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INL Marks a Decade of Celebrating the International Day of Light

INL Marks a Decade of Celebrating the International Day of Light

On 18 May, the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) marked its annual celebration of the International Day of Light. Observed worldwide on 16 May, this UNESCO initiative honours the scientific breakthroughs made possible through light, across several fields, including medicine, communication, and energy. Having first marked the occasion in 2016, this year’s edition holds special significance as INL’s tenth anniversary of the celebration. Organised by Group Leader Jana Nieder, the event drew 20 participants around the theme “The Dark Side of the Moon”, bringing together researchers, students, and contributors to explore the interplay between light and darkness. The programme opened with a talk by representatives of the North Space association, offering an introduction to the association and a deep-dive on the Artemis II moon flyby NASA expedition. Four INL researchers then took to the stage for a range of presentations covering nanotechnology for space, quantum communication and computation with light, materials for energy harvesting, and advanced optical methods for space and nanotechnology research. The event also had plenty to offer beyond the lecture programme. Attendees took part in a quiz, lab tours, and sunspot telescope observations, alongside quantum and prism experiments, and image segmentations inspired by the iconic cover of […]

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Accelerating the Energy Transition: Battery Science & Innovation Forum at INL

Accelerating the Energy Transition: Battery Science & Innovation Forum at INL

From 20 to 21 May, the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) hosted the Battery Science & Innovation Forum on its campus in Braga, Portugal. Organised in partnership with the Sociedade Portuguesa de Materiais, CeNTI – Centre for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, and the dst group, and sponsored by Ultraprecisão, Gravimeta, and ILC – Instrumentos de Laboratório e Científicos, the event brought together over 130 professionals from academia, industry, and policy to debate the latest advancements across the battery value chain. Key topics included advanced materials, cell design, manufacturing scale-up, circular economy, and system integration. Over the course of two days, the forum featured 22 scientific and industrial talks spanning lithium and non-lithium technologies, sodium-ion batteries, solid-state systems, and recycling. INL’s Deputy General, Ado Jório, opened day one with a welcome address before handing the stage to the first keynote speaker, Frédéric Aguesse, Business Development Manager at CIDETEC. His talk, “Beyond the Lab: Scaling Next-Generation Battery Technologies from Research to Real-World Applications”, tackled one of the sector’s defining challenges: the journey from promising research to viable, large-scale deployment. It was a theme that would echo throughout the rest of the programme. The second day was opened by António Braz Costa, Director […]

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Strengthening Technology Innovation and Collaboration with an Established NOS-INL Memorandum of Understanding

Strengthening Technology Innovation and Collaboration with an Established NOS-INL Memorandum of Understanding

On 30 April, INL brought together Portugal’s leading technology and innovation stakeholders in a strategic initiative to accelerate the nation’s position within Europe’s innovation landscape. Organised jointly by NOS Comunicações and INL, the session convened representatives from technology companies, scientific institutions and public entities to map collaboration opportunities and identify synergies across Portugal’s research and industrial sectors. The meeting underscored a collective commitment to strengthening the country’s innovation ecosystem whilst positioning Portugal as a competitive hub for cutting-edge technological advancement. Significantly, NOS Comunicações and INL formalised their partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), cementing a commitment to sustained collaboration in driving Portugal’s technological innovation agenda. The day’s programme focused on two critical areas for Portugal’s technological future: dual-use technologies and innovation financing, with an opening statement grounded in recognition that the alignment of scientific excellence, innovation and scientific policy has become of paramount importance. Panel discussions examined Portugal’s potential as a hub for dual-use technology development, describing applications for both civilian and defence needs, whilst exploring the financing instruments available to support collaborative ventures and research initiatives. Representatives from the Portuguese Space Agency spoke to the strategic imperative of space autonomy versus capacity, underscoring Portugal’s need to develop […]

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A new way to detect harmful bacteria in real time

A new way to detect harmful bacteria in real time

Healthcare-associated infections remain a major global challenge, particularly as antimicrobial resistance continues to rise. Rapid and accurate detection of bacteria is essential, not only to treat patients effectively, but also to prevent the spread of infection. INL researchers Susana Costa, Hedieh Mahmoodnia, Fábio Gonçalves, Adelaide Miranda and Pieter De Beule, in collaboration with INESC TEC, have developed a new approach that could transform how bacterial infections are identified. Instead of relying on traditional methods that can take days and require complex laboratory procedures, the team focused on something bacteria naturally produce: volatile organic compounds. These are small molecules released during bacterial metabolism, i.e. as bacteria live and grow, forming a unique chemical “fingerprint” for each species. To capture these fingerprints, INL researchers developed a real-time sensing system based on a photoionization detector. By using multiple light sources, the system captures distinct signal patterns from each bacteria species. Artificial intelligence then learns to recognise these patterns, allowing accurate identification of the bacteria. Susana Costa explains that “by converting the signals into image-like representations, we trained a neural network to recognise and differentiate between bacterial species. This approach enables accurate recognition, while reducing the need for large training datasets, which are often […]

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LEARN: What four years of research revealed about indoor air quality in schools

LEARN: What four years of research revealed about indoor air quality in schools

On 22 April, the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) hosted LEARN’s Final Conference on its campus, in Braga, bringing together researchers, policymakers and stakeholders to reflect on four years of research and technological development. The event marked the close of a project built around the question: does the quality of indoor air at schools affect children’s cognition? Coordinated by INL and funded under the Horizon Europe framework, LEARN launched in 2022 with a twelve-partner consortium. Its ambition was to develop novel sensors capable of detecting harmful air pollutants, measure indoor air quality across schools, and assess its impact on children’s cognition. The conference opened with remarks from Ernesto Alfaro-Moreno, scientific project manager and group leader at INL, who outlined how LEARN had evolved into a practical roadmap for improving indoor air quality in schools. Presentations from partners across the consortium followed, and the day also welcomed a visit from a local school, giving pupils the opportunity to explore the project’s findings and engage directly with its tools. Fundamentally, the meeting served as a platform for sharing the project’s principal findings and outputs. Most notably, LEARN established a clear link between indoor air quality and children’s health and cognitive performance, with improved air […]

