Local: Auditorium Prof. Dr. José Marques Dos Santos
Date: Monday, June 30th, 2025 | 10h30-12h20
Moderators: João Lobo Ferreira, Head of Interface Mission, ANI
Adélio Mendes, Full Professor, LEPABE/ALiCE, FEUP
Topics: CoLABs, CTIs and Industry short pitches: the pitch session aims to present the key innovation challenges the institutions face, foster stronger collaboration with academia, and encourage the integration of PhD holders into the innovation process. Following the pitch session, a 15-minute round table discussion will take place, with each Speaker addressing key questions.
REN’s challenges of Energy Transition and Climate Change
REN – Redes Energéticas Nacionais is an exclusive TSO (Transmission System Operator) in Electricity and Gas Systems and 2sd largest gas DSO in Portugal, with 70-year track record as a leading energy infrastructure operator, with international presence. REN acts in accordance with the energy goals of the European Union and Portugal, helping the planet combat climate change to enable energy transition, without forgetting the security and quality of energy supply, the digitalization and innovation, and integrating new renewable capacity such as wind, solar and renewable gases. REN have a significant investment plan for 2024-27 1,5-1.7 B€ investment.
REN Award, specifically in the context of academia, is indeed one of the oldest scientific awards in Portugal. It was established in 1995 to recognize and encourage excellence in energy-related research among Master’s and Doctoral theses in Portuguese higher education. REN will continue to foster internal people excellence, attract and retain talent.
Pedro Ávila
Director of Operational Sustainability, REN
Biography
Pedro Ávila is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in the energy sector, having worked at the three largest energy companies in Portugal. He currently serves as Director of Operational Sustainability at REN. With a degree in Mechanical Engineering, has strengthened his academic background with top-tier executive education, including an MBA from Porto Business School and the Advanced Management Program at AESE.
Throughout his career, he has led multiple national and international projects in both the gas and electricity sectors, consistently demonstrating strong expertise in project and operations management across various markets. His work is marked by a deep commitment to environmental responsibility and the mitigation of environmental impacts.
Beyond his professional life, Pedro is passionate about travel, music, design, and contemporary art. He strives to be an innovative leader, dedicated to team development and building a more sustainable future.
Bridging knowledge and innovation: The role of the Alliance for the Energy Transition (ATE) Agenda in connecting industry, SMEs, and academia
This presentation explores the ATE Agenda’s role in bridging industry, SMEs, and academia to accelerate the shift to sustainable energy. It focuses on how integrating highly qualified resources enhances innovation, research, knowledge transfer and the development of cutting-edge solutions. The presentation also addresses AAET’s role in sustaining these partnerships after ATE funding.
Luís Seca
Director, AAET (Association Alliance for the Energy Transition)
Biography
Luís is a senior researcher at the Centre for Power and Energy and member of the Board of Directors of INESC TEC. His research areas are distributed electrical resources integration (renewable based electricity generation, electric vehicles, storage, etc.) in distribution and transmission grids, dynamic analysis of electrical systems, smart grids and energy efficiency. Luís is also one of the Directors of AATE, an Association created to support the coordination, management and communication activities of the ATE Agenda, maximizing the value delivered and ensuring the success of ATE projects. AATE also aims to lay the foundations for an energy cluster, through a dynamic and competitive ecosystem for the energy transition.
Bridging Science and Industry: Leading Upstream and Industrial Innovation at Galp
Galp’s Upstream and Industrial Innovation Center focuses on developing new solutions to enhance Galp’s core business, aiming to reduce carbon intensity in exploration and production activities. The center leverages advanced technologies to optimize operations and asset value, while also supporting the decarbonization of Galp’s industrial assets by promoting low-carbon technologies. Collaboration with startups, academia, and technology partners ensures a market-oriented approach to innovation. Specific projects include the development of inspection tools for operations at depths greater than 2000 meters, intelligent well completion technologies, and advancements in low-carbon fuels, carbon capture, and carbon utilization.
Marco Ferraz
Head of Upstream and Industrial Innovation Center, Galp
Biography
After starting his career as a researcher in Portugal, Marco Ferraz moved to San Francisco to work as a visiting researcher at the USGS, in collaboration with NASA. In 2009, he relocated to Australia to pursue a PhD at the University of Sydney, where he also served as a lecturer at the School of Geosciences. Upon returning to Portugal in 2012, Marco joined Galp as a Geoscientist in Exploration and Production, contributing to some of the company’s most prominent assets. Today, he leads the Upstream & Industrial Innovation Center at Galp, managing over 60 research, development, and innovation projects in Portugal and Brazil. These initiatives span oil and gas production, refining processes, and energy transition topics such as hydrogen, low-carbon fuels, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), and energy storage. Marco is also chairman of the board of the Net4CO2 collaborative laboratory and board member of Bioref.
