Highlights 2022

HIGHLIGHTS 2022

EDITORIAL

2014-2022: Eight years of continuous development and transformation

ABOUT FEUP

. FEUP in brief U.Porto: an international player

. A comprehensive education

Research and innovation for the real world Alumni engagement

. Sustainable development

INNOVATION AND FUTURE

. FEUP Energy transition

. FEUP in a project simulating the effect of microgravity to generate crystalline materials

FEUP has a new digital and intelligent laboratory applied to industry

FEUP DNA

12

. Interview to Luís Sarmento: “We have to want to be more”

LEGACY

. Interview to Carlos Moreira da Silva: “Without luck it is hard to succeed”

Michael Grätzel is the latest Honoris Causa by U.Porto

NEW TALENTS

. FEUP DNA in technology for reducing textile industry waste

ALL-CONQUERING FEUP

. Smart pedestrian crossing project from FEUP wins Vodafone award

Podium place for FEUP in international artificial intelligence competition

20

Since October 2014, it has been my privilege and challenge to lead FEUP, together with a great executive team: Ana Maria Mendonça, António Ferreira, António Augusto de Sousa, and Carlos Rodrigues.

Many changes have been introduced affecting our education, research and innovation activities, as well as management.

With respect to education, I can highlight some of the most significant achievements: new master programmes have been created, and integrated master programmes have evolved into new bachelor and master programmes, using up-to-date methods. The new study programmes include transversal skills, more social and academic communication between students and professors from other Schools, and more contact with external organizations. There are now almost 9,000 students enrolled in our engineering study programmes (up from fewer than 7,000 in 2014), of whom 13% are foreign (5% in 2014) and over 1,000 are Doctoral candidates (fewer than 800 in 2014). Every year, national candidates have put two of our integrated masters in their top 10 preferences.

As far as research is concerned, I can highlight the way our units have grown in terms of people and projects, continuously improving their quality. Almost all research units are now Associated Laboratories, in accordance with the FCT. FEUP is a partner in new Collaborative Laboratories. Recently, FEUP´s Scientific Council fully supported a proposal to streamline from nine Departments to six, focusing on the most relevant engineering areas, in order to strengthen education, research and innovation.

2014-2022: Eight Years of Continuous Development and Transformation

Regarding innovation, I can highlight the new “FEUP Prime” initiative, which involves over 100 organizations in regular cooperation. Several of these organizations also participate in collaborative research projects, sponsoring Doctoral candidates. The RTP3 television series TECH3 has been showcasing some of our collaborative research and innovation projects. FEUP is also involved in several consortia for Mobilising Agendas for Innovation through Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).

As for management, new procedures have been established for planning and controlling human resources, in particular for hiring and promoting professors, researchers, and technical staff, in Departments and Services. New procedures have been put in place to share our resources with outside persons. With a focus on sustainability, all lighting is now based on LEDs, drinks machines charge less to users when they use their own reusable cups, all new students receive a reusable water bottle, and workshops for repairing domestic appliances are being organized regularly. Since 2021 FEUP has produced about 10% of its electricity through photovoltaic units.

New Sustainability and Social Responsibility commissions have been set up, sponsoring a wide range of activities. Interaction between these commissions has resulted in events for supporting students and other people requiring assistance, extending to the other Schools of the U.Porto, and to the wider society.

Since October 2014 several awards have been created for members of the FEUP Community: the Alumni Career Award, the Alumni Distinguished Woman in Engineering Award, International Bachelors and Masters student awards, and Sustainability Awards.

The Covid pandemic has been managed with the help of a task force involving the Executive Board, the President of the Representative Council, technical staff leadership, in particular the media coordinator, and the President of the Students’ Union. Regular communication between this group and the FEUP Community was deemed critical, and guaranteed throughout, ensuring that problems from various sources were resolved.

Work has begun on an ambitious development plan for FEUP, based on sustainable options. The FEUP community is currently more demanding in terms of scientific knowledge and pedagogical methods, and more aware of sustainable development. Responding to these challenges, FEUP has developed preliminary projects for new buildings, with new multidisciplinary laboratories, and new areas for students to work and socialize. This will also enable better facilities for research in all promising fields of engineering, supporting departments and research units in need of space.

FEUP is today larger, better and more influential. The transformations accomplished in recent years are due to the contributions of all those who have dedicated themselves to doing an excellent job. I refer in particular to those from our community, leaders, technical staff, professors, researchers and students, as well as Alumni, and external partners involved.

In this context, and with all the people with whom I work closely at FEUP, it is a privilege and a pleasure to be Dean. It will surely be one of my happiest memories!

* FEUP Dean

João Falcão e Cunha*

FEUP IN BRIEF

Founded in 1926, the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (FEUP) is the largest of the 14 faculties that constitute the University of Porto. With its origins in the Polytechnic Academy, created in 1837, FEUP is a leading institution of international repute, whose achievements in research and teaching have led to its current position at the forefront of engineering schools.

FEUP’s claim to be an international School of Engineering relies not only on the growing number of international students and researchers on the campus, but also on the strong cooperative relations that it maintains with businesses and leading higher education institutions in Europe and the rest of the world, with special emphasis on the USA and Latin America. This extensive collaboration ranges from establishing joint degrees and applied research to providing professional training and mobility programmes for students and staff. FEUP has come to expand its basis of cooperation, also participating in major international networks and prestigious engineering associations such as CESAER - Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research.

Worldwide recognition of FEUP’s quality also stands out in the high position it occupies in the most respected global rankings of Engineering schools. Together with the excellent comprehensive education it offers, this provides students with outstanding advantages in both national and international labour markets.

For the past 185 years FEUP has played a leading institutional role in the economic development of the city of Porto, the northern region and the country as a whole, both in terms of the quality of its education, producing engineers of world-class standard, and the scientific and technological breakthroughs that it has made, which have contributed to global scientific development, industrial progress and social well-being.

A DYNAMIC ATMOSPHERE

FEUP is located in the Asprela Pole of the University of Porto, an area designated as the Porto Innovation District. Concentrated within one square kilometre, this area is home to several faculties of the University of Porto, schools of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto, private universities, a central teaching hospital, an institute of oncology and various national and international research institutes. With around 50,000 talented workers, it is primarily a technology hub, where the strong presence of engineering technologies, health sciences and entrepreneurship lend considerable impetus to the process of innovation.

The Porto Innovation District is also where the core of the University of Porto’s Science and Technology Park (UPTEC) is located. UPTEC is a structure which brings together over two hundred projects, including startups, innovation centres, anchor companies and entrepreneurial projects. A study by the Faculty of Economics of University of Porto showed that in 2019 the UPTEC companies registered an economic impact of 284 million euros in GDP, while creating 6,464 workplaces. In 2013, UPTEC was recognized with the Regio Stars Award in the category “Smart Growth”, organized by the European Commission - the first time a Portuguese university had received an award for regional development projects at European level. Today, FEUP campus includes the facilities of the Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (INEGI) and the Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC).

All in all, the Porto Innovation District is brimming with the entrepreneurial spirit and multidisciplinary research that have allowed FEUP to break new ground in which to operate and thus broaden its expertise.

Photo: Luís Ferraz

Texts: Liliana Carvalho

U.PORTO: A DRIVING FORCE FOR THE NORTHERN REGION - AN INTERNATIONAL PLAYER

The University of Porto (U.Porto), located in the north of Portugal, is increasingly becoming a major contributor to global networks of academic and scientific excellence, helping to promote the worldwide transfer of its research results. As a research university, it contributes significantly to the country’s scientific output.

U.Porto is also aware of the crucial role it plays in socioeconomic development, both at regional and national level, through its interaction with wider society and the productive base in particular. It is therefore placing increasing emphasis on raising the value of its research activity by means of transferring knowledge and technologies to industry, together with genuine human talent, and creating partnerships with businesses, which have resulted in innovations with proven success in both national and international markets. In 2015, together with the University of Minho and the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, the University of Porto created UNorte.pt, the first consortium of higher education institutions in Portugal, whose cooperation has brought the Northern region to a stronger position in Portugal and in Europe.

In the European sphere, U.Porto is one of five major research universities which have together created a European University Alliance for Global Health (EUGLOH) committed to building the European universities of tomorrow in response to the pressing issues facing the future of global health. This Alliance is led by University Paris-Saclay (France) and also includes Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich (Germany), Lund University (Sweden) and Szeged University (Hungary).

U.Porto is a comprehensive institution, with a large number of faculties and schools providing a diverse range of knowledge, continually interacting and offering opportunities for training at all stages of life.

As the university’s main aim is the all-round education of its students, it also offers numerous extra-curricular activities in areas ranging from sports and the arts to entrepreneurship and volunteer service.

U.Porto is indeed the preferred choice in Portugal for those applying to an undergraduate programme, which means that every year the number of applicants is greater than the number of available places. When it comes to international students, there has been a significant increase in enrolments at all levels of education in the last few years, and even in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic the number of international students remained quite stable.

Recognition of the University of Porto as an institution of excellence is reflected in the high place that it occupies in global rankings. In 2022 U.Porto has achieved the highest position ever held by a Portuguese institution, being ranked 274th in the QS WUR. U.Porto is a key academic institution in the Portuguese-speaking and Ibero-American worlds and its leading international role is reinforced by the prestigious ties of cooperation that it has with countries which share linguistic or historical kinship.

THE CITY OF PORTO

Anyone who visits Porto for the first time immediately feels the pulse of a city that is not just the regional capital of northern Portugal, but also the main trading centre in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula. Traditionally known for its Port Wine trade, the region is home to a large cross-section of Portuguese industry, in particular the sectors of timber, furniture-making, textiles, garment manufacturing, footwear, metal-working and various engineering industries. Its commercial activity is facilitated by the cargo terminal at the port of Leixões, which handles 25% of Portugal’s international maritime trade, and by Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport. Indeed, for over 13 years the airport has consistently been voted one of the best in Europe and in 2022 it has won two further awards for being considered among the best in the continent in terms of customer experience and hygiene measures, according to a survey by the Airports Council International (ACI) World.

