CEECINST/00062/2018

Activity 1 Health; development of biosensing platforms (electrochemical, graphene, microfluidic based), or use of partner platforms (magnetoresistive from INESC MN) in pre-clinical tests with hospital partners (Neuroscience and Cancer in Hospital Universitario Santiago de Compostela -Invenntta POCTEP), Santo Antonio-urology (IPO), Santa Maria Lisbon, as well as hospitals in Ourense and Vigo. Other developments involved MRI contrast agents using magnetic NPS (H2020 PANA project), and Nanoencapsulation technologies for smart and controlled drug/genes delivery (H2020 3DNEONET ongoing). A recent startup was formed to exploit microfluidic cell separation technology. Activity 2 Food and Environment; included two programs related to toxin (with ITG, Galiza) and environmental DNA detection in water(with Conf Hidrig.Guadalquivir). Both use microfluidic and electrochemical solutions for detection. Smart biodegradable food packaging solutions are being studied national (MobFood Project) and EU (H2020 YPACK project). Applications of Nanoencapsulation in farming (ENHANCEMICROALGAE and ARMA4VESPA projects), paper industry (INPACTUS) and functional foods for diabetes and cognitive decay in elderlies (CVMAR+, H2020 FODIAC and SENIORPLUS projects) are being developed. Activity 3 ICT/Energy/Materials; The ICT area involved spintronics (sensors with INESC MN and nano oscillators), development of INLs graphene device technology and hybrid MEMs technologies, and device modelling. FP7 projects included ITNs (SpinICur and SpinOGraph), MOSAIC, SpinCal, and industrial collaborations and technology transfers Lertech, (CN), and Nanium (PT). Activities in energy/materials included development in 2D materials, photovoltaics (H2020 Sharc25, H2020 ARCIGS-M), new catalysts ( H2020 CRitCat), and solar fuel generation. Integrated programs included Space (INFANTE), and Industry 4.0 (Produtech). INLs advanced characterization infrastructures, namely electron microscopes have been structured and are gradually attracting more users. Activity 4 Micro and Nanofabrication; INL’s cleanroom microfabrication infrastructure (200mm prototyping line) and processes were developed and optimized for a variety of technologies: spintronics, MEMS, flexible devices on polyimide/SOI. Projects included Micro@nanoFabs@PT a network involving other Portuguese cleanrooms at INESC MN, and the MEMs lab at UM. Tech transfer activities started with Lertech CN, Nanium PT, and a number of SME in Israel. Activity 5 Photonics/Biophotonics/nanophotonics; Photonic technologies were joined in the Nanophotonics & Bioimaging user facility with optical spectroscopy, advanced imaging microscopy and laser microfabrication technologies. R&D in this area has focused on developing bioimaging solutions (super resolution, multiphoton and micro-scatterometry). Advanced photonic characterization was emplyed to improve (quantum-) materials, and study nanomedicine technologies and, develop and improve photonic structures and devices for applications, e.g. in sensing. A collaborative network of partners (national, Europe and USA ) was formed.