Inspired by the spirit of solidarity and co-responsibility that should guide scientific and academic activity, the University of Minho/Portugal and the University of Vale do Itajaí/Brazil decided to join forces and create synergies in the domain of European Union Law and Transnationality post-graduate research and knowledge production. Therefore, in this sense, they celebrated a protocol and pursued the following activities:

1. Joint research projects with the objective of producing scientific works and publications;
2. Organization of alternated conferences and seminars at the University of Vale do Itajaí/Brazil and University of Minho/Portugal;
3. Creation of a joint cathedra, entitled "European Union Law and Transnationality - UMINHO/UNIVALI Chair", ensured by professors of both institutions and ministered in reciprocal succession by each of the participating universities.

Within this partnership, it has been established a double degree agreement between Minho University and Vale do Itajaí University, in force since 2013/2014 academic year. Under this agreement students from the Masters Degree in European Union Law can attend the said Brazilian University as well as the Brazilian students can be received by Minho University's Masters Degree in European Union Law.

During the academic year 2009/2010, Minho University Law School offered the 2nd cycle students a set of seminars integrated in that Cathedra, with the support of a Jean Monnet Action, that confirms the excellence of this project. This Cathedra was coordinated by Professor Alessandra Silveira with invited guests from University of Vale do Itajaí/Brazil and other Portuguese and Spanish universities in which an extraordinary example of good practices of international scientific cooperation took place, in perfect harmony with the practices and principles of reciprocity, equal treatment and mutual benefits that directed those activities. In this context, the following topics were considered and discussed at the University of Minho from February to June, 2010:

• 6/11/2009: "Transnationality and emergence of the transnational State and transnational Law", Professor Paulo Cruz, University of Vale do Itajaí/Brazil.
• 7/11/2009: "Republican principle and human rights as transnationality paradigms", Professor Paulo Cruz, University of Vale do Itajaí/Brazil.
• 27/11/2009: "Relations between Europe and Latin America (EU-MERCOSUR Framework Cooperation Agreement)", Professor Karine Souza Silva, University of Vale do Itajaí/Brazil.
• 28/11/2009: "The International Law of the human rights in Latin America and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights", Professor Karine Souza Silva, University of Vale do Itajaí/Brazil.
• 19/2/2010: "Who are we, Europeans? How can the EU learn with the USA about its own political identity", Professor Viriato Soromenho-Marques, University of Lisbon.
• 26/2/2010: "Interjuridicidade (Rule of Law), Interjuridicionalidade (access to law), Interjusfundamentalidade (judicial protection)?, Professor José Joaquim Gomes Canotilho, University of Coimbra.
• 19/3/2010: "The place of acts of transnational effectiveness of Member States in the legal framework of the European Union", Professor Nuno Piçarra, New University of Lisbon.
• 26/3/2010: "The dogma of the typicality of the vices of will in civil law and the contribution of the directive on unfair commercial practices to overcome them", Professor Nuno Pinto Oliveira, University of Minho.
• 9/4/2010: "(European) Environmental Law in the theory of Contemporary Law", Professor Carlos Abreu Amorim, University of Minho.
• 7/5/2010: "Industrial property in the European Union", Professor Luís Couto Gonçalves, University of Minho.
• 7/5/2010: "European Union and integration models", Professor Antonio-Carlos Pereira Menaut, University of Santiago de Compostela.
• 7/5/2010: "Landscape protection and sustainable development", Professor Teresa Carballeira Rivera, University of Santiago de Compostela.
• 14/5/2010: "Citizenship and democratic quality of the Treaty of Lisbon", Professor Isabel Estrada Carvalhais, University of Minho.
• 14/5/2010: "The protection of citizens (European and non-European) victims of road accidents in the EU and the convergence (and mutual influence) between the International System of Automobile Insurance and the Law of the European Union), Professor Maria José Rangel de Mesquita, University of Lisbon.
• 21/5/2010: "Democracy and human rights in Latin America", Professor Karine Souza Silva, University of Vale do Itajaí/Brazil.
• 21/5/2010: "Economic democracy and fundamental rights", Professor Paulo Márcio Cruz, University of Vale do Itajaí/Brazil.
• 21/5/2010: "Social cohesion as a priority in the negotiations of the Strategic Partnership between the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC-EU)", Professor Karine Souza Silva, University of Vale do Itajaí/Brazil.
• 21/5/2010: "Political Theory and Transnationality", Professor Paulo Márcio Cruz, University of Vale do Itajaí/Brazil.
• 28/5/2010 e 4/6/2010: "European Labour Law", Professor Júlio Gomes, Catholic University of Porto.