INESC TEC inaugurates research hub on the island of Madeira

INESC TEC, the University of Madeira (UMa), and the Regional Agency for the Development of Research, Technology and Innovation – ARDITI established an INESC TEC research centre in Madeira. The protocol has already been signed; it formalises the commitment to establish an Ocean Technologies and a Prototyping Laboratory. Madeira joins Porto, Braga and Vila Real.

Creating science with impact is the main objective of the protocol signed between INESC TEC, UMa and ARDITI, which provides for scientific research, technological development, knowledge transfer and valorisation activities in the new research centre of the archipelago. The agreement provides for the integration of professors from the School of Sciences and Technology of UMa, and the collaboration in the future Degree in Maritime Sciences and Technologies. It also provides for ARDITI to host activities in autonomous robot prototyping and ocean technologies, and to advance the qualification and training of human resources, while providing specialised consultancy, mutual support and the sharing of human, material and infrastructure resources.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of INESC TEC, José Manuel Mendonça, believes that this is “a way to connect research and Higher Education to society, generating economic impact, ensuring social relevance and contributing to sustainability”.

This is not the first joint initiative connecting both institutions. “Over the years, we have maintained close cooperation and collaboration relations; this is another step towards increasing the value creation, not only of the three institutions, but also, and undoubtedly, for the scientific, technical, economic, social, and cultural development of the country”, claimed the Chairman of the Board.

The protocol covers the areas of the sea, energy, telecommunications, and computer graphics, and provides for the support of INESC TEC in the development of activities within the scope of pre- and post-graduate courses under the responsibility of the University of Madeira.

In this sense, Madeira joins the six INESC TEC units in the cities of Porto, Braga and Vila Real.