Porto Alegre constitutes the second largest health complex in Brazil, with over 26 hospitals and 7,000 beds. Porto Alegre is now home to an unprecedented project in Brazil: the BioHub, an innovation hub that aims to drive innovative health and life science solutions and business. The initiative has headed by from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), a University that not only is recognized for its excellence in research and health care, but also in innovation and technology.
“We are putting our best research, innovation and technology at the service of one of the most sensitive areas of our country: health. We want to connect talents and support the development of new businesses that generate innovative solutions for the health of the population”, explains the President of the University, Br Evilázio Teixeira.

BioHub is set in a unique ecosystem in the country, consisting of more than 80 laboratories, 100 research groups, the 7 Academic Schools of PUCRS, PUCRS’ São Lucas Hospital, Tecnopuc – one of the best Science Parks and Latin America, with more than 170 companies, including more than 20 companies in the health area – and the Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), a facility that combines cutting-edge technology and applied research in neurology, with a team of world-renowned neuroscientists.

The idea of the Biohub is to boost solutions and the development of startups, advance the culture of entrepreneurship among health professionals and promote connections that drive innovations in the area. According to PUCRS’ Superintendent for Innovation and Development, Dr Jorge Audy, the Biohub epitomizes the University’s method of organization to generate opportunities for innovation in health and life sciences. “There is a fine line between the application of new technologies in health processes and innovations in various projects, in an effort to improve processes and provide advances in health management, medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, nutrition, nursing, among other areas,” he says.

The Senior Vice President of PUCRS and Director of BraIns, Dr Jaderson Costa da Costa, claims that the Brain Institute, because of its strong vocation for research, development and innovation, can connect different researchers and players in the search for solutions for analysis, prevention, treatment and monitoring of neurological disorders and mental functions. “BraIns will also be a laboratory for simulation of everyday practices and application of new technologies. We hope that the actions to be developed will have a direct impact on the health ecosystem, as it will enhance the accuracy of diagnosis, the prescription of more effective treatments and the promotion of health, ”he says.

Br. Lauri Heck, Executive Superintendent of PUCRS’ São Lucas Hospital, adds that, as a health care, teaching and research facility, the hospital is committed to developing state-of-the-art technological solutions in the area. The institution keeps faithful to human essence and values developed in the relationship with people. “The fact that São Lucas Hospital is in a University that is a reference in a number of medical specialties, justifies our everyday efforts to innovate, even in areas that are already consolidated. This quest for innovation in health guides the everyday practice of our professionals in all areas, ” Br. Heck says.

First initiative: Health Plus Innovation Center
Biohub’s first undertaking is the Health Plus Innovation Center, a coworking area that will connect HealthTech startups with hospitals, professionals, companies and healthcare companies. The initiative is a partnership between Grow + and PUCRS. It will create 120 job positions in the coworking area, in an area as large as 600m2, which will also include an acceleration program and offices for leasing.