INL Open Innovation Programme: Challenge Us!
Put INL’s nanotechnology expertise to work on your most pressing R&D challenges.
The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) has a long track record of industry collaboration, spanning technology transfer and joint research projects. Through the Challenge Us! Open Innovation Programme, INL invites companies to bring their R&D challenges and unmet technological needs directly to our researchers and engineers.
Selected challenges are matched with multidisciplinary INL teams, who co-develop concept-level solutions during a focused, one-day hackathon, at no cost to your company.
About the programme
The Challenge Us! Open Innovation Programme runs from April 2026 to June 2027, with applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Companies are encouraged to submit multiple challenges.
Why participate?
By joining the programme, companies gain direct access to INL’s cutting-edge nanotechnology expertise and strengthen their ties with a leading international research centre, all with no upfront investment. At the end of the process, they walk away with a proof-of-concept roadmap and a clear path to further collaboration with INL.
Who should participate?
Industry partners from any sector are welcome to apply, provided their R&D challenge aligns with INL’s capabilities. Our research has delivered impact across a wide range of fields, including:
- Healthcare & MedTech
- Semiconductors & Advanced Manufacturing
- Energy Generation & Storage
- Electronics, Sensors & IoT
- Automotive & Aerospace
- Water Monitoring, Sustainability & Materials Engineering
Eligibility criteria
To be considered, submitted challenges must:
- Be strategically important to your company, with no existing market solution
- Include a clear, quantified problem statement
- Be suitable for rapid prototyping within 4–8 weeks
Please note: Challenges focused purely on software or AI, or submissions without a nanotechnology dimension fall outside the programme’s scope.
Submit your challenge
To submit a challenge, complete the online form.
If submitting more than one challenge, please fill in a separate form for each. When submitting more than one challenge, please complete a separate form for each one. Once submitted, you can expect to receive a response within 10 working days.
For any questions, please email brigita.jurisic@inl.int
Programme supported by TechLink, project funded by COMPETE2030 – Programa Temático Inovação e Transição Digital, through PITD/FEDER, project nº 17798.