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Innovation by INESC TEC confirms focus on internationalisation

Innovation by INESC TEC confirms focus on internationalisation

The Innovation and Technology Transfer Unit (UITT) is confirming a clear focus on internationalisation and proof of that is the contracts in Lithuania and in Chile.

The aim of the contract with the Engineering Industries Association of Lithuania (LINPRA) was to create a Training Programme on Innovation Management Systems, with a duration of four days, which took place in that country. The main purpose of this training activity was to share the Portuguese experience in developing a framework for the implementation of Innovation Management Systems, exploiting concepts and disseminating processes and tools to support them.

According to Alexandra Xavier, manager at UITT and one of the trainers – accompanied by José Carlos Caldeira, a director at INESC Porto –, the balance was “extremely positive and the participants were very interested in the modules presented”. The trainees had the opportunity to get familiarised with the Portuguese experience in promoting innovation in companies and with the strategy to develop sustainable innovation in the specific case of the footwear sector. Furthermore, the participants also got to know the methodologies and tools applied and developed by INESC TEC.

However, UITT’s work is already overseas.  Between 26 and 28 November, João Claro, also manager at UITT, headed to South America, specifically to the Universidad de Atacama (UDA) in Chile, to conduct a series of three workshops on university innovation ecosystems and models of collaboration between university, industry and public sector, and to conduct a Seminar on Innovation and Technology Transfer. Encouraging and discussing applied research, innovation and the role of universities were the great objectives of the initiative, which also included presentations from Chilean experts.

João Claro highlights that “following this activity, INESC Porto [the coordinating entity of INESC TEC] signed a collaboration protocol with the Universidad de Atacama”, and therefore different forms of cooperation are expected to occur soon in this component.

Also in terms of industrialisation, UITT was invited to conduct two workshops on Technology Transfer and Technology Valorisation as part of "Proyeto VT", supported by the Cross-border Cooperation Programme Portugal–Spain 2007/2013, which contemplates, among other aspects, a training component.

The workshops took place on 30 November and 6 December at the Polytechnic Institute of Viana, gathering about 20 participants from North of Portugal and Galicia. At the workshops, Andreia Passos (UITT) and José Carlos Caldeira introduced key concepts to the process of transferring and valorising knowledge, presenting and discussing with participants practical cases in and outside INESC TEC.

With these activities, UITT confirms a strong focus on internationalisation and valorisation of skills in the areas of innovation and technology transfer.