News

April 8, 2026

Could sodium be the breakthrough behind tomorrow’s batteries?

Challenge Us: INL launches an open innovation programme for industry

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) is launching “Challenge Us!”, an open innovation programme designed to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and real industry needs. Supported by the TECHLINK project and funded by COMPETE 2030, the programme runs on a rolling basis from April 2026 to June 2027, giving companies a sustained window to bring their toughest R&D problems to one of Europe’s leading nanotechnology laboratories. How it works The premise is simple: companies submit their unresolved R&D challenges/ unmet technological needs, and INL takes it from there. Each accepted challenge is matched with an interdisciplinary team at INL, who works alongside the company during a dedicated one-day hackathon to co-develop concept-level solutions. The goal is to deliver a proof-of-concept roadmap that maps out the path to scalability. What kinds of challenges qualify? Challenge Us! is open to companies operating across all sectors. To be considered, a challenge should meet the following criteria: What to expect after applying Companies can expect a response within 10 working days of submission. If successful, an initial meeting with INL is arranged to align expectations and logistics. Challenge presentations take place one month before the hackathon, and at the end, companies receive their […]

The Portuguese Competence Centre in Semiconductors launches new Start-up Award

The Portuguese Competence Centre in Semiconductors (POEMS) is launching the first edition of the POEMS Start-up Award. With applications closing on 30 April, the initiative was designed to celebrate and connect a high-potential Portuguese startup with the national and European semiconductor ecosystem. About POEMS POEMS serves as a central hub for SMEs, startups, and industry players to connect with European networks and build capabilities. Developed under the Chips Joint Undertaking and coordinated by INL, the initiative aims to position Portugal as a strategic force within the European semiconductor landscape. The POEMS consortium brings together 16 expert partners, including leading research institutions and universities. POEMS Start-up Award: Eligibility The award targets legally established Portuguese startups at any stage of development, founded after 1 January 2022, whose activities fall within the semiconductor ecosystem including: chip design, advanced packaging, semiconductor materials and devices, and enabling software or hardware tools. Design-based startups that rely on semiconductor-enabled systems or components are also eligible. To qualify, applicants must present an innovative business idea, product, or service with strong growth potential. POEMS Start-up Award: Benefits The selected winner will receive a €2,500 voucher, redeemable for services offered through the POEMS portfolio, along with an invitation to join […]

INL holds Falling Walls Lab Portugal 2026: Applications now open

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) is proud to announce the return of Falling Walls Lab Portugal. Now in its second edition, the prestigious pitch competition invites early-stage researchers to present their groundbreaking work in three minutes or less. At a first glance, the format seems simple, but it demands both scientific rigour and a masterful play of storytelling. This year’s event will take place on 9 September 2026, at our laboratory, in Braga. The competition made its Portuguese debut at INL in 2025, where Leonor Ribeiro claimed first place with the project “Breaking the Wall of Lung Cancer with a Beam of Light“. Her research stands as a fitting representation of the kind of bold, boundary-pushing research Falling Walls Lab was built to celebrate. Framed within the Falling Walls Science Summit, the event is set to serve as a global platform dedicated to showcasing the diversity of scientific talent and advancing effective science communication. The stakes this year are equally high. Portugal’s winner will secure a place among 100 finalists at the Lab Global Finale in Berlin on 6 November 2026, competing before an international audience of scientists. Winners are also invited to attend the Falling Walls Science Summit, […]

Competing on the clock: INL’s 3MT challenge returns for its third edition

On 25 March, INL hosted the third edition of its Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, once again challenging PhD candidates to demonstrate the power of concise scientific communication. Building on the success of previous editions, participants were tasked with distilling their entire thesis into a compelling three-minute presentation supported by a single slide. The format is deliberately demanding. Faced with the complexity of cutting-edge research, candidates must learn not only to simplify, but to engage, translating years of specialised work into ideas that resonate with a broad audience. This year, six early-stage researchers rose to the challenge, each taking to the stage to impress both a live audience and the jury, composed by Manuel Bañobre, Helena Macedo, and Dmitri Petrovykh. After an intense session of sharp ideas and accessible storytelling, three finalists emerged: The three finalists will go head-to-head at the INL Research Symposium on 16 April, a three-day internal event dedicated to fostering collaboration and scientific exchange across the institute. Through presentations, demonstrations, and open discussions, research groups will share their latest breakthroughs with peers. The finale promises to be a fitting showcase: not just of scientific excellence, but of the rare ability to make it matter to everyone […]

INL’s Researchers at Schools initiative reaches nearly 400 students in Q1 of 2026

