Coppe 60 years
60TH ANNIVERSARY AGENDA:
Celebrating our achievements
Demonstrating our competencies to our own community and society
Reflecting on our role for the next 60 years
Atividades previstas:
ABOUT THE CELEBRATION
We at the Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute for Graduate Studies and Research in Engineering – Coppe – celebrate our 60th anniversary at the front line of research in Engineering with the principles that have always guided our institution: quality and impartiality in science; openness; integrity; professionalism; respect and fairness.
The year 2023 is not only a year of celebrations, but first and foremost a year with a lot to be done, with an agenda of debates contemplating the most relevant subjects in Engineering and for our society. The Coppe + Society Agenda is aligned with the sustainable development goals and weighs the new challenges of an ever-changing world with the interdisciplinary approach that defines our scientific work.
Our Agenda will bring to the table the main subjects that dominate our society’s debates, such as artificial intelligence, low carbon solutions, blue and green economies, the role of Engineering in the social development and industrial growth of a country, and Health Engineering. Our Agenda will also be a forum for debates on the future of teaching and on the past and future roles of Coppe itself in regard to scientific research.
OUR TIMELINE
1961
Professor Alberto Luiz Galvão Coimbra submits the document “Opportunity to establish a graduate course in Chemical Engineering in Brazil” at the National School of Chemistry of the University of Brazil (currently UFRJ).
1962
Professor Athos da Silveira Ramos creates the Institute of Chemistry at the University of Brazil.
1963
Alberto Luiz Coimbra inaugurates, in March, at the Institute of Chemistry of the University of Brazil, the master's course in Chemical Engineering, which was the embryo of what would soon become COPPE.
1964
The student Nelson Trevisan defends the first master's thesis of the Chemical Engineering course that gave rise to COPPE.
The first Funtec contract is signed between COPPE and the then BNDE, the primary support for graduate studies in the following years.
The first Funtec contract is signed between COPPE and the then BNDE, the primary support for graduate studies in the following years.
1965
We create the master's course in Mechanical Engineering. Our master's courses in Chemical and Mechanical Engineering were from then on called “programs”, and the Coordination of Graduate Programs in Engineering (COPPE) was created.
1966
COPPE creates the Electrical Engineering Program.
1967
We acquire an IBM 1130 computer and create our Scientific Computation Department, soon to become the Electronic Computing Center of UFRJ.
COPPE moves to the Cidade Universitária campus at Ilha do Fundão.
We create the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Civil Engineering, Production Engineering, and Naval Engineering programs, the latter of which would become the Marine Engineering program.
We create the Geotechnics research field in the Civil Engineering Program, motivated by the drama of the recurring floods since 1966.
COPPE moves to the Cidade Universitária campus at Ilha do Fundão.
We create the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Civil Engineering, Production Engineering, and Naval Engineering programs, the latter of which would become the Marine Engineering program.
We create the Geotechnics research field in the Civil Engineering Program, motivated by the drama of the recurring floods since 1966.
1968
Creation of COPPE’s Nuclear Engineering Program.
1970
Alcebíades Vasconcelos, from the Civil Engineering Program, defends his first doctoral thesis at COPPE.
Creation of Coppetec.
Creation of COPPE’s Systems and Computer Engineering Program.
Creation of Coppetec.
Creation of COPPE’s Systems and Computer Engineering Program.
1971
COPPE is formally acknowledged as a supporting institution for UFRJ.
Creation of COPPE's Biomedical Engineering Program.
Creation of COPPE's Biomedical Engineering Program.
1973
Founder and director Alberto Luiz Galvão Coimbra is dismissed from COPPE.
Professor Sydney Martins Gomes dos Santos takes over COPPE's board of directors until 1975.
Professor Sydney Martins Gomes dos Santos takes over COPPE's board of directors until 1975.
1975
Creation of the research field in Industrial Projects and Transport in the Production Engineering Program, eventually originating COPPE’s current Transport Engineering Program.
1976
Professor Sérgio Neves Monteiro takes over COPPE's board of directors until 1978.
1977
Petrobras and COPPE sign their historic agreement for developing offshore technology, later transforming Brazil into a world leader in deep-water oil production.