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Galicia–North Portugal Euroregion Drives Growth Through Biotech and Innovation

Galicia–North Portugal Euroregion Drives Growth Through Biotech and Innovation

On 17 April, the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) proudly took part in the “Conectar para Crecer” event held in Vila Nova de Gaia, near Porto, bringing together key stakeholders from across the Galicia–North of Portugal Euroregion to reinforce collaboration in innovation and biotechnology. The initiative, promoted by the Zona Franca de Vigo, ABANCA, and the Business Technology Clusters for Life Sciences, Spain’s BIOGA and Portugal’s P-Bio, highlighted the growing strength of cross-border cooperation and the shared ambition to position the Euroregion as a leading biotech hub in southern Europe. Bringing together representatives from institutions, research centres, and industry, the event provided a platform to exchange perspectives, explore collaboration opportunities, and identify synergies between the Galician and Northern Portuguese innovation ecosystems. INL’s participation reflects its ongoing commitment to fostering cross-border scientific collaboration and supporting the development of a strong, interconnected research and innovation landscape. A key focus of the meeting was the potential to deepen strategic alliances and create a more structured framework for cooperation. Discussions pointed towards the possible establishment of a long-term initiative—an “Atlantic Biotech Alliance”—aimed at aligning priorities, connecting projects with investment opportunities, and reinforcing the region’s global competitiveness. Reflecting on the importance of the initiative, Lorenzo […]

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A new ally against food contamination, developed by INL researchers

A new ally against food contamination, developed by INL researchers

Food packaging does more than hold our food; it protects it from contamination, preserves freshness, and keeps us safe. But some bacteria are relentless, forming biofilms that cling to surfaces, resist cleaning, and spoil products like cheese before they even reach the shelf. At INL, researchers Fernanda Coelho, Lorenzo Pastrana, and Sanna Sillankorva, in collaboration with partners in Brazil, are tackling this challenge in a new way. They developed films and coatings made from natural, biodegradable sodium alginate, loaded with bacteriophages, or in other words, viruses that specifically target harmful bacteria. These “phage-infused” materials act like tiny sentinels, preventing bacteria from attaching to surfaces and forming biofilms. This research was published in the journal Food Research International, and Sanna Sillankorva explains “Phage-loaded alginate can be applied directly to packaging surfaces or made into stand-alone films, offering versatile solutions for the food industry.” Tests on real products, including cheese, show that these coatings effectively limit bacterial growth and maintain food quality. By combining natural materials with biological control, this approach provides an eco-friendly alternative to traditional antimicrobial packaging, which often relies on chemicals or plastics. With this research, INL is demonstrating how cutting-edge science can meet real-world needs: safer food, longer […]

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INL Researcher Among the Minds Behind the EU’s Advanced Materials Report

INL Researcher Among the Minds Behind the EU’s Advanced Materials Report

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) is proud to announce the contribution of its researcher Laura Rodriguez-Lorenzo to the Evidence Review Report (ERR) on advanced materials, delivered on 21 April to the European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva. Produced within the framework of the European Commission’s Scientific Advice Mechanism, the ERR was developed by the Science Advice for Policy by European Academies (SAPEA), a consortium of networks responsible for independently reviewing and synthesising scientific evidence to inform EU policy. Following a formal request in March 2025, SAPEA assembled a working group of 22 experts nominated by academies of science and engineering across Europe. The group was tasked with addressing two central questions: 1. What contribution can advanced materials bring to the EU’s strategic autonomy? 2. How can the cross-fertilisation of innovation in advanced materials be enhanced? Between June and December 2025, the group collaborated to produce a comprehensive, evidence-based report containing policy recommendations spanning: The findings serve as a baseline for the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors, whose subsequent Scientific Opinion will inform and support the forthcoming Advanced Materials Act. Among the report’s key recommendations, emphasis is placed on the importance of sustainable innovation, circular economy principles, […]

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Celebrating “Topological Matter: 10 Years after the Nobel Prize”

Celebrating “Topological Matter: 10 Years after the Nobel Prize”

A decade after the theoretical discovery of topological phases of matter earned its place in scientific history with a Nobel Prize, the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) brought together leading researchers from across the globe to take stock of the field’s remarkable journey. From 29 March to 2 April, INL proudly hosted the Iberian-German WE-Heraeus Seminar “Topological Matter: 10 Years after the Nobel Prize”. Funded by the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation, the seminar was awarded to and co-directed by a distinguished scientific committee comprising INL’s Director-General Clivia Sotomayor, Professor Maia Vergniory from the Université de Sherbrooke, and Professor of Physics Niels Schröter from Martin-Luther University. The programme was built around a clear ambition: to evaluate a decade of discoveries in topological materials and to chart the most promising directions for future research and real-world applications. Talks spanned a rich range of topics across a diverse roster of 32 speakers from leading research institutions, with strong representation from Germany, Portugal, and Spain. In addition, a dedicated poster session, featuring 18 presenters, fostered scientific exchange among participants. The session’s standout contribution came from Omid Ranjbar, who took home the best poster award for “Topologically Protected Hypersonic Phonon Flow at 2 GHz”. […]

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