01 August 2025

NOVA Startup Competition 2025: GeoCura shines again and will represent the university at STAGE Two

The Rectorate of NOVA University Lisbon once again celebrated creativity and entrepreneurship this Wednesday, July 30, by hosting the final of the NOVA Startup Competition 2025 — an initiative that brought together nine finalist startups in a dynamic and competitive atmosphere. In total, 20 applications were submitted, demonstrating the growing dynamism of NOVA’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The overall winner was GeoCura, comprised of Huseyin Cetinkaya, Mavis Olorunyomi, Fabiola Dodaj, and Shah Saud. The team had already won an award this year at ImpACT! Challenges and once again stood out for its innovative proposal and the potential impact of its project. The competition’s jury was comprised of three leading experts in the innovation and investment sector: Inês de Macedo Santos (Armilar Venture Partners), Pedro Telhado (Olisipo Way), and Sofia Jacob Soares (Lisboa Innovation). They evaluated the projects based on criteria such as feasibility, degree of innovation, and growth potential. With this distinction, GeoCura secured access to the STAGE Two program, with travel and accommodation expenses covered. This represents a unique opportunity for international recognition and investment from venture capital funds.

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18 July 2025

Innovation with Purpose: The Winners of the NOVA impACT! Challenges 2025

On July 14th, the NOVA Rectorate hosted the Demo Day of the NOVA impACT! Challenges 2025 — an initiative promoted by the NOVA Impact Office to support innovative solutions with social and environmental impact, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Over three weeks, 33 students, organized into 10 multidisciplinary teams, took part in workshops, mentoring sessions, and prototype development. On Demo Day, they presented their solutions to a jury composed by Hélder Lopes (NOVA), Manuel Gaspar (Casa do Impacto), and Inês Petrucci (3xP Global).

The GeoCura team (NOVA FCT) won 1st place with a self-healing concrete capable of significantly reducing CO₂ emissions in the construction sector. The team was awarded €2,000 to continue developing their solution.

An honorable mention was given to EcoSeal (NOVA FCT + Nova SBE), which presented a DIY energy-saving kit that helps families identify and fix energy inefficiencies at home.

The remaining finalist teams presented proposals with a strong focus on innovation and sustainability:

Agora – Aims to make menstrual products freely available in workplaces and public spaces, tackling period poverty and promoting inclusion.
Save&track – Introduces smart sterilization and radio-frequency tracking technologies in hospitals, reducing waste and improving safety.
Idea Studio Africa – Creates opportunities for young African professionals to build independent careers through access to tools, mentorship, and networking.
Project Unfolded – A digital platform for CEMS students to monitor their personal development, including self-assessments and skills dashboards.
AvicenAI – A multilingual virtual assistant that manages calls and messages in clinics, books appointments, and gathers clinical information, reducing waiting times.
ATBeHELP – A digital platform that integrates real-time microbiological data with clinical decision-support algorithms to promote the rational use of antibiotics.
Lume – An intellectual property protection platform for SMEs, offering automatic alerts, infringement detection, and easy access to legal support.
Monky – A mobile app for young people focused on financial well-being, offering emotional support and personalized saving recommendations.

All projects received an initial €500 grant to support prototype development.

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PAST EVENTS: 30 July 2025

NOVA Startup Competition 2025

NEXT EVENT: July 30th 2025 at NOVA Rectorate

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The final of the NOVA Startup Competition 2025 has been scheduled, and it is time to select the university start-up that will represent NOVA at the grand European final of Stage Two on 30 October in Berlin.

The best university start-ups in Europe will come together for this event, where they will have the opportunity to present their innovative solutions to leading investors, receive specialised mentoring and join a high-potential European network.

Applications for the national competition are open until 24 July.

Further information and application details can be found here.

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This initiative is open to teams that include at least one member affiliated with NOVA University—such as a student, alumnus, professor, or researcher. The technology or scientific innovation underlying the project must have been developed, at least in part, at NOVA.

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Deadline for Registration and Business plan/Pitch deck submission: July 24th, 2025;

Communication of selected Ideas: July 28th, 2025;

Final Pitch – at the Rectorate NOVA University Lisbon: July 30st, 2025 | 2.30 – 5 pm.

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10 July 2025

NOVA Showcased at Ciência 2025: ‘Without scientific research, there would be no transformative progress — the driving force behind so many economic and social changes.’

‘Hosting this national meeting of Portuguese science at our institution is both a source of pride and a responsibility. Science, innovation and education are the foundations on which we build excellent universities and more just and sustainable societies that are better prepared for the challenges of the future,” said Isabel Rocha, NOVA’s Vice-Rector for Research and Value Creation, as she welcomed the Science 2025 event. Held at the Nova School of Business and Economics in Carcavelos, the event was dedicated to the theme of “Science, Innovation and Society”. ‘This theme invites deep reflection on the structuring role of science in the development of contemporary societies. Without science, there is no disruptive innovation, which is responsible for so many economic and societal transformations,’ she concluded, noting that ‘scientists have a duty to bring science to society and assist in the processes of informed choice and decision-making, including in politics.’ Organised by the Foundation for Science and Technology and Ciência Viva in collaboration with NOVA, the meeting brought together over 200 speakers and featured dozens of scientific sessions. It also saw a prominent presence from the European Commission, thus underscoring the central role Portugal continues to play in building the European Research Area. The event began with a welcome address from Cascais City Councillor Alexandre Faria. Soon after, Vera Aldeias, a University of Algarve researcher and meeting curator, joined Nova SBE professor Pedro Pita Barros. ‘Portugal has been an example of innovation, resilience, and science,’ she said, adding that there is a need for ‘the courage to discuss the challenges we face in our country’. Rosalia Vargas, president of the Ciência Viva Centres network, which has just launched another ‘Ciência Viva no Verão’ (Living Science in the Summer), emphasised the importance of the scientific community: ‘Without science, there is no future, so we must nurture these ideas.’ Madalena Alves, head of the Foundation for Science and Technology, then took to the stage to emphasise her unquestionable support for all research, whether it has immediate or future applications. The opening session was closed by Helena Canhão, former director of NOVA Medical School and current Secretary of State for Science and Innovation. After announcing the review of legislation in this area, she emphasised: ‘It is of the utmost importance that, as a state, we contribute to a Europe that remains solid and supportive as a beacon of democracy and freedom in times of uncertainty.’ The proceedings began with an inspiring address by Nuno Prego Ramos, founder and CEO of Valvian — the new name for CellmAbs, a NOVA spin-off that brokered the agreement with BioNTech to license NOVA technology for cancer treatment. Under the title ‘Portuguese Scientific Innovation in the International Sphere: From Research to Application’, the first guest speaker emphasised the importance of ambition in science and revealed how laboratory knowledge is converted into high-value solutions, as exemplified by what is considered the most successful Portuguese spin-off in the field of biotechnology and life sciences, which has achieved worldwide recognition. Disruptive Innovation and Transdisciplinary Dialogues Isabel Rocha also featured in two parallel sessions on the other days of the event. The first, “Deeptech – from Science to Deeptech Startups”, addressed the role of science-based emerging companies in creating radical innovation, with contributions from António Teixeira (PICadvanced) and Alexandra Santos (Alea Capital Partners). The second, “Transdisciplinary Dialogues in Times of Uncertainty”, featured Verónica Policarpo (ICS – University of Lisbon) and Carlos Santos Silva (LARSyS and IST – University of Lisbon), and reflected on the importance of collaboration across fields of knowledge in complex and uncertain contexts. Throughout the three-day event, NOVA’s stand showcased a diverse selection of research projects developed across its academic units, demonstrating the breadth and impact of the university’s scientific work: Intelligent Olfaction – NOVA FCT (Ana Cecília Roque, Carina Esteves, Susana Palma) NOVA Cidade – NOVA IMS (Miguel de Castro Neto, Duarte Rodrigues) Cultural Heritage 360º – NOVA FCT (Sara Sá, Kiara Ventura) Medieval – NOVA FCSH (Carlos Filipe Alves) Haddad – Nova SBE (Euclides Major) COPE – ITQB NOVA (Carlos J. S. Moreira, Catarina Araújo) ColorAmp – ITQB NOVA (Catarina Amaral, Catarina Pimentel) NOVA Skin – NOVA Medical School (Duarte Barral, Inês Fonseca) BLOODless – IHMT NOVA (Henrique Silveira, Joana Marques) Social Prescribing Portugal – ENSP NOVA (Alan Assunção, Margarida Pereira) Mosquito WEB – IHMT NOVA (Carla A. Sousa, Filipe Lopes, Teresa Novo)

