From Scientific Research to Social Impact: Startups at Parque TeC UFPE Incubator Driving Solutions to Wicked Problems 

Universities are key drivers of innovation ecosystems, fostering economic and social development by generating knowledge, creating technologies, and supporting entrepreneurship. This study examines how Brazil's National Innovation System has contributed to developing university incubators that address wicked problems with high social and environmental impact. It explores legal framework and policies enabling decentralized incubator and tech park expansion. As a case study, we analyze the Parque TeC UFPE Incubator, highlighting its best practices, challenges, and impacts. The incubator fosters a collaborative and flexible innovation environment aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), supporting startups that develop solutions for pressing environmental and social issues. Findings indicate that the incubator's model effectively translates public policies into innovation-driven entrepreneurship, strengthening the link between academic research, business, and societal impact. Its startups success and integration into Brazil's innovation ecosystem underscores the need for sustained policies to ensure a thriving and high-impact innovation.