BIKiNNOV and FEUP join forces to bring research and the soft mobility industry closer together

The first stage of the “From Research to Market” Roadshow brought together FEUP’s scientific and technological expertise and the innovation challenges of the two-wheel sector

The Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) hosted, on 20 October, the first stage of the BIKiNNOV Roadshow – “From Research to Market”, an initiative promoted by BIKiNNOV – Bike Value Innovation Center Association, with the aim of strengthening the connection between the scientific and technological system and the soft mobility industry.

Dedicated to the theme “Cyber-Physical Systems and the Urban Geometry Paradigm”, this first session created a platform for interaction between researchers, students, companies and sector organisations, seeking to identify expertise, technologies and collaboration opportunities with potential for application in an industrial context.

The opening session featured the participation of Prof. Rui Calçada, Director of FEUP, who welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of bringing academia and the business community closer together in order to enhance the value of knowledge and research developed within an academic context. This was followed by an intervention from Eng. David Macário, Executive Director of BIKiNNOV, who presented the Centre’s mission, its main areas of expertise and technological capabilities, as well as the framework and objectives of the Roadshow. He highlighted BIKiNNOV’s role as a partner in the development of new collaboration opportunities, R&D projects and solutions aimed at addressing the challenges faced by the soft mobility industry.

The programme continued with the presentation of expertise and research areas available at FEUP, involving CITTA – Research Centre for Territory, Transports and Environment, SYSTEC – Research Center for Systems and Technologies, and the Department of Mechanical Engineering (DEMec). Capabilities were presented in areas such as territory and transport, cyber-physical systems, automation and robotics, advanced manufacturing, structural testing and non-destructive testing techniques, among others with potential applications in the two-wheel sector.

The session also included the participation of Everythink, a creativity, design and innovation studio with experience in the development of products, services and experiences, combining creative methodologies, strategic thinking, design, engineering, prototyping and development geared towards industrialisation. Its contribution added a perspective focused on transforming knowledge and ideas into solutions with the potential for practical application and market deployment.

This was followed by a co-creation workshop, in which participants were challenged to combine the scientific and technological capabilities available at the university with the current and future needs and challenges of the two-wheel industry. The workshop provided an opportunity to discuss ideas, identify areas of convergence and explore possibilities for collaboration between researchers, companies and the other organisations present.

The practical and collaborative component was particularly relevant during the afternoon, with technical visits to infrastructures and units associated with DEMec, SYSTEC and CITTA. During these visits, participants had the opportunity to learn about equipment, ongoing projects and research areas, as well as to meet directly with different research groups.

These activities made it possible to explore potential areas of collaboration in greater depth and to identify opportunities for the development of joint projects, bringing concrete industry challenges closer to the scientific and technological expertise available at FEUP.

“This first stage clearly demonstrated the existence of scientific and technological expertise with significant potential for application in the two-wheel industry. Our role is precisely to bring these two worlds closer together, identify concrete opportunities and contribute to transforming knowledge and good ideas into innovation projects with an impact on the sector,” says David Macário, Executive Director of BIKiNNOV.

The BIKiNNOV Roadshow – “From Research to Market” aims to create a closer and more structured connection between universities, research centres and companies, giving visibility to expertise capable of addressing the industry’s technological challenges and contributing to the creation of new research, development and innovation projects.

Following FEUP, the initiative will continue at the University of Beira Interior (UBI) on 13 November and at the University of Coimbra (UC) on 20 November, with each stage dedicated to different areas of knowledge and technological challenges relevant to the sector.

The initiative is carried out under Action Line 5 – Promotion and Networks, integrated within the Interface Mission – Base Funding for Technology and Innovation Centres, funded by the PRR – Recovery and Resilience Plan and by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU funds.

For more information, visit: https://recuperarportugal.gov.pt