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23 June 2025

NOVA Spin-off ®, Cleocare, distinguished in international innovation competition in Macau

Cleocare, formerly Glooma, a NOVA Spin-off ®, was awarded the Greatest Potential for Transfer of Technological Value prize in the 2025 edition of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (Macao) for Technology Enterprises from Brazil and Portugal. Cleocare was selected to participate in this competition by NOVA itself, recognizing the start-up’s potential impact in the healthcare sector. Organized by the Economic and Technological Development Bureau of the Macau Special Administrative Region Government, the competition brought together 17 finalists from Brazil and Portugal. The event, which aims to promote technological cooperation between Macau, China and Portuguese-speaking countries, awarded prizes to companies in areas such as artificial intelligence, biomedicine, medical devices and IoT. The prize awarded to Cleocare recognizes its high potential for transferring technological value to the Greater Bay Area – Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao. In addition to the prize money of 50.000 MOP (around 5.300 EUR), Cleocare will have access to networking and collaboration opportunities with investors, incubators and academic institutions in China, namely in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Jiangsu. “This distinction represents an important international recognition of the work we have been doing. It is a clear sign that our technology has the potential to make a real impact in the healthcare sector, not only in Portugal but also in international markets. We would like to thank NOVA for their vote of confidence and for all their support throughout this journey”, said Francisco Nogueira and Frederico Stock, co-founders of Cleocare. This success highlights NOVA’s role in supporting entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as internationalization in the scientific and technological field. Check here more information about the competition and here for more information about Cleocare

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06 June 2025

Discover the winning teams at NOVA Starters Academy 2025

During the last semester, 37 students from seven academic units at NOVA University Lisbon worked together in ten multidisciplinary teams to develop entrepreneurial projects. Last Wednesday, the 4 th, they publicly presented their ideas to a jury comprising Ricardo Feferbaum (AngelsWay), Sofia Rolo (UNF), Cíntia Costa (+351) and Isabel Rocha, NOVA’s Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation. The YOLK team, made up by Tancredi di Grande (Nova SBE), Ma Chue and Murshid Kazi (NOVA IMS) and Rita Martins de Sousa (NOVA School of Law), won the top prize and secured direct access to the Future Innovator Programme at Unicorn Factory Lisbon Honourable Mentions were also awarded to the following projects:

Match Play: Laura Borges Veiga (NOVA IMS), Gonçalo Simões (Nova SBE), Rafaela Neto de Jesus (NOVA FCT) and Farhan Arshad (NOVA IMS).

Dear Journal: Jelle Koopman (Nova SBE), António Oliveira, Vitória Kushniruk (NOVA IMS) and Maria Luísa Beja (Nova SBE).

Recognised for its practical approach to stimulating entrepreneurial spirit among participants, supported by experts and coaches in the field, NOVA Starters Academy is NOVA University Lisbon’s longest-running entrepreneurship programme, having provided hundreds of students with the essential tools to create a start-up.

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22 May 2025

NOVA ImpACT! Challenges 2025: A competition that supports ideas that could change the world.

NOVA University Lisbon is once again calling on creative and entrepreneurial minds with the latest edition of the NOVA impACT! Challenges, a competition designed to boost innovative projects with social and environmental impact. The initiative will run from 23 June to 14 July 2025, and applications are open until 11:59 PM on 4 June. Organised by the NOVA Impact Office, the programme supports teams developing solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Over the course of three intensive weeks, participants will benefit from expert-led workshops, dedicated mentoring, and an initial €500 seed fund to support prototype development. The programme culminates in a live pitch event at the NOVA Rectorate, where a panel of academic and industry leaders will evaluate the projects. The winning team will receive an additional prize to help accelerate their solution’s implementation. Apply here.

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12 May 2025

EUTOPIA MORE Hackathon Highlights Innovation at NOVA

From May 5 to 9, NOVA University Lisbon hosted the EUTOPIA MORE Innovation Challenges for Researchers, an international initiative that brought together 17 researchers from seven universities of the EUTOPIA alliance for an intensive week of collaborative work dedicated to the theme of the Ocean. Part of the EUTOPIA MORE project, the event challenged participants to design innovative solutions for real-world problems presented by industry partners: Oceano Fresco, BlueOASIS, and Ocean Community. Working in multidisciplinary teams, the researchers combined knowledge from diverse scientific fields and institutions in an environment that fostered experimentation and co-creation. The programme featured hands-on sessions, expert talks on the latest trends in the blue economy, and visits to key innovation ecosystems, including the NOVA Innovation & Analytics Lab (NOVA IMS), the Haddad Entrepreneurship Institute (NOVA SBE), and Fórum Oceano. The week concluded with a public presentation of the solutions developed, showcasing creative, tech-driven proposals with strong practical potential to address emerging challenges in ocean-related sectors — a strategic area for both NOVA’s scientific community and the city.

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30 April 2025

NOVA opens registrations for “Academia de Empreendedorismo” – a free online course, accessible to all

NOVA University Lisbon announces that registration is now open for the fourth edition of "Academia de Empreendedorismo" (Entrepreneurship Academy in english) , a free online course accessible to all via the NAU e-learning platform. With a flexible format and content in Portuguese with English subtitles, the course is aimed not only at university students but also at anyone interested in developing essential skills in management, innovation, and business creation. Participants can register at any time until September 2025. As a short course divided into six modules, it allows learners to progress at their own pace, exploring key topics such as writing a business plan and an effective pitch, approaching customers and partners, market analysis and identifying funding opportunities, protecting intellectual property, team profiles and project structuring, as well as the legal foundations of setting up a business. The course includes 18 sessions, each lasting between five and ten minutes, delivered by professors from various NOVA schools. This initiative is co-funded by the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) and reinforces NOVA’s commitment to sharing knowledge and promoting entrepreneurship in Portugal and across Portuguese-speaking countries. Since its first edition in 2022, the Entrepreneurship Academy has attracted more than 11,000 registrants from around 35 countries, reflecting a global interest in acquiring entrepreneurial skills. More information

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26 March 2025

NOVA University Lisbon in the spotlight in European patent registration in 2024

NOVA University Lisbon has secured the 4th place ex aequo among Portuguese applicants for European patents, according to the latest EPO Patent Index 2024, released this Tuesday, 25 March 2025, by the European Patent Office (EPO). The release of the data highlights the strength of the research and innovation promoted at the institution which, through a strategy geared towards excellence and the valorisation of knowledge, has been consolidating its presence on the national and international intellectual property and technology transfer scene. This report, which covers the main Portuguese applicants, places NOVA among the institutions that contribute most to the creation and protection of knowledge, strengthening Portuguese competitiveness in the European context. This recognition also serves as an incentive for continued investment in research projects, technology licensing processes and partnerships with industry, in a clear commitment by the University to valorising its intellectual assets over the last few years. Among the five inventions patented by NOVA that appear in this study are developments in strategic areas such as biotechnology, health and engineering. Some of the technologies submitted include an innovative method for producing CO2-based biodegradable polymers (PHA) as an alternative to conventional plastics, or a cellulose-based antibacterial hydrogel for treating bacterial infections. Innovations in multilayer optical sensors for pesticide detection and advanced wireless communications systems were also registered. These inventions also reflect NOVA’s capacity for innovation in various areas of knowledge. The publication of the data by the EPO not only places NOVA University Lisbon in the spotlight but also highlights the role of academic institutions in boosting innovative activity in Portugal. Since 2020, the number of patent applications from Portuguese entities at the EPO has grown by 38,2% and NOVA is proud to contribute to this evolution. In an increasingly competitive scenario, the joint effort between academia, industry and government organisations is essential for creating synergies that boost sustainable development and international competitiveness. More information on the data and methodology used by the EPO can be found directly at https://www.epo.org/en/about-us/statistics/patent-index-2024. To find out more about our proprietary technologies, see https://novainnovation.unl.pt/category/available-technologies/.

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PAST EVENTS: 05 May 2025

EUTOPIA Innovation Challenges for Researchers

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NEXT EVENT: May 5-9th 2025

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The initiative aims to promote multidisciplinary collaboration and develop innovative solutions with real impact on the public and private sectors. Throughout the programme, participants will work in diverse teams, bringing together researchers from different fields and institutions, and collaborating directly with external stakeholders.

