The Mainz Institute for Theoretical Physics (MITP) and the Sao Paulo-based International Centre for Theoretical Physics – South American Institute for Fundamental Research (ICTP-SAIFR) have concluded their first collaboration agreement to promote exchange, particularly among young researchers. The aim of the agreement is to support travel by young scientists, enable them to participate in events at the other institute and contribute to better networking. Prof. Dr. Matthias Neubert, Director of the Mainz Institute, is particularly pleased about the partnership with the Brazilian institute, as “the scientific community in Brazil is very active, but the great distances involved mean that it is not always easy for young researchers in particular to network with scientists from Europe and develop joint projects”.

The cooperation, which will initially run for five years, will involve the exchange of academic staff in both directions and the organization of joint events between the two institutes.

The focus of the ICTP-SAIFR is on holding workshops and intensive schools for doctorates and young researchers. It also supports research stays by scientists. The institute, the only one of its kind in Brazil, cooperates with partner institutions all over the world.

The MITP in Mainz offers scientists from all over the world the opportunity to come together in Mainz to research, discuss and launch new projects. Around 400 guests visit the institute each year, most of whom stay between two and four weeks and use their time intensively for workshops and scientific programs.

The MITP is an institute within the Mainz Cluster of Excellence “Precision Physics, Fundamental Interactions and Structure of Matter” (PRISMA), which is being funded with around 35 million euros in the current Excellence Initiative of the German federal and state governments.