Secretary of State for Science Visits INL, Showcasing Key Projects and Innovations

Prof. Dr Ana Paiva, Secretary of State for Science, visited INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory today. This visit provided an exceptional platform for INL to present its ongoing projects and significant achievements in the field of science and technology. The presence of Prof. Dr. Paiva underscored the crucial role of INL’s work and its far-reaching impact on the broader scientific community.

Prof. Dr. Clivia M. Sotomayor Torres, INL Director-General, welcomed Prof. Dr Paiva and provided an insightful overview of INL’s mission and accomplishments. This introduction set the stage for a series of detailed presentations and discussions that highlighted INL’s prominence in both the national and European research landscapes.

Presentation Highlights:

• INL in the National and European Research Landscape: Ms Paula Galvão, Chief Business and Strategic Relations Officer, detailed INL’s strategic positioning and collaborations within the broader scientific research community.
• INL Research: Dr Mariam Debs, Chief Operations Officer for the Research Office, and Prof. Dr. Lorenzo Pastrana, Research Group Leader in Personalized Health and Food provided an in-depth look at the various research themes spearheaded by INL, focusing on personalized health and food innovations.
  Innovation Activities at INL: Mr Francisco Guimarães, IP Exploitation & Knowledge Transfer Officer, discussed the laboratory’s dynamic innovation activities and its strategies for knowledge transfer and intellectual property exploitation.
  Laboratory Tour: Guided by Dr Mariam Debs, Head of Communications, Conferences, and Marketing, Prof. Dr. Paiva toured several state-of-the-art facilities, each showcasing different facets of INL’s cutting-edge research:
  Micro and Nanofabrication Facility: Dr José Fernandes, Research Engineer, demonstrated the advanced capabilities and ongoing projects within the facility.
  Personalised Health and Food: Dr Prajakta Tambe, MSCA Research Fellow, highlighted the latest research and innovations aimed at improving health through personalised food solutions.
  Information and Communication Technologies: Dr Bruno Romeira, Staff Researcher, presented the groundbreaking work being done in the field of ICT.
  Energy and Environment: Dr Raquel Queirós, Staff Researcher, showcased innovative research focused on sustainable energy solutions and environmental protection.
  AEMIS – Advanced Electron Microscopy and Imaging Spectroscopy Facility: Dr Oliver Schraidt and Dr Cristiana Alves – Facility Managers, concluded the tour with an overview of the sophisticated imaging and microscopy techniques employed at the facility.

Secretary of State’s visit to INL was a testament to the laboratory’s dedication to innovation, excellence, and its significant contributions to the field of science and technology. This visit not only highlighted INL’s achievements but also reinforced the importance of continued support and investment in scientific research and development.

Text and Photography by Gina Palha