09:00
Birkbeck
June 25
Online
Join the Centre for Innovation Management Research on Wednesday, 25 June 2025, 3-4.30pm, online for a lunchtime seminar on Deep-Tech Solutions for Global Challenges. The debate is part of the CIMR Debates and Workshops in Public Policy series.
Ronaldo Pedro, Founder & Principal Investigator, NanoBusiness & ConvergeLab | Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)
Malu Junco, ConvergeLab Project Specialist | STEM Policy Communicator | Dual Majors, Economics and Biotechnology in Integrated Science Scholar at Claremont McKenna College
Please find below: Synopsis, Bios, and Presentation Briefs
In a world increasingly defined by uncertainty and global challenges, translating scientific research into innovation is no longer a choice, but a necessity. This event explores how deep-techs can create new innovation ecosystems, empower a new generation of “entrepreneurial researchers”, unlock and accelerate social and economic growth, while addressing global challenges and opportunities.
The conversation brings together leading scholars and practitioners to explore how universities, labs, innovation intermediaries, and policymakers can better support the translation of knowledge into impact—particularly in highly uncertain, deep-tech environments. Through comparative insights from the UK, Brazil, United States and beyond, the session examines the structures, partnerships, and policies that enable research-driven innovation.
As part of this open dialogue, the initiative ConvergeLab will be presented as an example of how international collaboration and venture-building approaches can contribute to bridging research and enterprise in order to create impact.
* Ronaldo Pedro – Founder and Principal Investigator at NanoBusiness, and Professor at UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro). A leading figure in science-based entrepreneurship in Brazil, Ronaldo has pioneered models for deep-tech commercialization and innovation infrastructure in emerging economies. His work focuses on translating cutting-edge research in nanotechnology and biotechnology into scalable ventures that address global challenges.
* Aline Martins – International expert in innovation policy and science diplomacy, with a career spanning leadership roles at Connected Places Catapult and Innovate UK, the UK’s national innovation agency. Aline specializes in designing global innovation programs that connect governments, academia, and industry to drive sustainable economic development, with a focus on knowledge-intensive and emerging technology sectors.
* Malu Junco – Science communicator and public policy researcher focused on bridging scientific knowledge with society. As a Gates Foundation Scholar and UNESCO consultant, she works at the intersection of science, public engagement, and international development, with a mission to make scientific knowledge a driver of social change.
This presentation outlines the core methodology behind ConvergeLab, a Brazil-UK venture builder focused on commercializing deep technologies in regulated sectors. Drawing on real-world case studies and policy alignment, the presenters will explain how ConvergeLab tackles uncertainty through structured support, cross-border infrastructure, and the integration of lab research with market intelligence.