On 5th of ISSP UL welcomed a delegation from INESCTEC, Portugal, for an initial synergy meeting ahead of the upcoming workshop on Project Proposal Development – Experience from Centers of Excellence (CoEs), scheduled this week as a side event within the The 41st International Scientific Conference of the Institute of Solid State Physics.
This meeting marked the first collaborative step between research teams of the SWEB and FeLow-D projects, fostering cross-sectorial cooperation and laying the groundwork for new cross-laboratory groups. The initiative aims to develop project proposals for the upcoming Innovation Action (IA) and Research and Innovation Action (RIA) calls within the Horizon Europe programme.
INESCTEC was represented by Prof. Alfredo Martins and Dr. Diana Viegas working on INESCTEC.Ocean Teaming project, who shared their insights into fostering innovation and provided an overview of the latest advancements in marine robotics. Their expertise offered valuable perspectives on cutting-edge projects and progress in the field.
From ISSP UL Dr. Aleksejs Zolotrajovs and Dr. Boris Polyakov presented research highlights on functional materials and sensor technologies, emphasizing their potential impact on interdisciplinary collaborations.
During the discussions, both parties identified a broad scope of potential collaboration opportunities, particularly focusing on the upcoming Horizon Europe CL4 Innovation Action call on Soft Robotics for Advanced Physical Capabilities. The central concept under consideration is the development of an underwater soft-robotics solution for coral reef damage assessment and monitoring—an initiative aimed at advancing environmental conservation efforts through cutting-edge robotics and materials science.
Following the meeting, the delegation toured ISSP UL’s state-of-the-art ISO class 4–8 cleanroom facilities, providing an in-depth look at the advanced infrastructure supporting high-level research in solid-state physics and materials science.
This initial engagement has set the stage for further collaboration, fostering strong international partnerships and advancing innovative solutions for upcoming research initiatives.
