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INL Mourning Statement on Venezuela Earthquakes

INL Mourning Statement on Venezuela Earthquakes

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory expresses its condolences and solidarity with the families of the victims and with all those affected by the earthquakes that struck Venezuela on the 24th of June 2026. The Portuguese Government has declared the 5th of July a National Day of Mourning, in honour of the victims, the Portuguese citizens and the Portuguese descent community affected. As an intergovernmental institution, with Portugal and Spain as its founding member states, the INL joins in mourning and stands in solidarity with all those who are grieving. Text by Carolina Baptista

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EUROoCS Annual Meeting 2026: A Magnifying Glass on Organ-on-Chip Science

EUROoCS Annual Meeting 2026: A Magnifying Glass on Organ-on-Chip Science

Organ-on-Chip devices and microphysiological systems are a promising technology driving breakthroughs in drug development, disease modelling and the replacement of animal models. The European Organ-on-Chip Society (EUROoCS) Annual Meeting provides a hub for taking stock of the latest advances in this fascinating field, and this year was no exception. Held at Forum Braga from 22 to 24 June, the event was organised by the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), with Ana Ribeiro serving as conference chair and the organising committee drawing on an impressive line-up of experts from INL, I3S, INESC-MN, the University of Minho, and the University of Aveiro. Over three days, 580 attendees gathered to explore a wide range of topics, including disease and multi-organ models, organ-on-chip technologies, PK/PD modelling, biofabrication and biomaterials, and standardisation and toxicity, among others. The agenda was designed to maximise cross-fertilisation of knowledge, featuring 120 speakers, four roundtable discussions and 330 posters. Day 1: Setting the Stage Proceedings opened with the EUROoCS Academy and a series of parallel sessions, bringing participants up to speed on New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), organ-on-chip development processes and more, ahead of the official conference launch. Welcoming guests, Ana Ribeiro highlighted the field’s rapid evolution and the meeting’s role […]

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Exploring long-range magnetism with graphene

Exploring long-range magnetism with graphene

Graphene is well known for its remarkable electronic properties. Now, researchers at INL have shown that it can also provide an exceptional platform for studying magnetism at the atomic scale, revealing magnetic interactions that extend across surprisingly long distances. The research, carried out by INL researchers António Costa, João Henriques and Joaquín Fernández-Rossier, in collaboration with Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), provides new insight into how magnetic interactions behave at the smallest scales. Magnetic interactions between spins are at the heart of many emerging quantum technologies, including quantum computing and quantum simulation. However, combining strong magnetic interactions with atomic-scale control remains a major challenge. To tackle this problem, the team used a scanning tunnelling microscope to place individual hydrogen atoms onto graphene. Each hydrogen atom creates a localised magnetic moment, or spin, making it possible to build and study artificial magnetic structures with atomic precision. Using advanced spectroscopy measurements and theoretical modelling, the team found that pairs of spins could interact strongly even when separated by more than 10 nanometres, revealing magnetic interactions that extend far beyond the distances typically observed in comparable atomically controlled systems. Depending on how the hydrogen atoms were arranged within the graphene lattice, the interactions […]

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EPoSS Annual Forum 2026: Europe’s Smart Systems Integration Leadership in Focus

EPoSS Annual Forum 2026: Europe’s Smart Systems Integration Leadership in Focus

Between 16 and 19 June, the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) hosted the EPoSS Annual Forum 2026, the flagship gathering of the European Association on Smart Systems Integration (EPoSS). Co-organised with EPoSS, a pan-European network dedicated to the development and integration of intelligent, green Smart Systems technologies, the event drew around 130 participants and was supported by ATLANT 3D, BOSCH, Infineon, POEMS and Silicon Austria Labs. The forum arrives at a pivotal moment for the sector, as the EU intensifies its drive to build a competitive Smart Systems Integration landscape across the continent. That ambition is being underpinned by a growing framework of initiatives in legislation, funding and network including Chips Act 2.0, the Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU), and aCCCess. The four-day programme was structured in two parts: the first and final days were reserved for EPoSS members only, while days two and three opened up to a full agenda of 32 talks, a panel discussion, a poster session, and a pitch competition for the EPoSS Start-Up Award and the POEMS Start-Up Award. Proceedings began with welcome remarks from a distinguished line-up of speakers. Guido Ceresole, Chairman of the EPoSS Executive Committee, opened the session, followed by addresses from […]

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INL’s partner POEMS joins Iberian Semiconductor Network