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The event is open to researchers from all NOVA schools — from PhD students to senior researchers — who are interested in joining an international collaborative project and contributing to social change and ocean innovation.

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5-9th May 2025

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24 March 2025

NOVA hosts EUTOPIA MORE Innovation Challenges for Researchers

From 5 to 9 May 2025, NOVA University Lisbon will host the EUTOPIA MORE Innovation Challenges for Researchers. Over five days, researchers from EUTOPIA partner universities will gather in the Campolide Campus to tackle real-world challenges related to the ocean — an area of strategic importance both to NOVA’s scientific community and to the city itself. The initiative aims to promote multidisciplinary collaboration and develop innovative solutions with real impact on the public and private sectors. Throughout the programme, participants will work in diverse teams, bringing together researchers from different fields and institutions, and collaborating directly with external stakeholders. The event is open to researchers from all NOVA schools — from PhD students to senior researchers — who are interested in joining an international collaborative project and contributing to social change and ocean innovation. Applications are open until 31 March 2025, and the selection process may include interviews. Interested candidates can apply via the application form available here. Further information is available on the EUTOPIA website or by contacting novaimpact@unl.pt.

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14 March 2025

EUTOPIA MORE “Innovation Challenges for Students”: find out how to register here

Applications are now open for the 3rd edition of the Innovation Challenges for Students until 31 March 2025. The event, which will bring together more than 80 students from the partner universities of the EUTOPIA alliance, will take place between 13 and 15 May 2025 at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain. This initiative proposes a multidisciplinary entrepreneurship challenge under the theme “Unmasking the Truth: Tackling Fake News Together” and aims to encourage participants to develop innovative solutions to combat disinformation. Over three days, students will have the opportunity to work in teams, participate in workshops and collaborate with companies and communities to solve local challenges. NOVA University Lisbon has eight places available for its students, with travel, accommodation and meals provided. Apply here Check all details in the EUTOPIA website. For more information, please contact novaimpact@unl.pt and mention InnovationChallengesBarcelona.

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03 January 2025

NOVA’s Starters Academy 2025: applications now open

The Starters Academy, NOVA University Lisbon’s oldest entrepreneurship programme, is back for its 2025 edition. Applications are now open, and the course will run from February to May during the second semester of the academic year. With a 16-year legacy, this programme has already empowered hundreds of NOVA students by equipping them with essential tools to create a start-up. The Starters Academy is renowned for fostering entrepreneurial spirit through a hands-on approach, supported by a panel of experts and recognised trainers in the field. This multidisciplinary course is open to students from all NOVA Academic Units who successfully pass the selection process. The skills gained in this course are invaluable not only for aspiring start-up founders but also for developing entrepreneurship skills that provide a competitive edge in recruitment processes for both start-ups and established companies. Apply here! More information here.

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05 December 2024

NOVA Science & Innovation Day 2024: Celebrating the Talent and Impact of University Research and Innovation

At the entrance of the Rectorate, the Formula Student – a project we explored in detail this summer – greeted visitors as they arrived. In the atrium, the innovation fair showcased the most promising spin-offs, CoLABs and projects from across the NOVA innovation ecosystem. Meanwhile, in the auditorium, the best of the University’s research and innovation efforts took centre stage on Tuesday, December 3rd. The event opened with Rector João Sàágua presenting a highly positive overview of the University’s achievements. “Our scientific output has consistently grown over the past seven years,” he began, highlighting “21 ERC grants awarded since 2018, including two Synergy grants, contributing to a cumulative total of €47 million in ERC funding for NOVA researchers. Over this period, R&D revenues have also doubled.” He further noted a near 30% increase in active patents, 70% of which are protected internationally, and the university’s involvement in 20 projects funded under Component 5 – Business Capitalisation and Innovation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).

“All this contributes,” he emphasised, “to the establishment of a vibrant scientific community, enriched by important initiatives in entrepreneurship and support for doctoral students, such as the NOVA Doctoral School, already considered one of the best initiatives within the university.” The Rector also detailed the creation of a strategic research council and a value-creation council, with representation from all academic units, fostering a shared agenda centred on sustainability in its many dimensions. In short: “What we see is the burgeoning of a genuine intellectual culture at NOVA, connecting academia with industry and public institutions to ensure that the knowledge we generate has a tangible impact on society.” Vice-Rector Isabel Rocha further underscored the growing ecosystem of talent, interdisciplinarity, and impact at NOVA. “The resources we’ve secured reflect the excellence of our research and the talent of our researchers,” she noted. Another major focus has been on open-access science: “NOVA boasts some of the best indicators in this area, as recognised by the Leiden Ranking,” she added.

The day continued with applause for the Research Impact Narratives initiative, inviting researchers to demonstrate the societal impact of their projects and findings – whether improving citizens’ quality of life, developing innovative products, addressing environmental challenges, or informing better public policy practices. “This also serves as a way to recognise the importance of communicating the value of research and innovation investments to society,” Rocha stressed. She highlighted NOVA’s “remarkable progress in entrepreneurship,” exemplified by spin-offs like CellmAbs, a record-breaking technology transfer agreement in biotechnology and life sciences with a Portuguese company. NOVA’s entrepreneurial reputation has extended beyond national borders, earning recognition as Europe’s most entrepreneurial university – a testament to the effort made to attract and retain talent. After the institutional speeches, the event delved into specific research highlights from the past year. Arturo Zoffmann Rodriguez from NOVA FCSH kicked off the presentations, discussing his ERC-funded project on the decline of democracies in Europe. Next, Inês Paninho from NOVA FCT demonstrated the current potential of hydrogen as a key energy vector. Mariana Pinho from ITQB NOVA shared updates on her groundbreaking research on antimicrobial resistance, supported by three consecutive ERC grants. Miguel de Castro Neto from NOVA IMS explored research aimed at fostering sustainable urban living, while Susana Peralta from Nova SBE presented findings from her study, Inequality, Individual Behaviour, and Public Policies: Evidence from Fiscal Administrative Data. Silvia Conde from NOVA Medical School and Susana Viegas from ENSP NOVA discussed topics ranging from childhood obesity to the environmental stressors linked to immune-mediated diseases. Tiago Correia from IHMT NOVA concluded this segment with Vax-Action: Tackling Vaccine Hesitancy in Europe, another EU-funded project. We also learned more about the purpose and results of NIRC – NOVA Interdisciplinary Research Community, which aims to find more sustainable energy systems, with the presentation of the Biorcicle projects, led by Ana Luísa Fernando of NOVA FCT and Ricardo Louro of ITQB NOVA, and Encompas, by Ian Scott of NOVA IMS and António Vicente of NOVA FCT. The session included the announcement of Ignition Grants – interdisciplinary research scholarships funded in partnership with Santander Foundation, open for applications until January 15, 2025. The morning concluded with the unveiling of the six winners of the Impact Narratives challenge, selected from 25 submissions across eight academic units. The details of these projects are featured in the 2024 edition of the NOVA Science magazine, also available online here.

In the afternoon, the spotlight turned to citizen science initiatives under the Ciência+Cidadã programme. Seven projects, involving 25 researchers and contributions from around 300 participants, were showcased. Notable examples included Oeiras Experimenta, a living lab partnership between ITQB NOVA and the Municipality of Oeiras; Mosquito Web, a mosquito monitoring project launched in 2017; and PAFSE, which addresses public health challenges through science education. The event also featured presentations of innovative projects, such as DxHub (ITQB NOVA), Jump into Space (Uninova), and a La Caixa Impulse initiative (ITQB and NOVA FCT). Spin-offs like Levacells, Glooma, and The Use Concept also shared their stories. The final session explored the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence, featuring Daniela Melandri from the European Commission’s AI Directorate live from Brussels. “AI is a fantastic support tool,” Melandri emphasised, “provided it is used responsibly and with awareness of its risks and limitations.” A subsequent roundtable, moderated by Steffen Hoernig (Nova SBE), echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of ethical and critical approaches to AI in science and innovation.

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24 September 2024

NOVA hosted ACEEU Forum and 2024 Triple E Awards

The event was a celebration of global excellence in entrepreneurship and societal engagement NOVA University Lisbon together with the Leadership for Impact Knowledge centre from Nova SBE hosted the 2024 ACEEU (Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities) Europe-Africa Forum, bringing together experts and pioneers to push the boundaries of entrepreneurship and engagement in Higher Education. The theme for this year’s event, “Engaged Research and Intrapreneurship for Societal Impact: Creating Legacy Through Action,” highlighted the crucial role of engaged research and the creation of systems within universities that empower both academics and non-academics to act as entrepreneurs.