Porto’s historic centre is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site and its charm and beauty cast a special spell on the whole city. But no less enchanting are the modern buildings designed by acclaimed names in architecture such as Siza Vieira, Souto Moura and Rem Koolhaas. The pleasant atmosphere, excellent cuisine, and range of cultural and leisure activities at competitive prices have earned it praise from such international publications as the New York Times and Lonely Planet. In 2017 Porto was elected Best European Destination for the third time and in 2021 it was nominated for several awards, including being considered second best city by the CNN travel website. With respect to attracting foreign investment, Porto was placed third in the 2022 Financial Times ranking of European cities of the future.

A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION

Studying at FEUP means joining a community of around 8,000 promising students at the largest faculty of the University of Porto, itself the second biggest university in Portugal, with over 30,000 students.

In accordance with the Bologna principles, greater pedagogical emphasis is placed on “learning” than “teaching”, which allows the student to play a more active role. To enable this, FEUP provides its students with top facilities and equipment combined with quality services that can keep pace with recent trends and students’ requirements. These include study rooms and computer labs open round the clock every day of the year.

FEUP has high quality standards and therefore seeks the best candidates from Portugal and abroad to accomplish its mission of producing competitive engineering graduates for the global labour market and key change agents for industry. The excellence of the education offered is reflected in the success achieved by FEUP’s alumni in many highly reputable organizations around the world.

To prepare students for the ’real world’, they are encouraged to participate in interdisciplinary assignments, and to take part in research, innovation and entrepreneurship projects from undergraduate level. FEUP also promotes

the participation of students in company-proposed projects as part of their Masters dissertations as well as Summer internship programmes. As for 2021, undergraduate programmes are undergoing extensive restructuring with special focus on providing students with transversal skills far beyond the Engineering area as well as promoting an ever closer contact with the professional world.

Besides all the curricular activities, FEUP offers a great array of extra-curricular options, including theatre, music and painting. Cultural events play a central role at the institution, including such diverse initiatives as film cycles, exhibitions, seminars, literature sessions, and conferences on many different topics. FEUP’s classical orchestra is one of the University of Porto’s most emblematic and successful cultural projects. When it comes to sports, a wide range of activities are offered, covering all types of sports, with FEUP athletes being distinguished with medals in several national and international competitions.

Students also can develop their soft skills when, for instance, they engage in activities related to intercultural diversity, participate in groups dedicated to certain subject areas or join international or local associations such as BEST (Board of European Students of Technology), ESN (Erasmus Student Network) or InterUp (Youth Association for International Students).

Photo: Egídio Santos

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION FOR THE REAL WORLD

FEUP’s central position on the map of Research and Innovation (R&I) is certainly reinforced by its privileged location – the Porto Innovation District – and the international networks of which it is part. The Innovation Centre at the Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto (UPTEC) is located nearby. This centre is a clear example of the cooperation between the academic and business worlds: several innovation teams from national and international companies are established here, involved in the development of new technologies geared towards the global market.

The establishment of partnerships with external entities enables FEUP not only to enrich its research activities by sharing ideas and experiences, but also to seek appropriate solutions to current global challenges. For instance, in the area of autonomous vehicles and mobility for the future, U.Porto and Bosch are working together on the THEIA project, which represents an investment of around 28 million euros.

At FEUP, the INOV Unit seeks to open new doors to the faculty’s presence in European knowledge networks and to leverage participation in and funding by European R&I framework programmes. It is a very important source of support to researchers, strengthened by another structure: the Industry Liaison Office (ILO). The ILO promotes close cooperation between FEUP researchers and national and international industry, thus fostering competitive collaboration and access to external funding. Countless projects demonstrate FEUP’s capacity to bring about innovation through its R&D units in conjunction with the affiliated institutes, together forming a support platform for Faculty research.

FEUP’s considerable technical-scientific expertise has been applied in numerous technology transfer projects. The knowledge of university professors and researchers has also contributed to the training and consultancy services provided to the business and public sectors, as well as to the establishment of standardised procedures that guarantee the quality and safety of products and services. Promotion of entrepreneurship is undertaken through advanced training in innovation and technological enterprise, publicising of incentive programmes, organization of counselling initiatives and contacts made with available companies and investors. A signifi-

cant number of entrepreneurial projects, instigated by professors, researchers and students, have given rise to start-ups and spin-offs.

FEUP coordinates the European project ‘INVENTHEI -  Innovation and Entrepreneurship in HEIs’ which envisions that, by 2025, a critical mass of highly educated young entrepreneurs and innovators will be trained by the participating higher education institutions (HEIs), contributing to the emergence of highly dynamic innovation districts and favouring the setup and support of knowledgeintensive companies on cutting edge technologies, value added products and services, and innovative business models.

FEUP also leads the field through the Business and Innovation Network (BIN@) initiative. This network, created in 2010, is a joint effort of academic and industry partners engaged in a sustainable platform for sharing best practices and opportunities in innovation. BIN@ has currently around 4,500 delegates worldwide (+60 countries) and has so far organized activities in Portugal, UK, Brazil, Romania, Poland, Estonia and the Netherlands.

FEUP encourages application of the academic knowledge it generates to solving real-world problems. This is achieved by establishing strong links with business and industry, thereby opening the way to building long-lasting relationships of trust. The corporate membership Programme FEUP PRIME, launched in 2018, gathers about 100 companies, aiming to establish a direct connection with the sources of talent and knowledge that provide the ability to stay ahead and deliver key innovations to the market. Jerónimo Martins, Metro do Porto, Mota Engil, Tridonic and Vestas have joined Rangel, Águas do Douro e Paiva, BA Glass, Advanced Cyclone Systems, Efacec, Kaizen Institute, Natixis, Bright Pixel and Vodafone as FEUP Prime Partners and there are currently several PhD students undertaking research projects proposed by some of these companies within the scope of DoRPE - Doctoral Research Projects with Enterprises (DoRPE), which aim to offer companies a standard procedure to initiate a research project with FEUP involving a doctoral candidate and appropriate funding.

ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

The alumni community is an important connection between FEUP and the world beyond its campus boundaries: our alumni represent both a valuable source of expertise as well as a bridge to hundreds of organizations and companies, many of which are strategic potential partners in the field of education and research.

As alma mater, FEUP continues to invest in alumni development, offering a broad choice of lifelong learning opportunities, as well as a range of significant benefits, from access to our lavish library resources to involvement in numerous conferences, concerts and other cultural and entertainment activities.

The alumni network is not only of interest for catching up with old classmates but is also useful for conveying information related to job openings or collaboration opportunities, as well as building a strong network and sharing relevant experiences.

FEUP’s Alumni Ambassador Programme is a keystone in the network project FEUPLink, which serves as a launchpad for a diverse range of initiatives, bringing our alumni from around the world closer to each other and closer to FEUP. In 2022 FEUP has 34 active Alumni Ambassadors in 20 countries: Angola, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Luxembourg, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Qatar, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the Republic of Vanuatu/Fiji Islands. Lisbon, in Portugal, also has an official representation since its community is of such a significant size.

FEUP is very glad to have an alumni community keen on staying in touch with their alma mater: from the beginning the commitment shown by our alumni has been very clear. They are willing to support FEUP in all fields of activity and participate eagerly in alumni reunions as well as in other social activities including networking and volunteering.

According to Daniel Ferreira, Alumnus Ambassador in Australia: “I became a FEUP Alumni Ambassador in 2020, and it has been an amazing life experience sharing the FEUP Alumni world with other colleagues here down under. I had previously been involved in another country’s FEUP Alumni Embassy, and when I came to Australia, I realized there was no official FEUP network. For the past two years, the infamous COVID has disrupted many of our lives, and unfortunately, we have not been able to get our members together to enjoy any fun network events. However, it has been a pleasure to see our alumni numbers increasing in Australia, and I still get excited every time we get a new member in this faraway country.

Being involved in FEUP Alumni Ambassadors is all about making new friendships, celebrating our culture, creating a professional network, helping colleagues, and creating memories. It’s been amazing to not only reconnect with colleagues here but also belong to the Alumni family where we get a chance to meet other FEUP ambassadors around the world. One of the duties I enjoy most is supporting colleagues with their immigration and initial integration, and I would encourage anyone who is curious about doing likewise to reach out to us. Relocating to Australia is a difficult journey and although many of us here have gone through it in various ways, we all know it is hard work and empathize with those now in the process.

I hope, now that everything is returning to “normal”, to see my fellow engineering mates very soon at our next event!”

The alumni community is growing day by day and from 2022 is now linked on a platform available for all U.Porto alumni: https://connectinguporto.net . If you are a FEUP alumnus, we’d be glad if you could join the alumni community FEUPLink on  this platform and, who knows, become our Alumni Ambassador to help make the community even larger - more information available on www.fe.up.pt/alumni

Photo: Egídio Santos

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The topic of sustainability, with all its economic, social and environmental dimensions, is currently a cornerstone of developed societies and their key institutions. Aware of its important role in society, FEUP strives to both optimize the positive impacts and to minimize the negative effects of its activities, while contributing to the UN global Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. In 2022, FEUP has launched a huge project involving all departments with the objective of providing students with skills that allow them to actively contribute to the environmental, social and economic challenges. This project is a great investment to enhance a culture of sustainability in the wider community.

On the economic front, it should be noted that in 2021 FEUP’s revenues were 58.83 M€. Of this amount, 49% comes from the State Budget, with the rest being mainly self-generated revenue or arising from R&D projects. In that same year, FEUP was responsible for accommodating 1,257 workstations. The economic impact of its activity on Local Product in Greater Porto was calculated at 65.2 M€.

FEUP’s Sustainability Commission actively works towards the promotion of sustainability policies, in particular those related to the environment. With a view to a more sustainable campus, significant achievements include the areas of energy and water consumption, waste production, greenhouse gas emissions, as well as caring for green spaces, organic farming, sustainable food and mobility. The photovoltaic production unit for self-consumption represents one of the largest investments ever made; in total, 708 panels in an area of around 1,420 m², with an estimated production of 412 MWh, corresponding to about 7% of FEUP’s annual consumption of electricity and cost savings of around 50,000 euros.

