i3N Coordinator, Professor Rodrigo Martins, has co-authored a prominent opinion article alongside Professor João Rocha, from CICECO, advocating for a national strategic focus on advanced materials.
The article, titled "Advanced Materials: The Matter From Which the Future is Made" ("Materiais avançados: a matéria de que se faz o futuro"), highlights advanced materials as a vital strategic platform to bridge cutting-edge research, industrial innovation, and technological sovereignty in Portugal for the 2026–2030 period.
A Joint Mobilization for National Strategy
The co-authored piece outlines a major initiative to position Advanced Materials as a core strategic domain within the newly established AI² (the funding agency resulting from the merger of the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia - FCT and the Agência Nacional de Inovação - ANI).
This mobilization brings together leading Portuguese research and technology institutions, including:
- i3N (Institute for Nanostructures, Nanomodelling and Nanofabrication)
- CICECO (Aveiro Institute of Materials)
- INL (International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory)
- CeNTI (Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials)
Working in close collaboration with the business sector, this alliance aims to align Portugal’s scientific capabilities directly with the European industrial innovation agenda.
Setting the Stage: The Aveiro Meeting and the Road to "Ciência e Inovação 2026"
As highlighted in the article, the first concrete step of this initiative took place on July 10, 2026, during a working meeting at the University of Aveiro. The event brought together research organizations, interface entities, and industry players to discuss the creation of an open and inclusive National Advanced Materials Network.
This network will lay the groundwork for upcoming strategic, scientific, and industrial alignments. Notably, the formal proposal to recognize advanced materials as a key strategic domain will be presented to AI² during a dedicated session at the upcoming national meeting, Encontro Ciência e Inovação 2026.
Why Advanced Materials Matter
Professors Rodrigo Martins and João Rocha emphasize that Advanced Materials are at the absolute heart of global transitions. They are crucial for:
- Next-Generation Technologies: Powering more efficient batteries, next-gen semiconductors, smart sensors, and advanced medical devices.
- Sovereignty & Resilience: Creating domestic alternatives to critical raw materials and boosting circular economy models in key sectors.
- Territorial Cohesion: Linking regional industrial clusters (such as ceramics, textiles, forestry, and electronics) with high-value jobs and scientific knowledge.
Through this strategic roadmap, i3N reinforces its pivotal role in shaping public policies that foster scientific excellence, regional cohesion, and competitive industrial development across the country.
Read the full article here.