From September 18 to 20^th, the Rectorate welcomed educational innovators and leaders from across Europe and Africa for this dynamic event. The Forum also integrated the renowned 2024 Triple E Awards, the first global awards dedicated to recognizing higher education institutions for their commitment to entrepreneurship and societal engagement. NOVA University Lisbon, having previously been honoured twice, continues to demonstrate its leadership in fostering innovation and community impact. This year’s ACEEU Forum offered a rich programme of workshops, discussions, and networking sessions, all designed to promote universities as engines of entrepreneurship and community engagement. NOVA University Lisbon’s ongoing recognition at the Triple E Awards showcases its dedication to shaping vibrant ecosystems and driving positive societal change.

For more information on the event and a detailed programme, visit the official ACEEU Forum and Triple E Awards websites.

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01 August 2024

GLOOMA is the big winner of NOVA Startup Competition 2024!

GLOOMA, a spin-off from NOVA University Lisbon, was the grand winner of this year's Startup Competition and will represent the university in Berlin at Stage Two. On July 31st, nine teams competed for a spot in the European competition Stage Two. The pitch session was highly competitive and featured high-quality interventions, with the jury composed of Pedro Castel-Branco from Armilar Venture Partners, and Hélder Lopes and Carla Portela from the Innovation and Value Creation Office of NOVA University Lisbon. GLOOMA’s co-founders, Francisco Neto Nogueira and Frederico Stock, will continue working hard to impress investors in October, when they will represent Portugal and NOVA University Lisbon on the international stage in Berlin. Stay tuned!

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11 July 2024

NOVA impACT! Challenges 2024: meet the winning teams!

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The 2024 edition of NOVA ImpAct! Challenges, the program created by the NOVA Impact office and Santander Universities, held its Demo Day this Wednesday, showcasing the best projects aimed at solving social and environmental problems. The winning teams each received a cash prize of €2,000 to further develop their projects.

Here are the winning teams:

Circular Foods from NOVA SBE: Circular Foods aims to reintegrate industrial food waste into a new portfolio of healthy and accessible food and beverage products. These products are designed for customers who struggle to find natural alternatives in the market, with a positive impact on both the planet and the community. The project stands out by prioritizing physical and mental health through natural, upcycled ingredients and offering competitive prices thanks to its circular business model. Team members: António Vidinha, Carolina Piloto, José Sarmento, Carlota Moura, and Carlos Morais.

[caption id="attachment_9682" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Circular Foods[/caption]

EnsinAI from NOVA IMS: EnsinAI empowers students with an AI-powered tutor and gamified platform that provides affordable and engaging education, addressing the shortage of teachers and the high cost of private tutoring. In one line: Quality, engaging, and fun education that is affordable. Team members: Lourenço Martins and Miguel Neto.

[caption id="attachment_9684" align="aligncenter" width="640"] EnsinAI [/caption]

Honourable Mentions:

Sangue.PT from NOVA ENSP: Sangue.PT aims to develop an app for efficient blood management to reduce waste and increase blood donations. It incentivizes blood donors through tailored appeals based on geolocation and current blood type needs. The digital platform also supports education and maintains medical records. Team members: Ana Beatriz, Ana Silva, Elisa Bucho, Francisco Ferreira Pinto, and Gonçalo Lobo.

[caption id="attachment_9686" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Sangue.PT[/caption]

DentAR Kids from NOVA ENSP: DentAR Kids offers a solution to alleviate children's fear of visiting the dentist. It includes an app to familiarize them with procedures before consultations and augmented reality glasses during consultations to make the experience less frightening. This approach improves treatment effectiveness, saves time and materials for clinics, enhances working conditions, and provides children with a better overall experience and oral health. Team members: Amância Trindade, Mafalda Almeida, and Carolina Santos.

[caption id="attachment_9688" align="aligncenter" width="640"] DentAR Kids[/caption]

The jury included Isabel Rocha (Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation, and Value Creation at NOVA), Nuno Comando (Director of Entrepreneurship and Social Investment at Casa do Impacto), Bárbara Leão (Impact Investments Manager at 3XP Global), and Nuno Simões (Head of Santander Universities).

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06 June 2024

WISE: the winning team of the programme has already been anounced!

WISE, the programme promoted by the NOVA Impact office and GALP, in partnership with the Innovation Ecosystem of NOVA SBE, has now come to an end after 12 weeks of intense work by the six participating teams. This program aimed to find innovative solutions that could transform the current energy landscape. Announced this week, the wining project was presented by the team composed of Akil Mambuque (NOVA SBE), Marta Simão (NOVA FCT), Martina Baviera (NOVA SBE), Rodrigo Borba (NOVA FCSH), and Teresa da Cruz (NOVA FCT), with mentorship from Professor Ana Sofia Esteves - they will receive tickets to the European Innovation Academy, with all expenses paid, a job shadowing opportunity at GALP, and a LinkedIn Badge (a NOVA certificate for LinkedIn). Their proposal is the 'Sunny Solar Bank', which introduces the innovative concept of an "energy bank." This application allows users to deposit the extra energy they produce and use an algorithm that predicts energy availability, suggesting the best times to sell it to the grid. The profits obtained can be converted into discounts on energy bills or invested in renewable energy projects. An honorable mention was also awarded to the team that presented the project 'NEWLY - Alternative Energy Storage Systems': it aims to revolutionize energy storage systems through the development of a supercapacitor, a component capable of storing and providing a high power density in a short amount of time, using paper electronics to increase the capacity of current storage systems. It was developed by students Beatriz Faria (NOVA FCT), Guilherme Caldeira (NOVA FCT), and Constança Vieira (NOVA FCSH), with mentorship from Professor António Câmara. The jury was composed of Júlia Seixas, Vice-Rector for Sustainability at NOVA; João Ribeiro, Lead Open Innovation Manager; Mafalda Vasquez, Head of Attract, Select, Employee Experience and Belonging; and Pedro Ferreira, Commercial Innovation Unit Manager, all from GALP. Launched in March, WISE emerged in the context of the protocol established between GALP and NOVA for the creation of the NIRC (English acronym for NOVA Interdisciplinary Research Community), which promotes collaboration within the NOVA community and innovation to address emerging challenges in sustainable energy systems.

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04 June 2024

Here are the winners of Starters Academy 2024!

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The 2024 edition of the Starters Academy, a pioneer in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the student community and provides basic tools for those who want to create a startup, has reached its final challenge.

On the demo day of this year's programme, which was attended by 28 participants divided into 8 teams, the jury first awarded the prize to the project named Micdrop, which aims to detect and block the use of unauthorised voices, making it the winner of the edition. The team made up of Daniel Fortunato from NOVA FCSH, Jorge Morán from NOVA IMS, Paula Duarte from NOVA School of Law and Ricardo Miranda from NOVA FCSH was the winner, presenting a solution to a problem that is very much on the agenda: With the rise of AI, artists are at risk of having their voices used without their consent - and what Micdrop offers is a secure and proactive system to protect and manage that use.

But that's not all: made up of NOVA's Vice Rector Pedro Saraiva, Rodolfo Condessa from Armilar and António Dias Martins from Startup Portugal, the jury also gave honourable mentions to two other equally inspiring projects. The first was the project by the team of Luca Schmidt from Nova SBE, Renato Ramos from NOVA IMS, and Rita Galhardo from NOVA FCT. Called DormDash, their proposal aims to transform the student real estate market, responding to students looking for affordable accommodation and landlords looking for trustworthy tenants by implementing a platform that simplifies the entire process.

The second honourable mention went to the Jetaway project, presented by the team of João Medeiros from NOVA School of Law, Mariana Meneses from NOVA FCSH, and Muhammad Abdullah from NOVA IMS. In this case, it is about reducing the use of private jets without passengers other than the owner, proposing to reduce the monetary and environmental costs of these trips by selling tickets to other passengers.

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14 May 2024

NOVA impACT! Challenges 2024: Applications are open until 5th June!

Launched by the NOVA Impact office in collaboration with Santander Universities, the programme is open to students from any university with an innovative project that solves a social or environmental problem.

It's a great opportunity to get your social/environmental impact project off the ground, including at least one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For three weeks, the 10 selected teams will have access to workshops with experts and mentors and €500 to develop their project and create a prototype. In the end, they will have the opportunity to present it live to a jury and win further prizes, and we can now reveal that the winning team will receive €2,000! The programme starts on 19 June and the final takes place on 10 July. Look at last year's winners, get inspired, and good luck!

