Dr Figlioli's main research interests are in the field of (a) open innovation for SMEs, for instance, assessing SMEs capabilities for OI and exploring SMEs' open innovation journeys; and (b) traditional and new models of innovation habitats, such as science and technology parks, incubators, accelerators, and innovation hubs.

Shes was a researcher at the INSPIRE project (https://www.inspire-smes.eu/), Coordination and Support Action funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 work programme, aiming to understand and support open innovation management in Europe’s SMEs.

Aline started her career with a degree in Economics and an MBA in Controlling and Finance. She had planned to work on the financial sector, but after one year working for a bank, she decided to return to the university to engage in a Master Degree course, which focused on innovation. Her supervisor hired her to work in a project of a technology park that the university was planning.

She carried her Master and PhD research with a focus on the issues she found when working at the technology park. The post-doc, carried at CENTRIM, was also focused on entrepreneurial ecosystems builders, particularly business incubators, technology parks, accelerators, living labs, etc.

Aline is currently working in projects that aim to support startups and scaleups to innovate.

One of them is the Brighton Research and Innovation Technology Exchange (BRITE) project, a strategic partnership between the University of Brighton and Plus X Brighton Innovation Hub. She is part of CENTRIM team that designed and will deliver services to more than 100 start-ups and scaleups according to their specific needs.

Aline was a team member of the INSPIRE – Open Innovation for SMEs project (www.inspire-smes.eu) on the implementation (planning, test, validation, digitization) of the Open Innovation Readiness tool. She is a strong contributor for the elaboration of the INSPIRE methodology, that includes an Open Innovation Canvas an and its Handbook and supporting materials available in a virtual platform.

Aline coordinated the digitization of Profitnet programme, a peer-to-peer learning project that aims at helping SMEs to overcome day-to-day challenges and long-term ones through an innovative methodology created by CENTRIM.

Back in Brazil, she has extensive experience in knowledge sharing.

Aline act, for more than 4 years, as the Head of Innovation of Goias State Government. She was responsible for the implementation of regional development policies through science, technology and innovation efforts.

Dr Aline had the opportunity to work closely as a consultant giving support for SMEs from a Health cluster in Brazil to implement internal innovation activities according to their needs and context.

She worked for more than 4,5 years at the Supera Technology Park in Ribeirão Preto (http://en.superaparque.com.br/),  from the University of Sao Paulo. First, she was a member of the management team that built all the planning of the park and, later on, she acted as the coordinator of its implementation.

Aline has the interest to supervise PhD students that explore entrepreneurial ecosystems builders (EEB) design, role, business models and impacts. All types of EEBs are of interest: business incubators, science and technology parks, accelerators, innovation hubs.

The innovation journey and the management of open innovation in startups and scaleups are also of interest.

Dr Aline has lectured in Brazil from 2003 to December 2011, in presence and distance learning, for undergrad and post-graduate courses.

She delivered lectures on the following subjects: Creation and Development of New Business, Innovation  Based  Organisations, Assessment of  Innovations, Fundamentals of Management, Short and Long Term Financial Management, Finance and Capital Markets, Economic Theory, and Research Seminar.