INL’s partner POEMS joins Iberian Semiconductor Network

On 17 June, the Portuguese Competence Centre in Semiconductors (POEMS) joined MicroNanoSpain and PIXSpain in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Iberian Network of Chips Competence Centres. The formalisation took place during the European Association on Smart Systems Integration (EPoSS) Annual Meeting, hosted at the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) in Braga. With INL among POEMS’s partners, the agreement brings the initiative to life with the ambition of both strengthening collaboration and raising the visibility of the Iberian chips landscape. Operating as a hub for regional partnership, the Iberian Network will promote scientific and industrial meetings, as well as training and workshop initiatives. Already on the calendar is the first Iberian Semiconductor Summit, to be held in Barcelona this December. As a satellite event of the ChipNation congress, the forum promises to bring together key industry players, start-ups and academic institutions to discuss shared challenges and identify real opportunities for collaboration. “This memorandum marks the start of practical cooperation to make our capabilities more visible and accessible to businesses, researchers and students across the Iberian region.” reflects Mariana Fernandes, Head of National Funding at INL and POEMS Coordinator. “Our shared aim is to create a highly coordinated […]

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INL Researcher Bruno Romeira Wins Prestigious ERC Advanced Grant

INL Researcher Bruno Romeira Wins Prestigious ERC Advanced Grant

An ERC grant is a stamp of scientific excellence that most researchers strive for but only a few achieve. It is with great pride that the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) announces that one of its Principal Investigators, Bruno Romeira, has been awarded an ERC Advanced Grant for his project “LightSensorAI: Brain-inspired Light Sensory AI Computing Using Nanophotonic Sensory Spiking 3D Neuron Chips”. Awarded by the European Research Council, the ERC Advanced Grant supports established Principal Investigators in pursuing high-risk, high-gain research, providing a stipend of €2.5 million over five years. Eligibility rests chiefly on scientific excellence: Principal Investigators from any field may apply, provided they can demonstrate a strong leadership profile and a significant track record of achievement. This makes for an extremely competitive process, where in 2024, for example, 2,534 proposals were submitted for the ERC Advanced Grant, and only 281 were selected. Despite the demanding nature of the application process, Bruno Romeira’s path to this point has been an impressive one. Now a Principal Investigator within Nieder’s research group, Romeira began his career as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Microwave Photonics Laboratory at the University of Ottawa, before being awarded a prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship […]

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Remote control for cells: new wireless nanoswitches control how cells sense force

Remote control for cells: new wireless nanoswitches control how cells sense force

What if scientists could remotely control how cells respond to physical forces? Every day, our cells constantly sense and react to mechanical stimuli such as pressure, stretching, or movement – a process known as mechanotransduction. This ability plays a fundamental role in how tissues develop, heal, and function. But understanding exactly how cells convert these physical signals into biological responses remains a major scientific challenge. Domingues research group at INL have developed wireless “nanoswitches” capable of remotely activating PIEZO1, a mechanosensitive receptor that allows cells to sense physical forces such as pressure or stretch. The work, published in the journal Bioactive Materials, opens new possibilities for exploring future therapeutic strategies for mechanosensitive tissues, such as bones, ligaments, and blood vessels. The study was ran by INL researchers Simão Teixeira, Brent Bijonowski, Mariana Carvalho, Jana Nieder and Rui Domingues, in collaboration with University of Minho, University of Santiago de Compostela, University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, and University of Porto. The researchers developed tailor-made magnetic nanoparticles called PIEZO1-targeting NanoSwitches (PINS). These PINS were designed to recognise specific regions of the PIEZO1 receptor with very high affinity, functioning similarly to synthetic antibodies. By applying magnetic fields, the team was able to remotely actuate […]

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How INL’s new research can turn windows into solar panels

How INL’s new research can turn windows into solar panels

Buildings account for a large share of global energy consumption, yet many of their surfaces, especially windows, remain unused for energy generation. Semi-transparent solar cells offer a way to change this, but existing approaches often come with trade-offs between efficiency, transparency, and visual quality. Researchers at INL from Sadewasser group, in collaboration with partners at the University of Luxembourg and Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg (ZSW), are exploring a different path. Instead of making solar cells thinner to let light pass through, which can reduce efficiency and change the colour of the transmitted light, the team developed an approach based on spatial segmentation. By patterning the solar cell into microscopic stripes separated by transparent regions, they can control how much light passes through while preserving the full thickness and performance of the active material. When these micro-stripes are smaller than what the human eye can resolve, the window appears uniform and colour-neutral, maintaining visual comfort while generating electricity. In a first study, the team demonstrated prototype micro-striped solar cells that provide high light transmission with excellent colour quality, maintaining a very high colour rendering index (CRI > 99),i.e colours appear as they would under natural sunlight. The results, presented […]

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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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