1979
Creation of the Interdisciplinary Energy Research Area in the Nuclear Engineering Program, eventually originating COPPE's Energy and Environmental Planning Program.
Professor Paulo Alcântara Gomes becomes the director of COPPE until 1981.
Professor Paulo Alcântara Gomes becomes the director of COPPE until 1981.
1980
COPPEs founder, Alberto Luiz Galvão Coimbra, receives the IBM Award in technology research and development.
1981
COPPE’s founder receives the Anísio Teixeira Award from the Brazilian Ministry of Education.
1982
Professor Sandoval Carneiro Júnior takes over COPPE's board of directors until 1985.
1983
Alberto Luiz Galvão Coimbra returns to our university and starts working once more at COPPE.
1986
Chosen by the academic community, Luiz Pinguelli Rosa became COPPE’s director until 1989.
1987
COPPE creates a subsea robot for research and repairs on Petrobras rigs.
1989
Beginning of the partnership between COPPE and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (Cern).
1990
Professor Nelson Maculan Filho takes over COPPE's board of directors until 1991.
COPPE inaugurates the NCPU I, the first high-performance parallel computer developed in Brazil. One hundred times cheaper than similar computers produced in the United States and Japan, the NCPU I was built by researchers from COPPE's Parallel Computing Laboratory.
la da COPPE.
COPPE inaugurates the NCPU I, the first high-performance parallel computer developed in Brazil. One hundred times cheaper than similar computers produced in the United States and Japan, the NCPU I was built by researchers from COPPE's Parallel Computing Laboratory.
la da COPPE.
1991
Creation of the Catalysis Center (Nucat), a center of excellence that provides relevant services to the national chemical industry and research centers.
Professor Luiz Bevilacqua takes over COPPE as a director until 1992.
Professor Luiz Bevilacqua takes over COPPE as a director until 1992.
1992
With COPPE’s technical coordination, the Rede-Rio Computer Network, the first exclusive Internet access network for Brazilian research institutions, is created.
Professor Antonio Fernando Catelli Infantosi takes over COPPE's board of directors, remaining in the position until the following year.
Professor Antonio Fernando Catelli Infantosi takes over COPPE's board of directors, remaining in the position until the following year.
1994
Creation of COPPE’s Business Incubator.
COPPE Forum submits a document to the Federal Government of Brazil and the Brazilian National Congress with the first warning about the risk of power outages.
Professor Luiz Pinguelli Rosa takes over COPPE's board of directors for the second time, remaining in the position until 1997.
COPPE Forum submits a document to the Federal Government of Brazil and the Brazilian National Congress with the first warning about the risk of power outages.
Professor Luiz Pinguelli Rosa takes over COPPE's board of directors for the second time, remaining in the position until 1997.
1995
Joseph Rotblat, British physicist who won the Nobel Peace Prize, lectures at COPPE.
COPPE acquires a Cray supercomputer.
COPPE changes its name to the Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute for Graduate Studies and Research in Engineering. The acronym COPPE remains.
COPPE creates its Technology Business Incubator for Community Cooperatives (ITCP).
COPPE acquires a Cray supercomputer.
COPPE changes its name to the Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute for Graduate Studies and Research in Engineering. The acronym COPPE remains.
COPPE creates its Technology Business Incubator for Community Cooperatives (ITCP).
1996
On his first trip to Brazil, the American linguist and political activist Noam Chomsky speaks at a conference at COPPE on “World Orders, Old and New”.
After the rains that devastated Rio de Janeiro, a seminar at COPPE gives rise to the book Tormentas cariocas (“Climate Hardships of Rio de Janeiro”) and influences the creation of the Rio Alert early warning system.
After the rains that devastated Rio de Janeiro, a seminar at COPPE gives rise to the book Tormentas cariocas (“Climate Hardships of Rio de Janeiro”) and influences the creation of the Rio Alert early warning system.
1997
COPPE participates in debates on the privatization of Vale, preventing it from being acquired by the company in charge of the sales models.
1998
COPPE inaugurates the I-2000, the largest Latin American laboratory complex with more than 80 laboratories.
