Instituto Pedro Nunes
Encyclopedia
Instituto Pedro Nunes is a non-profit private organization for innovation
and technology transfer
based in Coimbra
, Portugal
. It is named after the Portuguese 16th century mathematician and professor Pedro Nunes
, who lived in the city of Coimbra and worked for the local university.
, thermo-mechanical and electronics engineering company Active Space Technologies
, and biotechnology company Crioestaminal
.
LABGEO – Laboratory of Geotechnique: LABGEO covers the scientific areas of Geotechnique and foundations. The main services area is consulting, engineering geology and soil mechanical characterization, based on the execution of research and field and laboratory tests. LABGEO aims to contribute to a general quality improvement on the construction of Geotechnical structures, through applied research and services development in the area of Geotechnique.
LAS - Laboratory of Automation and Systems: LAS develops its activities primarily in the following fields: wearable computing and instrumentation, robotics and industrial automation, image analysis, medical instrumentation and rational use of energy and support for sustainable development.
LEC - Laboratory of Electroanalysis and Corrosion: LEC covers the areas of corrosion and of electroanalysis of trace metals or other pollutants in complex matrices, by detection in situ in real time, through continuous on-line monitoring, of inorganic or organic components of effluents or of environmental origin.
LED&MAT - Laboratory of Wear, Testing and Materials: LED&MAT deals with the following areas: coatings for mechanical applications (wear and oxidation protection), recovery of inorganic waste, powder injection of ceramic materials, new metallic alloys, selection of materials, failure analysis of in-service components, chemical analysis of solids, tribology, oxidation and corrosion, and non-destructive analysis of materials. This laboratory has also two unities: the UGRAN – Unity of Characterization and Certification of Granular Materials and the UMS – Unity for surface Modifications.
LIS - Laboratory of Informatics and Systems: LIS includes all the fields of Information and Communication Technology, namely Information Systems, Communication Systems, Databases, Intelligent Systems, Industrial Informatics, Multimedia Systems, and Interactive Training Systems.
BUSINESS Incubator: IPN promotes the creation of spin-off companies by giving support to innovative and technology-based ideas generated by its own laboratories, institutions of higher education, particularly the University of Coimbra, the private sector, and RTD projects in consortia with industry. The IPN’s environment allows to firms the development of knowledge in such areas as quality, management, and marketing; it also facilitates contacts with national and international markets.
Knowledge Valorisation and Innovation Department: provides services to researchers, students and firms, as support to intellectual property
protection and licensing, support to spin-offs creation, technology transfer and commercialization, and appliance and management of R&D funded programmes.
Innovation
Innovation is the creation of better or more effective products, processes, technologies, or ideas that are accepted by markets, governments, and society...
and technology transfer
Technology transfer
Technology Transfer, also called Transfer of Technology and Technology Commercialisation, is the process of skill transferring, knowledge, technologies, methods of manufacturing, samples of manufacturing and facilities among governments or universities and other institutions to ensure that...
based in Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. It is named after the Portuguese 16th century mathematician and professor Pedro Nunes
Pedro Nunes
Pedro Nunes , was a Portuguese mathematician, cosmographer, and professor, from a New Christian family. Nunes, considered to be one of the greatest mathematicians of his time , is best known for his contributions in the technical field of navigation, which was crucial to the Portuguese period of...
, who lived in the city of Coimbra and worked for the local university.
IPN profile
The Instituto Pedro Nunes is an autonomous technology transfer centre of the University of Coimbra, being the main link between the University of Coimbra and the business sector. IPN work is made through RTD in partnership with enterprises, specialized training and promotion and support to tech-based spin-offs. IPN has its own technological infrastructures – six laboratories – besides accessing a network of researchers in the scientific and technological system, particularly from the University of Coimbra, mainly through the Faculty of Sciences and Technology. It also belongs to several national and international networks, including TII, EARTO, Incubator Forum and Proton (Gate2Growth). Some examples of successful technological companies born in or otherwise linked to the IPN, include software company Critical SoftwareCritical Software
Critical Software is a Portuguese information systems and software company, headquartered in Coimbra. Critical Software specialises in the development and deployment of software solutions or COTS based systems...
, thermo-mechanical and electronics engineering company Active Space Technologies
Active Space Technologies
Active Space Technologies is a European company, with main offices in Portugal and Germany, headquartered in Coimbra, which offers products and services in the fields of thermo-mechanical engineering , electronics engineering , as well as management support services for technology...
, and biotechnology company Crioestaminal
Crioestaminal
Crioestaminal is a biotechnology company founded in Coimbra, Portugal in 2003, and headquartered in Cantanhede. The company's main activity is collection, and cryopreservation of cord blood stem cells. These cells may be used in therapeutical procedures directed towards several diseases...
.
IPN laboratories and departments
LABPHARM – Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Studies: LABPHARM covers the scientific areas of pharmacology, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutical technology and pharmacognosy. LABPHARM has for mission to provide better life quality through scientific and technical pharmaceutical projects, working in collaboration with both public and private sector (pharmaceutical, chemical and food industry, among others).LABGEO – Laboratory of Geotechnique: LABGEO covers the scientific areas of Geotechnique and foundations. The main services area is consulting, engineering geology and soil mechanical characterization, based on the execution of research and field and laboratory tests. LABGEO aims to contribute to a general quality improvement on the construction of Geotechnical structures, through applied research and services development in the area of Geotechnique.
LAS - Laboratory of Automation and Systems: LAS develops its activities primarily in the following fields: wearable computing and instrumentation, robotics and industrial automation, image analysis, medical instrumentation and rational use of energy and support for sustainable development.
LEC - Laboratory of Electroanalysis and Corrosion: LEC covers the areas of corrosion and of electroanalysis of trace metals or other pollutants in complex matrices, by detection in situ in real time, through continuous on-line monitoring, of inorganic or organic components of effluents or of environmental origin.
LED&MAT - Laboratory of Wear, Testing and Materials: LED&MAT deals with the following areas: coatings for mechanical applications (wear and oxidation protection), recovery of inorganic waste, powder injection of ceramic materials, new metallic alloys, selection of materials, failure analysis of in-service components, chemical analysis of solids, tribology, oxidation and corrosion, and non-destructive analysis of materials. This laboratory has also two unities: the UGRAN – Unity of Characterization and Certification of Granular Materials and the UMS – Unity for surface Modifications.
LIS - Laboratory of Informatics and Systems: LIS includes all the fields of Information and Communication Technology, namely Information Systems, Communication Systems, Databases, Intelligent Systems, Industrial Informatics, Multimedia Systems, and Interactive Training Systems.
BUSINESS Incubator: IPN promotes the creation of spin-off companies by giving support to innovative and technology-based ideas generated by its own laboratories, institutions of higher education, particularly the University of Coimbra, the private sector, and RTD projects in consortia with industry. The IPN’s environment allows to firms the development of knowledge in such areas as quality, management, and marketing; it also facilitates contacts with national and international markets.
Knowledge Valorisation and Innovation Department: provides services to researchers, students and firms, as support to intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
protection and licensing, support to spin-offs creation, technology transfer and commercialization, and appliance and management of R&D funded programmes.