The CICECO–CIIAE Workshop on Energy Research, held on 6–7 November 2025 at the University of Aveiro, gathered around 70 participants from Portuguese and Spanish institutions to discuss the present and future of energy research across the Iberian Peninsula. Organised jointly by CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials and CIIAE – Centro Ibérico de Investigación en Almacenamiento Energético, in collaboration with INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, this workshop was part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of CICECO, which include a series of scientific events dedicated to strengthening collaboration and sharing knowledge within the scientific community.

Over two days, the workshop featured 24 scientific lectures, a round table on energy research “from the cradle to the market”, and a co-creation session to stimulate joint project proposals. Researchers, industry professionals and innovation leaders shared developments in advanced materials, sustainable storage systems, renewable integration, and circular solutions for energy technologies.

Opening the event, Prof. Paulo Jorge Ferreira, Rector of the University of Aveiro, highlighted the relevance of cross-border scientific collaboration to accelerate the energy transition. The morning session followed with institutional presentations by Breogán Pato Doldán, Head of the Thermal Energy Storage Department at CIIAE, who presented the research strategy and infrastructure of CIIAE, and by Filipe Figueiredo, Coordinator of the Energy Research Line at CICECO, who outlined the institute’s multidisciplinary approach to energy materials and technologies.

The round table, moderated by Prof. João Rocha (CICECO/University of Aveiro), brought together representatives from academia, technology centres and industry, including Pedro Horta (University of Évora/INIESC), José Gonçalves (CeNTI), Henar Olmedo Gómez (CIDAUT), Carlos Alberto Prieto Velasco (MOEVE), and André Pinto (dst group). The debate addressed the challenges of bridging fundamental research and industrial application — highlighting the need for coordinated funding, scalable prototypes, and strategic partnerships to translate scientific progress into technological impact.

On the second day, a co-creation session led by Brigita Jurisic (INL) encouraged participants to develop joint project proposals under Horizon Europe Clusters 4 and 5, covering topics such as battery recycling, long-duration energy storage, solar thermal systems, and CO? management. More than 40 researchers engaged in this collaborative exercise, laying the groundwork for new Iberian and European energy initiatives.

The workshop concluded with an invitation to continue exchanging results and materials beyond the two-day programme. As noted by the organisers, “Sharing may go beyond the workshop days — collaboration starts here, but its impact depends on our ongoing exchange.”

???? See all the photos on our gallery: Workshop moments