The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) has been selected by the Brazilian Agency for Industrial Research and Innovation (Embrapii) to host a new Competence Center dedicated to the development of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) derived from Brazilian biodiversity (CC IFA-BIOBR). The initiative, supported by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, encompasses research and development activities focused on the discovery and development of active pharmaceutical ingredients from Brazil’s biodiversity.
According to a study by the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) on the Health Economic-Industrial Complex (CEIS), 90% of the APIs used by Brazil’s pharmaceutical industry are imported. In some market segments, this dependence reaches 95%, making the country vulnerable to international crises, exchange rate fluctuations, and disruptions in global supply chains, according to the Brazilian Association of Pharmaceutical Ingredient Manufacturers (Abiquifi). In this context, the Competence Center will carry out research and development activities aimed at obtaining APIs from Brazilian biodiversity.
The Center will conduct research to transform natural compounds found across Brazil’s diverse biomes into new medicines, particularly for the treatment of neglected diseases and health conditions with a high incidence in the country. It will also enable the research and development of new technological routes for producing these substances, which are responsible for the therapeutic effects of medicines. With this selection, CNPEM, a research organization supervised by Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), joins the network of 11 other Embrapii Competence Centers dedicated to the development of frontier technologies.
Planned activities include the development of collaborative research and innovation projects, the training of highly qualified professionals, and collaboration with companies and institutions in the pharmaceutical sector. The new Competence Center will bring together expertise in phytochemistry, structural biology, high-throughput biological screening, natural product libraries, and medicinal chemistry within a platform dedicated to the development of new therapies.
Biodiversity as a Source of New Medicines
The work plan integrates scientific and technological capabilities across the entire pharmaceutical innovation pipeline, from the discovery of natural compounds to advanced stages of preclinical development.
The Center will operate across multiple complementary fronts, combining research, technological development, human resource training, and open innovation to advance the development of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients.
In addition to research activities, the Center will develop technology platforms, incorporate artificial intelligence and green chemistry tools, expand the Brazilian Biodiversity Molecule Bank, and promote open innovation programs, human resource development, and partnerships with companies and startups within Brazil’s pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem.
Its main research areas include the discovery of new bioactive molecules from Brazilian biodiversity; the development of technological routes for obtaining and scaling up innovative APIs; the application of advanced molecular biology, medicinal chemistry, and bioinformatics tools to identify drug candidates; efficacy, safety, and preclinical validation studies of promising compounds; and the development of technology platforms to accelerate the transformation of natural compounds into pharmaceutical products.
World-Class Scientific Infrastructure Supporting Health Research
CNPEM hosts one of Brazil’s most comprehensive research environments, bringing together laboratories dedicated to biosciences, nanotechnology, advanced materials, and Sirius, a state-of-the-art synchrotron light source that enables researchers to investigate molecular structures with exceptional precision and supports critical stages in the development of new medicines.
Beyond its laboratory infrastructure, the Competence Center will benefit from a collaborative network involving pharmaceutical companies, startups, universities, research institutions, and national and international partners, fostering an environment focused on open innovation and technology transfer to industry.
Training Specialists for a Strategic Sector
Another key pillar of the Competence Center will be the training of highly qualified professionals to work in areas considered critical to the future of Brazil’s pharmaceutical industry.
The program includes training for researchers, industry professionals, and students in competencies related to drug discovery, medicinal chemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, manufacturing scale-up, and technology transfer. These training activities address areas where there is growing demand for professionals specialized in medicine development.
About the Embrapii Competence Centers
The Embrapii Competence Centers aim to conduct high-impact research and prepare talent to lead the industries of the future. This network brings together leading institutions with proven scientific and technical expertise, highly qualified human capital, and state-of-the-art infrastructure operating at the frontiers of knowledge—strategic areas that still require intensive research to generate new capabilities and support Brazil’s industrial development.
In addition to conducting cutting-edge research, the Centers foster the growth of deep-tech startups, accelerating new business models and helping bring innovative scientific solutions to market. Together, they create an ecosystem that connects science, technology, and industry to address strategic challenges through innovation.
About CNPEM
The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) is home to a state-of-the-art, multi-user and multidisciplinary scientific environment and works on different fronts within the Brazilian National System for Science, Technology and Innovation. A social organization overseen by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), with the involvement of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health, CNPEM is driven by research that impacts the areas of health, energy, renewable materials, and sustainability. It is responsible for Sirius, the largest assembly of scientific equipment constructed in the country, and is currently constructing Project Orion, a laboratory complex for advanced pathogen research. Highly specialized science and engineering teams, sophisticated infrastructure open to the scientific community, strategic lines of investigation, innovative projects involving the productive sector, and training for researchers and students are the pillars of this institution that is unique in Brazil and able to serve as a bridge between knowledge and innovation. CNPEM's research and development activities are carried out through its four National Laboratories: Synchrotron Light (LNLS), Biosciences (LNBio), Nanotechnology (LNNano), Biorenewables (LNBR), as well as its Technology Unit (DAT) and the Ilum School of Science — an undergraduate program in Science and Technology.