Professor Segen Farid Estefen takes over COPPE's board of directors, remaining as a director until 2001.
Professor Segen Farid Estefen takes over COPPE's board of directors, remaining as a director until 2001.
1999
Italian sociologist Domenico de Masi speaks at COPPE on “Business management, work and creativity”.
2000
COPPE submits a study to the President of Brazil, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, warning about the risk of a power deficit.
2001
COPPE and Geo-Rio develop a unique weather forecast model for the Rio Alert System.
2002
Professor Luiz Pinguelli Rosa takes over COPPE's board of directors. The mandate was interrupted, in the same year, as he became the president of Eletrobras.
The exhibition “Science, Technology and Human Development” is the first of many activities at the Espaço Coppe Miguel de Simoni lounge.
Professor Luiz Fernando Loureiro Legey takes over as COPPE's director until the following year.
The exhibition “Science, Technology and Human Development” is the first of many activities at the Espaço Coppe Miguel de Simoni lounge.
Professor Luiz Fernando Loureiro Legey takes over as COPPE's director until the following year.
2003
Professor Luiz Pinguelli Rosa takes over COPPE's board of directors. The mandate was interrupted, in the same year, as he became the president of Eletrobras.
The exhibition “Science, Technology and Human Development” is the first of many activities at the Espaço Coppe Miguel de Simoni lounge.
Professor Luiz Fernando Loureiro Legey takes over as COPPE's director until the following year.
The exhibition “Science, Technology and Human Development” is the first of many activities at the Espaço Coppe Miguel de Simoni lounge.
Professor Luiz Fernando Loureiro Legey takes over as COPPE's director until the following year.
2004
COPPE and the Polytechnic School of UFRJ create four new undergraduate courses together: Automation and Control, Environmental Engineering, Computer and Information Engineering and Petroleum Engineering.
2005
COPPE inaugurates the Surface Characterization Center.
2006
COPPE student Cláudio Patrício Ribeiro Júnior receives Capes’ “Cesar Lattes” Grand Thesis Award. In this first edition of the award, the student Jorge Henrique Prodanoff, in the Engineering I area, was also awarded.
2007
Developed at COPPE, Luma is the first Brazilian robot to dive into Antarctic waters.
The UN-IPCC, in which several COPPE researchers participated, wins the Nobel Peace Prize for its work in assessing climate change.
Professor Luiz Pinguelli Rosa takes over COPPE's board of directors until 2011, when he was re-elected for another term as the head of the institution until 2015.
The UN-IPCC, in which several COPPE researchers participated, wins the Nobel Peace Prize for its work in assessing climate change.
Professor Luiz Pinguelli Rosa takes over COPPE's board of directors until 2011, when he was re-elected for another term as the head of the institution until 2015.
2008
After feasibility studies carried out by COPPE, the addition of a percentage of biodiesel to the diesel consumed in Brazil became mandatory.
COPPE participates in the construction and testing of Atlas, the largest detector of the Cern particle accelerator that will be used to search for the Higgs boson.
Two COPPE students receive Capes’ 2007 Thesis Award: Fabrício Machado da Silva, in the Engineering II area, and Miguel Benedito Furtado Júnior, in the Engineering IV area.
COPPE participates in the construction and testing of Atlas, the largest detector of the Cern particle accelerator that will be used to search for the Higgs boson.
Two COPPE students receive Capes’ 2007 Thesis Award: Fabrício Machado da Silva, in the Engineering II area, and Miguel Benedito Furtado Júnior, in the Engineering IV area.
2009
Inauguration, with the Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in attendance, of the Laboratory of Non-Destructive Testing, Corrosion and Welding (LNDC).
Brazil presents voluntary goals for reducing carbon emissions at COP-15, in Copenhagen. COPPE participated in the preparation of these goals.
COPPE creates the China-Brazil Center for Climate Change and Energy Technology Innovation, in cooperation with Tsinghua University.
Brazil presents voluntary goals for reducing carbon emissions at COP-15, in Copenhagen. COPPE participated in the preparation of these goals.
COPPE creates the China-Brazil Center for Climate Change and Energy Technology Innovation, in cooperation with Tsinghua University.