In 2022 FEUP signed the Porto Pact for Climate. Focused on promoting sustainable mobility, many initiatives have been carried out in this area. It is also worth mentioning the environmental impact study carried out to estimate the institution’s carbon footprint, from which it was concluded that the largest fraction of emissions come from commuting.

Since 2009, FEUP has been a member of the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges and a founding member of the Plastics Pact since 2020. In 2019 FEUP hosted and co-organ-

ized the first Sustainable Campus Conference (CCS 2019), under the theme “Sustainable Development: Higher Education Institutions as Agents of Change”. This has also consequently provided the theme for the Commitment Charter between the key national Higher Education Institutions with a view to implementing a “culture of sustainability” in higher education.

FEUP plays a significant social role in the training of future professionals, policy makers and citizens, while through Research and Innovation it helps respond to society’s challenges, seeking to solve real problems. To promote an inclusive education, FEUP has at its disposal a specialized office offering support to students with special educational needs, with the aim of improving their conditions of learning and helping them on their academic path. When it comes to student integration, the Intercultural Contact Point (iPoint) focuses on providing a soft landing for international students and promoting intercultural experiences within the whole community. IPoint upholds the acceptance of all forms of diversity inside its community, whether related to race, culture, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or any other kind.

Social responsibility actions extend to the creation of opportunities for students to participate in volunteer projects at national and international level, such as GASPORTO, a non-governmental organization dedicated to aid and human development in Portugal and the developing world. Headquartered at the Faculty of Engineering, GASPORTO has been undertaking significant volunteer work not only in the city of Porto, but also in Timor and Mozambique - its main goal being to instil in students an understanding of cultures and to help make the world a better place to live in. FEUP also supports institutions located in the surrounding area, including IPO Porto (the Portuguese Institute of Oncology - Porto); Hospital do Joãozinho (Pediatric Hospital); Loja Social de Paranhos (Paranhos Community Store), which provides poor families with food, clothing, hygiene products and other utilities, to which FEUP contributes monthly; AJUDARIS – a local association that fights against hunger, poverty and social exclusion; and “Teach for Portugal”, a project which involves young graduates with secondary school students. In addition, the faculty has a cultural impact on the local community through its Cultural Commissioner, organizing shows open to the local community and also promoting painting, theatre and music workshops, with emphasis on Vocal and Jazz groups and the FEUP Classical Orchestra.

FEUP ENERGY TRANSITION

Investment in leds and photovoltaic production (from 2015 to 2022)

20%

Reduction in electricity consumption (from 2010 to 2019)*

* the years 2020 and 2021 were not considered due to changes in consumption caused by the pandemic

98%

LED lighting devices in 2022

Campaign started in 2015

9%

15%

Reduction in electricity costs (from 2014 to 2019)

Energy consumed in 2021 through photovoltaic production

Corresponding to annual savings of around €50,000, and a reduction of 120 ton in CO2 emissions

FEUP in a project simulating the effect of microgravity to generate crystalline materials

Researcher Tiago Sotto Mayor has taken part in a project to develop reactors that simulate the effect of microgravity conditions in space, allowing the synthesis of high quality 2D crystalline materials.

Tiago Sotto Mayor, a researcher from the Transport Phenomena Research Center (CEFT) at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), has been involved in a project led by the University of Barcelona aiming to develop a set of reactors that simulate the effect of microgravity conditions in space, in order to synthesize high quality 2D crystalline materials in a laboratory environment. The results were considered so significant that the team was featured on the cover of the prestigious Advanced Materials magazine.

Crystallization studies conducted on the International Space Station have recently shown that the microgravity experienced in space enables synthesis of high-quality crystalline materials with more homogeneous morphologies and no defects in crystal structure, which is of great interest for developing new materials and/or or technologies. However, given the prohibitive costs involved in mass producing crystalline materials in space, it is critically important to find ways to do this on Earth.

The paper now published demonstrates that microfluidics reactors are a very promising alternative for research and development of crystalline materials, under conditions down here on Earth that simulate the effect of microgravity felt in space.

The researchers developed microfluidics reactors that eliminate the effect of natural convection on reaction and mass transport processes – in line with what is observed in microgravity environments – allowing them to control the growth of crystalline molecular structures much more precisely than what is achievable in conventional reactors.

According to Tiago Sotto Mayor, who is part of the Associated Laboratory ALICE, “the reactors developed allowed us to obtain

unprecedented effects in the orientation, compaction and morphology of the synthesized 2D crystalline materials”.

The research team designed a microfluidics reactor consisting of two substrates separated by a silicone film with varying thicknesses (from 200 to 500 μm), to create a microfluidic environment 6 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. The reactor allowed quartz and gold substrates to be exposed to reagent solutions and air and ammonia gas streams, so as to enable growth of a 2D metal-organic structure of Ni3(HITP)2 composition, with no crystal structure defects and electrical conductivities up to 40 S ·cm–1, measures never previously been achieved without the use of inert or high-pressure atmospheres.

“While the same reaction carried out under standard laboratory conditions leads to precipitation of some components and irregular growth, the microfluidics reactor developed allows very precise control of reagent transport and the reaction”, explains João Vale, PhD student at CEFT/ FEUP.

The results confirmed the authors’ prediction, obtained through numerical simulation of the transport processes, that the environment created inside the reactors reproduces what was observed in the crystallization studies on the International Space Station, as an effect of microgravity conditions.

The study was coordinated by Puigmartí-Luis, professor at the University of Barcelona, and by researchers Tiago Sotto Mayor (CEFT/FEUP), Daniel Ruiz-Molina (ICN2), and Raphael Pfattner (Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona/ICMAB - CSIC). The research also involved scientists from ALBA Synchrotron, ETH Zurich, the University of Newcastle (Australia) and the “Sapienza” University of Rome (Italy).

Text: Raquel Pires

Photo: rights reserved

FEUP

HAS A NEW DIGITAL AND INTELLIGENT

FEUP HAS A NEW DIGITAL AND INTELLIGENT

LABORATORY APPLIED TO INDUSTRY

LABORATORY APPLIED TO INDUSTRY

The Digital and Intelligent Industry Lab (DIGI2Lab) is one of the most recent research laboratories at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP). Integrated with the Research Center for Systems and Technologies (SYSTEC) and FEUP’s Department of Informatics Engineering (DEI), the laboratory combines the fields of robotics, automation and intelligent systems with industry, focusing on applying knowledge to industrial problems identified by partners.

Seeking ways in which industry can endogenize new technologies has become the main objective of DIGI2Lab, along with training professionals in this sector. The team comprises twelve researchers in computer and electrical engineering, led by professor and researcher Gil Gonçalves. One of their fields of activity involves integrating automation and robotics solutions on the factory floor that require and enhance the skills of the operator.

Other pursuits include applying technological solutions for the collection and processing of data related to the Internet of Things, as well as analysis, learning and correct use of data to create models that allow better interpretation of results and support in companies’ decision-making processes.

“These three areas of activity work something like a ‘stack’ with several layers: first, alongside the activities taking place on the factory floor, then in digitizing information, and finally, in processing that data. We help companies make informed decisions at different levels”, states Gil Gonçalves. Specifically, DIGI2Lab has developed projects at Euro-

pean level with international partners including Ford, Electrolux and Fluchos, but also at national level for Stellantis Mangualde (formerly PSA Mangualde), Sonae and Siemens, as well as working with several Portuguese companies that produce and provide machinery.

One example is Zeugma. “We help to make their machinery more efficient, enabling them to better use the data they collect to guarantee operational efficiency and quality of the final product”, explains the laboratory coordinator.

Currently, the team’s efforts are concentrated on RECLAIM Manufacturing, a European project focused on techniques for the refurbishment and remanufacturing of industrial machinery, reducing its obsolescence and demonstrating the advantages of high-tech renovation.

In the long run, how can we increase the lifespan of large industrial machinery? Gil Gonçalves responds: “On the one hand, ensuring that it is serviced and used properly – by interpreting signs that we collect from the machines to optimize their maintenance over time – while, on the other hand, ensuring improvements and updates as needs change, since most of the machinery was built some time ago.”

The integration of technologies within existing machinery essentially involves first collecting data, then supplying more structured data to enable decision support and, finally, applying that decision to the machinery.

Robotics, automation and intelligent systems are the main areas of research at DIGI2Lab, incorporated within the Faculty of Engineering’s SYSTEC research center.

“RECLAIM is further proof that digital transformation is being applied to processes across the board in every area of industry”, concludes the FEUP researcher.

The growth of Industry 4.0 that led to the start of 5.0 Connectivity of industrial machinery is the great lever of Industry 4.0, created in Germany, which encompasses the application of automation technologies and data exchange between systems with the ultimate aim of improving process efficiency and productivity. But for Gil Gonçalves, this is not enough. “Within industry, some of these processes are still isolated and are not designed to take the human factor into account. The opportunity of advancing towards Industry 5.0 is to bring intelligence to the factory floor, introducing new machinery, putting human collaborators at the centre of every process and applying the Internet of Things, so that more information can be obtained about what is happening right now.”

The potential usefulness of these practices leads to a holistic view, which envisages the human element being further involved in industrial operations, while at the same time trying to respond to the challenges posed by sustainability. “The pandemic has shown us that, from one moment to the next, global supply chains can stop working. Locally, in the absence of certain components and products, it is necessary for industry to be resilient enough to restructure itself to meet these needs”, the researcher adds.

It is by moving in this direction of local action, which ensures production of industrial goods regardless of context, that an effective contribution can be made to reducing ecological footprint, allowing industry to achieve sustainability.

This change of thinking brings with it challenges, including the need to retrain the workforce to be able to carry out other activities with greater added value, something

that DIGI2Lab has been working on within the scope of EIT Manufacturing, an innovation community at European level.

