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.

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.  

NOVA University Lisbon is positioned as the second academic institution in Portugal with the highest number of European patent applications, according to a report published by the European Patent Organisation (EPO) this Tuesday 22nd. Overall, NOVA submitted a total of 155 applications to the EPO between 2000 and 2020.  The study, which analysed 1,200 European universities, shows that Portugal ranks 17th in Europe in terms of patents of academic origin, with 818 applications submitted in the last two decades.  In the country, 39 higher education institutions contributed to this figure, reinforcing the role of universities in the development of technological and scientific innovation. The pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors are the most prominent in European patent applications of academic origin, reflecting the importance of research in these fields.  By consolidating itself as one of the most important in the country in this field, NOVA University Lisbon reaffirms its relevance in the research and technological development scenario in Portugal and Europe.   Find out more about NOVA’s patented technologies.  Celebrate World Intellectual Property Day 2024 with NOVA   Check the video here! 

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.

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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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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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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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.

 

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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Circular In(NOVA)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.

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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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.

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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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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.