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COVID-19 EVENTS FUNDED PROJECTS GENERAL INL PICKS INL STATEMENTS INNOVATION MOST POPULAR PEOPLE RESEARCH SCALE EXPERIENCES SCALE TRAVELS SEMICONDUCTORS SINFONIA PROJECT SPOTLIGHT WOMEN IN SCIENCE WOMEN IN STEM

September 29, marked the return of the European Researchers’ Night

Last Friday, September 29, marked the return of the European Researchers’ Night — the annual celebration of innovative research taking place simultaneously in more than 30 countries and 300 cities throughout Europe. The diverse programme gathered more than 400 researchers and included games, hands-on activities, interactive experiences, a ‘nano-quizz’ and ‘workshops’, where different areas such as chemistry, biology, physics, geology, mathematics, optometry, and biotechnology were crossed. These were just a few of the possible applications that ECUM – University of Minho and International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), many other partners introduced to more than 1400 visitors at Altice Fórum Braga. The audience defied all researchers with relevant questions and expressed genuine wonder as they saw “magic” happening before their eyes. This year, ‘Science for Everyone – Sustainability and Inclusion’ was the motto that framed an event committed to raising awareness about the role of science in achieving sustainability and inclusion goals among school students and different audiences, while identifying key societal concerns about climate change and sustainable growth and linking them to science-oriented solutions and proposals. This European project consortium includes as partners the National Museum of Natural History and Science of the University of Lisbon, the Nova School of […]

i-GRAPE project distinguished by Port and Douro Wines Institute

On September 10th, the project i-GRAPE was celebrated amidst “Porto Wine Day”, an event hosted by the Port and Douro Wines Institute (IVDP). With the goal of preserving the wine’s heritage and attained to the theme “Douro + Susteinable”, this was also an opportunity to celebrate Sogrape, which was awarded in the “Viticulture” category. INL is the project coordinator of i-GRAPE and Professor Paulo Freitas, INL’s Deputy Director-General, attended the event, held at Teatrinho Reguense, in the city of Peso da Régua. i-GRAPE is an innovative project, focused on developing a new generation of analytical methods for control of the grape maturation phase and vine hydric stress. Operating in a highly competitive market, its simple, rapid and cost-effective techniques will allow the winemaker to control irrigation in the latest steps of grape maturation, and plan the harvest at the optimum time. When it comes to efficacy, this means optimizing wine quality at the end of the wine value chain. Promoting forefront applications to everyday fields, i-GRAPE provides a digital tool that supports the decision-making processes, making sure that the automation control has an impact in the quality and value of the wine. This tool consists in an apparatus that is […]

TrustEat Final Conference in Wageningen Netherlands

TRUSTEAT project final conference will take place in Wageningen – Netherlands on September 22, 2023. The one-day event is aimed towards both national and international industrial players, research institutions and universities, as well as national and regional authorities. By bringing together R&D experts and stakeholders, the consortium aims to identify common research goals, overlaps, and promising areas of potential collaboration. The sessions will also include disseminating selected technologies and collaboration opportunities in fundraising through brokerage sessions: TrustEat Final Conference is powered by the KB37 project, which is centred on promoting healthy and safe food systems, bringing together experts from various fields. Know more and register by clicking here.

Paving the Way for Cleaner Skies through Solar Innovation

The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is a global initiative focused on raising awareness about the critical need to address air pollution and promote cleaner environments. To face the grand challenge of transforming the energy system, the European project SITA aims to explore innovative concepts for tandem solar cells. SITA: Transforming Solar Energy Technology SITA introduces a revolutionary concept in tandem solar cells with a 2-terminal (2T) approach, combining the expertise of Silicon Heterojunction (SHJ) and high bandgap Cu(In, Ga)(Se, S)2(CIGS) technologies. This project demonstrates INL’s commitment to cutting-edge research and its dedication to addressing the urgent challenges of air quality and sustainable energy. The core idea behind SITA lies in creating tandem solar cells that eliminate the need for additional cables or electronics, a feat made possible by recent advancements in wide-gap CIGS devices boasting remarkable efficiency levels, exceeding 18%. The different partners of the consortium are working to showcase the durability of these new modules under real-world outdoor conditions, promising the next generation of stable inorganic tandem solar modules with greater device efficiency. This leap in efficiency carries the potential to reduce area-related system costs substantially, and consequently lower the ‘levelized cost of electricity’ (LCOE). […]