Science does not belong solely within laboratory walls. It shapes everyday life, and its advances carry profound consequences for society. As an intergovernmental research organisation, INL is committed to making science accessible to the wider community through a range of outreach initiatives. One such effort is participation in the European Commission’s flagship programme Researchers at Schools, which encourages INLers to visit educational institutions and deliver engaging workshops. In the first quarter of 2026, INL visited 12 schools across the Minho region of Portugal, reaching 395 students. Under this framework, institutions from pre-school through to secondary level welcome experienced scientists to lead hands-on demonstrations, experiments, workshops and lectures. The aim is to inspire curiosity and nurture a genuine passion for science in younger generations. To help bring this vision to life, INL frequently partners with Native Scientists, a pan-European non-profit organisation that connects underserved children with working scientists. Since the start of the year, INL has visited the following schools: :: Colégio La Salle, Barcelos :: EB Santa Cruz da Trapa, São Pedro do Sul (In partnership with Native Scientists) :: EB Carvalhais, São Pedro do Sul (In partnership with Native Scientists) :: EB Garapôa, Braga (In partnership with Native Scientists) […]

Tuning 2D materials growth for quantum photonics

Two-dimensional materials are opening new possibilities for next-generation technologies, from electronics to quantum photonics. Among them, hexagonal boron nitride has emerged as a particularly promising candidate. Hexagonal boron nitride is an ultra-thin material, only a few atoms thick, which doesn’t conduct electricity but can emit light. This material shares a similar honeycomb lattice structure to graphene, although its lattice is expanded by roughly 2%. It combines excellent chemical and thermal stability with a wide band gap, allowing it to contain tiny defects that can emit light, one photon at a time (a key requirement for quantum technologies). INL researchers from the Sadewasser research group, in collaboration with Nieder and Alpuim groups, have developed a new method to grow large, high-quality boron nitride films for quantum photonics. The team focused on a key step in making high-quality boron nitride films: breaking down ammonia borane, the chemical precursor for the material growth. Using atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition, they tested the effect of varying argon fluxes during the ammonia borane thermal decomposition stage on the hexagonal boron nitride film properties, helping to control the material’s quality and properties. Beyond structural quality, the optical properties of the films revealed particularly exciting results. Elmahdi […]

INLer Simão Teixeira Recognised With The ON/TERMIS Education Grant 2026

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) is proud to announce that postdoctoral researcher Simão Teixeira has been selected as one of the recipients of the ON Foundation/TERMIS Education Grant 2026 a prestigious award recognising early-stage researchers making a meaningful contribution to the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Working within the Domingues Research Group at INL, Simão’s research focuses on developing “plastic antibodies” – custom-designed nanoparticles that recognise specific proteins and help guide stem cell behaviour. By combining these smart materials with magnetic technologies in tissue-mimicking 3D structures, his research advances regenerative therapies for musculoskeletal disorders, particularly tendon injuries and chronic degenerative conditions. His winning submission, the abstract “Mapping PIEZO Mechanotransduction with Submolecular-Precision Nanoswitches”, was accompanied by a motivation letter and a letter of recommendation from his Research Group Leader, forming a compelling case for his selection. The grant comes with an award of €500 to cover registration, accommodation, and travel costs, enabling Simão to attend and present at the TERMIS-EU Conference 2026, to be held in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, from 21 to 24 April. As one of the foremost gatherings in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, the conference brings together leading researchers and clinicians to share their […]

INL Postgraduate School takes PhD candidates to stage with a new performance

Following its successful grand opening in 2025, the INL Postgraduate School (PGS) returned to the INL stage for its second performance. The event took place last friday, 6 March, showcasing 8 PhD students in a captivating piece entitled Human Gaze. From its inception, the PGS has sustained the mission of equipping PhD candidates at INL with transferable skills that support both their academic and professional development through specialist training. As in its inaugural year, the school delivered a 30-hour Communication Course exploring the personal and social dimensions of impactful communication. The syllabus comprised two modules: :: Module 1 – Communicating Science: Techniques for Writing and Speaking: Andy Ross from Johns Hopkins University guided 13 participants through the principles and best practices of scientific communication, teaching them to plan, structure, and deliver ideas with clarity and confidence. :: Module 2 – Stage Presence for Scientists: Braga-based theatre company MALAD’ARTE brought 8 students to the stage, using theatrical exercises as a vehicle for developing interpersonal and presentation skills. On set, participants cultivated critical thinking, creativity, confidence, empathy, and collaboration. With a total running time of 15 minutes, Human Gaze resulted from a collective reflection on the ripple effect of research across time […]