Entrepreneurship and Management in the Training of Masters and PhDs

The training of masters and doctoral students in Brazil has historically been guided by specialization in scientific excellence. However, there is a persistent gap in the incorporation of management and entrepreneurship skills in graduate curricula. These competencies are essential to broaden the impact of science in society, facilitate technological innovation, and strengthen integration with the productive sector. This opinion article highlights the strategic importance of including management and entrepreneurship in advanced training, articulating recent data and international experiences that point to the urgent need for a paradigm shift. Only 12% of life science researchers report having project management experience, while less than 20% of scientists have received entrepreneurship training. In Brazil, the situation is equally challenging, with structural difficulties in transforming research results into solutions for society and the market. Although CAPES has recognized the importance of university-industry interaction in recent evaluations, the absence of structured training in management and entrepreneurship limits the ability of masters and doctors to fully operate in this ecosystem. International experience shows that entrepreneurial universities, especially in the United States and Europe, have invested in hybrid curricula that integrate science, innovation, and business, fostering the creation of academic startups and spin-offs, expanding the socioeconomic impact of research.