Minas Gerais Agency | Minas Gerais and the United Kingdom signed an agreement to develop the railway sector

Railroads are part of the history and culture of Minas Gerais. The state has the largest railway network in the country: about five thousand kilometers cross 180 municipalities and connect the north and south, supporting grain and mining production. For the sector to remain relevant, investment in modernization and continuous upgrading of technology and knowledge is essential. For this purpose, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Núcleo de Desenvolvimento Ferroviário de Minas Gerais (NDF) and the Birmingham Center for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) of the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.

The signing took place on Tuesday (5/23) at an event in Research Support Foundation of the State of Minas Gerais (Fapemig). The festival brought together partner institutions in the project: Fapemig, State Secretariats Infrastructure and Mobility (Seinfra) From that Economic Development (Headquarters), Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Federal University of São João del-Re (UFSJ) and Federal Institute of Science and Technology of Southeast Minas Gerais (IF Southeast MG). The United Kingdom was represented by the British Embassy in Belo Horizonte and the Director of BCRRE.

Paulo Beirão, President of Fapemig, highlighted the importance of the initiative in his speech. “Fapemig will always be ready to join and support activities based on science and technology that have a potential impact on the economic and social development of the state”. He noted that the partnership with the University of Birmingham was a historic recovery, as many of the country’s railways were built in partnership with England.

Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Kathleen Garcia highlighted the importance of scientific and technological research aimed at improving railway infrastructure. He talked about success condition Attracting investments and enterprises, the response will require infrastructure solutions. García concluded by appealing to the companies and researchers involved in the agreement: “Be quick! Bring information, knowledge and innovation to help us meet these demands.

opportunities

The mission of the NDF is to contribute to the development and modernization of rail transport in Minas Gerais with training, personnel training, research and development to develop and transfer new technologies. Julio Cesar Costa Campos, Coordinator of the NDF and Professor of the Federal University of Viçosa, presented the concept and spoke about the perspectives with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.

Campos recalled that in 2021, NDF was initially formed with three partner universities. Today, the NDF is made up of 13 companies developing projects in various aspects, from the use of mining waste in railway pavement layers and wagon air conditioning to spatial analysis and the development of rail transport in Minas Gerais.

According to him, one of the highlights of the partnership signed with the University of Birmingham is the opportunity to train researchers to develop studies in the metro rail sector. “Today, in the state, there is only railway engineering course. This agreement paves the way for thinking about new undergraduate and graduate courses”.

Read more on innovative research addresses rail air conditioning systems .

Organizations that generate NDF:

Central Center for Technical Education of Minas Gerais – Cefet-M.G
National Vocational Training Service – Senai
Montes Claros State University – Unimontes
State University of Minas Gerais – UEMG
Federal University of Juice de Fora – UFJF
Federal University of Minas Gerais – UFMG
Federal University of Euro-Brito – UFOB
Federal University of Triangulo Minero – UFTM
Federal University of Uberlândia – UFU
Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mukuri Valleys – UFVJM

Access the portfolio of Núcleo de Desenvolvimento Ferroviário de Minas Gerais Here.