«Jerónimo Martins, owner of Pingo Doce and a specialist in food distribution, retail and agri-food production in Portugal, is challenging Técnico students to look at issues identified by its innovation teams and present proposals for solutions that get them thinking.

Through the TecInnov Jerónimo Martins Competition and with the help of Jerónimo Martins, the participants can get the resources and support they need to test and build a solid proof of concept for their ideas, taking it beyond the conceptual stage.

Jerónimo Martins challenges the participants to submit a proposed solution to a problem in one of the thematic areas and to win up to €2,500 to test their ideas.

The applicants can choose one of the following thematic areas:

• Improve logistical efficiency, respecting HACCP for each of the flows and taking into account the time windows for receiving orders, delivery from suppliers and deliveries to customers.
• Developing a system/equipment that can produce energy from offshore renewable sources to supply the power pontoon and the various pieces of equipment used in operations.
• Create a piece of equipment that is capable of picking up box after box from a pallet that comes with the boxes closed, opening them and putting them back on another pallet in order to make this activity more efficient and less stressful.
• TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) comparison between the current fleet and a potential electrified one. The limited access to the centre of large cities for non-polluting vehicles, the need for more sustainable modes of food distribution, the consequent reduction in inherent costs, the reduction and emission of polluting gases (decarbonisation of the fleet), a more structured operation and the measurement of all these factors.
• Study of the use of the additive Carrageenan (E 407) and/or processed Eucheuma algae (E 407a) and their possible replacement by other alternatives.

Application form.

By taking part in this initiative, students can also request accreditation for the activity in accordance with the rules for extra-curricular activities at Técnico.

More information about the TecInnov Jerónimo Martins Competition 2023.

Questions or doubts: tt@tecnico.ulisboa.pt»