The PIEP Academy, a business training center created by PIEP – the Centre for Innovation in Polymer Engineering – will begin an annual cycle of in-person and online workshops in March to promote innovation in the plastics industry.

The workshops, held within the framework of transformative projects developed by PIEP (such as the Polarise, Inov4Society, and Produtech DIH projects), will focus on the latest solutions in integrating electronics into plastic components and on the integration between extrusion processing and advanced polymer characterization techniques.

On March 6th, the workshop “Printed Electronics – Functional Plastic Parts” will take place, where participants will learn the entire process of developing In-Mould Electronics (IME) systems, from electronic circuit design to final integration by injection molding, including practical demonstrations in an industrial environment. The workshop will feature specialists from PIEP, the University of Minho, and Ruy de Lacerda SA.

In addition to practical demonstrations, the program includes an introduction to IME and industrial applications, electronic circuit development, screen printing, thermoforming of functional films, and injection moulding integration.

On March 18th, PIEP will host the workshop “Extrusion Meets Analytics – Knowledge Along the Process Chain,” bringing together experts in the field to explore the integration between extrusion processing and advanced polymer characterization techniques.

The event, held in English, will feature the participation of experts from PIEP, the SPR – Portuguese Society of Rheology, and Anton Paar, promoting technical and scientific collaboration between national and international academic, institutional, and industrial entities. It will demonstrate how analytical tools—such as rheology, FTIR, Raman, thermal analysis (DSC), viscosity measurement, and mechanical testing—can support process control, formulation optimization, and decision-making in a production environment.

The program is structured in two distinct parts: morning (with in-depth technical sessions led by Anton Paar experts) and afternoon (with practical demonstrations, including rheology, DSC, mechanical testing, and extrusion demonstrations). In-person participants will also be able to bring their own samples for measurement and technical discussion with the experts. Participation can be in person or remotely (morning session), and the practical component is exclusively for in-person participants.

The workshops are free to attend and register for. Throughout 2026, more workshops will be held as part of innovation in polymer and composite materials engineering.

In addition to the workshops, the portal Academia PIEP offers, throughout the year, advanced training at the postgraduate and specialization levels, customized and modular plans for companies, training certified by the Directorate-General for Employment and Labor Relations, exchanges with scientific centers and international universities, learning factories, webinars, open days, forums, and actions with secondary and university education.