Brazilian science and technology institution Instituto Atlântico has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Alberta (U of A) in Canada to expand international research collaboration in artificial intelligence (AI) and other strategic technology fields.
The five-year agreement establishes a framework for joint research, talent development and knowledge exchange in areas including AI, cybersecurity, intelligent systems, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies. The partnership is expected to strengthen connections between academic research, education and technological innovation.
The University of Alberta is internationally recognized for its AI research, including work in reinforcement learning, a branch of machine learning in which systems learn to make decisions through interactions with an environment and feedback in the form of rewards or penalties.
“For Instituto Atlântico, this means opening a direct door to one of the most respected AI ecosystems on the planet and beginning a high-level international collaboration,” said Cupertino Freitas, International Market Manager at Instituto Atlântico.
Canadian Researchers May Contribute to Brazil’s AI Programme
One initiative that could benefit from the partnership is IndustrIA, a programme launched by Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) and implemented by Instituto Atlântico through its Escola Atlântico Avanti.
With approximately R$46 million in planned investment over four years, the programme aims to train between 130 and 180 AI researchers and establish at least 15 research centres across Brazil. The initiative is aligned with the Brazilian Artificial Intelligence Plan (PBIA).
The potential involvement of University of Alberta researchers could expand opportunities for scientific collaboration and support research and development activities under the programme.
“Having a powerhouse like the University of Alberta as a partner raises the bar for the entire initiative,” said Luiz Alves, Innovation Director at Instituto Atlântico.
University of Alberta Has Internationally Recognised AI Expertise
The University of Alberta is home to prominent AI researchers, including Richard Sutton, a recipient of the prestigious A.M. Turing Award and a leading pioneer in reinforcement learning.
This field enables AI agents to learn strategies through experience, adjusting their decisions based on feedback from their environment. The approach has applications in areas such as robotics, autonomous systems and complex decision-making.
The university’s research expertise was one of the factors that attracted Instituto Atlântico to pursue a formal partnership, creating opportunities for collaboration on applied research and emerging technologies.
Partnership Talks Began in 2025
Discussions between the two institutions began in May 2025, when an Instituto Atlântico delegation visited the University of Alberta in Edmonton to explore its research capabilities and potential areas of cooperation.
A second visit in October 2025 deepened discussions with researchers specializing in reinforcement learning and multi-agent systems, which involve multiple computational agents interacting and cooperating to achieve objectives.
In May 2026, another Instituto Atlântico delegation visited the university, advancing negotiations and securing formal interest in signing an MoU. Discussions included the possibility of University of Alberta professors participating in the IndustrIA programme.
The agreement was signed on September 21 at a ceremony held at the Consulate of Canada in São Paulo, Brazil.
Representing the University of Alberta were David Bressler, Vice-President of International, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Vanessa Strickland, Regional Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Instituto Atlântico was represented by Superintendent Francisco Moreto and Luiz Alves, Director of Innovation and New Business.
Agreement Strengthens Brazil’s International AI Connections
For Instituto Atlântico, the partnership represents an opportunity to expand access to international research networks, develop applied innovation projects and connect Brazilian professionals with specialists from abroad.
According to Albert Schilling, Commercial Director at Instituto Atlântico, the agreement is the result of sustained international relationship-building through successive visits to Edmonton.
The collaboration is expected to strengthen the institution’s role in technology development and expand opportunities for Ceará and Brazil to participate in international artificial intelligence research initiatives.
