Notícias

The CleanNote project, a joint initiative between i3N-NOVA and AlmaScience, has won the 1st edition of the "Vamos dar uma segunda vida às notas" competition, promoted by Bank of Portugal.

In a remarkable display of academic leadership, all three finalists in the competition were developed by teams from NOVA FCT, highlighting the faculty's immense contribution to sustainable innovation and the circular economy.

The initiative aimed to find environmentally sustainable alternatives to incineration. By promoting creativity and circular economy principles, the challenge sought solutions that generate real-world value from waste.

The award ceremony took place on January 22, 2026, at the Bank of Portugal facilities in Carregado.

On January 6th, we marked Three Kings' Day with our traditional get-together, held in the CENIMAT building. 

This year, the initiative was associated with a solidarity action, with FACIT chosen as the Secret Friend. FACIT - which means “let it be done” in Latin - is an association devoted to social solidarity within the NOVA FCT community, providing support to students and staff facing economic difficulties. The celebration was honoured by the presence of the Dean of NOVA FCT, Professor José Júlio Alferes, and the President of the Department of Materials Science, Professor Hugo Águas. The gathering also included a speech by Professor Rodrigo Martins, coordinator of i3N, who highlighted the importance of community spirit, solidarity, and shared responsibility alongside scientific excellence.

On December 9th, 15h00, at the UNINOVA Amphitheater, Dr. Anna Chiara Bressi, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Laboratory of Applied Materials for Printed and Soft Electronics (LAMPSe), Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, will present an overview of recent research on Laser-Induced Graphene (LIG) produced from synthetic and bioderived polymeric precursors. 

 

The seminar will cover the structure–property relationships of LIG obtained through direct laser irradiation, highlighting its rapid, scalable, and chemical-free fabrication process. Topics will include applications in soft electronics, soft robotics, and environmental remediation, as well as a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment comparing synthetic and bioderived precursors.

 

CENIMAT|i3N's Chemistry Laboratory has officially been certified by My Green Lab at the HIGHEST level - GREEN - achieving an outstanding score of 90%!

 

This achievement was the result of a long and demanding process, full of hard work, learning, and above all, teamwork.

 

It wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our 32 My Green Lab Ambassadors and our Elite Green Squad (Francisca Paraíso, Cristina Teixeira, Dorina (Theodora) Papanastasiou, João Afonso Mendes, Ricardo Ferreira, Madalena Maria Roque, and Bárbara Gonçalves Coelho), who gave their all every step of the way.

 

A special thanks to Alexandra Gonçalves and Francisca Paraíso, which lead this journey - their determination, precision, and tireless effort were key to reaching this milestone.

 

This is just the beginning! 

After winning the Demo Day of the NOVA impACT! Challenges, the NOVA Startup Competition 2025, GeoCura, a team composed of Erasmus Mundus students from the Master in Advanced Materials and Innovative Recycling at DCM achieved international recognition by winning the Tapojärvi Innovation Challenge. This competition, organized in Finland, offers European university students the opportunity to apply their skills to solving effective industrial challenges, developing scalable and replicable solutions aimed at fostering a sustainable industry.

 

Professor Rodrigo Martins, Coordinator of i3N and President of the European Academy of Sciences, delivered the opening speech of the International Conference on Advanced Materials, which is taking place from 20 to 23 October in Ningbo, China.

Tomorrow, October 21st, Professor Rodrigo Martins will also give a talk entitled “AI and Emerging Electronics Materials to Answer to Digitalization Demands”, highlighting the role of advanced materials in shaping the future of digital technologies.

On 22^th October, Professor Elvira Fortunato, vice-coordinator of i3N, will present her lecture on “Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications”, focusing on the intersection between materials science and healthcare innovation.

Both Professors are part of the Advisory Board of the Conference, reinforcing i3N’s strong international presence and leadership in the field of advanced materials and nanotechnology.

Find out more about the conference here.

The Chinese Government’s Friendship Award is the highest honour bestowed by the People's Republic of China on foreign experts who have made exceptional contributions to the country’s economic and social development.

The awards ceremony took place on September 30th, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, under the auspices of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs). The event was attended by other ministers and vice-ministers of the Chinese government. This celebration coincided with China’s National Day. 

8 activities and over 30 researchers from CENIMAT|i3N joined the European Researchers’ Night 2025, last Friday, September 26th, at Pavilhão do Conhecimento, Lisbon.

We shared science curiosities and hands-on experiences in key areas such as Climate Change, Beating Cancer, Smart Cities, and Ocean & Waters. Families and visitors explored our prototypes and interactive demos, discovering how our research is shaping a more sustainable and innovative future. 

Initiatives like this remind us that science is for everyone, and that together we can build knowledge, inspire curiosity, and create solutions for tomorrow.

A special thank you to all the researchers, students, partners, and visitors who made this night so inspiring!

O CENIMAT|i3N vai marcar presença na Noite Europeia dos Investigadores 2025, no Pavilhão do Conhecimento, em Lisboa, no dia 26 de setembro, entre as 19h e as 24h.

A participação inclui oito atividades interativas que se inserem em quatro das cinco Missões da Comissão Europeia: Alterações Climáticas, Vencer o Cancro, Cidades Inteligentes e Oceano & Águas. A iniciativa oferece uma oportunidade única para conhecer os investigadores do CENIMAT|i3N, explorar tecnologias inovadoras e compreender de que forma a investigação científica que aqui realizamos contribui para um futuro mais sustentável. A entrada é gratuita e aberta a todos os públicos.

Clica para saber mais sobre as atividades.

On September 5, 2025, i3N-NOVA (Caparica campus) welcomed a high-level delegation from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), marking an important step in strengthening scientific collaboration between Europe and China.

The delegation was led by Prof. Wang Dujin, Director-General of the Bureau of Academic Divisions at CAS, and included distinguished researchers and officials such as Prof. Yu Shuhong, Prof. Leng Jinsong, Dr. Feng Xia, Dr. Ru Zhitao, and Dr. Huang Lin, who also serves as Head of the Science and Technology Group of CAS and member of the European Academy of Sciences (EurASc). They were received by Prof. Rodrigo Martins, Director of i3N-NOVA and President of EurASc, recently honored with the CAS International Cooperation Award for Distinguished Scientists (2023), the highest recognition granted by CAS to foreign experts.

 

A Licenciatura e o Mestrado em Engenharia de Micro e Nanotecnologias está à tua espera e ainda te podes juntar a nós!

 

Se procuras uma formação técnico-científica de excelência, com ligação direta à investigação e à indústria, este é o teu próximo passo.

We're excited to welcome Professor Matteo Gigli from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice to share his latest research on biomass valorization into advanced functional materials.

 

From chitin-based biomedical films to bioactive packaging polyesters, and lignin valorization via enzymatic treatments, his work pushes the boundaries of green chemistry and circular innovation.

 

The seminar will take place at 11h00, on July 30th, at the Library Auditorium and it is open to the entire community.