VORTEX-CoLAB: Turning Research into Impact
VORTEX-CoLAB bridges the gap between scientific research and real-world technology, focusing on cybersecurity, safety, and embedded systems — the core enablers of connected, autonomous technologies that shape how we live, move, and communicate. We bring together researchers, engineers, and industry partners to co-develop fast, practical solutions. Our projects combine applied research with hands-on prototyping, ensuring bold ideas are translated into tools companies can use. Students and PhD researchers are central to our work — not just observing, but contributing through thesis work, training, and active development. Through our affiliate program, companies gain early access to emerging technologies and help shape our innovation agenda. This model reduces risk, accelerates deployment, and keeps our work aligned with real-world needs. By advancing high-impact technologies, VORTEX is helping position Portugal as a relevant player in strategic sectors such as defense, semiconductors, and smart mobility — within Europe and beyond.
Joana Maria
Executive Director, Vortex-CoLAB
Biography
Joana Maria is Executive Director of VORTEX-CoLAB, a nonprofit collaborative laboratory focused on applied research in AI, cybersecurity, and embedded systems. With a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she brings over 20 years of experience across academia and industry, leading a team of nearly 40+ researchers and engineers developing safety and security solutions for next-generation cyber-physical systems in sectors such as mobility, aerospace, and critical infrastructure. Her career includes over a decade at IBM Research, where she co-founded the AI4Good Fellowship Program and led research initiatives spanning from fundamental science to commercial applications, including breakthrough work that contributed to the development of the world’s first AI-designed fragrance. She holds 10 issued patents and has authored 27 peer-reviewed publications. A strong advocate for applied research with societal impact, she brings a systems-level perspective to building innovation ecosystems that connect science, industry, and policy.
From Research to Innovation: Paralab Engineering as a Bridge Between Academia and Industry
Paralab Engineering has established itself as the partner of excellence in the development of customized, scalable and high-performance equipment. Over the last three decades, it has maintained a close and continuous collaboration with all research units, supporting researchers in the development of tailor-made solutions, from laboratory prototypes to semi-industrial equipment. This close link to research means not only the creation of technology adapted to the real needs of the academic and scientific world, but also success stories where the paths of the client and the company merge – as in the case of a researcher who, after completing his doctorate, joined the Paralab Engineering team.
Simão P. Cardoso
Product Manager, Paralab
Biography
Simão P. Cardoso holds an Integrated Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering (MIEQ) from FEUP (2005-2010)and a PhD in Chemical Engineering (Branch in Chemical Products and Processes Engineering) from the University of Aveiro. Since February 2021, he has been product manager at Paralab, a company that distributes scientific equipment for laboratory and industrial applications, and is responsible for several international brands in this field in the North of Portugal.
Águas do Douro e Paiva (AdDP) – a commitment to innovation, knowledge and transformative solutions
AdDP is the utility responsible for the bulk drinking water system that supplies 20 municipalities in Porto region. The company foresees that present and future challenges require collaborative, innovative and creative responses, which must also be anchored in knowledge. Having been created in 1995 – and celebrating its 30th anniversary – AdDP is a place of continuous evolution, where water continues to be an engine of progress, equity and hope for future generations.
Jaime Gabriel Silva
Head of innovation area, Águas do Douro e Paiva S.A. and SimDouro S.A. (both AdP Group)
Invited Teacher, ISEP
Biography
Born at Porto (1963). Civil engineer (FEUP / 1986); MSc (FEUP / 1997); currently, FEUP PhD student (PRODEC), in Asset Management field. He joined AdDP in 1998, where he was Engineering Director between 2000 and 2009, when he started management functions in the board of different Águas de Portugal Group companies, namely: Simlis (Leiria), Águas do Mondego (Coimbra), Simria (Aveiro), Águas do Centro Litoral (aggregated company of the former three) and Águas de Santo André. In 2020, he returned to AdDP, coordinating the innovation area for AdDP and SimDouro, as well as leading some enterprise projects. Before 1998, he worked at Fase (1991-98), at CICCOPN Laboratory (1991), at IBM (1989-90) and at Com. Coord. Região Norte (1987-89). Invited teacher at ISEP, since 1990.