All the information about the programme is available here.

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03 May 2024

NOVA has launched the third edition of the ‘Academia de Empreendedorismo’ now available on EdX

NOVA University Lisbon has just launched the third edition of 'Academia de Empreendedorismo', now available on the international e-learning platform EdX. EdX is the e-learning platform where the world's top universities host their online courses, and NOVA is a pioneer in creating a Portuguese-language MOOC for entrepreneurship on this platform. The third edition of this MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) aims to bring knowledge to everyone interested in entrepreneurship and in developing management and innovation skills, regardless of their background or geographic location. The course, completely free and open to anyone, offers comprehensive content on entrepreneurship and includes English subtitles, making it accessible to an even broader audience. For many, this course might be the first step towards a career or a way to enhance entrepreneurial skills. The course is part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), aligned with the vision of boosting entrepreneurship in the country. For more information and to enroll, please visit this link.

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23 April 2024

“Research Impact Narratives Challenge” Receives Honourable Mention at the ADN Awards

The second edition of the ADN Awards Gala took place on Monday, April 22, and recognized the most innovative projects in management and best practices within the institution. Among the winners of this edition, the "Research Impact Narratives Challenge" project, presented by Hélder Lopes, Mariana Duarte, and Rita Rua Ferreira, from NOVA's Research and Innovation Support Office, received an honourable mention for encouraging NOVA researchers to communicate the impact of their scientific projects through a contest of narratives accessible to the public, raising awareness of the multiple benefits of science in society. Learn more here.

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23 April 2024

NOVA leads Innovation Challenges at EUTOPIA MORE Discovery Week in Romania

Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, hosted the Discovery Week, from April 15 to 19, a key event under the EUTOPIA MORE program focused on Innovation Challenges. Coordinated by NOVA University Lisbon, the Innovation Challenges brought together students from ten partner universities to collaborate on real-world problem-solving. Throughout the week, students from across Europe engaged in challenge-based activities with Romanian partners from the public and private sectors. The Discovery Week aimed to promote local engagement and cross-disciplinary collaboration through a series of sessions, group work, and pitch presentations. Students worked together to address practical problems, creating innovative solutions. The week culminated in pitch presentations, where student groups presented their proposed solutions to a panel of experts. The challenge-based format fostered critical thinking and teamwork, emphasizing solutions that could be implemented to make a positive impact in local communities. This initiative in Romania demonstrated NOVA´s commitment to fostering innovation and cross-cultural understanding. The next edition will be held in November in Cergy Université Paris. For more information about Discovery Week and the Innovation Challenges, visit the EUTOPIA University website.

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04 April 2024

‘Resíduos na Linha’ emerges victorious at the Circular InNOVA(tion) Program Demo Day

On March 26th, the Resíduos na Linha team seized the spotlight as the top winner at the Circular InNOVA(tion) Program Demo Day, hosted at the Rectorate of NOVA University Lisbon. The team has been awarded €5,000 to propel their project forward. Resíduos na Linha aims to transform waste management by integrating mass and volume sensors with RFID technology into existing recycling containers. Through the collection of individual recycling data, they aspire to implement a pay-as-you-throw system based on waste production levels. The Circular InNOVA(tion) Program, launched in November by NOVA and Sociedade Ponto Verde (SPV), was designed to attract students with innovative projects to address specific challenges posed by SPV: How to devise a fair payment system linked to waste production? How to establish an on-demand waste management system? How to incentivize society to reduce waste while enhancing waste segregation? During the first phase, four teams were chosen. In the subsequent phase of the program, these teams engaged in workshops covering specialized topics and received personalized mentorship to refine their prototypes. The final presentations underwent evaluation by a panel of judges comprising Luísa Pinheiro, Director of Regulation and Compliance at Sociedade Ponto Verde, Paula Guedes, Researcher at NOVA FCT, and Integrated Member of CENSE, and Hélder Lopes, Director for Research and Innovation at NOVA. The other participating teams received honourable mentions for their projects: Smart Recycling aims to develop an advanced bin collector to separate waste in an automatic manner. During the Circular InNOVA(tion) program, Smart recycling focused their efforts on developing an educational solution where individuals can learn how to recycle more and better using gamification methods. Bin it to Win it is a platform that aims to analyse the recycling level of the different neighbourhoods to promote community engagement while also proving important data to SPV. The data will provide insights on which areas need more intervention in terms of education and incentives to recycle more. Trash 4 Goods presented GPT Cycle an innovative AI chatbot that aims to solve recycling questions and doubts promoting waste recycling and stimulate user involvement. All showcased projects were deemed highly promising and will continue to benefit from ongoing support and guidance from NOVA as they advance in their development.

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PAST EVENTS: 30 April 2024

NOVA Matchmaking Event

NEXT EVENT: April 30th 2024 at NOVA Rectorate

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This is the perfect opportunity to meet students from all other schools from NOVA who share the energy and passion for entrepreneurial projects and hold different backgrounds, skills and knowledge.

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For all NOVA students across all academic units who are seeking a team for their own project or would like to join a youthful and dynamic project.

Find your dream team!

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The next Matchmaking Event will take place at the NOVA University Lisbon Rectorate (Campus de Campolide) on April 30th, from 6:00PM to 7:30PM.

Stay tunned by following us on your favorite social media:

Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

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Check out what happened in previous events!

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26 March 2024

NOVA Hosts FEEF Multiplier Event to Bridge the Gap Between Academia and the Business Sector

On March 21st, NOVA University's Rectorate held a dynamic event showcasing outcomes of the ‘From Educators to Entrepreneurial Facilitators’ (FEEF) project, which aims to bridge academia and the business sector. FEEF, is an ERASMUS+ initiative that equips educators with facilitation techniques to integrate industry perspectives into classroom settings from day one - recognizing 14 critical soft skills and 10 facilitation techniques, this project fosters relevant learning experiences (check the FEEF methodology). Bringing together students, professors, and business leaders, the event fostered discussions on aligning graduates' skills with industry needs. Using the FEEF toolkit, participants delved into prioritizing soft skills, mapping gaps between academia and business, and creating actionable plans for student success. Through practical sessions, attendees explored diverse approaches to addressing the gap, showcasing the ease of implementing FEEF tools for immediate classroom impact. The FEEF Multiplier Event was open to the public and drew participants from different universities and businesses in and outside Portugal. Managed by NOVA University Lisbon in collaboration with partners, including Santander International Entrepreneurship Center (CISE), University of Cantabria, University of Padova, and the Hogeschool Voor Moving Minds (UCLL), the project heralds a new era of education-business collaboration. Interested educators can access FEEF resources on FEEF's official website, including FEEF tools, the MOOC, the pilot projects and results, to enhance student learning experiences.

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15 March 2024

Second edition of NOVA’s online entrepreneurship course attracted over 3000 registrations!

In 2023, NOVA University Lisbon launched the second edition of the completely free and accessible online entrepreneurship course, available through the NAU e-learning platform, managed by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT). The short-duration course or micro-credential ‘Academia de Empreendedorismo’ co-financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), provided students with the opportunity to learn basic entrepreneurship concepts and hear firsthand experiences from startup founders, in addition to the opportunity to receive an academic credit (ECTS). According to the European Commission, these micro-credentials represent a real learning opportunity within the context of European education and training systems, allowing for the acquisition of skills suitable for different profiles and needs. This Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) attracted over three thousand registrants, the majority of whom currently reside in mainland Portugal, notably in the Central, Lisbon, and Northern regions. In addition to Portugal, we had participants from 23 other countries, and in the end, 972 digital certificates were awarded, corresponding to a completion rate of 30%. Of these certifications, 63% were awarded to young adults aged 25 or younger, with the majority of Entrepreneurship Academy students being secondary and undergraduate students in different fields of study. These data reveal a growing interest among younger populations in acquiring skills in areas relevant to creating value and impact in society, further underscoring the importance of initiatives like this. Given the recurring success of this course over the past 2 years, NOVA University Lisbon, in collaboration with NAU, will launch a new edition in 2024, with the start date yet to be defined, this time on the EdX platform, ensuring international reach and visibility, thereby contributing to the promotion of NOVA's name as a pioneer in training and empowering Portuguese-speaking entrepreneurship skills worldwide.

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15 March 2024

Second edition of NOVA’s online entrepreneurship course attracted over 3000 registrations!

