UFRJ Science Park opens new building and expands infrastructure for innovation and prototyping

One of Brazil’s largest innovation ecosystems now has a new space to turn innovation into concrete solutions. UFRJ Science Park, the innovation environment of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, has opened Parque Maker II, a new facility dedicated to the development of innovative solutions, prototyping and the strengthening of connections between the university, companies and partner institutions. The event brought together representatives of strategic organizations from Brazil’s science, technology, innovation and economic development ecosystems.

The new building features three modular 100 m² warehouse modules, as well as space for eight 50 m² laboratories. It is an important asset that adds to UFRJ Science Park’s infrastructure, located in an area of more than 350,000 m² and home to more than 50 organizations, including small, medium-sized and large companies, laboratories and four buildings shared by deep tech companies, in addition to Inovateca, a Rubik’s Cube-shaped building dedicated to events and activities related to innovation and entrepreneurship.

The program began at Inovateca with the panel “The Future of Innovation in Rio de Janeiro”, which featured representatives from the university and public institutions.

Throughout the presentations, participants highlighted the importance of collaboration between universities, the productive sector and government in strengthening innovation and the competitiveness of the state of Rio de Janeiro. “What we are building here is not just a set of buildings, although they are necessary. We are building national innovation capacity, producing technology and transforming knowledge into economic development,” said the Park’s Executive Director, Romildo Toledo.

This was followed by the panel “Deep Techs and Innovation Infrastructure: the role of technology parks in Brazil’s neo-industrialization”, which promoted a discussion on the strategic role of innovation environments in the development of science-based technologies and in the construction of a new industrial agenda for the country.

The official opening of Parque Maker II included the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony and a guided tour of the new facilities.

About Parque Maker II

Designed to expand the infrastructure available for innovation within the UFRJ ecosystem, Parque Maker II was created to provide the conditions for companies, researchers and partners to develop, test and validate new technological solutions.

The opening marks another step in UFRJ Science Park’s strategy to strengthen the connection between knowledge, entrepreneurship and development, helping to drive innovations with a positive impact on society.

About UFRJ Science Park

UFRJ Science Park is one of Brazil’s leading innovation ecosystems and the official innovation environment of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, located on the university’s campus in a 350,000 m² area facing Guanabara Bay. Since 2003, the Park has connected university, industry, government and society to transform scientific knowledge into high-impact solutions, new technologies and sustainable development.

Its ecosystem brings together more than 50 organizations, including companies, startups, research centers and UFRJ laboratories, with direct access to one of Latin America’s strongest academic and scientific communities. With a focus on deep tech, applied research, entrepreneurship and open innovation, UFRJ Science Park works across strategic areas such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, biotechnology, health innovation, energy transition, sustainability, blue economy, agribusiness, future foods, oil and gas, cybersecurity, robotics and advanced industry.

Through Parque Global, its internationalization strategy, UFRJ Science Park expands connections beyond borders by supporting soft landing, international missions, delegation visits, strategic events, global partnerships and cooperation agreements with innovation ecosystems in different regions of the world.

By combining world-class academic knowledge, industry challenges, entrepreneurial talent and global collaboration, UFRJ Science Park is a powerful platform for innovation with purpose. From Rio de Janeiro to the world, the Park turns science into solutions, partnerships into impact and ideas into a more sustainable future.