News

Awards COVID-19 Early-Stage Researchers EVENTS FUNDED PROJECTS GENERAL INL PICKS INL STATEMENTS INL visits INNOVATION MOST POPULAR PEOPLE RESEARCH SCALE EXPERIENCES SCALE TRAVELS SEMICONDUCTORS SINFONIA PROJECT SPOTLIGHT Training WOMEN IN SCIENCE WOMEN IN STEM
Portuguese Competence Centre for Semiconductors Launched at INL in Braga

Portuguese Competence Centre for Semiconductors Launched at INL in Braga

The Portuguese Competence Centre for Semiconductors (POEMS) held its inaugural meeting yesterday, marking a significant milestone in the country’s semiconductor industry. Hosted by the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), the launch session showcased the consortium’s key areas of expertise and strategic goals. Co-funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) and the Chips Joint Undertaking – European Union, POEMS is set to become one of 27 European semiconductor competence centres. These centres aim to empower companies to advance semiconductor development, a critical component in the global technology landscape. POEMS, as a cutting-edge initiative under the Chips Joint Undertaking initiative, directly addresses the critical needs outlined in Axis 1 of the National Semiconductor Strategy. This strategic alignment aims to catapult Portugal to the forefront of semiconductor innovation and production, specifically focusing on microelectronics and semiconductors. These areas are pivotal for elevating the existing industrial and technological capacities to meet key global challenges. Focusing on the strategic areas of chip design, advanced packaging, and emerging semiconductor technologies, POEMS leverages the diverse expertise of its 16 consortium partners. These partners include leading research and academic institutions that bring specialised training resources and cutting-edge capabilities. In Portugal, the 16 POEMS partners will […]

Read more
INL Hosts IDEAL Cluster Annual Meeting in Portugal

INL Hosts IDEAL Cluster Annual Meeting in Portugal

The IDEAL Cluster for Indoor Air Quality and Health held its second Annual Meeting on March 25-26, 2025, in Braga, Portugal. The event aimed to enhance synergies and amplify the impact of various Horizon Europe projects focused on indoor air quality and health. This year’s meeting was hosted by the LEARN project at the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), which coordinates the IDEAL Cluster from September 2024 to April 2025. The event saw the participation of around 50 researchers and R&I professionals representing seven projects and eight working groups, with additional attendees joining online. Among the on-site participants were 10 members from LEARN project partner organizations, including INL, FI Group, VUB, TU/e, MANN+HUMMEL, and NIA. They presented their advancements in air pollution sensors, in-vitro models, skin-on-a-chip, and multi-sensing approaches, along with preliminary results from cohorts at Belgian schools and notable communication activities. Key discussions and presentations covered policy recommendations on indoor air quality, data exchange practices, communication collaborations, innovative sensor developments, guidelines and standardisation efforts, and the potential creation of a global indoor air quality index. The European Commission was represented by project officer Rita Araújo from the DG for Research and Innovation, Marco Morini from the DG for Energy, […]

Read more
Can Earth’s gravitational field monitor climate change?

Can Earth’s gravitational field monitor climate change?

The measurement of our planet’s gravitational field, known as gravimetry, allows us to extrapolate the rate at which climate changes are occurring by detecting small variations in Earth’s gravitational field, caused, for example, by melting ice. Inês Sofia Garcia, a Research Engineer at INL, is focused on the development of a high-precision MEMS (micro electromechanical system) accelerometer, crucial for detecting the gravity field shifts of our planet. This accelerometer is a system capable of converting a mechanical phenomenon into an electrical one, and vice versa, transforming an electrical signal into a mechanical displacement. “Our group is creating a MEMS accelerometer to measure Earth’s acceleration changes,” explains Inês Garcia. “We handle the system’s modelling, design, fabrication, and characterisation.” With rigorous demands for stability, power management, and satellite orientation accuracy, this research work strengthens Portugal’s position in the global space sector. The team developed the device as part of the uPGRADE project, and at INL, we are already looking ahead to its next phase: uPGRADE-NEXT. In this new project, the device will undergo space qualification and is set to be included in the first uPGRADE microsatellite launch, planned for mid-2026. These flagship projects, led by Rosana Dias and Filipe Alves, will also […]