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13 March 2024

WISE Program: 35 students from NOVA are already seeking solutions capable of transforming the energy landscape

The students come from different Academic Units (NOVA FCSH, NOVA IMS, NOVA FCT, and NOVA School of Law) and are already working together to develop solutions that can truly transform the energy landscape by giving new life to used batteries.

Out of the more than 70 students who applied to the WISE programme - launched by the NOVA Impact Office with the support of GALP - 35 were selected to work together to develop the most innovative response to one of the most complex problems facing the world today.

Officially launched on Monday, March 11th, WISE is part of the protocol agreed between GALP and NOVA for the creation of NIRC (NOVA Interdisciplinary Research Community) to foster collaboration within the NOVA community and innovation to address emerging challenges in sustainable energy systems.

For approximately 12 weeks, the selected teams will focus on the following challenges: second-life batteries (including the supply and use of batteries), shared energy storage in energy communities, energy storage for negotiation and arbitration of energy and systems, alternative energy storage options (in addition to chemical batteries).

As well as addressing the challenges posed by GALP, the WISE programme aims to provide a unique learning experience for students, encourage collaboration between different disciplines and stimulate innovation in the energy field.

The winning team will receive all-expenses-paid tickets to the European Innovation Academy, an exclusive opportunity to shadow at GALP, and a NOVA LinkedIn badge.

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07 February 2024

NOVA and GALP Launch WISE to Ignite Sustainable Energy Innovations – Applications Now Open!

In a collaborative effort to drive transformative change in the realm of sustainable energies, NOVA University Lisbon and GALP are excited to launch the WISE (World-Changing Innovations for Sustainable Energies) program. This initiative aims to accelerate visionary innovation and address complex challenges in the transition to sustainable energies, specifically focusing on second-life batteries. The WISE program, scheduled to run from March to June 2024, is an innovation sprint designed to immerse five teams of NOVA students into real-world challenges. These teams will work together with mentors from NOVA ecosystem and executives from GALP, to devise solutions that could significantly impact the energy landscape. Participating students will engage in a three-month period of intensive exploration and innovation, applying life-centered innovation methodologies, collaboration, and passion-based learning. The goal is to foster disruptive solutions and tangible outcomes through the creation of a proof-of-concept, no-fi/low-fi prototypes, and proposed business models. The winning team will receive tickets to the European Innovation Academy with all expenses covered, an opportunity for job shadowing at GALP, and a LinkedIn Bagde. Applications for the WISE program are now open and will be accepted until March 4, 2024. Interested students can find more information and apply here.

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23 January 2024

Starters Academy: Here is another edition of NOVA’s biggest and oldest Entrepreneurship Academy. Registrations are open until 2nd February.

A pioneer in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship among its student community, the Starters Academy was designed to stimulate the entrepreneurial spirit of students and provide the essential tools for anyone who wants to create a startup.

In addition, the Starters Academy programme is led by a panel of expert mentors and trainers who are recognised in the field and provide invaluable guidance.

Since its inception, hundreds of students have benefited from this hands-on approach to entrepreneurship, and many have successfully launched their businesses.

Now there is another opportunity for anyone interested in developing an existing project or improving their entrepreneurial skills.

Registrations must be made through this link by 2 February 2024.

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12 January 2024

Circular InNOVA(tion): Phase Two!

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Circular inNOVA(tion) is a program dedicated to attracting students with innovative projects to address specific challenges posed by Sociedade Ponto Verde (SPV).

The initiative addresses key challenges for SPV, such as creating a fair pay-as-you-throw system, establishing an “on-demand” waste management system, and encouraging society to reduce waste while promoting better separation.

During the kick-off meeting on November 17th, participants and the SPV team discussed the intricacies of packaging management, presented challenges, and addressed doubts. The teams also engaged in a session on ‘How to make an impactful pitch,’ aiming to captivate the jury’s interest in the potential of their ideas and the chance to advance to the next phase.

Four projects have progressed to the second phase, ongoing until March 2024:

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Smart Recycling introduced the Smart Bin, a user-centric container incorporating AI and a delta robot for efficient waste identification and separation. Users are incentivized through the Smart App, ensuring a fast and reliable recycling experience while also encouraging education and behaviour change.

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Resíduos na Linha that aims to install mass and volume sensors with RFID technology in existing recycling bins. By collecting individual recycling data, the goal is to implement a Pay-As-You-Throw system.

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Bin it to Win it that aims to establish a recycling platform that monitors and celebrates individual and community recycling accomplishments, promoting sustainable practices and community engagement in environmental conservation.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure="1_2,1_2" _builder_version="4.23.4" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="1_2" _builder_version="4.23.4" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://novainnovation.unl.pt/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/195-PH-NIMAGENS-nicole_sanchez.jpg" alt="Trash 4 Goods" title_text="Trash 4 Goods" _builder_version="4.23.4" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2" _builder_version="4.23.4" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.23.4" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"]

The Trash4Goods team is gamifying waste recycling to encourage user participation. Stay tuned for more on how they're making recycling both enjoyable and rewarding, contributing to a circular economy.

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Each selected team has received €1000 to further develop their projects in collaboration with SPV partners. The teams also benefit from dedicated mentoring from NOVA and access to specialized workshops covering critical project development topics.

Stay tuned for more updates!

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11 January 2024

NOVA technology for cancer treatment licensed to BioNTech

The agreement, announced this week by Portuguese biotech company CellmAbs, a spin-off of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, includes patented technology originating from NOVA's Faculty of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT) and developed in collaboration with the Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto (IPO) and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) in Germany. The technology is the result of years of collaborative research with the epicentre in Professor Paula Videira's group at NOVA FCT, including contributions from the NOVA Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and is representative of the excellence in scientific and translational research produced at this university. This is the largest technology transfer agreement ever signed with a Portuguese company in the field of biotechnology and life sciences, and the most important in this field, as it could lead to the first innovative Portuguese medicine for oncology to reach the market. In this case, the production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to cancer cells, without affecting healthy cells, represents a fundamental advance, as it allows treatments that attack the disease more effectively, with fewer side effects, and that are personalised, i.e. adapted to the individual characteristics of each patient's cancer. "These therapies, which are effective in more than 80% of solid tumours, can be adapted to different tumour stages, ensure lower toxicity and lower risk of chemoresistance, improving patient tolerance and quality of life, and also help prevent tumour progression and escape," assures Nuno Prego Ramos, co-founder and CEO of CellmAbs. Founded in 2019 as a spin-off from the Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, CellmAbs specialises in new cancer treatments and has several preclinical candidates in its portfolio based on its advanced knowledge of cancer-specific antigens. Today, it is a success story in technology transfer and value creation, an area that the University has strategically strengthened in recent years and which is beginning to bear fruit. "It is with great pride that we see a technology that was originally developed in one of NOVA's research centres being recognised for its potential to save lives with a high probability, confirming in practice the quality of the cutting-edge research carried out at the university and the impact it can have on society," emphasises Vice-Rector Isabel Rocha, who is responsible for research and innovation at Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. CellmAbs is also particularly optimistic about this agreement, as the company is expected to be the first in the life sciences sector in Portugal to surpass the one billion euro mark. Recently, the same CellmAbs was awarded twice by Portugal Ventures for work carried out throughout 2023.

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10 January 2024

Circular inNOVA(tion) Program: Phase Two!

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Circular inNOVA(tion) is a program dedicated to attracting students with innovative projects to address specific challenges posed by Sociedade Ponto Verde (SPV).

The initiative addresses key challenges for SPV, such as creating a fair pay-as-you-throw system, establishing an "on-demand" waste management system, and encouraging society to reduce waste while promoting better separation.

During the kick-off meeting on November 17th, participants and the SPV team discussed the intricacies of packaging management, presented challenges, and addressed doubts. The teams also engaged in a session on 'How to make an impactful pitch,' aiming to captivate the jury's interest in the potential of their ideas and the chance to advance to the next phase.

Four projects have progressed to the second phase, ongoing until March 2024:

Trash 4 Goods is an innovative platform that promotes electronic waste recycling through gamification, rewarding users for their contributions to the circular economy and creating an engaging and enjoyable recycling experience.

Trash 4 Goods

Stay tuned for more updates!

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10 January 2024

Circular inNOVA(tion) Program: Phase Two!

