INESC TEC and Efacec have renewed their strategic partnership, which has spanned more than three decades, further strengthening the cooperation between the two organisations in the field of energy systems. This moment also marked the launch of a new model that INESC TEC seeks to extend to other companies.
The programme agreement focuses on developing solutions for the electricity sector; initially valid for three years, with the possibility of a further two-year extension, establishes a stable platform for cooperation in advanced consultancy, research and development, technology transfer and advanced training.
Representing INESC TEC at the signing were João Claro, Chairman and CEO of the Institute; Clara Gouveia, member of the Board of Directors; and Ricardo Bessa, advisor to the Board of Directors and coordinator in the field of Power & Energy Systems (with the document being signed by the Chair of the Board of Directors). Efacec was represented by Michael Silva, Group CEO; Miguel Pereira Gomes, Director of Technology; and Lourenço Antunes, Director of Digital Products Technology and responsible for overseeing the implementation of the agreement.
“Over the past three decades, the collaboration between the two organisations has resulted in technology that is now incorporated not only into Efacec’s own products, but also into the operation of power grids operated by customers in several countries,” explained João Claro.
One example is the software modules developed by INESC TEC for Efacec’s Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMS), which include features like power flow analysis, state estimation, fault detection and network reconfiguration, contingency analysis, and voltage and reactive power control. The new agreement ensures the maintenance, diagnosis and further development of these modules, while paving the way for the development of new functionalities for the operation of electricity distribution grids, renewable energy management, e-mobility and transport.
According to Michael Silva, this partnership allows the two organisations to “bring research even closer to industrial reality and the concrete challenges faced by our customers”. “We want to turn knowledge and innovation into solutions with real-world applications and market impact, while simultaneously strengthening capabilities in strategic areas for Efacec’s future, such as automation, digitalisation and AI,” he added.
A collaboration model designed for long-term relations with industry
In addition to renewing the partnership, the agreement marks the implementation of a collaboration model that INESC TEC has been developing for strategic partnerships with industry.
“Instead of a succession of individual contracts, the model establishes a multi-year framework that brings together, in a single instrument, different forms of joint work: advanced consultancy with senior researchers, for example, to support the preparation of technical proposals and the analysis of innovation roadmaps; R&D projects defined on an annual basis, with their own objectives, timelines and deliverables; and a strong capacity-building component, including advanced training for company staff, placements in an R&D environment and PhDs in a collaborative setting,” explained Clara Gouveia, member of the Board of Directors who has been working directly on the development of this model.
Flexibility is one of the model’s defining features, allowing the plan to be adjusted as the company’s products and business opportunities evolve.
“Key conditions, such as team profiles and costs, as well as intellectual property and licensing models, are agreed in advance, simplifying and accelerating the launch of each new project and facilitating the integration of results developed by INESC TEC into the company’s product lines,” explained Clara Gouveia.
In terms of advanced training, the model provides for different forms of company involvement in PhD programmes: from company employees undertaking a PhD under INESC TEC supervision to Institute-funded PhD researchers supported financially by the company. In all cases, the goal is to bring research closer to real-world industrial challenges and train highly qualified professionals with experience in both worlds.
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