“There are several tasks we do where technology will indeed replace us, but it will oblige us do other things. Factory workers will no longer have to tighten any screws themselves but will instead have to control the machines for tightening screws and see that they perform the operation correctly. This will force people to have skills that they don’t have today”, explains the FEUP professor.

The requalification process also involves training technicians responsible for maintenance and production management, since “they are the ones who make decisions about strategy and, therefore, they have to understand technology and its latest trends.”

But note that the goal of technology is not ultimately to replace us in everything, but rather to enhance our human facets, which are essential to production and provide those qualities highly valued by industry, namely flexibility and ability to adapt.

“Automated processes can be added to almost everything. But there is no need to invest in a very rigid solution which, should it prove necessary to change any process, would require a reconfiguration from scratch, involving even greater investment.”

For Gil Gonçalves, the answer lies in achieving the right balance. “There are tasks that are not very complex, but exhausting, and an automated system, working alongside the human operator, would allow such tasks to be shared and adjusted to fit the needs of the worker such as their fatigue and pace of work. And that’s what would make the difference.”

Women in Science

In 2020, there were almost 6.6 million female scientists and engineers in the EU, accounting for 41% of total employment in science and engineering.

By sector, women were under-represented in manufacturing (where only 22% of scientists and engineers were female), while there was more of a gender balance in the services sector (46%).

Among the EU Member States, the proportion of female scientists and engineers varied widely in 2020,

ranging from 52% in Lithuania, Portugal and Denmark to 30% in Finland and 31% in Hungary. (1)

Women’s contribution to knowledge production and the advancement of our society is of such importance that we want to acknowledge women in the engineering world who are involved in disruptive and mobilizing projects, capable of making a difference and changing the world for the better. These are some of our women working at FEUP:

Text: Mafalda Leite

Photo: rights reserved

(1) Data from Eurostat

lia patrício

Field of research

Engineering and Service Management, in particular design and innovation in services.

The stand-out project of your career

The Marie Curie Innovative Training Network, Service Design for Innovation, which I led, and which involved nine PhD students as well as academic and industry partners in five European countries.

An idea for combatting prejudice and stereotypes regarding women in scientific production

I think this issue is present not only in academia, but

in our society at large. One of the most interesting ideas is ‘HeForShe’ and understanding that gender equality concerns not only women or a specific group, but affects the whole society, bringing benefits to everyone and to which we should all be contributing.

What would you be if you were not an engineer?

Maybe a musician, but certainly looking to create new things to solve people’s problems.

Scientist you most admire

I know it’s a traditional choice, but I admire Marie Curie. I can’t help but admire the zeal and pioneering spirit of an exceptional researcher who made a scientific career in the 19th century, when women could not even vote.

The key to change the world?

Referring to the work of another scientist, and Nobel laureate in economics, who I greatly admire, Elinor Ostrom, I would say that it is collaboration in managing the common good. Contrary to the inevitability of the tragedy of the commons, in which individuals acting in their own interest end up depleting and destroying common resources, Elinor Ostrom showed how managing the commons based on a set of collaborative principles can contribute to a more balanced result for all. These principles are increasingly important to address current challenges and sustainability issues in all their different aspects.

Field of research

Transports (in particular road safety).

The stand-out project of your career

The ongoing project ASIASAFE (ERAMUS+ program).

An idea for combatting prejudice and stereotypes regarding women in scientific production

I don’t think there is prejudice and stereotypes on scientific production in contrast to management positions.

What would you be if you were not an engineer? Shoemaker as my father was.

Scientist you most admire

All the scientists before me and those who will come after me. We are all part of the same purpose.

The key to changing the world?

I’d love to know...maybe simple things like kindness, gratefulness...

Sara Ferreira

Field of research

Complex fluid-flows and rheology.

The stand-out project of your career

Two recently FCT-funded projects associated with hemodynamic optimization around 3D swimming microbots and also a study about the magnetorheology of human blood aimed at developing new treatment therapies (PTDC/EME-APL/3805/2021).

An idea for combatting prejudice and stereotypes regarding women in scientific production

There are no limits in science whatever your gender, religion or condition is. The great value of doing science lies in diversity. This idea should be reinforced from an early age among children.

What would you be if you were not an engineer? Actually, I am a physicist!

Scientist you most admire Marie Curie

The key to change the world? Respect, love and open mind.

Field of research

Environmental Science and Engineering.

The stand-out project of your career

A very recently funded project focused on the impact of residues of chiral antibiotic in the development of antibiotic resistance at environmental settings.

An idea for combatting prejudice and stereotypes regarding women in scientific production

Trying to live a day as a female scientist is one easy way to drastically reduce all the preconceptions or stereotypes. It could be a competition where male scientists could experience the typical working day of a female labmate!

Laura Campo Deaño AnaRitaLadoRibeiro

It was time to put down on paper something that would reflect all the dedication and effort that the female engineers in our community put into their work every day.

Carla Teixeira Lopes

Field of research

Information Retrieval, an area of Information Systems focused on the development and improvement of information access systems. Much of my work focuses on accessing health information.

The stand-out project of your career

I would highlight the work I have done in terms of developing tools for helping people with different characteristics (e.g. health literacy, English proficiency) search for health information more successfully.

An idea for combatting prejudice and stereotypes regarding women in scientific production

We have made progress in promoting this balance. Within the IT context, I am part of a COST action where we prepared a small book with several suggestions of good practices for the recruitment, hiring, promotion and retention of women in academic careers.

What would you be if you were not an engineer?

Choosing which course to follow was not easy. I always knew that I enjoyed maths and science, but I had many doubts. I knew that I didn’t want to be a teacher (the twists that fate takes...). As I came from the area of Health, Medicine was a possibility that I also considered, but which I ended up rejecting.

Scientist you most admire

I would like to highlight the work of Vint Cerf, recognized as one of the fathers of the Internet, and Tim Berners-Lee, considered the inventor of the World Wide Web. Without the work of these researchers, our day-today lives would certainly be very different. In the area of Information Retrieval, I wish to single out the researcher Karen Sparck Jones, a pioneer in this area and in the field of Computational Linguistics.

The key to change the world?

Easy access to quality information that can help build knowledge to be used and put into practice with the enthusiasm of future generations.

What would you be if you were not an engineer?

If I hadn’t done a PhD in Environmental Engineering, I would probably have done one in Analytical Chemistry which is, in fact, my area of expertise.

Scientist you most admire

Rosalind Franklin, a physical chemist responsible for crucial steps in the discovery of the structure of DNA: her X-ray photograph demonstrated for the first time the helical structure of DNA, something that changed the world.

The key to change the world?

Collaborating and sharing data are crucial. I believe that not sharing null results is a mistake, as they are important to avoid repeating the same errors and the same experiments, being decisive for shaping the course of future studies.

Field of research

I am currently involved in occupational safety within the extractive industry.

The stand-out project of your career

My career only began recently, but fortunately, I’m lucky to have been part of some exciting projects. When it comes to ongoing work, I would point out the project on which our team is working right now: prevention through design and digitalisation in the extractive industry. It all started a couple of years ago with a collaboration with the Working Conditions Authority, who challenged our team to work on a risk assessment tool for the extractive industry.

An idea for combatting prejudice and stereotypes regarding women in scientific production

Stop highlighting the differences, even with regard to other minorities. We are all scientists. I (hope and) believe we are all doing our best. Working with each other instead of competing against one another. Does it matter who the work comes from?

Unless there are worries about the reliability and accuracy of research, which is my biggest concern regarding scientific production nowadays.

What would you be if you were not an engineer?

When I was little, I dreamt of being an Egyptologist; I’m unsure about that now. My second love lies in geology, so maybe a geologist? Always science.

Scientist you most admire

It’s hard for me not to look up at the sky at night and wonder what lies there, what lies beyond… For those reasons, I have to choose Carl Sagan.

The key to change the world?

Never believing you know everything. Questioning yourself. Questioning your surroundings. All the time.

Field of research

A Solid-State and Materials Science Physicist specialised in energy collection and storage devices.

The stand-out project of your career

Ferroelectric solid electrolytes and devices with different architectures that are built on them.

An idea for combatting prejudice and stereotypes regarding women in scientific production

The first thing is not to speak of “Feminine Engineering”. The idea that comes to my mind is of a “pink” kind of engineering that doesn’t employ Mathematics and Physics like all the others. We shouldn’t have to be compared to other women. We must have our rightful place in the grand scheme of things.

What would you be if you were not an engineer?

I’m not an Engineer, I’m a Physicist, but I work in Physical Engineering.

Scientist you most admire

John Bardeen, who is the only person to have won the Nobel Prize in Physics twice. He was a Physicist and Electrical Engineer who worked at the former “Bell Labs”, in my opinion the most “ideal” workplace ever to have existed in Science and Engineering. As for female scientists, in addition to those whose names everyone knows, I admire all the others whose name no one knows, but does know the name of the man or men who took the “laurels” for them.

The key to change the world?

Appreciating it more. Understanding its finitude and depletion and trying to contribute with what we can so that there is no positive feedback towards a catastrophic state of greater energy at all levels (climate, water, sustainability).

helena braga

ana aguiar

Field of research

Wireless networked systems.

The stand-out project of your career

So far, SenseMyCity. A platform for collecting mobility data using smartphones, relying on the data donor principle. It is a very stable platform which anyone can use to send us data that we use to study different aspects of mobility.

An idea for combatting prejudice and stereotypes regarding women in scientific production

Giving women the opportunity to do things, to show what they do and how they do it.

What would you be if you were not an engineer?

An architect, technical diver or forest guard in a national park.

Scientist you most admire

I don’t have an answer. I admire many people for different reasons and all of them are important.

The key to change the world?

Focusing on things that can be changed by direct action. Using common sense and empathy to understand other people’s perspectives and finding joint ways to change.

sónia simões

Field of research

Materials Science and Engineering.

