Everton Alves
“This nomination stems from the effort and dedication that Everton Alves has shown in the development of the testing capacity of protection systems and automation resources of the Laboratory of Smart Grids and Electric Vehicles, allowing the Centre to develop new testing capacities and services. During the months of July and August, Everton was responsible for carrying out the tests and demonstrations of the automation application developed by the CPES team within the scope of the collaboration endeavour with the company GE Vernova. His work, together with the rest of the CPES team, has contributed to the success of said initiative”.
– CPES coordinators
You were responsible for the tests and demonstrations of an automation application within the scope of a partnership with the company GE Vernova. Could you tell us a little bit more about this task (objectives, differentiating aspects, main challenges, results achieved, relevance of this collaboration, etc.)?
The main objective was to validate an application – developed in partnership with GE Vernova – that promotes the decentralised control of grids with significant integration of renewable energies, dynamically managing the power of connection to the grid. This process took place at the Laboratory of Smart Grids and Electric Vehicles. This application has been validated in our Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), whose structure allows real-time simulations that accurately replicate the conditions of the electrical system.
One of the main differentiating factors was the creation of the complete chain of tests, which included modelling the power grid, establishing the architecture based on the protocols of the IEC 61850 standard, and developing/integrating the user interface. One of the biggest challenges was the integration of all the elements and aspects involved in establishing the real-time test environment, moving from offline simulations to real-time tests in the HIL. Thanks to the experience from previous projects, we did manage to advance significantly fast: the goals were achieved, with the provision of a solution on time, and in accordance with the requirements. The project is still in progress, with room for improvements and new possibilities. This work reinforced the confidence in our capabilities and improved our methodologies, consolidating our role in the development of automation solutions for power grids, with the important use of our laboratory resources.
The Centre coordinators mentioned your efforts in the development of the testing capacity of protection systems and automation capabilities of the Laboratory; could you explain to us the activities in which you were/are involved in this context?
Developing our laboratory capabilities has become a crucial question, to add value to online tests and the validation of solutions created with algorithms or offline simulations. In my case, I have implemented protection, automation and control solutions for power grids in the HIL, capable of simulating medium-sized networks with integrated communications, protection equipment, and satellite synchronisation. Each project leads to the operationalisation of more and improved setup applications and capabilities. Since this is an ongoing work, I actively participate – together with colleagues and coordinators – in the expansion of the test platform, which includes the research of new modules and equipment for real-time simulation, contact with manufacturers, and evaluation of possible new acquisitions, while providing support to others who explore said setup. This infrastructure has become a crucial asset, not only for automation and protection, but also for other related areas; a clear example is the fact that many companies have shown interest in participating in collaborative projects, as well as in our laboratory capacities. This also provides us with opportunities to expand our own structure.
Which aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
There are several aspects I enjoy; one of them is the opportunity to work in cutting-edge technological solutions to improve the electrical systems, at INESC TEC. Our capabilities have been constantly expanded in various axes and knowing that I have contributed to some of this progress, allowing us to test and develop solutions that directly impact grid automation and protection, makes a huge difference. The collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and major companies, like GE Vernova, has been extremely rewarding. The environment at INESC TEC allowed me to learn and improve in terms of research and knowledge, which is fascinating. And I must emphasise the continuous support and collaboration spirit among my peers, the Centre’s team and coordinators; we’re in this path together, with significant joint efforts – which lead to great rewards.
How do you comment on this nomination?
It’s a great honour, and I’d like to thank the coordinators for this nomination, which shows they acknowledge and value my work; it also shows they trust in my contributions. Finally, I must emphasise the collective effort of all people involved – with whom I’d like to share this nomination.