Circular inNOVA(tion) is a program dedicated to attracting students with innovative projects to address specific challenges posed by Sociedade Ponto Verde (SPV). The initiative addresses key challenges for SPV, such as creating a fair pay-as-you-throw system, establishing an "on-demand" waste management system, and encouraging society to reduce waste while promoting better separation. During the kick-off meeting on November 17th, participants and the SPV team discussed the intricacies of packaging management, presented challenges, and addressed doubts. The teams also engaged in a session on 'How to make an impactful pitch,' aiming to captivate the jury's interest in the potential of their ideas and the chance to advance to the next phase. Four projects have progressed to the second phase, ongoing until March 2024: Smart Recycling introduced the Smart Bin, a user-centric container incorporating AI and a delta robot for efficient waste identification and separation. Users are incentivized through the Smart App, ensuring a fast and reliable recycling experience while also encouraging education and behaviour change.

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21 December 2023

NOVA CellmAbs Spin-Off awarded by Portugal Ventures

Officially launched in June 2019, CellmAbs is one of the official spin-offs recognized by NOVA and has already raised a significant first round of investment that will allow it to develop a new class of immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. The entire investment has now been acknowledged by Portugal Ventures.

"Recognition of the work done by the companies in which we invest is extremely important, as it shows that we continue to believe in their businesses and encourages the rest of the portfolio to achieve their goals," said Rui Ferreira, President of Portugal Ventures, in announcing the awards. "For us, it is also a thank you for choosing us as an investment partner who is present in good times and bad, and who believes in the success of these start-ups daily".

In total, Portugal Ventures, the venture capital company of the Banco Português de Fomento Group, awarded 11 prizes to the start-ups in its investment portfolio that stood out during 2023 - two of which went to NOVA University Lisbon spin-off CellmAbs.

In addition to the 2023 Revelation Start-up Award, for being the company that stood out the most in the portfolio of each business unit during the year, CellmAbs also received the 2023 Health Technologies Start-up Award - which recognizes its positioning and development from a global market perspective, taking into account the product, its internal capabilities, progress towards the market and the attraction of partners and investors.

To determine the winners of this edition - which you can read in full here - Portugal Ventures relied on the collaboration of a group of personalities who work every day in the entrepreneurial ecosystem: António Grilo, from the National Innovation Agency; Luís Guerreiro, from IAPMEI; Pedro Silveira, from AICEP; Carlos Abade, from Turismo de Portugal; Manuel Caldeira Cabral, from Startup Portugal; Conceição Zagalo, from the Corporate Citizenship Reflection and Support Group (GRACE); Cristina Campos, investor; Marcelo Lebre, from Remote; Isabel Neves, investor; and Vanda Jesus, from iCapital.

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12 December 2023

The NOVA Interdisciplinary Research Community on Sustainable Energy Systems has just taken off! Join us until the end of 2023!

On the 6th of December, NOVA University Lisbon held its first NOVA Interdisciplinary Research Communities (NIRC) Workshop, focusing on Sustainable Energy Systems.

This event aimed to be a kick-off in the promotion of interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation on Sustainable Energy Systems at NOVA, underlining the University's commitment to addressing the challenges of this topic.

The event, organized by the Research and Innovation Support Division, featured a workshop led by Professor Guilherme Victorino and his team at the NOVA Innovation & Analytics Lab, with the active participation of 24 researchers from 6 academic units.

To foster collaboration within the NOVA community, and innovation to address emerging challenges in sustainable energy systems, participants were encouraged to form teams to develop collaborative ideas in different knowledge areas.

Highlighting the institution's commitment to dynamic and collaborative research, Professor Isabel Rocha, Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation, and Value Creation at NOVA, graced the event with her presence and emphasized the importance of the initiative for the future of impactful research at the university.

Five prominent members of Galp, NOVA’s partner in this NIRC, including João Ribeiro and Manuel Andrade from the Open Innovation team, and Inês Marques, Pedro Ferreira, and Ioana Ratiu, Galp experts in the workshop's thematic areas, played a key role in this event, by presenting some of the energetic challenges for the future, with vibrant participation of all members in the discussion rounds following the presentations.

A second workshop has already been scheduled for the 17th of January 2024, at the Innovation & Analytics Laboratory of NOVA IMS - NOVA Campolide Campus.

To know more about the NIRC on Sustainable Energy Systems, please visit our dedicated website

Join the NIRC excitement and do not miss out on the thrilling activities coming your way!

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04 December 2023

NOVA Research Impact Narratives Challenge: Get to know the winning stories

In 2023, NOVA University Lisbon launched the Research Impact Narratives Challenge, inviting professors and researchers affiliated to any of the university's academic units to translate the impact of their research projects into narratives.

Considering that it is imperative that society at large understands and appreciates the results of research activities, and that innovation funding agencies at both national and European level are placing increasing emphasis on measuring the impact of projects under development, the Research Impact Narratives Challenge was the format chosen to enable NOVA researchers to do so.

The winners were announced at the NOVA Science and Innovation Day, and the 6 winning projects come from a wide range of research areas:

Catarina Barreira, from the NOVA FCSH Institute of Medieval Studies, presented a reflection on the liturgical books produced at the Alcobaça Monastery. The project, which will provide new insights into the history, relationships and changes in the rituals of one of the first Cistercian monastic foundations built in Portugal, aims to contribute to the creation of training courses for tourist guides and the improvement of guided tours of the monastery.

Luís Crespo de Andrade, researcher at the NOVA FCSH Humanities Centre (CHAM), presented an analysis of the Revista Ideias e Culturas (RIC) portal, which provides universal and indexed access to influential magazines from the 20th century. The RIC has more than 100,000 users and was awarded last year in the Ler+ Awards, as proof of its importance in promoting modern cultural heritage and humanities research.

Maria de Lurdes Rosa, also a professor at the Institute of Medieval Studies at NOVA FCSH, submitted the project "Family Archives, Community Archives", in which she pointed out that, contrary to the situation in most European countries, family archives in Portugal are poorly described and studied. Considering that history suffers from this absence, the work has had an immediate impact on the availability of valuable archives that were previously unknown - and has even taken on an international dimension, winning a grant from the European Research Council.

Mauro Castelli, researcher at the NOVA Information Management School, was the author of the paper "An Artificial Intelligence (AI) system for detecting and preventing online gambling addiction". It is an AI-based system developed to identify common behavioural patterns among Portuguese online gamblers, highlighting actions that may pose a risk to the user.

Miguel de Castro Neto, currently director of the NOVA Information Management School, presented a work developed by the NOVA Cidade laboratory. Called Smart Region, it is a territorial analysis platform that aims to change the paradigm of data-based public policies. Using data science and geographic information systems, it tells how the inter-municipal community of the West is already enjoying the benefits of being a Smart Region.

Tatiana Morais, from the Centre for Research & Development on Law and Society (CEDIS) at the NOVA School of Law, is the author of "Contributing to the improvement of the legal framework for Sexual and Gender Violence in Portugal", which focuses on the introduction of legislation in the Portuguese Labour Code to combat sexual harassment in the workplace through the adoption of a code of conduct - with a consequent redefinition of what constitutes a crime in this context, and shows the positive impact on survivors of sexual harassment and rape.

The papers are all published in detail in the magazine NOVA Science 2023, which you can read here.

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29 November 2023

NOVA University Lisbon among the TOP 3 Entrepreneurial Portuguese Universities

Portugal's Entrepreneurial Universities Ranking'23, in partnership with Dealroom and based on the "Universities" tab of the Startup Portugal dashboard, analyses the performance of national universities in educating entrepreneurs. The evaluation includes categories such as startups founded by alumni, unicorns or potential unicorns founded by alumni, as well as the number of spin-offs or funding raised by the startups.

This year, NOVA University Lisbon shared the podium with the University of Porto (1st) and the Catholic University (2nd). Based on the figures presented by Startup Portugal and adjusting the number of founders to the university's student population, NOVA stands out as the national public university with the best ratio of alumni founders.

NOVA also stands out in the number of startups with the potential to become unicorns, and in the number of alumni who have already raised investment rounds of more than 10 million euros, which demonstrates the quality of the university's education in general and reflects its ongoing commitment to entrepreneurship education with an impact on the country's society and economy.

NOVA University Lisbon congratulates all the universities present in this ranking, especially those on the podium, and will certainly continue to work actively to train more and better entrepreneurs and to guarantee the necessary conditions for the effective valorisation of knowledge.