Read more
INL to Host Seminar on Circular Economy in the Agri-Food Sector

INL to Host Seminar on Circular Economy in the Agri-Food Sector

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, in collaboration with PortugalFoods and CCDR-Norte, will host the seminar “Circular Economy in the Agri-Food Sector in the Northern Region of Portgual: Challenges in Valorisation for Human and Animal Consumption” on February 27, at INL in Braga. Organised within the framework of the European project FRONTSH1P, this event will bring together industry leaders, researchers, policymakers, and experts to discuss innovative strategies for waste valorisation in the agri-food sector. Key discussion points will include: The seminar will also feature case studies on technological innovation, highlighting successful collaborations in the sector, as well as a roundtable discussion addressing the main challenges and opportunities in by-product valorisation. This initiative provides a unique platform for knowledge exchange, fostering collaboration between stakeholders committed to advancing circular economy solutions in the agri-food industry. Registration is free but mandatory by February 25.The event will be conducted in Portuguese. REGISTER

Read more
INL Partners with Startup Braga and 2CA-Braga to Launch the Global Health Accelerator

INL Partners with Startup Braga and 2CA-Braga to Launch the Global Health Accelerator

A new initiative to foster innovation in health, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), in collaboration with Startup Braga and the Clinical Academic Center of Braga (2CA-Braga), has announced the launch of the Global Health Accelerator, a programme designed to support early to mid-stage startups developing innovative solutions in health, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. This initiative aims to accelerate groundbreaking projects by providing startups with direct access to industry leaders, expert mentorship, and tailored entrepreneurship training. A Strategic Platform for Innnovation: The Global Health Accelerator offers participating startups the opportunity to: develop pilot projects and proof-of-concepts (POCs) in collaboration with key industry stakeholders; engage in intensive bootcamps focused on entrepreneurship, business development, and market strategy; and receive mentorship from experienced professionals in the health, biotechnology, and nanotechnology sectors. Applications open until 28 February Startups looking to scale their innovations and bring transformative solutions to the market are encouraged to apply before 28 February. More information and application details are available at globalhealthaccelerator.com. The Global Health Accelerator is co-funded by the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) under the NextGenerationEU programme, reinforcing a commitment to fostering cutting-edge innovation in Europe’s health and technology sectors.

Read more
INL recognised as ‘Key Innovator’ for paper-based packaging innovation

INL recognised as ‘Key Innovator’ for paper-based packaging innovation

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) has been recognised as a “Key Innovator” by the European Commission’s Innovation Radar for its transformative paper-based packaging innovation. Developed as part of the FlexFunction2Sustain project under the Horizon 2020 framework, this cutting-edge solution offers improved water and oxygen barriers for fresh food packaging. The European Commission’s analysis categorised this innovation as “Business Ready”, signifying its readiness for market adoption. Moreover, the project addresses the needs of existing markets, emphasising its significant contribution to sustainable packaging solutions. Revolutionising Packaging with Sustainability in Mind In collaboration with project partner SONAE MC – SERVIÇOS PARTILHADOS, SA, INL’s innovation aims to revolutionise packaging for fresh foods by combining eco-friendly materials with enhanced performance capabilities. This breakthrough innovation helps industries reduce their environmental footprint while ensuring the quality and freshness of packaged food. The efforts at INL were coordinated by Pablo Fuciños from the Pastrana Research Group, whose expertise in sustainable innovation and project management was crucial in aligning the development process with the project’s goals. About FlexFunction2Sustain The FlexFunction2Sustain project focused on enabling the adoption of sustainable materials and processes in flexible and printed electronics, packaging, and medical industries. The outcomes of the project demonstrate the potential […]

Read more
INL researchers are exploring new ways to predict breast cancer metastasis

