The Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores – Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias (INESC MN), a research unit affiliated with Técnico, has secured base funding of 2.58 million euros as a Centre for Technology and Innovation (CTI) certified by the National Innovation Agency (ANI).
This support is part of the Interface Mission, launched under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), whose main objective is to deepen the effort to expand and consolidate the network of interface institutions between the academic, scientific and technological system and the Portuguese business fabric. The funding will be awarded for three years, until 2026. INESC MN will invest “in technical and human capacity building in the area of microelectronics”, as well as in the “qualification of human resources in innovative areas of interest to national and international companies”.
“The award of the CTI label reinforces INESC MN’s recognition as an innovation intermediary between academia and industry”, says Susana Freitas, a researcher at INESC MN and a professor at Técnico. The award of the CTI label will make it possible to “approach the national industry in a more targeted way, since until now we have found it much easier to collaborate with international companies in the area of sensors and microelectronics”, she adds.
The funding will also enable “the strategic execution of INESC MN”, with a “gradual expansion of activities in micro and nanofabrication, including infrastructure, hiring and training of human resources and new areas of research and activity”. Susana Freitas also points out “the acquisition of new equipment for the manufacture of micro and nanostructures (on 200mm silicon wafers) will make it possible to qualify new processes, consolidate services and strengthen the training of human resources specialised in microelectronics”.
To maintain this certification, INESC MN will submit progress reports every six months, to be assessed by the National Innovation Agency. These reports will monitor the technical and financial implementation of the strategy adopted by the research unit, as well as the results obtained and possible deviations.
According to Susana Freitas, INESC MN’s core research areas are: “spintronics and magnetic sensors; microelectromechanical devices (MEMS); advanced interface circuits for sensor systems combined with microfluidic systems, involving new lines of research in the areas of organic and flexible electronics, nanophotonics and advanced semiconductor materials”. Concerning the fields of health and biotechnology, “the growing number of spin-offs and innovative companies” in these areas “is an incentive for INESC MN to aspire to be the preferred partner of these national companies and to contribute to their competitiveness at international level”, adds the researcher.
