Dr. Rui Cruz is currently the Global R&D Director for Industrial Solutions at Dow, responsible for the business innovation pipeline and a global organization dedicated to technical services, process, product and application development for a diverse pool of technologies dedicated to enabling manufacturing at our customers, with focus in key market segments among which Crop Defense, Performance Lubricants, Electronics and Coatings. He joined Dow in Brazil in 2001, having worked in Human Resources, Customer Services, Technical Services, and Research and Development for several different businesses and technologies. In 2010 he moved to Freeport, Texas, serving as the leader for Polyglycols and Surfactants R&D and later for Epoxy Process Research, Amines and Chelants, Plastics Additives and Oil and Gas.
Dr. Cruz studied Chemical Engineering at the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo and the Karlsruhe University in Germany and holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering by the University of São Paulo, having a strong background in modeling, process evaluation, product and application development, pulp and paper technology, alternative feedstocks and biotechnology. In 2014, he received the prestigious HENAAC Great Minds of STEM Professional Achievement award.