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Portugal’s Ministers Elvira Fortunato and António Costa Silva visited INL today

To highlight the crucial importance of INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory in driving scientific advancements and economic growth, Portugal’s Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education, Elvira Fortunato, alongside António Costa Silva, Minister of Economy and the Sea, visited INL today. The purpose of their visit was to showcase INL’s significant contributions on both national and international fronts, to delve into its strategic positioning within Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plans (PRRs) and its collaborations at the national and European levels, and to discuss INL’s future challenges and its positioning regarding ChipsAct. During the visit, the ministers underscored INL’s strategic alignment with Portugal’s PRRs, highlighting the laboratory’s integral involvement in driving forward key initiatives aimed at strengthening the research and innovation national ecosystem. INL’s collaborative efforts with national partners were also brought to the forefront, showcasing the laboratory’s commitment to fostering synergies within the external scientific and industrial community. Looking towards the future, the ministers addressed the challenges lying ahead for INL, particularly in the context of the burgeoning semiconductor industry. With the global semiconductor landscape evolving rapidly, INL faces the imperative of solidifying its position within initiatives like ChipsAct, aimed at fortifying Europe’s semiconductor capabilities. Ministers Fortunato and Silva […]

Detecting food allergens with paper microfluidics and a smartphone

Every day, millions are at risk of falling ill due to undetected allergens or contaminants in their food. However, a groundbreaking solution may be on the horizon, as researchers investigate a game-changing technology to combat foodborne risks. The Food Quality and Safety research group recently published a study describing a cutting-edge technology that provides faster, cheaper, and more reliable detection of allergens like β-lactoglobulin in our food. Traditionally, detecting allergens in food products has been a complex and costly process. Current methods, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), require specialised equipment and highly-trained personnel, making them difficult to use. INL researchers are contributing to reshaping the landscape of food safety with a new nanotechnology approach. Their pioneering approach? Fluorescent carbon quantum dots combined with aptamers, which are short, single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules that can bind to specific target molecules with high affinity and specificity. By leveraging the unique properties of carbon quantum dots and aptamers, the researchers have developed a highly sensitive and portable detection method for β-lactoglobulin, the primary allergenic whey protein found in cow’s milk. What sets this technology apart is its simplicity and effectiveness. The team has created a user-friendly platform that […]

INL hosts Info Session dedicated to the Chips JU 2024 funding opportunities

INL partnered up with the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the National Agency of Innovation (ANI) to promote an Information Session dedicated to the European Partnership Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU). The event delved into the funding opportunities available under the initiative that acts as an instrumental central force in the implementation of the European Chips Act mission – a framework designed to strengthen the continent’s competitiveness and resilience in semiconductor technologies. Opening the session, the Portuguese Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education, Elvira Fortunato, assured that Portugal is deeply committed to contributing to the joint resilience of the European Union, having established a National Strategy for Semiconductors with strategic lines of action in innovative areas. According to the Minister, the endeavour aims at improving not only the infrastructure, facilities, laboratories, and organisation of chip manufacturing but also in terms of talent capabilities, qualification, and retention – one of the global challenges in this sector. The event counted with the presence of Anton Chichkov, Chips JU Programme Officer, who explored the joint undertaking work plan, introducing the calls available for 2024, and presenting the Pilot Lines and Competence Centres foreseen for this initiative, as well as […]

Is there a nano-sized ‘magic bullet’ for treating cancer?

The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) selected a research study from INL as one of the groundbreaking cancer research papers of 2023. This collection of papers aims to highlight recent developments in efforts to understand cancer and ways to provide effective treatments. In this study published in the journal Nanoscale, the Nanomedicine research group at INL, in collaboration with Stasiuk’s group at King’s College London, developed a new theranostic method for cancer treatment. Theranostics combines therapy and monitoring in a single formulation, offering a more personalised approach to treat cancer. INL researchers developed redox-responsive nanoparticles comprising manganese dioxide and a platinum prodrug, both intended to be activated specifically at the tumour microenvironment. Smart theranostic strategies, also known as responsive theranostics, are approaches in which the drug and/or imaging components are only activated or released in response to a certain stimulus. This stimulus can be a multitude of switches: light, magnetic fields, temperature, ultrasounds, or biological conditions such as the pH or redox state. For example, imagine a scenario where smart theranostic nanoparticles, which are temperature sensitive, are injected into the body, and they travel to a tumour site. When an external trigger, such as an alternating magnetic field or a laser, is […]

INL continues to breakthrough in Energy research

Clean energy technologies based in photovoltaics, energy storage and renewable gases are key research lines of the Clean Energy Cluster at INL. In 2023 there were several developments in terms of people, projects, events, and scientific advances. There are 10 INL research groups participating in the Clean Energy cluster, with 17 research and development competitively funded projects, including 8 European projects. In 2023, these groups saw 5 PhD graduations and 9 MSc completions. Three researchers received recognition by Stanford University, placing them among the top 2% of scientists worldwide of 2022 – Laura Salonen, Lifeng Liu and Paulo Ferreira. INL hosted two relevant events, the Horizon Europe BATT4EU Funding Opportunities event, and organised a workshop within the FUNLAYERS twinning EU project. INL researchers in the Energy field developed new solutions, ranging from proof-of-concept to prototype devices for energy conversion, such as photovoltaic and renewable gases technologies, and energy storage, namely rechargeable batteries and hydrogen. Here one can have a glimpse of the research highlights in this field: The LaNaSC research group used conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) tomography to investigate the impact of alkali-fluoride post-deposition treatments on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells. Their findings, published in Nature Energy, revealed that spatial inhomogeneities […]