INL researchers are exploring new ways to predict breast cancer metastasis

A research project called 3DSecret is exploring innovative methods to predict breast cancer metastasis by analysing tumour cells circulating in the bloodstream. 3DSecret focuses on understanding how these cells contribute to cancer spreading to distant organs, which is the primary cause of mortality in breast cancer patients. Breast cancer metastasis often occurs via the hematogenous route, i.e. through the bloodstream. The presence of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) provides an opportunity to study the disease through blood samples rather than invasive tissue biopsies. Using specialised devices, INL researchers can isolate these tumour cells from blood samples. The next step involves cultivating individual CTCs in an artificial culture system, in the lab, designed to mimic their natural environment. Data from these cultures are then analysed using artificial intelligence algorithms. By examining the genetic profiles of the tumour cells and the substances they secrete, the project aims to identify unknown drivers of breast cancer metastasis. Recently, the project technical coordinator, Miguel Xavier, was at ‘90 Segundos de Ciência’, a series of science communication episodes with daily broadcasts on the Portuguese public radio Antena 1. Miguel is confident about the broader implications of this project, “this research could provide insights into the relationship between […]

Read more
Phages – A dual solution to the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Crisis

Phages – A dual solution to the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Crisis

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as one of the most pressing global health threats of our time, directly causing and contributing to millions of deaths worldwide, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). Beyond the human toll, the economic impact is staggering. By 2050, AMR could add $1 trillion in healthcare costs annually and slash global gross domestic product (GDP) by up to $3.4 trillion per year by 2030. But amidst these daunting figures, a beacon of hope has appeared – bacteriophages (phages). In an era where AMR poses one of the greatest challenges in modern medicine, phages, viruses that specifically target bacteria, represent a revolutionary alternative to traditional antibiotics. A recent milestone in this field has been Portugal’s approval of customised bacteriophage therapies in hospital settings, setting Portugal to be only the third European country, alongside Belgium and France, to approve until now a guiding regulation for these new therapies (INFARMED, I.P. deliberation No. 112/CD/2024, November 15, 2024) for complex bacterial infections. This decision aligns closely with INL’s cutting-edge research on phages.  Dr. Sanna Sillankorva, a tenured staff researcher from the Bañobre Research Group at INL has been instrumental in this progress. Her work focuses on isolating and […]

Read more
FORGING Workshop Series: Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future in Brussels 

FORGING Workshop Series: Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future in Brussels 

This week, Brussels became the epicenter of innovation and collaboration as FORGING hosted its highly anticipated three-day workshop series. The event gathered over stakeholders from academia, industry, policymaking, and civil society, all united by a shared mission to advance enabling technologies for a sustainable future. FORGING reimagines traditional innovation by focusing on human-centered technologies aligned with Industry 5.0 principles. It moves beyond efficiency and productivity, emphasizing technology’s positive societal impact. By leveraging 6 Technological Pathways, FORGING identifies use cases to accelerate the adoption of responsible and sustainable solutions. The workshops explored transformative topics critical to shaping the future of Industry 5.0, including: Real-Time Based Digital Twins; Simulation Technologies; and Human-Machine Interaction Technologies. A standout moment was the expert pitch by Ensieh Iranmehr, INL Staff Researcher, who presented on “Non-Invasive Tool Condition Monitoring and Predictive Maintenance Using High-Sensitive Spintronic Sensors.” Her presentation highlighted how cutting-edge sensing technologies are driving industrial innovation and sustainability. Co-organized with APRE – Agenzia per la Promozione della Ricerca Europea, the workshops offered a unique platform for participants to co-design use cases for emerging technologies. From exploring the potential of haptic technologies and e-skin sensors to leveraging predictive maintenance and cognitive digital twins, the sessions emphasized actionable solutions and cross-sector collaboration. As a hub of European collaboration, Brussels offered the ideal setting for the workshops, reinforcing the project’s mission to bridge the […]

Read more
1 2 3 4 … 9

INL in the Media

All Clippings

Press Inquiries

Press Corner

If you are interested to learn more about INL, share our news, or visit our Communication team, please contact us!