Program helps researchers turn scientific discoveries into practical solutions
Einstein initiative supports the development of solutions for Brazil’s public health system and private sector while keeping scientists connected to academia
The Eretz.bio office in São Paulo, where researchers and entrepreneurs develop innovative healthcare solutions | Image: Egberto Nogueira
In recent years, Einstein Hospital Israelita’s startup accelerator Eretz.bio has established itself as one of Brazil’s leading healthcare innovation hubs.
Initially founded as an incubator for digital solutions, biotechnology initiatives, and medical devices in 2017, the organization has since developed increasingly specialized programs, launching a dedicated biotechnology track in 2022, and now introducing the Deep Up program, aimed at scientists keen to pursue entrepreneurship without compromising academic rigor.
Deep Up is based on the recognition that many doctoral and postdoctoral researchers develop promising ideas but lack the tools needed to transform their research into marketable products.
“Seeing your scientific knowledge applied in practice through innovative solutions for Brazil’s Unified Health System [SUS] or the private sector is a life-changing experience,” said Camila Hernandes Pinheiro, director of Innovation Partnerships and New Business at Einstein, during a virtual event hosted by Science Arena.
About Deep Up
Deep Up is a free program with participants selected through a public call for applications, based on a three-month structured development track.
Participants are mentored and take part in sessions with experts, patients, and industry representatives to validate their hypotheses and assess whether their ideas have the potential to become marketable products.
“As scientists, we tend to become deeply focused on our own research. The program helps us determine whether the problem we want to solve is actually a real-world need,” explained Camila Hernandes Pinheiro.
Topics covered by Deep Up
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1. Intellectual property
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When and how to protect discoveries.
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2. Regulation
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Pathways for transforming research into approved products.
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3. Negotiation
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How to engage with pharmaceutical companies and investors.
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4. Market perspective
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Scalability, feasibility, and social impact.
Where to seek funding
One of the program’s central goals is to guide researchers on how to secure funding. Eretz.bio introduces participants to a range of potential sources, including research funding agencies, public and private calls for innovation in healthcare, and partnerships with pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers, which may license technologies or support early-stage projects.
Pinheiro accepts there are still reservations within academia about the private sector, but says that the landscape is changing.
“For a long time, science and the market were viewed as opposing entities. But they can actually converge,” she said.
The entrepreneurship course offered in Einstein’s graduate programs reinforces this perspective, demonstrating that findings from theses and dissertations can be transformed into medications, diagnostics, or startups without requiring researchers to leave their academic careers.
To learn more about scientific entrepreneurship and Eretz.bio’s role in transforming research into businesses, watch the full interview with Camila Hernandes Pinheiro on Science Arena.
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