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Global Health Econ Sustain International scientific cooperation in public health

Figure 4 illustrates the efforts made to implement Table 1. Indicators and quantities generated in the
international cooperation activities based on the needs of technical‑scientific dimension
the “Syphilis No!” Project’s objectives. Activities with foreign Item Indicator Quantity
institutions increased between 2018 and 2019. This increase
in intensity, i.e., effort, was due to the requirements of the 1 Cooperation agreements 14
project, which had to be institutionalized at international 2 Work plans 14
level in the 1 year (2018 – 2019). This was necessary to 3 Technical-scientific cooperation missions 94
st
ensure the implementation of research and other activities 4 International institutions involved in 48
to be operationalized between 2019 and 2023. The decrease cooperation activities
in the number of activities carried out in 2020 is due to the 5 Brazilian institutions involved in 27
reduced international traffic due to the coronavirus disease cooperation activities
2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which was declared by the 6 Outreach activities (academic events) 54
World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. 7 Cooperation missions with two or more 18
foreign institutions
Some of the cooperation activities could be maintained
remotely during the pandemic, allowing the project to Source: Adapted from the accountability reports for Decentralized
Execution Terms (TED) No. 54 and 111/2017.
continue in part. The resumption of scientific research
activities after the COVID-19 immunization and the
suspension of stricter measures enabled an expansion of Table 2. Cooperation agreements signed between UFRN and
international academic and scientific institutions under the
international cooperation activities between 2021 and 2022. “Syphilis No!” Project
This expansion stood for the sustainability of the project
activities and ensured that the first results were published Institutions Country N*
as scientific articles in high-ranking international journals. Institute for Healthcare Improvement United States 1
During the same period, new and consolidated Instituto Superior Politécnico Católico de Benguela Angola 1
partnerships were extended until the first half of 2023 Universidade Aberta de Portugal Portugal 2
through the signing of cooperation agreements and work Universidade Autónoma de Barcelona Spain 1
plans. Even though the project was concluded, the renewal Universidad Complutense de Madrid Spain 2
of the work plans demonstrates the sustainability of the Athabasca University Canada 1
project’s international relations, and the trust placed in the
partnerships it has initiated. University of Coimbra Portugal 1
Drexel University United States 1
The technical-scientific dimension comprises seven Université de Lorraine France 1
indicators that are used to quantify and monitor the level of
performance and the impact of the measures implemented Universidade Eduardo Mondlane Mozambique 1
as part of the international cooperation missions. Table 1 Universidad Nacional de Colombia Colombia 1
describes the indicators and their respective quantities University of Borås Sweden 1
generated during the period analyzed. Total 14
Table 2 lists the 14 cooperation agreements signed between Notes: *Number of agreements per institution. Current agreements
UFRN and international academic and scientific institutions can be accessed on the website of UFRN’s Secretariat for Institutional
Relations, available at: https://sri.ufrn.br/acordos.php?a=ac_acordos.
as part of the “Syphilis No!” Project. For each agreement Source: Adapted from the accountability reports for Decentralized
signed, a work plan had to be drawn up defining specific Execution Terms (TED) No. 54 and 111/2017.
objectives and products to be developed in collaboration and
synergy between the institutions. Table 3 lists the 14 work cooperation within the framework of the “Syphilis No!”
plans that were jointly developed by the partner institutions. project. This dimension plays an essential role in the
Both instruments enabled 685 national and foreign implementation of the international cooperation activities
researchers to participate in cooperation activities with and the proper progress of the joint research between
international partner institutions. They developed research the partner institutions and ensures that the proposed
work within the framework of the project. activities and project objectives are achieved.
According to the project documents, the financial
3.2. Investments dimension
investment in international cooperation had a direct
The investment dimension refers to the amount of financial impact on all other objectives of the “Syphilis No!” project.
resources made available to realize the goal of international This characterizes cooperation activities as a real driving

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2024) 8 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.3037