Which scientist from the Renaissance period made significant scientific discoveries that laid the basis for scientists of the Scientific Revolution?

One key scientist from the Renaissance period who made significant contributions was Nicolaus Copernicus. His heliocentric model of the solar system, proposed in his work "De revolutionibus orbium coelestium," challenged the geocentric view and laid the groundwork for future astronomers like Galileo and Kepler. Copernicus's ideas stimulated critical thinking and paved the way for the Scientific Revolution, fundamentally altering humanity's understanding of the cosmos.