Researchers seeking to innovate must test hypotheses beyond the lab 

In the traditional scientific ecosystem, success is often gauged by papers published in prestigious journals—an essential process for advancing knowledge but does not always translate into direct economic or societal impact. At this juncture, two concepts often mistaken for one another begin to diverge: invention and innovation.

This distinction was one of the topics discussed by Camila Hernandes Pinheiro, Director of Innovation Partnerships and New Business at Einstein Hospital Israelita during a Science Arena livestream. 

The difference between invention and innovation

According to Pinheiro, creating something novel in the laboratory—whether a new molecule, technique, or prototype—constitutes an invention. Innovation, by contrast, occurs only when that discovery is put into practice and becomes a product, service, or process capable of solving a real-world problem for the market or society.

“Invention is creating something new. Innovation, on the other hand, is putting that idea into practice to solve a real-world problem,” says Camila Hernandes Pinheiro.

Making this transition requires scientists to adopt a different mindset and develop skills that extend beyond conventional methodological rigor, she goes on.

Bridging science and the marketplace

Overcoming the longstanding divide and cultural biases between academia and the corporate world is the first major challenge for researchers. Testing hypotheses in the business arena means stepping outside the isolation of the laboratory and engaging with real-world needs.

In healthcare, for example, this involves listening to physicians, hospital administrators, and end users to determine whether a proposed technology addresses a genuine need within the care system, whether it can be scaled for industrial production, and whether it is economically sustainable.

“Over the course of a dissertation or thesis, researchers may come across findings with the potential to lead to a new drug or a new diagnostic method,” says Pinheiro.

Another essential step for researchers seeking to move ideas beyond the laboratory is understanding the principles of intellectual property. Science entrepreneurship also involves recognizing the right moment to protect a discovery through patenting—a strategic decision that can prevent premature disclosure or licensing to third parties, either of which could jeopardize future partnerships or investment opportunities.

According to Pinheiro, Brazil’s scientific ecosystem is rich in human capital, talented researchers, and promising ideas. What is often lacking, however, is a business-oriented perspective. That is why, she argues, training initiatives for science-based startups play a vital role in developing scientist-entrepreneurs by providing structured mentorship that helps transform dissertations and theses into market-ready products—without compromising the scientific excellence and ethical rigor that underpin them.

Steps to turn research into a business

1. Distinguish invention from innovation: Recognize that a discovery becomes an innovation only when it solves a real-world problem for the market or society. 

2. Engage with the market: Consult physicians, healthcare administrators, and end users to validate the technology’s need, technical feasibility, and economic sustainability.

3. Protect intellectual property: Identify the right time to patent a discovery, avoiding premature disclosure or licensing to third parties.

4. Seek structured mentorship: Participate in training programs for science-based startups that help transform master’s dissertations and doctoral theses into commercially viable products.

To learn more about pathways to scientific entrepreneurship, watch the full conversation with Camila Hernandes Pinheiro. 

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