Nuno Paulino
“The CTM coordinators would like to nominate the researcher Nuno Paulino for the leadership of the Organising Committee of the CTM Summer Internships, and for his key role in extending the initiative to the entire INESC TEC community. We also congratulats Nuno Paulino for the ability to involve the whole CTM team in this initiative, as well as for the valuable contributions to the organisation of the event – which welcomed 240 applications and 65 interns this year, of which more than 30 developed their work at the CTM within the scope of several of INESC TEC’s scientific domains. The 2024 edition, which consolidated the three internship models (face-to-face, online and hybrid), contributed to continue the excellent work carried out in previous editions, and reinforce the visibility of CTM and INESC TEC among national and international students. Finally, we’d like to congratulate the entire Organising Committee and all the internship advisors, who contributed to the success of this year’s event. Thank you and congratulations to all those involved!”
– CTM coordinators
This nomination stems from the work you did in the 2024 edition of CTM Summer Internships. What challenged you the most in organising this initiative?
The fact that this edition was significantly different in many ways. Particularly when compared to previous years, in which the organisation committee was able to benefit from the experience of previous editions. In 2024, most of the initiative was designed from scratch to cover the institutional requirements of the Internships. It was not easy to find the procedures that promised not to compromise the operationalisation of the Internships at CTM. Especially in terms of dissemination, submission and selection process, and making sure that we could welcome the interns at CTM (as usual) without disrupting the work of our both applicants and advisors.
It was also demanding to figure out how to adapt CTM processes to the institutional level, without causing major disturbances. Since we predicted the participation of several Centres in a common process, we had to implement the procedures with the support of the Board of Directors, Human Resources, Assistants, and SIG. Defining how to implement the processes of application, selection, acceptance and association of trainees with INESC was certainly the most demanding effort. Coordinating all these aspects with the team behind the INESC TEC internships, represented by Sara Brandão, was a task that lasted from March to mid-June. There was also the question of “when” and “how” to organise the final session, to accommodate the Internships, the assessment methodologies and the awards. The whole process was carried out under a lot of pressure, with the possibility of failure looming throughout the various processes. Despite all this, the event was quite positive, and an excellent opportunity to make an impact at the institutional level, to which I dedicated myself with great commitment. All of this would not be possible without the support of the aforementioned departments, Sara Brandão and Rita Cardoso, as well as the coordinators of CTM.
In 2024, INESC TEC received 240 applications and welcomed 65 trainees. To what extent does this initiative contribute to the academic path of students and what is the impact of the results of the Internships concerning the Institution?
I just have a qualitative sense of the impact. From my experience in organising previous Internships, there has always been leverage in terms of attracting talent. I am aware that, at least at CMT, eight grant holders were recently accepted directly from the contacts established during the Internships. This seems to be a higher number, when compared to previous initiatives. It is a result that I can attribute both to the maturity of the “CTM Internships brand” and to the institutional image presented to students this year, targeting the Scientific Domains. The impact on the trainees’ academic path is a direct result of this synergy; when it comes to their master’s degree, the grant holders are, most likely, already thinking about exploring themes associated with the lines of research they explored during the Internships. Considering the limited amount of time available to write their thesis, this comes as a great advantage, since it leads to high-quality theses, as I was able to witness as a supervisor. Finally, it’s easier for students to complete their study plan, since an INESC TEC internships corresponds to a curricular unit.
Which aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
In recent years, I’ve been carrying out increasingly diverse tasks at INESC TEC. Between project design and execution, service provision, and the supervision of grant holders and master’s degree students, I feel more productive working towards my goals and those of INESC TEC, which has contributed to my motivation. In this list I include participation in initiatives like the CTM Summer Internships.
How do you comment on this nomination?
I’m very proud! This was not the first time I joined the organisation of the initiative, but it was the first time I acted as leader of the team. I believe it shows that the CTM coordinators recognise my abilities – even if they did not know the full extent of the request, which they made in 2023 (!). Nonetheless, the team’s efforts translated into a major event for INESC TEC, and a good way to depart from the old model of the CTM Summer Internships.