The stand-out project of your career

NanoTiC- Nanojoining of Titanium to Ceramics: developing alternatives for the production of components based on ceramics and titanium alloys by solid-state joining processes through the use of nanomaterials with the objective of expanding the application in the aerospace industry.

An idea for combatting prejudice and stereotypes regarding women in scientific production

More initiatives to provide knowledge of more scientific studies by extraordinary women from different areas.

What would you be if you were not an engineer?

I don’t think I could be anything other than an engineer, although when I was little I had the common idea of being a kindergarten teacher.

Scientist you most admire Katherine Johnson.

The key to change the world?

I think it takes a lot to change the world, but the key must lie in having more respect for each other.

We have to want to be more”

Aptly named “Computatio Lusitana”, this is a project that aims to map the history of computing in Portugal, especially the path of those technological developments and devices that preceded the modern computer age. The spectrum is vast, ranging from Jacquard’s automatic loom to precision watches, from music boxes and mechanical calculating machines to the telegraph and typewriters... Luís Sarmento has made a career in Artificial Intelligence but it is in the study of the history of computing in Portugal that he spends most of his free time. His “serious hobby” takes the form of a blog which is winning over new enthusiasts essentially interested in deepening their curiosity about “what we are technologically as a country”.

Where did the idea for this project come from?

Out of immense curiosity and even a certain anxiousness I had to better understand my own professional path, and how much of it was influenced by the broader context of the country where I was born. Having worked for some time in certain American technology companies that are a benchmark in the field and experiencing, first-hand, an entire ecosystem of cutting-edge science and technology, it became very obvious to me that technologically we, as a country, are lagging behind the crest of the scientific and technological wave, particularly in

the area of computing. In this specific field, with some occasional exceptions, I would venture to say that a large part of our scientific and technological ecosystem is at least 10 years behind the times.

I wanted to understand the causes of this chronic delay. But also to ascertain the local causes and circumstances, and try to analyse the key historical principles that determined our scientific and technological path as a country, tracing back as far as possible the story of what is one of the greatest exponents of modern technology: the computer.

Interview: Raquel Pires

Photo: rights reserved

What’s your aim: to publish an interactive website with the information collected? Or to write a book?

The main aim of the blog is to draw attention to the importance of understanding our scientific and technological journey. It’s to get people talking about it. These issues have not had the time for the discussion and broader reflection that they deserve. (…) This project has repeatedly enabled me to confirm the following: that technologies fit into one another on a continuum, in a kind of genetic evolution in which new devices are generated from the previous ones. This is not surprising, but it has huge consequences for the development of nations.

Let’s take a closer look: if a country falls behind in a key technology, it is then in a disadvantageous position in terms of know-how when it comes to innovating and being a pioneer in the next technological wave. Worse still, that country is also at a disadvantage regarding its ability to take economic advantage of such technology since its companies will only be able to attain that technology when the market has already been occupied and saturated by other companies from other more advanced countries. As a result, the countries lagging most behind end up having fewer resources to invest in the creation of upcoming technologies and lag even further behind. This means that technologically backward countries are more likely to become increasingly poorer compared to others.

And a great deal about the economic history of nations can be explained on this basis…

It’s the ecosystem I was talking about. For example, if among our universities and companies we are only able to develop a critical mass sufficiently large and specialized to build a quantum computer 10 or 15 years after University U in partnership with company E from country Y builds the first commercial quantum computer, then it will be very difficult to compete in the market with that company. Worse still, it’s highly likely that, due to the strength of their ecosystem, a dozen more companies have already emerged in country Y, which meanwhile has filled every gap in the market, whether by horizontal or vertical means, leaving only “crumbs” for countries like Portugal. In practice, this is then reflected in our wages and living standards, which are below the

average of those in countries that we consider developed. In short, this delay means that we are worse off than many others. It’s as simple as that.

Throughout its history, Portugal has been stuck in this cycle of endemic backwardness, which is so hard to break, especially if we as a scientific and technological community do not openly fight against all this in our daily lives. It is not by chance that we are a poorer country than others of comparable size. We have to talk about this. In particular, I think all those involved in science and technology should make an effort to bring this issue into public debate.

You can only move forward and create the critical mass that the country needs if there is investment. There are no miracles! And, of course, an important part of this investment is public investment, either through the injection of funds into education at various levels, in universities and research institutes, or through the launch of large technological projects in strategic areas for the country with much broader horizons than merely one legislative term. And for this long-term investment to be substantial, we need to put this issue on the political agenda. If we keep quiet, nothing will happen. We have to want to be more.

What kind of data are you collecting and from what sources?

I must start by saying that an excellent survey has already been carried out by U.Minho’s Information Systems Memories project. That piece of work is extremely interesting, especially for the chronological period in question, running from the late 1950s to the mid-1990s.

But our information gathering strategy has been a little different. To begin with, I was interested in going back further, as by the late 1950s we were already considerably behind the rest of the developed world. Secondly, I wanted to get away from the perspective of cataloguing or collecting facts about specific objects and technologies and better understand how each of them has appeared and developed within the Portuguese context. In other words, we are more interested in understanding the trajectory of objects and technologies than the specific characteristics of

LUÍS SARMENTO: FROM SEATTLE TO INDUCTIVA

After his adventure on American soil and a stint in his university career years before, Luís Sarmento returned to Portugal. Together with Hugo Penedones, also a FEUP alumni, they launched a new project – Inductiva, which was later joined by Clara Gonçalves. It is a research start-up that merges machine learning and basic sciences such as Mathematics, Physics, Biology and Chemistry, also known as “Scientific Machine Learning”.

“At Inductiva we are starting out in a back-to-front way, beginning by creating a strong group with research skills capable of making a significant impact at international level, and leaving production and market issues for later”, admits Luís Sarmento. The team already has 10 people, including mathematicians and, above all, physicists committed to responding to all the wide-ranging problems that may arise in this area. “Our focus is really on creating a team of excellence in Portugal. That’s the main thing. The rest comes as an extra,” he concludes.

www.inductiva.ai

this or that object. For example, beyond knowing that the first computer to operate in Portugal was computer X or Y in a given year, we want to understand why that computer was not built in Portugal and had to be imported. What was lacking in the Portuguese ecosystem for Portugal not to have been able to build that first computer instead of importing it? It is this dynamic that we are interested in understanding. And the answers are not always as obvious as they might seem at first glance.

What have been your greatest difficulties?

In fact, there is a great deal of available information regarding the history of computing told from the point of view of the countries that were engines of such technology. There are loads of books, articles, blogs, and even movies that tell this story from the point of view of countries like the United States, England, France, Switzerland, etc. There is almost nothing parallel from Portugal’s point of view.

The research has thus involved a lot of gathering fragmented information, which we have seen in books and newspapers from the time, while using our imagination to try to fill in the gaps between the pieces of this puzzle. But I think that’s exactly the challenge: trying to find the connection between a series of fragmented facts and providing an interpretation consistent with the fact that we know that Portugal was not able to produce a digital computer in the 1950s.

I can’t say that I am following the correct methodologies of the historical sciences, nor do I have the knowledge to do so: much of this work is based on speculation, albeit informed speculation. But it’s cool and we’ve learned something.

Anything curious that surprised you about this research?

One thing that is curious – and which would lead us to a huge, in-depth conversation – is the importance of energy sources in the technological path of countries. And among energy sources, the one that seems to me the most decisive, due to its omnipresent long-term nature, is the humble forest.

The fact is the condition of Portuguese forests was, perhaps, the factor that most affected our technological development over many centuries, with repercussions still felt today. The connection isn’t immediate, but once we’ve established it, it seems obvious.

We see that before the digital electronics revolution, computers and information processing machines were analogue, essentially supported by metal mechanisms, some powered by electricity and others completely manual, which needed to be built with great precision in metallic alloys such as steel. Therefore, metal-mechanical technologies are predecessors of electronic technologies. It turns out that Portugal never had a significant metalworking industry. Ours has always been on an artisanal scale. Ever since the Middle Ages, the various attempts to start up foundries in mainland Portugal, and later in the colonies, failed completely, and we were only able to produce steel in industrial quantities in 1961 with the inauguration of Siderurgia Nacional in Seixal. Note that until the mid-20th century, Portugal never mastered iron technology at an industrial level, so it never had a chance to compete with other countries in the metalworking industry making engines, metal bridges, skyscrapers or typewriters out of Portuguese steel until 1961! It is difficult for me to quantify the impact in terms of delay that this has meant for the country. But it’s huge.

The problem, therefore, is fundamental. And it’s been so for years...

Yes, one of the main reasons why it was never possible to create a steel industry on an industrial scale was the huge lack of energy sources, even more than iron ore. In fact, iron ore reduction requires huge amounts of energy. Until the 18th century, the only source of fuel that could be used in the steel industry was charcoal produced by burning a certain type of wood. As a Mediterranean country with sparse forests, we always struggle with the lack of wood. This contrasts with countries like Sweden, which was a major steel producer since the 13th century, or the regions of central Europe, northern Italy, the Pyrenees, and the Bay of Biscay in neighbouring Spain. All these areas were major production centres throughout the Middle Ages, but they are also areas where the problem of access to fuel was never as big a problem as it was in Portugal.

From the 18th century, when coal began to be used for the steel industry, our problem was then the absence of large coal deposits in Portugal. Then, later, there was the lack of oil and gas deposits. We were once again faced with a huge energy deficit, and I think this was crucial to why we were never able to seize the opportunity of the Industrial Revolution and everything that resulted from it.

You have worked at Amazon and at Google, the tech giants that globally dominate the sector. What stands out from that experience?

The most positive aspect is the ability of these tech giants to actively achieve something – that is, the ability to go from idea to project delivery in a relatively short time, even in pivotal areas. I believe that this occurs because of the huge pool of talent in several areas that these companies manage to bring together. It’s amazing to

see how things happen so fast, and almost no one messes up, because if you mess up, you often quickly leave the team. And this dynamic leads to results, especially on a very large scale, with thousands of engineers and high-level project managers all pulling together.