FIBRAN – What we do, challenges we face, and proximity with the academia
FIBRAN is a leading manufacturer of XPS insulation panels. In addition to standard products, we offer a wide range of custom shapes and tailor-made solutions to meet specific project needs. Our products are well-established in the construction industry, although some technical challenges remain due to the material’s intrinsic characteristics. To address these, FIBRAN is actively collaborating with academic institutions to further study and improve its performance, while continuing to deliver effective solutions for specialized applications.
Luís Filipe Santos
Product Prescription and Technical Support, FIBRAN
Biography
Luís graduated in Civil Engineering from FEUP in 2013. He began his career as an Assistant Project Manager on construction sites, contributing to the development of a new school and the renovation of a luxury hotel. He then joined a furniture manufacturer, where he managed FF&E assembly teams in Belgium and Luxembourg. Within the same company, he later oversaw proposal management, coordinating with both technical and commercial departments. Moving on, he took on the role of supporting project prescribers—mainly architects—providing technical guidance throughout the design process. Currently at FIBRAN, Luís plays a key role in technical support for prescribers, closely aligned with marketing and production, contributing to the development of new products for new challenges.
HyLab – Green Hydrogen Collaborative Laboratory
Presentation will introduce HyLab – the Collaborative Laboratory for Green Hydrogen – and its role in accelerating the development of innovative, science-based solutions for decarbonization. With a strong link between research and industry, HyLab contributes to the energy transition through applied R&D, technology integration, and support for industrial implementation.
Ricardo Rato
Executive Director, Hylab
Biography
Open Data, Open Innovation: The Experience of Creating E-REDES Open Data
The energy transition requires more than just technology — it demands collaboration. E-REDES Open Data was created as a sharing tool and serves as a mechanism for open innovation and collaboration between E-REDES and the community. In this pitch, I share the experience of developing this open data portal and real-world use cases by municipalities, mobility operators, and researchers. From planning charging networks to creating energy communities, data has become a tool for local action.
Luís Tiago Ferreira
Responsible for the Smart Cities, Public Lighting, and Open Data, E-REDES
Biography
Room for PhDs in Companies? Here’s what we think.
Mónica Read
Projects and Works Engineer, Águas e Energia do Porto
Biography
KPMG Incentives: What It’s Like to Be a PhD in a Big4 Company
What happens when a researcher steps into the corporate world? In this talk, I’ll share my journey from PhD to Consultant at KPMG Incentives, highlighting challenges, growth, and surprising overlaps. I’ll also introduce KPMG and our R&D Incentives team, offering a glimpse into how academic skills can thrive—and drive impact—within a Big4 environment.
Joana Monte
R&D and Innovation Senior Consultant, KPMG
Biography
Joana Monte holds a PhD in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering from NOVA University Lisbon. She combines strong scientific knowledge with economic analysis skills. Following her PhD, Joana started her career pathway by working with companies, supporting them to obtain financial and tax incentives in Portugal. Specialized in guiding businesses to discover new growth opportunities, Joana supports companies in identifying and preparing applications for national funding programs. Over the past years, Joana accumulated expertise in the manufacturing industry, ICT, aerospace and automative sectors.
Bridging Innovation Gaps: How INESC TEC Transforms PhD Excellence into Societal Impact
This presentation explores INESC TEC’s core innovation challenges bridging our 8 research domains (AI, Computer Science, Communications, Power & Energy Systems, Robotics, Photonics, Bioengineering, Systems Engineering) with societal applications through TEC4 initiatives: TEC4INDUSTRY, TEC4ENERGY, TEC4HEALTH, TEC4AGRO-FOOD, and TEC4SEA. We showcase our collaborative academic model and comprehensive PhD integration strategy that develops tomorrow’s leaders, demonstrating how our PhD graduates transition from university research to driving real-world societal impact.
Luís Seca
Member of the Executive Board, INESC TEC
Biography
Luís is a senior researcher at the Centre for Power and Energy and member of the Board of Directors of INESC TEC. His research areas are distributed electrical resources integration (renewable based electricity generation, electric vehicles, storage, etc.) in distribution and transmission grids, dynamic analysis of electrical systems, smart grids and energy efficiency. Luís is also one of the Directors of AATE, an Association created to support the coordination, management and communication activities of the ATE Agenda, maximizing the value delivered and ensuring the success of ATE projects. AATE also aims to lay the foundations for an energy cluster, through a dynamic and competitive ecosystem for the energy transition.