Donaduzzi Educação, part of Biopark in Toledo, has partnered with Stanford University. The effort will bring Stanford Biodesign's needs-first health innovation method to Brazil. Researcher Ana Donaduzzi will train in the United States from January to June 2027.
Training plan
The partnership began after a February 2026 visit to Stanford by Biopark leaders. The group met the Biodesign team and identified collaboration opportunities. Ana Donaduzzi will join the Global Faculty Training program to learn the method and teach teams.
Biopark's role
Biopark sits in Toledo, Paraná, and was named Brazil's best innovation hub by Anprotec. It spans more than 5 million square meters and hosts over 130 companies and three federal institutions. The hub projects 500 companies and 30,000 jobs within 30 years.
How Biodesign works
The methodology starts with direct observation of unmet needs in patient care, hospitals, and medical routines. Teams then select opportunities with market potential and develop solutions likely to gain adoption. This reverses the common order of starting with a patent or product and seeking a clinical use.
After the program ends in June 2027, Ana will return to Brazil to implement the methodology at Biopark. She will prepare teams and support projects focused on real health needs. Before the US training, she studied state hospitals in Paraná to map demands and opportunities.