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PAST EVENTS: 07 December 2023

NOVA Matchmaking Event

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NEXT EVENT: December 7th, 2023 | NOVA Medical School

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This is the perfect opportunity to meet students from all other schools from NOVA who share the energy and passion for entrepreneurial projects and hold different backgrounds, skills and knowledge.

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Find your dream team!

If you're looking for a team for your own project or you'd like to join a young-spirited project, this is definitely the event for you!

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December 7th, 2023 @ NOVA Medical School from 17h30 to 19h00

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Check out what happened in previous events!

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27 November 2023

Aqua In Silico Featured on the Podcast ‘90 Seconds of Science’

Jorge Santos and Aqua In Silico (AIS), a spin-off company from NOVA University Lisbon, were the protagonists of episode 1666 on the podcast '90 Seconds of Science' on Antena 1. Jorge Santos is a co-founder of Aqua In Silico, which utilizes artificial intelligence tools to optimize wastewater treatment processes. The startup is developing comprehensive, data-driven solutions to accelerate the sustainable development of water recovery facilities and waste management, contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs #6, #12, and #14). The company is part of a multidisciplinary R&D team that develops solutions to help facilities: #1 enhance biological process performance #2 ensure environmental compliance #3 save resources #4 generate new revenue streams from waste management #5 support bioprocess engineering The spotlight on Aqua In Silico in the podcast is another step in promoting innovative solutions that have the potential to positively transform the global sanitation landscape. Listen to the full episode.

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27 November 2023

Aqua In Silico Featured on the Podcast ‘90 Seconds of Science’

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24 November 2023

NOVA Science & Innovation Day 2023: “The hallmark of NOVA’s Excellence in Research and Innovation”

In the 6th edition of the NOVA Science and Innovation Day, it became inevitable to say that this is an event that is attracting increasing interest. "It has become a hallmark of NOVA's excellence in research and innovation," stressed NOVA's Rector, João Sàágua, in his welcome speech at the beginning of the event, which took place throughout the 21st of November - and which you can read in full here.

"There would be no science and innovation without scientists and entrepreneurs, so allow me to thank in particular our teachers, researchers and other talented professionals from all our schools for the incredible work they do every day", stressed the Rector.

Isabel Rocha, Vice Rector in charge of Research and Innovation at NOVA, also emphasised that, in addition to publications, it is important to take into account their impact - and in this respect, "NOVA is 30 per cent above the international average".

With a particular focus on interdisciplinarity and the impact of the excellent research carried out at NOVA, the programme began with a section dedicated to the University's researchers who have stood out over the past year, both in terms of attracting funding and the impact of the research carried out, as well as the presentation and awarding of prizes to the winners of the Impact Narratives Challenge in Research, which can be read in the recently launched NOVA Science magazine.

The afternoon session was dedicated to innovation, with the presentation of a remarkable success story in the transfer of scientific knowledge to society - an extraordinary feat told by Holger Kissel, Senior Vice President of Scientific Relations at BioNTech, which has changed our lives forever.

BioNTech, a German biotechnology company founded in 2008 by two scientists of Turkish origin, became famous in 2020 with the development of the COVID-19 vaccine in partnership with Pfizer. The same vaccine that, in December 2020, will be the first to be authorised for emergency use after phase III trials.

There was also time for a round table with various representatives of the NOVA innovation ecosystem and its partners - at the same time as the Innovation Fair was taking place in the atrium of the presbytery, with the presence of various patented technologies, specialised services, CoLabs, Spi-offs and other companies from the university ecosystem.

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22 November 2023

NOVA University Lisbon Present At The Web Summit 2023

An international event that brought together the largest technology companies in the world, highlighting the importance of innovation and start-ups in the development of society and the economy. (more…)

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09 November 2023

NOVA Spin-Off is a Start-Up selected for funding by the highly competitive European Innovation Council

Sea4Us, a marine resources biotechnology company based in Sagres and a spin-off of Nova Medical School, has just received the news that it has been approved for funding of 5.96 million euros, awarded by the European Innovation Council (EIC), to advance clinical trials that will allow us to bring an innovative analgesic to the market.

It is a non-opioid, marine-inspired, highly effective treatment for chronic pain, a problem that affects 1.6 billion people worldwide. The therapy developed by Sea4Us eliminates the side effects of current opioid-based drugs without compromising their efficacy.

The European Innovation Council (EIC) is Europe's leading innovation programme for identifying, developing and scaling up innovative technologies.

Created under the Horizon Europe programme, the EIC has a budget of €10.1 billion to support innovations throughout their life cycle.

All information on this funding here

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31 October 2023

The NOVA Academia de Empreendedorismo is accessible to everyone and its applications are open

Applications for the second edition of the "Academia de Empreendedorismo" (Entrepreneurship Academy) organized by NOVA University, are now open. Available on the national e-learning platform NAU, this online and free course offers everyone the opportunity to acquire essential management and innovation skills. Applications close on December 14, and the course can be completed by December 21, 2023. It is a short-duration, self-paced, free course taught in Portuguese with English subtitles, and it is aimed not only at university students but at anyone who wants to learn more about managing their own professional projects. At the end, students may receive an academic credit (ECTS). The "Academia de Empreendedorismo" is structured into six modules with multiple lessons, covering topics such as creating a business plan and/or a suitable pitch for different audiences, engaging with customers and partners, market sizing, identifying funding opportunities for your project, protecting copyright and intellectual property rights, understanding team profiles for different project types, and grasping the legal principles for starting a company. Each lesson has a duration of five to ten minutes, totaling 18 lessons. The course is co-financed by the European Union's Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). NOVA's knowledge is once again accessible to all those who want to learn more about entrepreneurship and take a new step in their lives. The first edition, in 2022, had over six thousand applicants from 33 countries. Applications are open in the following site: Curso Academia de Empreendedorismo Deadline for application - December 14. Course can be completed until December 21, 2023

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30 October 2023

CaixaImpulse Programme: Half of the portuguese projects selected by the “la Caixa” Foundation are by NOVA Researchers

Projects by Ana Pina from NOVA FCT, Mónica Serrano, from ITQB NOVA and Maria de Guadalupe Cabral, from NOVA Medical School, have been selected by CaixaImpulse, an intensive 18-month accelerator programme for the creation of new products and companies in the health and life sciences sectors.

Specifically, the CaixaImpulse programme aims to support universities and research projects that want to transfer a proprietary or protected innovation from research to the market, either as a spin-off or as a transfer agreement, and whose value proposition needs to be validated and developed.

The proposals include:

The development of bio-batteries inspired by collagen as a source of energy for electronic devices for the skin, such as the project led by Ana Pina, with the participation of researchers Felipe Conzuelo (ITQB NOVA), Catarina Baptista and Leonor Morgado from NOVA FCT, and also researcher Erin Tranfield from the Gulbenkian Science Institute.
A cheaper, faster and more versatile alternative to PCR for pathogen detection; this is the case of the project led by Mónica Serrano, resulting from the collaboration between the Microbial Development Laboratory, led by Adriano Henriques, and the Yeast Molecular Biology Laboratory, led by Catarina Pimentel, also from ITQB NOVA.
and the identification of a new type of biomarker and therapeutic target to combat breast cancer, a project led by Maria Guadalupe Cabral, who heads a multidisciplinary team that includes doctors Sofia Braga and Telma Martins, from the Prof. Dr. Fernando Fonseca Hospital and CUF Descobertas.

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09 October 2023

NOVA FCT’s chatbot wins 1st prize in the Alexa Prize Taskbot Challenge 2, Assigned by Amazon

Amazon has just announced the winners of the Alexa Prize TaskBot Challenge 2, and the result couldn't be more encouraging, as the first place was won by the team from the Department of Informatics/NOVA LINCS of the Faculty of Science and Technology of NOVA University Lisbon.

The competition, which has a cash prize of 500,000 dollars (circa 475 000 euros), rewards university teams from around the world that develop solutions to one of the most challenging problems in conversational artificial intelligence (AI): creating conversational AI experiences that respond to users' ever-changing needs while performing complex tasks.

The expectation is that TaskBot, Alexa's conversational agent - the virtual assistant developed by Amazon - will be able to communicate effectively and guide the user through manual tasks, from cooking to making origami. This year, the competing teams were challenged to find solutions that incorporated more visuals into each conversation.

The NOVA FCT team, known as "TWIZ", developed a solution that works on two fronts, integrating voice and video. For example, the agent can teach a user how to perform a complex manual task, such as cooking, painting, arranging objects, etc., and even dialogue in detail about the instructions with video support.