological support for teaching the Polish language in schools in Irati.

This visit represents another important step in systematically building and strengthening relations between the University of Warsaw and scientific institutions across South America.

We thank all our partners for the meetings, openness, and inspiring discussions. We look forward to seeing these new connections translate into future joint research, educational, and international projects.

📸 We invite you to view the photo gallery from the UW delegation’s visit.