The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) is a cutting-edge, multi-user, multidisciplinary scientific environment that supports the Brazilian National Science, Technology and Innovation System. It has globally competitive laboratory infrastructures open to the scientific community, such as Sirius, one of the world´s most advanced synchrotron light source. The Center combines a range of skills, with an emphasis on nanotechnology, biosciences, biotechnology, biorenewables, cutting-edge engineering and scientific instrumentation, carrying out research and development in strategic areas such as health, energy, renewable materials, and sustainability, including innovative projects in partnership with the productive sector and contributing to the training of researchers and students. The Center is also responsible for the Ilum School of Science, a higher education course in Science, Technology and Innovation. CNPEM has recently began developing the Orion project, a laboratory complex for advanced research in pathogens, which will host facilities with advanced levels of biological containment (BSL-3 and BSL-4), planned to be the first in the world to be connected to a synchrotron light source. In this seminar an overview of the CNPEM's activities will be presented.