2010
COPPE announces H2, the first hybrid hydrogen bus using 100% national technology.
Two COPPE students receive Capes’ 2009 Thesis Award: Eduardo Rocha de Almeida Lima, in the Engineering II area, and Juliana Braga Rodrigues Loureiro, in the Engineering III area.
Two COPPE students receive Capes’ 2009 Thesis Award: Eduardo Rocha de Almeida Lima, in the Engineering II area, and Juliana Braga Rodrigues Loureiro, in the Engineering III area.
2011
COPPE submits a proposal to the Brazilian Federal Government for the creation of a research center on climate and engineering, after the tragedies in the Mountainous Regions of Rio de Janeiro.
COPPE student Augusto Cesar Vieira Getirana receives Capes’ 2010 Grand Thesis Award. In the same year, COPPE student Carolina Palma Naveira Cotta was awarded the Capes Award, in the Engineering III area.
Professor Luiz Pinguelli Rosa is re-elected and takes office for his fifth term as the director of COPPE, a position he held until 2015.
A partnership between COPPE and the Polytechnic School of UFRJ allows students to take graduate courses, even as undergraduates, in order to accelerate the completion of their master's degrees.
COPPE student Augusto Cesar Vieira Getirana receives Capes’ 2010 Grand Thesis Award. In the same year, COPPE student Carolina Palma Naveira Cotta was awarded the Capes Award, in the Engineering III area.
Professor Luiz Pinguelli Rosa is re-elected and takes office for his fifth term as the director of COPPE, a position he held until 2015.
A partnership between COPPE and the Polytechnic School of UFRJ allows students to take graduate courses, even as undergraduates, in order to accelerate the completion of their master's degrees.
2012
COPPE exhibits technologies and promotes debates at Rio+20, the UN conference on sustainable development. At the event, it announces H2+2, the second version of its hybrid hydrogen bus using 100% national technology.
The Higgs boson is discovered at Cern, through an international effort in which COPPE is part of.
COPPE inaugurates Engepol, the only nano-scale polymer pilot plant in Brazil.
Three COPPE students receive the Capes’ 2011 Thesis Award: Tiago Roux de Oliveira, in the Engineering IV area, Joecila Santos da Silva, in the Engineering I area, and Aline Souza de Paula, in the Engineering III area.
COPPE student Wallace Alves Martins receives the Capes’ 2012 Thesis Award, in the Engineering IV area.
The Higgs boson is discovered at Cern, through an international effort in which COPPE is part of.
COPPE inaugurates Engepol, the only nano-scale polymer pilot plant in Brazil.
Three COPPE students receive the Capes’ 2011 Thesis Award: Tiago Roux de Oliveira, in the Engineering IV area, Joecila Santos da Silva, in the Engineering I area, and Aline Souza de Paula, in the Engineering III area.
COPPE student Wallace Alves Martins receives the Capes’ 2012 Thesis Award, in the Engineering IV area.
2013
Inauguration of the Bioethanol Laboratory at UFRJ, the result of a partnership between COPPE and the Institute of Chemistry, for developing second-generation ethanol.
Creation of the Nanotechnology Engineering Program, the 13th of COPPE’s programs.
Two COPPE students receive Capes’ 2013 Thesis Award: Luciano Nóbrega Xavier, in the Engineering I area, and João Paulo Bassin, in the Engineering II area.
Creation of the International Reference Center on Ports and Sustainability (CIRPS), the result of a partnership between the International Virtual Global Change Institute (Ivig) of COPPE/UFRJ and the Secretariat of Ports of the Presidency of the Republic (SEP/PR), at the Itamaraty headquarters in Brasilia.
Creation of the Nanotechnology Engineering Program, the 13th of COPPE’s programs.
Two COPPE students receive Capes’ 2013 Thesis Award: Luciano Nóbrega Xavier, in the Engineering I area, and João Paulo Bassin, in the Engineering II area.
Creation of the International Reference Center on Ports and Sustainability (CIRPS), the result of a partnership between the International Virtual Global Change Institute (Ivig) of COPPE/UFRJ and the Secretariat of Ports of the Presidency of the Republic (SEP/PR), at the Itamaraty headquarters in Brasilia.