Another positive aspect is that these companies pay really well, on a scale that is virtually impossible for someone with a technical background to be paid in Portugal. Here, the technical professions are poorly paid compared to other professions, even because of what we said before: Portugal does not have an industrial tradition of any great significance, so the technical professions are chronically undervalued. I don’t know whether at this moment I would be able to daydream about the history of computing in Portugal or have the means to create something as ambitious as Inductiva (see box) if I had made my career in Portugal with Portuguese salaries.

But beyond the monetary issue, these companies do value technical talent, and in particular doctorates. Engineers are not like mere “technicians” who must simply implement efficiently the visions that the management team has drawn up but are seen as central to companies. The most senior engineers have huge power over the entire organization and end up being drivers of the company’s own destiny. This was news to me. I have always felt that technical professions in Portugal have a low social pedigree. I’ll admit that this has changed a bit because of the massive success of some American tech companies over the last 20 years, which is a good thing. But, when I lived in the USA, being a PhD graduate in informatics was something socially respected even outside the company, something I had never felt in Portugal.

Without luck it is hard to succeed”

Prémio Carreira Career Award

Born 70 years ago in Porto, he graduated as a mechanical engineer at the Faculty of Engineering, and though his professional career has been more focused in Industrial Management than in mechanics, he has never lost his fascination with cars, which is why he chose the course. In a career spanning over 50 years he has always seen each job as an opportunity for learning and for personal and professional growth. Between successes and failures, Carlos Moreira da Silva has found a happy balance in an already complete career, which still looks for new challenges.

You graduated from FEUP in 1975 in Mechanical Engineering, a profession you never actually pursued. Why Mechanical Engineering?

I chose mechanical engineering because I was very fond of cars, and especially motor racing. But during the course, and especially in the last two years, I started to become interested in industrial organization and management.

You started working very early, before even completing your academic training, and you spent the first years of your career as a teacher at FEUP. What memories do you have from that time?

It’s true. I started working part-time at the publishing house Livraria Civilização when I was in the last two years of high school, in a role that today would be known as controlling the publishing process for translated books. During my time at the Faculty, I set up a tutoring business that supported me well. I was Monitor of Descriptive Geometry at the Faculty of Sciences and, when I finished my degree, I was invited by Vasco Sá and Rui Guimarães to work as a Trainee Lecturer in Operational Research and Statistics at the Faculty of Engineering.

I have very good memories of that time, but perhaps the one that made the most impression was teaching evening classes for colleagues who had completed the Technical Institute and who had come to complete their degree. They were people with first hand practical experience with whom I learned a lot and who made me understand the potential of applying more structured management models in an industrial environment.

When Professor Luís Valente de Oliveira challenged you to be an Executive Director at EDP in 1986, what expectations did you have?

In those days, I had a somewhat romantic idea: there was no reason for state owned companies to be different from private firms, the difference would be the quality of management. But I soon found how wrong I was. The difference is that the State (and those responsible for representing it - whether government or public administration) does not know how to act as a shareholder and often confuses its political will with the challenges to productivity and competitive capacity that shareholders must make to companies and their management.

Fortunately, EDP came to be privatized, unlocking numerous restrictions and allowing it to develop very successfully in competitive environments.

After EDP, you went to Sonae where you stayed for several years and had the opportunity to get to know Belmiro de Azevedo and occupy important positions. Was then when your career as a manager began to take shape?

My career as a manager began at EDP where I was an executive director. At Sonae I had the privilege of being “thrown in at the deep end” several times, which helped me to develop faster and beyond my wildest dreams. It was with Belmiro de Azevedo that I learned a lot of what I know, especially knowing how to take risky decisions, how to quickly correct the mistakes we always make and how, at all times, to lead the people I worked with.

Interview: Joana Guedes Pinto Photo: rights reserved

Carlos Moreira da Silva

Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Porto and a PhD in Industrial Management from the University of Warwick (UK). Until 2019 he was the Chairman of BA GLASS, having led the management buy-out of the company in 2004. He is a member of the Boards of Directors of Efanor, Sonae SGPS and Sonae Capital, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sonae Indústria SGPS, member of the Board of Directors of Fundação de Serralves and Chairman of Cerealis, SGPS, SA.

His professional life began at the U.Porto, where in 1973 he was admitted as a monitor. Having reached the position of Assistant Professor, he left academia in 1986 to dedicate himself to an executive career. Since 2007 he has been a visiting Full Professor at the Faculty of Engineering at U.Porto. In 1986 he was appointed executive director of EDP and in 1988 he joined the Board of Directors of Sonae, where he was responsible for launching the daily newspaper Público. Later he became the CEO of Sonae Indústria and led the merger with Tafisa in 1995. In 1996 he was appointed CEO of the new Specialized Retail sub-holding of Sonae where he promoted the launch of the Sport Zone and Vobis retail chains. Between 2003 and 2005 he was CEO of Sonae Indústria. Between August 2010 and January 2014, he was President of La Seda de Barcelona. From 2006 to 2017 he was a nonexecutive member of the Board of Directors of Banco BPI.

You had the opportunity to lead Barbosa & Almeida in the 1990s and in 2004 you made a management buyout that allowed you to have an important position in the property of the company. Although in 2020 you left the chairmanship of BA Glass, how important is that company to you?

Certainly, staying at BA Glass for twenty years, five as CEO and fifteen as Chairman, and the fact of having realized the dream of being an entrepreneur, through my own effort as well, is a very rewarding and enriching experience.

But they are still “only” twenty years out of the fifty-four I’ve worked, in which I’ve done many interesting things that have helped me become who I am today. I have good memories of all the different periods, with the exception of the mandatory military service which I was called to do at the age of 30.

In your life you have always been an entrepreneur. You left the presidency of BA Glass in 2020 to dedicate yourself to other investments and, together with the Silva Domingues family, recently bought Cerealis, one of the largest national groups in the food sector. How do you choose your investments? What characteristics should a successful entrepreneur have?

It’s great to be successful in investments, but you learn more from failures and I’ve had many in my life. Initially, all investments are studied in a similar way; then you are faced with the reality and its conditionalities, and to a large extent success or failure depend on how you react to them.

Perhaps the most important characteristic for an entrepreneur to succeed is knowing how to deal with failures, knowing how to get out of them and learn the lessons. I often say that I’m very lucky and I don’t mean it lightly; without luck it is hard to succeed, but it is also true that luck takes a lot of work, requiring great perseverance and clear values.

You have been honoured numerous times throughout your life, having been awarded nationally and internationally renowned prizes. What does it mean to you to receive the FEUP

2021 Career

Award?

The FEUP Career Award has a special meaning because it is a recognition from my peers. Although, as I mentioned at the ceremony where it was handed to me, I received it on behalf of all my classmates (Mechanical Engineering Class of 75) because many of them would well deserve the Award.

You say you consider yourself a lucky man. Does your professional career show this? What was your luckiest break professionally?

Having a competitor for BA Glass that did not accept the conditions under which Belmiro de Azevedo was willing to sell the company gave me the chance to bid for it on the same conditions.

Michael Grätzel is the latest Honoris Causa by U.Porto

He is one of the most important chemical researchers of our time, having often been suggested as a candidate for the Nobel Prize in his area. Michael Grätzel was distinguished with the honorary title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Porto, as proposed by the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), on the 20th of May, in the Main Hall of the Rectory.

Of Swiss nationality and German descent, Michael Grätzel (Dorfchemnitz, 1944) was a pioneer in the field of photovoltaic technology by inventing dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSC), also known as “Grätzel cells”.

Emerging, in turn, from DSSC, came perovskite solar cells (PSC), a new generation of cells, in whose development Michael Grätzel also played a decisive role, and with which the scientific community hopes to revolutionise photovoltaic technology, producing 50% more electricity per unit of panel area.

Professor at the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL), in Switzerland, where he directs the Photonics and Interfaces Laboratory, Michael Grätzel also opened a new path for the production of green fuels by developing nanostructured photoelectrodes, inspired by the DSSC photoelectrode.

From mesoscopic materials, he created photoelectrochemical cells that efficiently produce chemical fuels

A recent Stanford University bibliometric ranking places Grätzel at the top of a list of 100,000 leading world scientists in different fields: 1,700 scientific papers published, with more than 320,000 citations and an h-index of 254 (Web of Science)

from sunlight. In this way, it has broadened the spectrum of renewable energy sources that can be stored.

The Swiss professor and researcher has been collaborating regularly with the University of Porto, in particular with the Faculty of Engineering (FEUP), in highly prestigious European research projects and in supporting PhD students.

Since 2008, Michael Grätzel has also maintained a close collaboration with professor and researcher Adélio Mendes, from the Department of Chemical Engineering of FEUP, with whom he co-authored the first patent for laser-assisted glass sealing of DSSC cells. This pioneer technology was sold for 5 million Euros to Dyesol (today GreatCell Solar), an Australian company of sustainable energies.

And it was precisely Adélio Mendes that delivered the PhD student’s eulogy in the Honoris Causa ceremony, which also included the participation of the Rector of University of Porto, António de Sousa Pereira, the Director of FEUP, João Falcão e Cunha, and the former rector Sebastião Feyo de Azevedo, who served as “godfather” to the PhD student.

As part of the Honorary Doctorate event, but later in the afternoon, a lecture was given by Michael Grätzel himself, in the Auditorium of the Faculty of Engineering.

FEUP DNA in technology for reducing textile industry waste

Gilberto Loureiro, António Rocha and Paulo Ribeiro, alumni from U.Porto, are the founders of Smartex.ai.

Created by alumni from the University of Porto, Smartex.ai is one of the most talked-about companies. It is specialized in the textile sector, developing technology capable of reducing waste in this industry by detecting fabric imperfections at an early stage in the production chain. How? The answer is simple: Artificial Intelligence.

Bespoke hardware, vision software and learning algorithms are the key tools for the technology’s success. This success was reflected in the ‘Pitch Final’ at Web Summit 2021 – a hotly contested startup competition held at the largest European tech conference – where Smartex.ai was the big winner.