Recruitment for the post of INL Deputy Director-General

The Council of INL is seeking an experienced and strategy-oriented person to serve as INL’s next Deputy Director-General to succeed Prof. Paulo Freitas. A key element in the organization, the DDG will coordinate and prepare, alongside the Director-General, long-term plans that meet INL’s mission. As an important bridge throughout INL’s community, analysing critically, providing guidance and inspiring others to collectively achieve common goals are some of the core responsibilities of the role. The Deputy Director-General will collaborate closely with the Director-General (DG) to shape strategic direction and offer impactful leadership, enhancing the Laboratory’s reach, excellence, and commitment to cutting-edge nanotechnology research, as set forth in the INL 2030 Strategic Vision. This role involves driving innovation, engaging industry leaders, and nurturing relationships across government agencies, industry partners, and academic institutions. The ideal candidate should possess a distinguished track record in research, development, and innovation, complemented by proven leadership in steering high-performance teams. About INL At INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, located in Braga (North of Portugal), scientists and engineers from all over the world work in a highly interdisciplinary environment and strive to make INL become a worldwide hub for the deployment of Nanotechnology, addressing society’s grand challenges. The INL […]

Professor Clivia M. Sotomayor Torres appointed to be the new Director General of INL

The Council of the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) has announced the appointment of Prof. Dr Clivia M. Sotomayor Torres as INL’s new Director-General. Prof. Dr Sotomayor Torres was selected for her outstanding qualifications and experience in the nanotechnology field. Prof. Dr Sotomayor Torres will take office on September 15, 2023. As Director-General, Prof. Dr. Sotomayor Torres will be responsible for the overall leadership, strategic direction and management of INL. Prof. Dr Sotomayor Torres will work to foster the institute’s mission of advancing nanotechnology research and innovation and to promote the institute’s global impact for the benefit of society. Prof. Dr Sotomayor Torres earned her Ph.D. in Physics at Manchester University and has held significant roles in various European research centres. She has also been honoured with numerous awards and grants, including the ERC Advanced Grant in 2021 for her pioneering work in phononic interconnects aimed at energy-efficient electronic circuits. Prof. Paulo Freitas DDG, INL

INL obtained the “HR Excellence in Research” award

INL was granted the HR Excellence in Research distinction of the European Commission in the framework of the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) and is now listed among the HRS4R-acknowledged institutions. The award demonstrates INL´s commitment to continuously improving its human resource policies in line with the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. This achievement is the result of a joint effort involving the INL´s HRS4R Commission (Steering Committee and Working Group) and the research community. From now on, INL can use the ‘HR Excellence in Research’ award to promote a stimulating and favourable work environment for researchers. This will be an evolving procedure, and INL will thrive to continue improving its human resources strategies towards a better research environment. The European Commission recognizes with the ‘HR Excellence in Research Award’ the institutions which make progress in aligning their human resources policies to the 40 principles of the Charter & Code. Find here INL listed on the Euraxess website under “Charter and Code Endorsements.

smart-PV project ends with a final workshop

The final workshop of the smart-PV project took place last July, marking the successful completion of this research and development initiative. The PT2020 framework under COMPETE funded the project and was managed by the Portuguese Innovation Agency (ANI) under the contract reference POCI-01-0247-FEDER-068919. These collaborative projects, led by the industry, aim to develop innovative technologies in cooperation with partners. dstSolar led the smart-PV project, together with the INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Instituto Eletrónico Português (IEP), and Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores, Tecnologia e Ciência (INESC-TEC). Together, we developed a ground-breaking platform for managing photovoltaic assets. This platform collects data from various sources, including thermal images captured by unmanned aerial vehicles, meteorological data, and inverter electrical data. Utilizing advanced neural networks, the platform makes informed decisions regarding maintenance and predicts performance. Professor Pedro Salomé, the group leader of the Nanofabrication, Optoelectronics, and Energy Applications group (NOA) at INL, shared his thoughts on the project, stating that “when INL published its INL Go Global 2030 strategy document, which highlighted machine learning and digitalization as strategic priorities, our group immediately took the lead in coordinating the smart-PV proposal. We developed the smart-PV concept, utilizing neural networks to manage photovoltaic […]

Fire Drill at INL

The INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory carried out an evacuation simulation of the INL buildings, today morning, July 3rd. Several agents linked to the civil protection of Braga were involved, namely Firefighters and Security Forces. This exercise aimed to test the response capacity of the INL and civil protection agents in Braga in the context of an emergency situation. This is an action in accordance with the Technical Regulation on Fire Safety in Buildings in force. The total evacuation of people working in the INL buildings was part of the self-protection measures within the scope of the aforementioned regulation, and took place, after the alarm sounded, under the coordination of those responsible for the areas and in accordance with the protocols in force. We work every day to avoid occurrences of this kind, but we have to be prepared in case they happen, for those who work at INL and for those who live close to us.