the new center INESCTEC.OCEANled by the Institute of Engineering, Technology and Systems Science and Informatics (INESC TEC)with an investment of more than 30 million euros, aspires to be an “international reference” in ocean engineeringIt was announced this Wednesday.
“Over the next six years,.OCEAN will promote the development of emerging sectors of the sea, such as renewable energies “offshore”deep-sea monitoring, assessment of the environmental impact of human activities at sea or offshore aquaculture,” states the INESC TECof Porto, in a statement.
The center of excellence in marine research and engineering will also “promote research and development in these areas, the creation of a network of technological infrastructures “on dry land” and “offshore” develop and test technology, advanced training of human resources and bring science closer to the business world, stimulating scientific-based innovation.”
HE INESCTEC.OCEAN It will also have “an impact on sectors considered traditional, such as fishing or port and logistics activities.”
The objective is that the INESCTEC.OCEAN will become “an international benchmark in the field of ocean engineering”, and its activity is expected to exceed 20 million euros in 2031, adds the INESC TEC.
Until then, the Center of Excellence will be incubated in INESC TEC for at least four years.
HE INESCTEC.OCEAN will be “the first center of excellence in research and engineering for the sea” of Portugal and results of an application for the Teaming for Excellence competition of the Horizon Europe Widening program.
Like this, Financing greater than 30 million euros has 15 million euros. “guaranteed by the Horizon Europe Program of the European Union, and the remaining amount by the Portuguese Government, through the Foundation for Science and Technology and funds from different sources.”
“Directed by INESC TECThe project, which will be developed between 2025 and 2031, has, in Portugal, the participation of the Fórum Oceano, the Cluster do Mar Português and the APDL – Administração dos Portos do Douro, Leixões and Viana do Castelo”, describes the INESC TEC.
At the international level, the INESCTE.OCEAN has “the participation of the Norwegian R&D Center OCEAN SYNTHEFTthe main Norwegian research and development center in the Marine area, with more than 70 years of experience.”
“Our objective is to find the means to take existing infrastructures to another level, such as the Blue Hub of Leixões I, TEC4Sea, or the testing platform in Aguçadoura, Póvoa de Varzim,” explains José Manuel Mendonça, head of coordination. of the application INESCTEC.OCEAN and former president of the board of directors of INESC TEC.
Taking advantage of the country’s central location facing the Atlantic Ocean, the INESCTEC.OCEAN foresees “the creation of four scientific programs, in collaboration with industry, dedicated to knowledge domains, such as Marine Structures, Marine Robotics, Ocean Energy and Ocean Data”
Added to this is “active participation in more than 50 cooperation projects with the industry, to respond to market needs,” says José Manuel Mendonça.
HE INESC TEC remember that Portugal has a coastline of about 2,500 kilometers and one of the largest exclusive economic zones in the world – the fifth in Europe – which extends over 1.7 million square kilometers and represents 95% of the national territory.
The maritime triangle located between mainland Portugal and the archipelagos of Madeira and Azores constitutes 48% of all marine waters adjacent to the European continent, he adds.
“Our territory has privileged conditions for the development of the Blue Economy and, now, it will be able to count on a Center of Excellence, which aims, through ocean research and engineering, to take advantage of all this potential,” explains José Manuel Mendonça.
Source: Observadora