Ana Simões, Ricardo Zimmermann and Gustavo Dalmarco
“The CESE coordinators would like to nominate Ana Simões, Ricardo Zimmermann and Gustavo Dalmarco for organising the IAMOT conference. The organisation of this year’s IAMOT conference, led by the INESC TEC team, exceeded all expectations and deserves special recognition for the tireless effort of all those involved. The event stood out for the top-quality scientific results, providing an enriching discussion environment for all participants. The careful selection of the works and the coordination of high-level lectures boosted the conference, reinforcing the event’s relevance in the field of technology and innovation management. Attention to detail ensured a fluid and enriching experience for everyone involved, from researchers to professionals. In addition, the active involvement of the participants and the promotion of the city of Porto as a vibrant and welcoming destination were vital aspects that contributed to the success of the event. The organising team managed to promote meaningful interactions between participants, creating valuable opportunities for networking and collaboration. At the same time, the stunning setting of Porto served as the ideal stage for the conference, reinforcing the role of the city and INESC TEC as international knowledge and innovation hubs”.
– CESE coordinators
This nomination stems from the organisation of IAMOT. What were the main challenges of organising an international event this big – for the first time, in Portugal? Any details you’d like to share?
There are several challenges associated with organising a conference like this, particularly since most of the organising committee was doing this it for the first time.
Perhaps the biggest challenge was boosting the engagement and participation in the conference. As the IAMOT community is geographically dispersed, with a significant number of people in Latin American countries, like Brazil, and in Africa, like South Africa (the latter requiring a visa to come to Portugal), we were not sure if we would have an audience of 150, 250 or even 350 people. Since we were able to book the venue and the services for the conference beforehand, we managed to closely monitor the way things evolved.
Another challenge was to design an agenda that would allow the participants to have a unique experience, which they would later remember. In this sense, decided to book the Alfândega do Porto to host the conference, and promoted mindfulness sessions during the morning, before the planned activities.
In addition, we wanted to organise a conference that was attractive and scientifically relevant. We managed to have the proceedings published by Springer (which did not happen in the previous editions of the conference) and we launched “Special Issues” associated with the conference in key journals in the sector – namely the Technological Forecasting and Social Change, IEEE Engineering Management Review (EMR), California Management Review, and the U.Porto Journal of Engineering.
If you had to choose three main conclusions or contributions from this event, what would they be? And why?
Perhaps the main part was to disseminate the Technology and Innovation Management work that has been done by researchers part of the IAMOT community. We had relevant and inspiring discussions on the use of Artificial Intelligence, a topic addressed both by the keynote speakers and in several papers presented.
Another contribution was to deepen the debate on the use of people-centred and sustainable technology, which was the subject of one of the roundtables. In this case, the main aspect was the discussion of this topic in ecosystem’s context; as was mentioned during the session, it is necessary to involve all stakeholders to achieve relevant results – companies, government agencies and especially the population.
Another significant goal was to show this vast community what Portuguese companies have been doing in terms of innovation, namely concerning the adoption of technologies and practices towards sustainability, and the role of people in this process.
We also believe that the conference helped to disseminate the name of INESC TEC (and show the quality of the research we do) to a broader audience that was previously unfamiliar with our work.
Which aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
The contact with researchers from different countries. During the conference, we had the opportunity to attend presentations that described very interesting innovation cases in Brazil, South Africa, China, Pakistan, etc., i.e., contexts that are quite different from our reality. We were able to explore a differentiated vision in the development of new research projects.
Regarding our role as organisers, we like to realise that the participants were very happy and satisfied with their experience at the conference, which is the recognition that our dedication to organising and planning this event led to positive results.
How do you comment on this nomination?
The organisation of IAMOT 2024 was a great challenge, which required a lot of dedication – not only from us, but also from the entire team: Grasiela Almeida, Marta Oliveira, Ana Silva, Sthefan Berwanger, Henrique Silva, Pedro Senna and José Coelho Rodrigues. This is CESE and INESC TEC’s recognition of our commitment, and the way we managed to address these challenges – which also values the efforts of this team.
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