Funding supports the conversion of scientific knowledge into technological products.  

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The Localist project, led by Prof. Doctor João Fonseca Bigotte, DEC professor and researcher, was one of the three projects selected in the most recent technological innovation support program promoted by the Business Incubation Center of the European Space Agency in Portugal (ESA BIC Portugal). This program is intended to financially support the technological development of prototypes of innovative and high-potential market solutions incorporating space technologies and/or Earth observation satellite data.

The project consists of developing an innovative digital solution for real estate. Nowadays, the information available on real-estate-websites focuses on describing the property's characteristics and value, neglecting a crucial decision factor - location. The new solution makes it possible to objectively compare the location of properties, translating the ease of access to equipment and services that a given location allows, through various modes of transport (on foot, public transport, or individual transport), into a class of attractiveness (from A to E, similar to the energy efficiency classes). Thus, it will be possible for each user to find the most suitable property for them, taking into consideration their mobility and quality / lifestyle preferences. Currently in its start-up phase, the project already has been attracted the attention of two of the five largest national real estate agencies whose which to launch a pilot project.

João Fonseca Bigotte, the project's principal promoter, is a guest assistant professor at the University of Coimbra, under the MIT Portugal Program where he is responsible for the innovation and entrepreneurship PhD disciplines in Transport Systems, and Sustainable Energy Systems (the latter in the Energy for Sustainability Initiative). As a researcher, he has devoted his activity to studying the location of public facilities, the integration of urban and transport planning, and innovation in transportation and logistics.

The ESA BIC program, promoted by the European Space Agency in several member countries, is coordinated in Portugal by the Pedro Nunes Institute (IPN). Besides, it has two other national centers located in Porto and Cascais. In five years of activity, the program has supported the launch of thirty innovative technological projects.

Created by initiative of the University of Coimbra in 1991, IPN is a private non-profit institution that aims to promote innovation and technology transfer, establishing the link between the scientific and technological environment and the productive sector. Recently, it has once again recognized the excellence of its technology-based startup incubation activity and has been named one of the Top Ten Incubators in the World in the University Business Incubators category by UBI Global.