Carlos Moedas visits INESC TEC

On 12 December, the European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos Moedas, was at INESC TEC as part of a visit to Research Units within the University of Porto. This was the first official visit since the commissioner took office.

At INESC TEC, Carlos Moedas was welcomed by members of the Board and the Centre for Power and Energy Systems (CPES). The meeting took place at the Laboratory of Smart Grids and Electric Vehicles, a pioneer and unique infrastructure in Portugal, which Carlos Moedas got to know.  

Other than the laboratory, the commissioner, who is responsible for the largest framework-programme for research and innovation in the EU, the Horizon 2020, became familiarized with INESC TEC’s organisational model, with successful applied and fundamental research projects funded by the European Union, examples of companies resulting from technology transfer, and the expansion to Brazil (with INESC P&D Brasil).

Carlos Moedas was impressed with the institution’s capacity to develop not only fundamental science, but also projects, having defined INESC TEC as an institution that should serve as model for the “innovation of the future”. The commissioner was accompanied by the President of the University of Porto, Sebastião Feyo de Azevedo, and the Vice-President for Research and Development, Maria João Ramos.  

For the entire day, Carlos Moedas got to know different science, innovation and technology infrastructures at the University of Porto, visiting 10 laboratories and innovation centres.

The visit started at UPTEC - Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, and then continued at the future facilities of I3S - the Institute for Innovation and Health Research, INEGI, the Faculty of Science of the University of Porto, and the future Cruise Terminal of Porto de Leixões, which will be the headquarters of CIIMAR.