INL advances heavy metal detection in industrial wastewater

The advances in industrial modernisation are driving research towards the development of new sensors for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) or Internet of Robotic Things (IoRT), aiming to enhance efficiency, production rates, and quality standards. However, current solutions face technical limitations in accuracy, and adaptability to real-world conditions. The Next-Gen Quality Control (NGQC) IoRT project focuses on developing an automated monitoring system to detect heavy metals in industrial effluents. This ecosystem includes environmental monitoring, as well as wastewater. Pilot testing is currently underway at Stellantis in Mangualde, embracing the principles of Industry 4.0. The monitoring system is integrated into a wastewater treatment plant to understand its evolution and whether water quality limits are being exceeded. Raquel Queirós, staff researcher in the Water Quality Group, explains, “This system collects a small sample from the tank at the beginning and end of the process. This sample is then filtered to detect the presence of the heavy metals”. Samuel Silva, research fellow in the Water Quality research group, adds, “The developed electrochemical sensors have been optimised to detect nickel and zinc.” The prototype has integrated an algorithm that calculates and estimates the concentration of the heavy metals. “The system is able to […]

The magnetic world of quantum nanostructures

Over the last year, INL joined forces with Native Scientists as a partner in the educational programme “Cientista Regressa à Escola” (Scientist Returns to School). This social project, aimed at promoting scientific literacy, is truly unique and inspiring. Together, we have been able to strengthen the bond between scientists and children, inspiring the next generation and promoting equal opportunities. João Henriques, Junior Research Fellow in the Theory of Quantum Nanostructures group, visited the Escola Básica EB1/JI da Garapôa, and he described his school visit as “a wonderful experience fuelled by the genuine excitement of students eager to learn more about science”. João’s research is focused on theoretical studies of low dimensional materials, such as carbon based nanographenes. Nanographenes are fragments of graphene with unpaired electrons, which lead to magnetism. In a recently published study within the project PiMag, João Henriques and the team described the magnetic properties in these quantum nanostructures, and how it is possible to combine organic chemistry techniques to engineer new materials. The calculations provide a tuneable platform to explore quantum magnetism at the nanoscale, for potential quantum technology applications. João explains, “To explain this topic for 8-year-olds, I divided it into three parts. The first two highlighted the […]

INL hosts ASCENT+ Research Accelerator Program

In January, the INL Research Core Facilities – Micro and Nanofabrication (MNF) and Advanced Electron Microscopy, Imaging & Spectroscopy (AEMIS) – hosted a special event focused on micro- and nanofabrication, electron microscopy, and spectroscopy techniques. The event saw six participants from the ASCENT+ Research Accelerator come together for two and a half days of lectures and demos. During the event, participants were given a chance to see first-hand the different processing steps involved in microfabrication: deposition, lithography/patterning, and etching and electron microscopy and spectroscopy: SEM, FIB, XPS and TEM. The week’s highlight was an extended live demo of a microfabrication process inside the INL’s cleanroom. The INL team was pleased to share their knowledge and contribute to the training of these promising researchers. Overall, the event provided an excellent opportunity for researchers to come together and learn about the latest techniques in micro- and nanofabrication. More about the project here. Text by Margaret Costa, Chief Operations Officer for Research Core Facilities and Patricia Barroso, Communication, Conferences, and Marketing Officer Photography by Andrea Gouvêa, Research Engineer, Micro and Nanofabrication Facility

INL researchers developed an autonomous monitoring system for grape ripening

INL researchers have published a new study describing a novel prototype of a stand-alone system designed to autonomously collect grape ripening measurements. Climate change and the rapid transformation of economic value chains are driving the need for advanced decision-support systems in viticulture. The traditional method of monitoring grape maturation involves manual sampling and lab assays, but there’s a shift towards using optical techniques in agriculture. The Internet of Things (IoT) plays a key role in agriculture by connecting sensors, networks, and data processing. IoT is also one of the main drivers of precision viticulture, where the combination of multiple data sources can create complex tools for monitoring the vineyard. Hugo Oliveira, the main author of this study, explains “this IoT application involves using simplified spectral sensors to monitor grape ripening in real-time, providing analytical information about the grapes’ status. This work established the technology ground to achieve this objective”. The research work developed by INL researchers of the Systems Engineering and the Nanodevices groups, in collaboration with University of Milano, IMTEK, Sogrape, INESC-MN, and Automation, introduces a novel prototype of a stand-alone system which uses simplified spectral sensing to autonomously collect reflectance measurements directly from grape bunches. The system comprises […]