2014
Coppe opens the 1st climatic wind tunnel of the Southern Hemisphere.
COPPE/UFRJ is accredited as a unit of the Brazilian Company of Research and Industrial Innovation (Embrapii) in Subsea Engineering for Oil and Gas Exploration.
COPPE/UFRJ is accredited as a unit of the Brazilian Company of Research and Industrial Innovation (Embrapii) in Subsea Engineering for Oil and Gas Exploration.
2015
COPPE inaugurates the Embrapii-COPPE unit and signs contracts with many companies.
Three COPPE Students are conferred Honorable Mention in Capes’ 2015 Award: Gustavo Medeiros Freitas, Jovani Luiz Favero, and Monique Osorio Talarico da Conceição.
Professor Edson Watanabe becomes the new director of Coppe, remaining in the position until 2019.
Three COPPE Students are conferred Honorable Mention in Capes’ 2015 Award: Gustavo Medeiros Freitas, Jovani Luiz Favero, and Monique Osorio Talarico da Conceição.
Professor Edson Watanabe becomes the new director of Coppe, remaining in the position until 2019.
2016
Maglev-Cobra begins operating with open trips to the public.
COPPE and the China University of Petroleum inaugurate the China–Brazil Joint Institute for Deep Sea Technology.
COPPE inaugurates the Lobo Carneiro supercomputer.
COPPE and the China University of Petroleum inaugurate the China–Brazil Joint Institute for Deep Sea Technology.
COPPE inaugurates the Lobo Carneiro supercomputer.
2017
COPPE releases the third version of the hydrogen-electric hybrid bus using 100% national technology.
2018
COPPE’s founder, Alberto Luiz Galvão Coimbra, passes away.
2019
Cern adopts the systems developed by COPPE researchers for experiments in the main particle collider.
Creation of COPPE's Urban Living Lab for Smart Construction Solutions (LCI).
Professor Romildo Dias Toledo Filho takes over Coppe's board of directors, remaining in the position until 2023.
Creation of COPPE's Urban Living Lab for Smart Construction Solutions (LCI).
Professor Romildo Dias Toledo Filho takes over Coppe's board of directors, remaining in the position until 2023.
2020
UFRJ suspends all in-person and non-essential activities indefinitely due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
COPPE researchers develop studies and technologies to fight against the effects of COVID-19.
COPPE successfully tests its mechanical ventilators for patients with COVID-19.
COPPE researchers develop studies and technologies to fight against the effects of COVID-19.
COPPE successfully tests its mechanical ventilators for patients with COVID-19.
2021
UFRJ submits to the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) the Clinical Drug Development Dossier, with the results of the preclinical stages of UFRJvac, the vaccine against COVID-19 developed at the Laboratory of Cell Culture Engineering (LECC) at COPPE, coordinated by Professor Leda Castilho.
Ariel, a robot developed at COPPE, receives the ANP Technological Innovation Award.
Cern's Council approves the accession of Brazil as an Associate Member.
The Thematic Network on Renewable Energy, Hub.Rio, is inaugurated at COPPE.
COPPE inaugurates the Integrated Center for Additive Manufacturing.
Ariel, a robot developed at COPPE, receives the ANP Technological Innovation Award.
Cern's Council approves the accession of Brazil as an Associate Member.
The Thematic Network on Renewable Energy, Hub.Rio, is inaugurated at COPPE.
COPPE inaugurates the Integrated Center for Additive Manufacturing.
2022
Professor Luiz Pinguelli Rosa, former director of COPPE, passes away.
COPPE inaugurates the Sustainable Multi-Cogeneration Island.
Inauguration of COPPE I, COPPE's collaborative space dedicated to entrepreneurship and innovation.
COPPE inaugurates the Sustainable Multi-Cogeneration Island.
Inauguration of COPPE I, COPPE's collaborative space dedicated to entrepreneurship and innovation.
2023
International Workshop MIT REAP in Rio brings together specialists and players from the innovation ecosystem.
Professor Suzana Kahn Ribeiro becomes the new director of Coppe.
Professor Suzana Kahn Ribeiro becomes the new director of Coppe.