June 2007 Chemistry and Innovation from spin-out to market

In conjunction with the UK-Brazil year of science and innovation, 2007 saw the first RSC-SBQ joint initiative, a co-organised workshop, ‘Chemistry & Innovation, from spin-out to market’, sponsored by the British Consulate in Sâo Paulo. 

Held on the 2 June in Águas de Lindóa and on the 4 June in Sâo Paulo, speakers covered a variety of topics.

This included commercialisation of academic research and personal accounts of the trials and rewards of establishing SMEs (small to medium sized companies).

Dr David Tapolczay, Chief Scientific Officer of SAFC Pharma Ltd was one of the speakers at the workshop:

"This is an important time for the Brazilian chemical industry with the signing of the patent treaty and the emphasis being placed by the Brazilian government on developing R&D activities in Brazil.

"The meeting was well attended and the level and content of questions suggested a real desire to learn from and collaborate with UK based companies and institutions. I am personally looking to follow up on opportunities that may lead to collaborations with some of the people I met".