Limelight

Limelight Series

In a universe of more than 1200 collaborators, there are many months when there is more than one collaborator with a performance suitable for “Limelight”. An example of this is the fact that for several months we receive more than one nominee. This led to a change in the publication policy: BIP has started to highlight all nominees, without considering the merit (because all nominees have much merit!). Additionally, considering the criteria for news opportunity, an interview with one of the nominees is developed.

This month we spoke with Hugo Choupina (C-BER) 

1. What has been the outcome of your work in INESC TEC after almost five years?

The outcome is positive. INESC TEC allowed me to enhance several hard and soft skills. It also gave me some time, room and the possibility to grow in a sustainable manner as a professional in order to be able to have a proper transition to a challenge in the Industry.

2. What were the main challenges in working at C-BER/INESC TEC? 

C-BER is a relatively new centre at INESC TEC. From the beginning, I had to figure out “who were those dudes from Biomedical Engineering” and what they really do (besides winning the football tournament :D). I believe we proved very soon (during the second half of 2015-2016, only 6 months or 1 year after the centre formal training) our spirit and work capacity on Neural Engineering developments (epilepsy). The scientific results not only had a national impact but also an international one and brought us recognition to our team and to the Institution for something important to us (Health/Healthcare). That was in fact the gateway and the springboard for our group to achieve scientific excellence ever since.

Getting closer to society is an ongoing challenge, which is becoming increasingly relevant and crucial to C-BER’s future. There is a need to work together not just with other centres but also with multiple external partners (national and international). The cross-linking, capacity to adapt and to work, and multidisciplinarity for which we are known, make us an extremely relevant partner that should be considered in multiple areas.

3. What impressions did this bioengineer make on Biomedical Engineering Research (C-BER)? 

I believe my presence in INESC TEC was definitely characterised by professionalism, responsibility, commitment and dedication. My education (Dual Master in Business Economics and Biomedical Engineering) combined with my personality allowed me to grow as an innovation key player with the ability to gather many stakeholders with the same purpose: innovate with a technologic base supported by scientific knowledge. In this regard, I believe my major contribution to C-BER was that managing scientific projects by only considering technical problems is not enough; it is crucial and absolutely critical to be capable of managing people, gathering and stimulating the creative process because this is the condition to bringing disruptive innovation. 

4. BRAIN group made your nomination. What was your contribution in this work? 

BRAIN is a transversal group to C-BER. I joined BRAIN to complete my Master thesis and I began my career there due to my work merit. At first, I only focused 100% on research and development, programming, processing and data analysis. As the group become bigger with regard to human resources, I could counterbalance my role as researcher and project manager. In this way not only could I be near to final users but also to the development team, ensuring that the communication channels and the developments were highly efficient and effective. 

5. What are the plans for the future and in what way did INESC TEC help implementing them? 

The short and medium-term future lies in the management of projects under Horizon2020 and future funding programmes from European Commission (Carlos Moedas, Portuguese Commissioner, has been conducting the work). At the same time, I will support several SMEs that intend to internationalise and develop their business model and/or enhance their technological profile. INESC TEC was essential to this transition because I could develop the necessary skills to perform these tasks and recently I was devoted to projects preparation in the framework of H2020. 

6. We will end this interview by asking you to comment on your nomination by C-BER Coordination:

"CBER wishes to nominate Hugo Choupinha for Limelight with the following reference: “Hugo, founder member of BRAIN@INESC TEC (I&D group pioneer from C-BER), has become a mature researcher during his over four-year involvement in the group. With a considerable degree of professionalism, Hugo promotes team spirit and mutual help, which are key points of BRAIN. At this moment, Hugo is confronting a new challenge and for that reason C-BER had to nominate him for INESC TEC’s Limelight."

I was surprised with this nomination because of its timing. However, it is with satisfaction and high esteem that I recognize the gesture from Professor João Paulo Cunha and Professor Aurélio Campilho.

I must take this opportunity to express my gratitude and satisfaction for working at BRAIN since it was founded in 2013. I am so grateful to all members from INESC TEC that had worked directly or indirectly with me during this period, including my dearest secretaries (Ana Paula Silva and Rute Ferreira), for all the moments that we shared.

I would also like to publicly thank many people at INESC TEC and all BRAIN members for their tireless support during my long-term illness. To all, thank you very much. 

LIMELIGHT - January

• Hugo Choupina, C-BER

"CBER wishes to nominate Hugo Choupinha for Limelight with the following reference: “Hugo, founder member of BRAIN@INESC TEC (I&D group pioneer from C-BER), has become a mature researcher during his over four-year involvement in the group. With a considerable degree of professionalism, Hugo promotes team spirit and mutual help, which are key points of BRAIN. At this moment, Hugo is confronting a new challenge and for that reason C-BER had to nominate him for INESC TEC’s Limelight." (C-BER Coordination)

• Carla Gonçalves, CPES

"CPES Coordination nominates Carla Gonçalves for Limelight of January because she stood out for her performance in the collaborative project held between INESC TEC’s CPES and RTE (French transmission system operator). Carla showed an extraordinary professional dedication and a considerable effort with requirements far above those specified in the agreement, which are vital for the completion of a task. She also showed a rapid development and a high level of autonomy at work." (CPES Coordination)