Technology Transfer

DEI is directly connected to the Laboratory of Informatics and Systems (LIS), an interface structure of R&D in the area of Information Technology and Communications (TICs) from the Pedro Nunes Institute, conceived to fulfill the mission of transferring technology into the industrial/entrepreneurial world. Through this connection to DEI, LIS has acquired profound expertise in a vast array of areas concerning Information Technologies and Communications. For example:

  • Mobile Computation;
  • Information Systems;
  • Internet Technologies;
  • Data Bases, datawarehouses, OLAP e datamining;
  • Communications Engineering;
  • Security and Reliability in systems and networks;
  • Intelligent Systems;
  • Remote Training.

LIS activities explore Information and Communications Technologies in the following areas:

  • Conception, development, integration and operation of technological solutions;
  • National and International Partnerships on R&D projects;
  • Entrepreneurial promotion and support to technology based spin-off companies
  • Special Training (projects, internships and technology seminars);
  • Support to corporations in both national and European Union programs;
  • Technology prospecting and innovation;
  • Professional advice and auditing.

Pedro Nunes Institute

Created in 1991 by the will of the University of Coimbra, the Pedro Nunes Institute (IPN) – Association for the Innovation and the Development of Science and Technology, is an institution of private law, public utility, non profitable, that has the mission to contribute decisively to the transformation of the entrepreneurial fabric and organizations in general, promoting a culture of innovation, quality, rigour and entrepreneurialship, based on a solid partnership between university and corporation, performing in three main areas which reinforce and complete each other:

  • Technological research and development, professional advice and specialized services;
  • Incubator of ideas and companies;
  • Specialized training and promotion of science and technology;

It has its own technological infra-structures, six Technological Development Laboratories, and access to a network of researchers from the Scientific and Technological System, in particular from the University of Coimbra, namely through the Faculty of Sciences and Technology.

Through its Company Incubator, IPN promotes the creation of spin-off companies, supporting innovative technology based ideas that are generated in its own labs or in higher education institutions, in particular the University of Coimbra but also from the private sector and from I&DT projects in consortium with the industry. In the Incubator, companies have easy access to the scientific and technological system and to an environment that boosts the search for knowledge in subjects such as Quality, Management, and Marketing and also provides close contact to national and international markets.

Training wise, IPN focus all its efforts in high level continuous training, aimed at the rising number of top professionals who need updates on subjects or domains which have emerged or evolved after their initial training. It also focus on the preparation of highly skilled workers, qualification of unemployed degree holders and in close relation to its activities of creation and incubation of technology based companies, training for young entrepreneurs.

As a paradigm of activity, multidisciplinary projects are highly considered, developed in a close relation (partnership, consortium or service providing) with clients that seek highly innovative and technologically advanced solutions.

By doing so, we aim to maximize the synergies between the corporate world, higher education and the research done at the University of Coimbra. This way a sentiment of advanced training is created, therefore promoting the creation of economically viable spin-off companies.