Showcasing technologies, talking about science and inspiring young people: this was INESC TEC’s mission during the UP Fair

Four days. 17,525 visitors. And a new opportunity to showcase INESC TEC technologies. More than attracting talent, INESC TEC aimed to inspire young people to create a future where science and technology can play a crucial role.

Once again, INESC TEC had the opportunity to engage with future university students, during one of the largest academic dissemination events of the University of Porto. Over four days, INESC TEC showcased the latest technological innovations – such as robots and applications – and encouraged young people to make decisions.

The keyword was “interaction”. Let’s start with games: Scheduling (Not So) Serious Game is a playful tool that challenges participants to solve planning and scheduling problems, promoting reasoning. The challenge did not go unnoticed to the participants, and many tried to test their ability to solve problems, optimising resources. The ECOCasa game, developed within the scope of the ECOVale project, highlighted some tips to promote energy efficiency. Will this generation be prepared to face the future in a sustainable way?

One thing we know: younger generations are prepared to program and control robots like real engineers and scientists. Customising an LED strip, disassembling a circuit or monitoring smart electric vehicle chargers were some of the activities proposed to the younger power and energy aficionados.

While some got their hands dirty, others got the change to enter an immersive reality. Some visitors had the opportunity to try augmented reality glasses and control the environment through manual gestures, without the need for physical commands. The application developed by INESC TEC – applied to the industry sector – uses animated holograms to demonstrate, step by step, how to assemble different components, making the process more intuitive and efficient. Working in a factory like this almost looks easy!

This was also the opportunity for many to closely test next-generation communication technologies, including 6G and Wi-Fi 7, which enable the detection of people and objects through signals without the need for cameras, opening new possibilities for telecommunications and monitoring.

And since AI is also a hot topic, the students got to know some solutions for the healthcare sector. The CINDERELLA project makes it possible to predict the aesthetic outcomes of breast cancer surgeries, helping patients and doctors make informed decisions. CADPath.AI, on the other hand, uses AI to accelerate and improve the diagnosis of different types of cancer, like colorectal and cervical cancer. Finally, the MedLink project seeks to support professionals’ decision-making, allowing the comparison of clinical cases with similar reports in seconds. The technology analyses and classifies medical information accurately, providing clear and relevant explanations.

The INESC TEC stand also featured the DART submarine – no newcomer to these events. This fully autonomous underwater vehicle can operate at great depths and travel long distances for marine data collection. With the possibility of being equipped with water quality sensors, sonars for mapping and cameras, DART is an essential tool for the study of underwater ecosystems.

The U. Porto Fair was another opportunity for students, teachers and science and technology enthusiasts to get to know the innovative solutions developed by INESC TEC.