– By Isabela Temístocles, Program Manager at Swissnex in Brazil

From November 4th to 8th, 2024, the Academia-Industry Training (AIT) in Brazil brought together sciencepreneurs, researchers, corporates, innovation hubs, and innovation enthusiasts for a dynamic and inspiring week. Celebrating the program’s 10th anniversary, this special edition featured 22 startups exploring new ideas and opportunities for their science-based businesses and solutions while strengthening the collaboration in innovation between Switzerland and Brazil.

When thinking of AIT, connection, collaboration, and transformation are some of the words that come to mind. Bringing bright solutions from lab to market, Swiss and Brazilian participants showcased their multisectoral solutions with significant economic and social impact on complex problems. 

Learn more about the AIT 10 group and their startups HERE.

From food, agriculture, and biodiversity to energy, health,  biotechnology, construction, mobility, and more, we were amazed to see the strong contributions and knowledge sharing that participants from different backgrounds brought to each other. Over 5 intense days of lectures, workshops, ecosystem visits, and events, the AIT transformed into an energized community. As a result, we witnessed curiosity turn into insights, preparation grow into confidence, and exchange flourishes into friendships.

Personal, professional, and cultural learning were part of this journey. Being part of an international program means facing different customs and challenges, but it also means growing from them. In this sense, as participants saw during the week, doing business in Brazil can be a synonym for facing a continental country with multiple realities intertwined. On the other hand, it can also translate into a welcoming and open business culture with a leading startup scene in South America.

Startups have joined the AIT at a pivotal moment, with Brazil currently at the center of multilateral talks on themes such as science, bioeconomy, and nature-based cooperation. The visits allowed us to catch sight of this scene, along with perspectives on: cities and DeepTechs in Brazil (STATE Innovation Center), the connection between research, academia, and industry (IPT, Intelli, UFRJ Technological Park), open innovation (Bayer), venture capital (Suzano), climate change (Aya), and bioinnovation (Fiocruz). Specialists from Sebrae for Startups, AHK São Paulo, FCR Law, Plug and Play, Braskem, Wylinka, Energi.AI, Inovabra, IRIS, Sidia, Aevo, Tipz, IMPA, Invest.Rio, Firjan, and Mitsidi also brought contributions that added great content value to our program.

In addition to these visits and training sessions in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, two special events marked our week: the AIT Celebration Night and the AIT Pitch Competition. 

The Celebration Night, held at the Swiss Residence in São Paulo, aimed to honor our 10 editions. The event featured an interactive quiz about the program and a panel discussion with Vânia Gomes (Bilateral Cooperation Coordinator at the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation), Rocío Robinson (Head of Innovation & AIT Startups – Leading House for the Latin American Region/GIMLA HSG), and Renata Bannitz Fernandes (Operations Director at Biobreyer and AIT Ambassador). This panel was a unique opportunity to reflect on the AIT’s long-term impact and explore what Switzerland can learn from Brazil—and vice versa—in the fields of innovation & startups.

The Pitch Competition, hosted at Arca Hub in Rio de Janeiro, brought the startups’ learnings so far to life. You could see their focus and determination to do their best while not extending the 3-minute limit – otherwise, they would be surprised by the sound of our memorable cowbell. Selecting a Brazilian and Swiss winner was no easy task for our jury members, which says we are going in the right direction.

Finally, in this recap of the AIT, it is noteworthy to mention that all startups had the opportunity to join online mentorship sessions with local specialists from across Brazil. These 1:1 meetings extended beyond the AIT week, thanks to our remarkable network of mentors.

It’s inspiring how many people were involved in making the AIT week in Brazil possible. To our startups, partners, host companies and institutions, mentors, jury members, event participants, and the fantastic Swissnex team who were part of this journey: thank you.

Despite being the end of the training week in Brazil, the feeling of nostalgia while writing this mixes with an excitement of what lies ahead. In March 2025, the 10th edition of the AIT will continue with a special agenda in Switzerland – and it doesn’t end there. 

Thanks to the support from the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI) and the Leading House for the Latin America Region (University of St. Gallen), who, as Swissnex, believe in the program’s importance, the AIT has been renewed for 3 editions. This renewal paves the way for us to innovate the program with new structures, locations, and ideas. Thus, we invite you to stay tuned in our next AIT call and follow the incredible achievements of our alumni startups.