The two projects, approved following a
joint call for submissions, will provide financial support to advance
instrumentation and measurement techniques related to metabolomics in plant
microbiology, mass spectrometry and bioenergy. Launched in October 2011, the
call for submissions aims to identify, select and support world-class research
projects to create knowledge and communicate results in the international
scientific community. This will be done through close technical collaboration
between leading faculty members in the State of São Paulo and Agilent
researchers.
One of the approved projects will
involve the systematic study of the metabolites resulting from cellular
processes under specific environmental and physiological conditions,
specifically a study of the physiological response of Eucalyptus in the
presence of high CO2 concentrations and temperature variations.
The second study will identify volatile
compounds produced by Brazilian cyanobacteria and explore their effects on
other organisms in the ecosystem.
"Agilent's partnership with FAPESP
underscores our commitment to multinational research and to Brazil, a strategic
growth area for us," said Mike McMullen, president of Agilent's Chemical
Analysis Group. "We look forward to our collaboration with leading
researchers at the University of São Paulo and State University of Campinas and
the resulting advances in fundamental understanding of important plants and
microbes indigenous to Brazil."
The ultimate goal of these and any
future projects is to create new scientific knowledge of interest to the wider
academic community. Approved projects will run for up to 36 months.
About FAPESP
FAPESP, one of Brazil's biggest
investors in science and technology, is maintained by transferring 1 percent of
the tax revenues collected by the State of São Paulo. In 2011, FAPESP spent 983
million BRL supporting research projects. Approximately one-third of its annual
expenditure is focused on scholarships to train researchers. Over 50 percent is
spent on academic research and 10 percent is invested in research at small
companies or in partnerships between the university and companies, and to
subsidize the formulation of public policies.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is
the world's premier measurement company and a technology leader in chemical
analysis, life sciences, electronics and communications. The company's 18,700
employees serve customers in more than 100 countries. Agilent had net revenues
of $6.6 billion in fiscal 2011. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com.