Knowledge Networks News Launching of the Fraunhofer – Portugal Program Launching of the Fraunhofer – Portugal Program
- 15/04/2007
At a ceremony at the Porto Customs House lasting from 11.45 am until 1 pm on 18th April 2007, a long-term collaboration agreement was signed between the Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) and Knowledge Society Agency (UMIC) and FhG – Fraunhofer Gesellschaft - the company that manages 56 applied research laboratories in Germany and is the largest applied research organisation in Europe. This long-term cooperation agreement focuses on emerging technologies, exploring mutual interest in science and technology for social well-being, economic growth and quality of life. The focal areas for this collaboration were identified based on a preliminary opportunity analysis that was conducted in 2006. They include ICTs, biotechnology, nanotechnology, advanced production engineering and logistics.
The core objective of the agreement is to establish a framework for ongoing and systematic cooperation between Fraunhofer Institutes and R&D institutions in Portugal, and to set up a Fraunhofer Institute in Portugal in the short-term, dedicated to applied research in Technology, Applications and Services for Ambient Assisted Living. This will be the first Fraunhofer Institute to be set up outside Germany.
The ceremony will be chaired by the Portuguese Prime Minister and will also include a presentation by the president of the Innovation Agency (site in Portuguese) of the setting up of new technology companies in Portugal based on the scientific and university system and the ScienceValue Initiatives to support filing international patents and harnessing the economic value of scientific knowledge. The ceremony will be attended by the following representatives from Germany: the Secretary of State for Education and Research, Frieder Meyer Krahmer, the President of the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, H. Bullinger, and a delegation of directors and researchers from different Fraunhofer Institutes. From Portugal, the participants include the Minister and Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Higher Education, the Presidents of the FCT and UMIC, and other directors and researchers from different public bodies, Associate Laboratories and other R&D institutions, and companies.
A session will be held before this ceremony from 9.30am to 11.20am, where presentations of the different Fraunhofer – Portugal Knowledge Networks partnerships and the respective agreements will be made, namely those related to:
- Developing products for the automotive industry, between University Groups,
CEIIA – Centre for Excellence and Innovation in the Automotive Industry,
CTAG – Galician Centre for Automotive Technology,
Fraunhofer IGD – Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics,
Fraunhofer IPA – Fraunhofer Institute for Production Engineering and Automation; - Logistics, between
ISQ – Institute for Welding and Quality,
SUCH – Joint Hospital Use Services (site in Portuguese),
ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal, SA (site in Portuguese),
Portway – Handling de Portugal,
Universidade de Aveiro (site in Portuguese),
Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa (site in Portuguese),
Fraunhofer IML – Fraunhofer Institute for Materials Flow and Logistics; - Life sciences and biotechnology, between
IBET – Institute of Experimental Biology and Technology,
Fraunhofer IGB – Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology.