29 May 2026
NOVA Welcomes the GAPI Network in a Session Celebrating 25 Years and Renewed Partnerships
The Rectorate of NOVA University Lisbon hosted the 4th Annual Meeting of the GAPI Network — the National Network of Industrial Property Promotion Support Offices — an initiative led by the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) and represented at the event by its President, Ana Margarida Moura Soares Bandeira.
The meeting brought together technology centres, business associations, universities and polytechnic institutes from across Portugal, all members of a network that now spans 42 institutions operating in the most diverse fields of knowledge. The occasion served as a platform for experiencesharing and for strengthening the institutional bonds that connect its members nationwide.
A highlight of the session was the symbolic renewal of the cooperation protocols between INPI and the GAPI Network members — a meaningful gesture in a year that marks the network’s 25th anniversary, and a testament to its standing as a recognised success story both in Portugal and beyond.
The afternoon also featured a keynote by Thijs Spigt, an international Intellectual Property specialist with a distinctive background spanning the Netherlands Patent Office, a degree in Neurobiology and a doctorate in Business Administration. His insights into the challenges and dynamics of technology transfer were among the most thought-provoking contributions of the day.
The session closed with remarks by Isabel Rocha, NOVA’s Vice-Rector for Innovation, Value Creation and Global Affairs, who highlighted the strategic importance of knowledge and technology transfer in driving Portugal’s national innovation ecosystem.
NOVA University Lisbon reaffirms its commitment to innovation and knowledge valorisation as an active member of a network that, over 25 years, has grown into a pillar of the national innovation landscape — one the University proudly supports through four dedicated GAPI offices.
For more information about the GAPI Network, visit inpi.justica.gov.pt.