Coppe hosts delegation from Innovation Norway
Planeta COPPE
Date: 03/07/2025

Recognized as a center of excellence in science and technology, Coppe/UFRJ reaffirms its position as a leading institution in cutting-edge research and innovation with high-impact potential for the productive sector.
On Tuesday, July 1st, the institution welcomed Patrick Reurink, Counselor for Science, Technology and Higher Education at Innovation Norway — the main Norwegian government agency dedicated to promoting innovation and the economic development of the country’s enterprises (learn more on the English website).
The Norwegian delegation visited Coppe to learn more about strategic projects developed by its laboratories, with a focus on global challenges and energy transition opportunities. The topics discussed are directly relevant to oil and gas companies seeking sustainable, innovative, and industrially applicable solutions, including low-carbon fuels, automation, robotics, renewable energy, and integrated modeling of energy and climate scenarios.

During the visit, Professor André Lucena, from the Energy Planning Program, presented the Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) developed by the Cenergia laboratory. With two decades of expertise, the group has created unique tools such as Caesar and Orion (refinery-focused), Bloem (bioenergy), Mesh (renewables), Hermes (transport), Blues (energy and land use on a national scale), and Coffee and Tea (global energy and economy models). Thanks to Cenergia, Brazil is the only country in the Global South with a globally scoped IAM focused on energy and climate change — a strategic advantage on the international stage.
Professor Henrique Pacheco, from the Chemical Engineering Program, presented the state-of-the-art infrastructure of the Nucleus of Catalysis (Nucat), a reference center for catalytic processes aimed at energy transition. Projects showcased included biomass and plastic waste pyrolysis, as well as catalytic reactions using ethanol and CO₂, yielding high-value products such as ammonia, ethylene, green hydrogen, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The Innovation Norway delegation also visited LabOceano, one of the world’s largest oceanic tanks, and the Control and Automation Laboratory (Lead), where aerial, land, and underwater robots and drones are developed for inspecting mining and oil exploration areas, with applications in large-scale industrial projects in collaboration with major companies.
The meeting was attended by Professor Marysilvia Costa, Coppe’s Director of Technology and Innovation; Alfredo Renault, Director of the Low Carbon Solutions Center; and Pedro Spadale, Coordinator of Coppe International. Representing Innovation Norway were Pilar Neves, Project Manager for South America, and Isabella Lacerda. The visit reinforces Coppe’s strategic role as a bridge between high-level scientific knowledge and global industry in pursuit of innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness.
