Twenty innovations later: INESC TEC and University of Porto reinforce ties in technology transfer

Back in 2022, INESC TEC and the University of Porto signed a landmark framework agreement aimed at laying the foundations for joint management of intellectual property. Three years on, the benefits of said collaboration are clear: the agreement led to the development of 20 inventions. The beginning of July marked a significant milestone, with the first joint meeting between the technology transfer offices of INESC TEC and U.Porto Inovação – a step forward in reinforcing the collaboration between the two institutions in this domain.

“These 20 inventions have already earned national and international acknowledgement, making our institutions a benchmark for best practices in technology transfer,” said Daniel Vasconcelos, head of technology transfer at INESC TEC.

Let’s look at the facts: iLoF (a jointly owned technology) won the 2024 European Innovation Award from EARTO, marking the first time a Portuguese institution received this honour in the Expected Impact category. That same month, researchers Tamás Karácsony and João Paulo Cunha returned from Dubai with an award from the 2024 GITEX Global conference. This award-winning invention, also a joint venture – not only between INESC TEC and the University of Porto, but also with Carnegie Mellon University – is an international partnership focused on an AI-based system for epilepsy monitoring.

But the list goes on. Four months prior to these two achievements, the spin-off Seedsight reached the finals of Nature Spin-off Award.

And what about upcoming spin-offs? There are several underway: Spectral KD, a spectroscopy technique supported by the University of Porto’s BIP Proof acceleration programme; Bodyboost, a wearable device aimed at preventing work-related injuries due to poor posture, which featured in the iUP25k, BIP Acceleration, and the ongoing Santander programmes. All three initiatives are managed and promoted by U.Porto Inovação.

There are also other international collaborations, as Daniel Vasconcelos highlighted. “Take DeepPHDet, for example; we’re talking about a technology for the early, painless detection of pulmonary hypertension. This is a partnership between INESC TEC, the University of Porto, and Johns Hopkins Ventures, with future development and commercialisation in mind.”

The July meeting between the two institutions’ tech transfer teams focused on bringing groups closer together, reviewing key ongoing processes, and identifying potential improvements and synergies for an even more successful future.

“Our meeting with INESC TEC’s tech transfer team was a valuable opportunity to meet our peers in person, learn about their impressive backgrounds and dedication to translating INESC TEC’s research into real-world value; operationally, the meeting enabled us to tackle challenges and explore solutions, further strengthening the already close and productive relationship between INESC TEC and the University of Porto in the area of intellectual property,” said André Fernandes, director of U.Porto Inovação