By prematurely detecting manufacturing defects, the Porto-based company actively contributes to greater process efficiency and a smaller environmental footprint. “More than 80% of textile defects could be avoided during the sewing or weaving process, with defective production representing up to

5% of all textile waste, thus harming factories’ gross margins”, emphasizes the CEO and co-founder, Gilberto Loureiro, who is also an alumnus of Engineering Physics, a course shared between the faculties of Engineering and Sciences of the University of Porto.

The inspiration came from his experience as a textile quality controller, at just 16 years old, following in the footsteps of his parents, who always worked in the sector. But he attributes the greatest responsibility for the creation of the company to the Faculty of Engineering, which pushed it to achieve its goals.

“FEUP was instrumental in the development of the cutting-edge technologies that we currently use at Smartex.ai. Most of our employees - including us, the founders - graduated from FEUP in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Informatics, Electrotechnics and Industrial Management”, acknowledges the alumnus.

www.smartex.ai

Text: Mafalda Leite Photo: rights reserved

Smart pedestrian crossing project from FEUP wins Vodafone award

Daniel Guimarães, Gonçalo Martins and Gonçalo Ramos, 3rd year Mechanical Engineering students at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), were winners at the 6th edition of TecStorm in the category Vodafone – Connected for a Better Future, a competition dedicated to connectivity-related projects that could solve everyday challenges. The team’s commitment to developing the project’s prototype, during the 24-hour marathon, also guaranteed them the prize for best prototype in the competition, awarded by Worten.

The FEUP team stood out among the more than 150 participants in this technology marathon that took place over the three days of the extended April 25 weekend, at the Champalimaud Foundation, in Lisbon. The event consolidated TecStorm’s position as the largest university technology competition held in Portugal nationwide, encouraging entrepreneurship and challenging university students to present disruptive and impactful ideas for society.

The award-winning project consists of a smart pedestrian crossing – fully automated, connected and synchronized

The 24 hours of TecStorm

The hackathon timer began counting down on Saturday, April 23. Sunday, April 24, was the decisive day: after intense hours of work, the competing teams (over 100 young people) presented their prototype in the morning, plus all the details of the project, from development to business plan. And they also made a pitch to the jury, who later determined the two best teams in each category to progress to the final evaluation. At the end of the day, the final moment of evaluation took place, culminating with the announcement of the winners of TecStorm 2022, one for each category in the competition.

Health, Energy, Connectivity and Social Responsibility are the categories in which the 28 ideas in the competition were included, seven for each category. Each of them

– aimed at increasing safety on crossings, reducing the number of pedestrians being run over. The system developed by the three students from the Faculty of Engineering detects the approach of pedestrians to the crossing, using motion sensors, and activates a warning light. The entire system is connected and synchronous.

According to the team, and in line with official statistics, Portugal’s pedestrian mortality rate, per million inhabitants, is well above the European average. Furthermore, the lack of visibility is singled out as one of the biggest causes of pedestrians being run over.

The project from the winning team in the category sponsored by Vodafone Portugal was mentored by professionals from the telecommunications company itself. They gave the students assistance, firstly with the technical issues involved in developing a prototype of the proposed solutions, and secondly aimed at preparing the young people for the competition, particularly the presentation of the prototype and the project’s development, as well as the business plan and associated pitch.

was sponsored by a partner of the event, who since February has been providing technical and strategic mentoring to teams with projects in their respective areas. In the Health area, monitoring has been carried out by the Champalimaud Foundation; in Energy by Galp; in Connectivity by Vodafone Portugal and in Social Responsibility by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

Vodafone Portugal, the Champalimaud Foundation, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and Galp are also members of the competition’s jury. This year under the motto ‘Cross dimensions. Empower your Idea’ TecStorm 2022 gathered more than 580 entries. The final number of participants attending the final event during that weekend was calculated after the jury had preselected the best ideas.

Mechanical Engineering students have won a technology competition with a project that aims to increase pedestrian safety, reducing the number of people being run over on the roads.

Text: Raquel Pires

Photo: rights reserved

Podium place for FEUP in international artificial intelligence competition

Project recognized by United Nations agency focuses on the development of a neural network for classifying modulations in telecommunications signals.

Aiteam from FEUP was the big winner of the ITU Machine iLearning in 5G Challenge, an international artificial iintelligence (AI) competition. The team was made up of three Portuguese students from the PhD Program in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) and researchers at the Institute of Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC), together with a Master’s student from the Polytechnic of Leiria (PL).

Spearheaded by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), an agency of the United Nations (UN) specialising in information and communication technologies, the contest challenged participants to solve real-world problems related to communications networks based on open-source solutions and standardised technologies developed for AI in 5G networks.

Under the name “BacalhauNET”, revealing the group’s intention, Daniel Granhão, Guilherme Carvalho, Tiago Gonçalves (all FEUP students) and José Rosa (PL) developed a neural network for classifying modulations in telecommunications signals, which can be used in problems regarding efficient use of the 5G electromagnetic spectrum.

“Our model is computationally efficient and, after a compression process, it reached the necessary level of precision that was required by the competition organizers, being the smallest/ computationally efficient model submitted to the competition”, explains team member Daniel Granhão.

The project presented won almost 6 thousand euros in prize money, competing with 1,600 participants who were evaluated by a jury according to criteria such as originality, quality of the project, performance and applicability of the solution.

The team describes how “the international distinction fills us with pride and motivation to continue developing AI algorithms, as well as more efficient ways to implement them. The collaboration between members from different institutions was, without a doubt, a great asset, allowing us to share experience, methods, good practices and knowledge”.

The project was supervised by Nuno Paulino and Luís Pessoa, professors at FEUP and researchers from the Telecommunications and Multimedia Center at INESC TEC, as well as Luís Conde Bento and Mónica Figueiredo, professors at the School of Management and Technology (ESTG) at the Polytechnic of Leiria.

Text: Mafalda Leite Photo: rights reserved

Porto - Portugal

What kind of tools can we use to face this era of fake news and misinformation?

How can we be better at communicating scientific results in the public eye? And how can we be prepared for crisis communication situations within organizations? This was the motto of the first edition of “Porto Communication in Higher Education: Building Trust”, a Staff Week totally oriented to professionals in the area of communication in Higher Education, which took place between June 13 and 17, at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto.

Over the course of the week, 70 professionals from the communication offices at several European universities had the opportunity to learn about relevant issues and discuss them with academics and consultants who have been recognized for their work in the areas of strategic and Crisis Communication, Brand/Institutional Reputation and Notoriety as well as enhancing the Public Dissemination of Science.

Reflection was also given to the efficient use of new communication platforms in the involvement of new publics and the contribution of researchers and scientists themselves in building this network.

Norman Macha

Technical University Munich - Germany

Was it your first staff week?

Yes, this was my first staff week and first time in Portugal as well.

What did you learn most from this experience in Porto?

Not anything I learned from one specific presentation or panel discussion but a realization: All European Universities, even though we come from vastly different countries with different laws and languages, face similar challenges in communications. Being connected to other communicators can help us face and overcome these with new perspectives and ideas.

What was one of the highlights of this staff week at FEUP?

The presentation about reputation management – an issue that has seen a sharp rise in interest in recent years but which communicators still struggle to fully grasp and understand. The presentation gave great insights and ideas about understanding, preventing and handling reputational issues. My overall highlight is the amazing group of people that I met during the Staff Week. Weeks later, it still stuns me how fast you can make strong connections.

What did you like most about the city?

The bridges with the river beneath them are such a great spot to have a look at the city and watch the sunset. I was surprised how steep and uphill the city is but to be honest, I kind of miss walking uphill now that I’m back. And, of course, just the general vibe of the city and the people and the Port wine.

13-17 June 2022

Text: Mafalda Leite

Photo: Rita França

Johanna Saravanaradjou

Sorbonne University - France

Was it your first staff week?

Yes.

What did you learn most from this experience in Porto?

In one word: community. This staff week showed me the reality of this community. Being European is more than just building infrastructure together. It is about something human. I was delighted to see how we were growing together in so many ways and this in just one week. We are from different places, with different culture and best practices, but thanks to this amazing week, we could share our knowledge, learn and build. As a community. The European family.

What was one of the highlights of this staff week at FEUP?

It is super difficult to select just one highlight. There were so many: the quality and diversity of the speakers’ profiles. We learned a lot. I’ve got back having made new friends who are now part of my life like it has been forever. And the incredible kindness of the people of Porto in general. But if I had to select just one highlight on the core staff week program, it will be Elsa’s speech. Not only did I learn a lot about managing crisis, but I was totally hooked on the subject. Thanks to this I returned with a broader view on the extensive field of research in communication.

What did you like most about the city?

The stunning sunset view of the river and discovering Porto Tonic! It is definitely on the list of my favorite cocktails now.

Ellen Geerts University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp -

Belgium

Was it your first staff week?

It was not my first staff week, but it was one of the most interesting ones and definitely the most fun one!

What did you learn most from this experience in Porto?

I was happy to see that more than half of the lectures during this week were very specifically about my field of work: science communication. Often staff weeks about communication concentrate their lectures or workshops on communication for student recruitment and not much else. I was glad to see that the organizing team of Porto Comms staff week took a significant interest in research and science communication. I learned a lot about using social media for communicating about research, which I found very useful seeing I have a love-hate relationship with social media myself.

What was one of the highlights of this staff week at FEUP?

Our visit to the biodiversity museum and the surrounding botanical gardens. I love museums and nature so this combined visit was right up my alley. Also our dinner by the seaside, but that was more about the great group of people I shared my meal with than it was about the location. Meeting so many wonderful, new people was the biggest highlight of the week.

What did you like most about the city?

I loved walking around the old part of town. The streets are cosy and around every corner there are more beautiful buildings. Even though I’m a bit scared of heights, I must say the views from the bridges are amazing!

On our day off, a couple of us went strolling along the river and enjoyed some port wine tasting. This was a very good way to end the week.

