INL showcased nanotechnology at Expo Osaka 2025
October 23, 2025
On October 7th and 8th, 2025, INL proudly participated in the Portugal Pavilion at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, under the overarching theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.”. The Portugal Pavilion highlighted the theme “The Ocean | Blue Dialogue,” and INL contributed by demonstrating how nanotechnology, advanced materials, and biotechnology can address global challenges in health, sustainability, energy, and digital transformation.
INL’s presence at the Expo
INL’s participation was designed to promote international collaboration in science and technology, to showcase the role of nanotechnology in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to engage visitors with interactive experiences that connect research to real-world impact. It also aimed to strengthen ties between Europe and Asia in the context of innovation and societal progress. Aligned with the Pavilion’s focus on ocean conservation and sustainable development, INL highlighted its contributions to the Blue Economy and its commitment to fostering scientific culture, talent, and creativity.
The exhibition featured four main activities:
- “マイクロ (10⁻⁶) ⇄ ナノ (10⁻⁹)”, a media arts projection combining laboratory imagery with immersive soundscapes to explore the transition from micro to nano scales.
- A Microscopy Exhibition showcasing the intersection of science, technology, and art, and presenting three INL research projects related to ocean sustainability.
- A Virtual Lab, which offered industry visitors an interactive experience with INL prototypes addressing the SDGs, Clean Water, Climate Action, and Life Below Water.
- Activity Books for Nanoexplorers, translated into Japanese, were designed for the younger generation to explain nanoscience through engaging games and illustrations.
The Portugal Pavilion welcomed over 38.000 visitors throughout the course of these two days, October 7th and 8th, and INL estimates that approximately 10.500 visitors engaged with its exhibition.
Almost 3.000 copies of the Activity Book were distributed, with the entire stock gone by mid-afternoon on the second day.
Special events at the Expo
Beyond its public-facing activities, INL took an active role in fostering strategic connections during the Expo. In collaboration with AICEP (Portuguese Agency on Investment and Trade), INL co-organised an exclusive networking event that brought together representatives from leading Japanese companies and universities. This private gathering provided an ideal setting to showcase one of INL’s innovative solutions: a smart sensor designed to monitor wine bottle temperatures over time.
The technology, powered by NFC interactions, not only tracks temperature variations but also connects users to a digital collaborative platform where detailed wine profiles and sensor data are stored and shared. This seamless integration of science and tradition captured the attention of participants and sparked conversations around potential applications in the wine industry and beyond.
The event proved to be more than a demonstration – it became a catalyst for promising collaborations, which INL is now actively exploring to expand the reach and impact of its research.
The World Expo Osaka 2025
The World Expo stands as one of the most anticipated global events of the decade, this year bringing together 158 countries and 25 international organisations under the overarching theme: “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.”. This theme reflects a collective ambition to envision and shape a sustainable, inclusive, and innovative future for humanity.
To translate this vision into tangible experiences, the Expo embraced three interconnected subthemes: Saving Lives – focusing on health, resilience, and sustainability; Empowering Lives – highlighting education, equality, and innovation; Connecting Lives – celebrating cultural exchange, collaboration, and digital transformation.
Across six months, visitors explored pavilions and Commons, each designed to transform these ideas into immersive, interactive concepts through art installations, multimedia experiences, galleries, and cutting-edge technological displays. These spaces served as living laboratories of ideas, sparking dialogue, and inspiring action.
The venue itself was a masterpiece of symbolism and engineering. Encircling the site was the Grand Ring, a striking architectural icon representing “Unity in Diversity.” This monumental structure earned a Guinness World Record as the largest wooden architectural construction in history, impressively spanning more than 60,000 square meters. Its design embodied the Expo’s spirit: diverse nations connected in harmony to build a shared future.
Exceeded our expectations
Visitors widely praised INL’s creative approach to translating complex science into accessible, engaging experiences, turning advanced nanotechnology concepts into an engaging exhibit that sparked curiosity and dialogue. This innovative strategy reinforced the laboratory’s core mission: bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world societal needs.
The success of INL’s participation went beyond visibility – it highlighted its commitment to sustainability and collaboration. By showcasing solutions that address health, energy, and environmental challenges, INL demonstrated how science can actively shape a better future.
Moreover, this presence strengthened INL’s role as a strategic connector between Europe and Asia, fostering partnerships that will accelerate technological progress and sustainable development. Through its contributions, INL reaffirmed its vision of science as a driver for unity, progress, and impact on a global scale.
Text by Mariam Debs, Head of Communication, Conferences, and Marketing
Photography by Catarina Moura, Science Communication Officer; and Catarina Serrão, Portugal Expo 2025
