12.09.2025

BraLat participates in Costa Rica–Germany Research and Education Exchange

The Baden-Württemberg Center for Brazil and Latin America at the University of Tübingen (BraLat) was represented by its coordinator, Dr. Martina Schulze, strengthening the center’s participation in international research networks and academic cooperation.

From September 8 to 12, 2025, the Consejo Nacional de Rectores (CONARE), in coordination with the Comisión de Vicerrectores de Investigación, held the Encuentro de Fortalecimiento de la Colaboración Bilateral en Investigación y Educación Superior entre Costa Rica y Alemania in Costa Rica.

The Baden-Württemberg Center for Brazil and Latin America at the University of Tübingen (BraLat) was represented by its coordinator, Dr. Martina Schulze, thus strengthening the center’s role in international research networks and academic cooperation. The personal invitation issued by CONARE and the Costa Rican Embassy included visits to five public universities. Dr. Schulze visited the two most prominent institutions in the country—the University of Costa Rica (UCR) and the National University (UNA)—and gained a comprehensive insight into the research currently being conducted there.

The event aimed to establish conditions for multilateral collaboration agreements between higher education institutions and research centers in Costa Rica and Germany, promoting the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and resources for the joint development of high-quality academic and scientific projects. It also sought to foster dialogue and the identification of best practices, facilitating future collaborative proposals and access to funding opportunities.

Since 2018, CONARE has actively promoted the strengthening of academic and scientific cooperation between Costa Rica and Germany through strategic partnerships with institutions such as the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and the Max Planck Society (MPG), consolidating the internationalization of higher education and collaboration in research, academic mobility, and knowledge transfer.

Tübingen–UCR Research Collaboration

The collaboration between the University of Tübingen and the University of Costa Rica (UCR) has been expanding in the fields of chemistry and bioanalytics. Prof. Dr. Michael Lämmerhofer (Chair for Pharmaceutical (Bio-)Analytics, University of Tübingen) and Prof. Dr. Carlos Calderón (School of Chemistry, UCR) are jointly investigating “Natural compounds from Costa Rica: Molecular mechanism of action and chemopreventive potential against neurodegenerative diseases.”

In addition, according to the Vice-Rectorate for Research at UCR, there is occasional collaboration in proteomics between the Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection (IMIT) at UCR and the renowned Clodomiro Picado Institute, which specializes in venomous snakes and serum production.

This partnership highlights the growing scientific cooperation between the University of Tübingen and Costa Rican research institutions, strengthening studies in chemistry, bioanalytics, and applied microbiology.