The University of Minho will reinforce its innovation and industrial impact strategy by creating the UMinho Innovation Alliance, bringing together 11 institutions from its innovation ecosystem, including PIEP – Centre for Innovation in Polymer Engineering.
The memorandum of understanding for the creation of this network will be signed on January 29th, at 10 am, in the B-Lounge space of the General Library (building 13), on the Azurém campus, in Guimarães. The ceremony will be attended by those responsible for the partner entities, CCDR-Norte and the National Innovation Agency, as well as the rector of UMinho, Rui Vieira de Castro, and the vice-rector for Research and Innovation, Eugénio Campos Ferreira. , among other academic, business, and political figures. The UMinho innovation portal will also be launched during the session.
This collaborative network, promoted by the University of Minho, includes seven technology and innovation centers – Centre for Computer Graphics (CCG), Centre for Innovation in Polymer Engineering (PIEP), Technological Center for the Textile and Clothing Industries of Portugal (CITEVE), Center for Nanotechnology and Technical, Functional and Intelligent Materials (CeNTI), Center for Waste Valorisation (CVR), Institute for Innovation in Fibrous and Composite Materials (Fibrenamics) and Center for Industrial Technological Interface (CITIN); for a CoLab – the Collaborative Laboratory in Digital Transformation (DTx); and by two interface institutions – University-Business Association for Development (TecMinho) and the Agri-food Competence Center for the Meat Sector (TECMEAT).
The objective of the 11 partners is to complement resources, skills, capabilities, contact networks, and influence in developing new products, processes, and integrated systems, going through the concept, development, prototyping, and validation phases until their transfer and industrial implementation. In practice, the aim is to discuss and build common R&D and innovation agendas aimed at the creation, dissemination, and valorisation of scientific-technological knowledge, including the sharing of infrastructures and internationalisation processes, the promotion of sessions on critical technological topics and the creation of a dynamic of opportunities and challenges to carry out new common projects from the North region.
The University of Minho is widely recognized as an exemplary case of promoting regional competitiveness through research and innovation. This recognition was highlighted in the European University Association (USA) study “The Role of Universities in Regional Innovation Ecosystems” (2019), which highlighted the institution as a model in the integration of science and innovation to drive regional development.
Furthermore, the study “Networks and Dynamics of Knowledge Transfer in Portugal” (National Innovation Agency, 2020) identified UMinho as a leader in centrality measures in a network analysis, which reflects its strategic role in the national innovation system. This leadership is based on the high number of connections with interface institutions and technology centers, reinforcing control and coordination capacity over knowledge and innovation flows in the country.
This set of distinctions highlights the national leadership of the University of Minho in the valorisation of knowledge, translated both by the relevance of its scientific production and by its outstanding performance in the submission and granting of patents. These achievements consolidate the University’s role as an essential driver of development and innovation, contributing decisively to strengthening the regional and national innovation ecosystem.
Source and more Info: inovacao.uminho.pt, www.uminho.pt/PT/investigacao
