A long-standing relationship with Brazil and the increased global interest in the country forms the background to the establishment of a new Office of Science and Innovation at the Swedish Embassy in Brasilia.

"Many leading Swedish companies and a number of public actors have been established in the country for a long time and with the recently signed strategic partnership between Sweden and Brazil cooperation in areas such as high technology and innovation has both intensified and widened," says Enrico Deiaco, Department Head of Innovation and global meeting places at Growth Analysis.

The office in Brasilia serves three main roles: to identify trends and provide in-depth analyses, to act as an intermediary for collaborations, and to build long-term alliances with relevant stakeholders. Its primary commission is to support cooperation between Sweden and Brazil in four areas: research and development, innovation, information and communication technology, higher education and energy and climate.

"Growth Analysis has among other things been commissioned to evaluate and analyse the Swedish innovation policy and to be responsible for growth policy intelligence, public relations and promotion efforts. By combining analyses and evaluations for supporting the development of international relations, Growth Analysis contributes to allowing the adaptation of the Swedish growth policy to international conditions. "The fact that we now also have operations in Brazil will enable us to perform our commission in a better manner," says Director-General Dan Hjalmarsson.

The head of the new office is Dr Mikael Román, who with a background as a political scientist has worked in Brazil for over fifteen years. Prior to joining Growth Analysis, Mikael was a Senior Research Fellow at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and has, among other things, worked with policy evaluation, technology and innovation processes, public and private strategy issues, and climate policy. Preceding his employment at SEI Mikael was a Senior Research Fellow at the Stockholm School of Economics. He was a Wallenberg Postdoctoral Scholar at the Center for International Studies, MIT between the years 2000 and 2002.

Facts about the foreign-based operations of Growth Analysis: Growth Analysis is responsible for the foreign-based growth policy intelligence and promotion operations within the areas of growth, innovation, research and education policy, and other important areas for Swedish competitiveness and sustainable development. The Agency has employees in Sweden as well as in Brussels, Brasilia, New Delhi, Beijing, Tokyo and Washington. In the countries where Growth Analysis has foreign-based operations outside of Europe, we serve as the Office of Science and Innovation at the Swedish embassies.

The foreign-based operations of Growth Analysis have three roles:

1. Growth policy intelligence
General policy intelligence and analysis within growth, innovation, research and education policy, which the primary stakeholders require.
2. Formation of alliances
Facilitate and support the formation of strategic alliances between Swedish and foreign-based actors.
3. Operational support
On-site work with Sweden's international agreements. This includes supporting other government actors in each country and the role of Sweden's Office of Science and Innovation at the embassies in countries where Growth Analysis has offices.