Claire Floury-Guépin

IUT de Valence / Université Grenoble Alpes - France

Was it your first staff week? No, I went to Finland 5 years ago.

What did you learn most from this experience in Porto? It is possible to organise such an event with 70 people! For a first time it was a great achievement! Thank you for that.

What was one of the highlights of this staff week at FEUP?

I really like the way you mixed visits with academic knowledge and experiences.

What did you like most about the city? The atmosphere (music, people, restaurants, the Douro...).

Christina Fortwängler

Technical University Munich - Germany

Was it your first staff week?

Yes, it was my first staff week, but I’ll definitely apply again next year.

What did you learn most from this experience in Porto? That there are universal issues that affect almost all European universities and that reflective, user-centered science communication is more important than ever.

What was one of the highlights of this staff week at FEUP?

The group. Everyone was so nice, open-minded and grew on me in just one week. I also really enjoyed the carefully selected activities and presentations, especially the influencer “@sciencewave” who offered a young and fresh look at science communication via Instagram.

What did you like most about the city?

Its beauty, culture, relaxed mentality and of course the proximity to the sea. I also loved the fact that on summer evenings everything happens on the streets.

Arelis Ardiles

Université de Lille - France

Was it your first staff week?

Yes, it was my first staff week and it was definitely an excellent way to start!

What did you learn most from this experience in Porto?

The opportunity to learn about colleagues also working in communication, but in such different ways, made this week a truly enriching experience. I was unsure about what I could learn during one week working with people doing the same job. I was completely wrong; it was a huge surprise to discover the differences and the common ground among the group. As a communication officer in the international office of the University of Lille, it was also a great experience to work in a multicultural and international environment.

What was one of the highlights of this staff week at FEUP?

The variety of presentations was definitely one of the best things about this week. To learn about all these people working in communication from several different areas and to exchange experiences, points of view and issues related to communication was very interesting. My favorite moment of each day was the coffee break. Every day, a new opportunity to meet someone and also the best way for networking.

What did you like most about the city?

It was my second time in Porto and what I like most about this city is definitely the Portuguese people. Portuguese people are always smiling, ready to help you. They are amazing, and it felt like a really warm welcome. The food is also incredible, and it makes me think about my home country, Venezuela.

Andrzej Charytoniuk

Wrocław University of Science and Technology

- Poland

Was it your first staff week?

No, it was my second one. First time I was in Bergen, Norway, in 2019.

What did you learn most from this experience in Porto?

The most interesting meetings were those on crisis communication and the future of social media. The presentations of the individual participants were also very interesting, with many things worth implementing.

What was one of the highlights of this staff week at FEUP?

It was definitely the three organisers, Mafalda, Ana and Raquel, who did everything at every step to make our stay at FEUP perfect. And, of course, they succeeded.

What did you like most about the city?

It’s been a long time since any city has impressed me as much as Porto. It was delightful. Atmospheric streets, delicious food, friendly people, no crowds, good transport, wonderful views. And the peaceful, relaxing rhythm of life. I would love to come back here again!

FEUP and Efacec inaugurated a new collaborative laboratory – the Vasco da Gama CoLAB – with the aim of developing solutions in response to the challenges of energy transition. The ambition is to create in Portugal “a center of excellence in the area of energy electrochemical storage”.

FEUP’s Main Auditorium hosted the FEUP Day 2021 celebrations, with a program that included recognition of business partnerships, tributes and performance awards to members of the institution.

Pedro Montenegro, a researcher at FEUP, assessed the danger of train derailment due to adverse weather conditions. The study earned him the ICCES Outstanding Young Researcher Award.

Vouguinha. That is the name of the first Portuguese hydrogen train, the result of the ‘H2Rail’ project in which FEUP is involved, which is studying the transformation of railcars in circulation on the Vouga Line from diesel power to hydrogen fuel cells that generate electricity.

FEUP recently completed the contract to install a new self-consumption photovoltaic production unit. This is the culmination of a project lasting six months which included the installation of 708 panels on the roofs of some buildings on the campus, over an area of around 1,420 m², with an installed capacity of 280 kW DC.

How reliable is the European electricity system in the long term? This was the question prompting Fabian Heymann, a FEUP alumnus, to improve modelling of the effects of climate change applied to large-scale adequacy studies of the electrical system at European level, winning the EEX Excellence Award 2020, a prize for excellence in the energy sector.

Roberto Vaz, an alumnus of the PhD Program in Digital Media at FEUP, won the International Award for Excellence for The Inclusive Museum Research Network 2020 for his study on the lack of accessibility to museums for the blind and people with low vision.

Photo: rights reserved

Photo: rights reserved

16 12 APR

FEUP organized the interactive virtual fair “Talent for the World”, a four-day event aimed at secondary school students and all recent graduates or professionals already in the job market. The event was an opportunity for the faculty to publicise the various undergraduate and masters degree courses that it now offers, through live talks, workshops and interactive exhibitors.

FEUP saw the launch of its new laboratory, ALICE – Associate Laboratory for Innovation in Chemical Engineering, having been approved by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). The new Associate Laboratory stems from the desire to optimise synergies between the three existing research units in the Faculty’s Chemical Engineering Department. (LEPABE, LSRE-LCM and CEFT).

02 MAY

The Young WoMen Challenge 2021, a competition organized by Deloitte Luxembourg, saw three students from the Integrated Master in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto take 1st place on the podium, thanks to unBIASed, a project enabling assessment of companies’ levels of inclusion and diversity.

The Cycle of Seminars on Engineering and Public Policies began at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, with the key objective of promoting the role of Engineering in political decision-making processes, giving it a more central role in the design of public policies.

FEUP’s Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science (LIACC) developed a decision support platform based on the analysis and classification of complaints and selection of economic agents to be inspected by the Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE).

André Cruz, a former student at FEUP, submitted the best master’s thesis in the IT area, being distinguished with the Best Thesis Award in the area of Information Technology by the Portuguese Association for the Development of Communications (APDC), with the support of the Consortium of Engineering Schools (CEE).

To mark the International Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, FEUP, through iPoint – Intercultural Contact Point, joined forces with the Espaço t Association and launched the 1st FEUP Intercultural Seminar, aiming to promote diversity and inclusion as strategic priorities at a social level and in Higher Education.

The FEUP Auditorium was the stage for the second edition of the Doctoral Conferment Ceremony, which gives the most honourable distinction to those who have completed their PhD and defended their thesis as well as paying tribute to those doctors whose PhD was awarded 25 years ago. Another of the day’s highlights was the presentation of the Career Award, which this year was awarded to João Serrenho, CEO of CIN.

The Faculty of Sciences and the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto inaugurated the new joint degree in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science with a Roundtable under the motto “Artificial Intelligence and Data Science: the future is now”.

Filipa Beleza, Mechanical Engineering student at FEUP, won the Portuguese Women In Tech award (PWiT Awards 2021) in the “Marketing & Sales Expert by Natixis” category. The initiative aims to celebrate the female tech ecosystem in Portugal and inspire the next generation of women in the tech world.

Improving regional innovation ecosystems and promoting innovation-oriented research through the creation of a European Network of innovation ecosystems driven by Higher Education Institutions is the purpose of INVENTHEI, a European consortium coordinated by the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto which was officially granted 1.2 million euros in funding.

It was in the category of “Best MSc Thesis in Innovation & Entrepreneurship” that João Campos, a former student at FEUP, saw his research on innovation in business models distinguished at the International Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Marketing and Consumer Behavior 2022.

Athlete Ana Catarina Monteiro, a student at FEUP, achieved the best ever Olympic result by a Portuguese swimmer by completing the semi-finals of the women’s 200 meters butterfly at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 11th place.

Photo: rights reserved

25 OCT

Renato Mendes, oceanographer and external collaborator at FEUP’s Laboratory of Underwater Systems and Technology (LSTS), was the winner of the FLAD Science Award Atlantic 2021, awarded by the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD). His project will launch a robotic vehicle, powered by waves and solar panels, to sail autonomously between Porto and the Azores.

11 OCT 13 OCT

Sister and brother Ana and Pedro Walgode, who, respectively, are students of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biological Engineering at FEUP, became world vice-champions in Senior Couple Dance at the 2021 Asunción Artistic Skating World Championships.

“Human-Centered Innovation” was the main theme of BIN@Porto 2021, an event organised by the Business and Innovation Network (BIN@) that took place at FEUP and UPTEC. The activities in the program included Open Sessions, Action Tanks dedicated to different issues in the areas of Society, Circularity and Health & Well-being, Tech Demos and Business Showcases.

In a completely virtual format, but with the usual ambition, the FEUP Career Fair returned to the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto in early November and brought with it 80 national and international companies to recruit the best talents from all areas of Engineering at the institution.

F. Xavier Malcata, full professor at FEUP, was distinguished with the Stephen S. Chang Award, given by the prestigious American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS), an international association based in the USA whose mission is to seek excellence in the science and technology of fats, oils, surfactants and related materials.

With a growing international community and an estimated 10,000 degree students in 2026, the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto inaugurated the Local Support Center for the Integration of Migrants (CLAIM), the result of a partnership with the High Commissioner for Migrations (ACM).

YEAR IN REVIEW 2021

R&D units whose host institution is FEUP or interface institutes

R&D units whose host institution is external to FEUP

R&D Structures rated Excellent or Very Good, or Associated Laboratories

Associated laboratories with the participation of FEUP’s R&D units Collaborative

with participation of FEUP

Other International Programmes (2014-2020)

Other International Programmes (2021-2027)

Connect to this network with over 8000 connections and have privileged contact with colleagues, professors and companies, receive first-hand information about initiatives and events targeted to FEUP alumni and access the best opportunities to advance your career

than 130 events worldwide

COLLABORATE WITH FEUP

Participate in institutional events (face-to-face and virtual), join Alumni Talks... and share your testimony as a success story

PARTICIPATE IN “REGRESSO A CASA”

Return to the “home” where you were happy and see friends and professors again!

Save the Date - 17th September 2022

Join this great family that is FEUP and become part of the Alumni Universe through