Colorado Public-Private Partnerships to Support Brazil Day Fostering Innovation and Educational Exchange

A unique collaboration between private industry, academia and government are partnering to host a vibrant education and innovation exchange for Brazilian university students.

In recognition of the strong and dynamic relationship between Brazil—the world’s sixth largest economy with a GDP of nearly $2.5 trillion and a population of 195 million people—and Colorado, which exported $106 million in manufactured goods to Brazil last year and received $215 million in revenue from 43,000 Brazilian visitors in 2009-2010, Governor Hickenlooper has declared October 23 as Brazil Day in Colorado. Brazil Day also recognizes the value of educational connections between Colorado and Brazil.

Colorado-based global engineering firm CH2M HILL is a member of the presidentially-appointed U.S. Brazil CEO Forum with a strong presence in Brazil. As part of its commitment to fostering innovation and a strong technical talent pipeline, CH2M HILL is supporting Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s Science Without Border Program. CH2M HILL will host the nearly 50 university students studying in Colorado as part of this year-long education exchange at its global headquarters in Englewood on October 24 for Brazil Day for Science, Technology, Innovation, and Sustainability.

“Brazil is an important part of CH2M HILL’s international operations, and we are committed not only to expanding our services and resources, but also to fostering an exchange of ideas and talent between Brazil and the United States,” says Lee McIntire, CH2M HILL Chairman and CEO and member of the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum.”

In support of Brazil Day events, CH2M HILL is also joining forces to support the partnership of U.S.-Brazil Connect with the Brazilian Confederation of Industry. Implemented in collaboration with Red Rocks, Houston and Jackson Community Colleges, the U.S.-Brazil Partnership for Skills creates opportunities for U.S. community college students interested in science and technology careers to participate in intensive study and immersion in Brazil. Based on a successful launch in 2012, the program will expand in 2013 to reach up to 750 students in the U.S. and Brazil.

CH2M HILL senior vice president Eleanor Allen will participate in a panel discussion, “Leveraging Colorado’s Connections for Long-term Success in Brazil” moderated by U.S.-Brazil Connect held at the Federal Reserve Bank on Oct. 23 beginning at 4:30 p.m. This discussion, featuring leaders from the Brazilian Confederation of Industry and Colorado business and higher education, will describe the forces that are fueling Brazil’s progress, profile Colorado successes in linking with Brazil, and examine how education, business and community linkages can be leveraged for economic opportunity.

Headquartered near Denver, Colorado, USA, employee-owned CH2M HILL is a global leader in consulting, design, design-build, operations, and program management for government, civil, industrial and energy clients. With Brazilian operations based in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, CH2M HILL has been supporting the oil and gas, industrial, transportation, environmental, and water markets since 1996.The firm’s work is concentrated in the areas of water, transportation, environmental, energy, facilities and resources. With US$6.4 billion in revenue and 30,000 employees, CH2M HILL is an industry-leading program management, construction management and design firm, as ranked by Engineering News-Record and named a leader in sustainable engineering and environmental services by Verdantix. The firm has been named a FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For five times. Visit us at ch2mhill.com, twitter.com/ch2mhill and facebook.com/ch2mhill.

U.S.-Brazil Connect seeks to strengthen education and build economic opportunities by connecting communities, engaging leaders, and creating transformational learning experiences linking the United States and Brazil. A bi-national nonprofit organization, U.S.-Brazil Connect has worked to strengthen workforce quality with hundreds of US community colleges, leading U.S. foundations, the U.S. embassy in Brazil, and a broad range of Brazilian partners in education and the private sector.