Campinas, formerly known as Nossa Senhora da Conceição de Campinas de Mato Grosso and São Carlos, is a major centre of industry, services and research, with the 11th largest GDP in Brazil and responsible for 15% of all scientific research in the country. In the 19th century, Campinas was the state's main commercial centre. Although later overtaken by São Paulo and Santos, it was still significant as a clearing point for coffee, citrus and sugar cane from the interior and became a fast-growing industrial centre. The state agronomic institute and large experimental plantations and other agricultural research institutions are located in Campinas. Industries include foundries, textile factories, locks and key factories and packaging and processing plants; agricultural equipment, motorbikes, electronics and machine tools are also manufactured.

For visitors, in addition to the obvious business/academic opportunities, Campinas offers the shopping, dining and nightlife options typical of a big city, but with easy access to the beautiful countryside and picturesque towns of the Serra da Mantiqueira. Campinas is also home to a considerable historical heritage from the late 19th century, associated with the prosperity of coffee growing during this period.