The ILLIANCE Agenda has concluded after more than four years of collaborative research and innovation, demonstrating how partnerships between academia and industry can accelerate the development of technologies for more sustainable, energy-efficient and intelligent buildings.

The project's closing event, held at Bosch Aveiro under the theme Building the Future of Smart Buildings, brought together the 29 partner organisations that contributed to one of Portugal's largest collaborative innovation initiatives under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).

CICECO played a central role throughout the project, contributing expertise in advanced materials, circular economy, energy efficiency and smart technologies through several research teams and work packages.

The Institute's contributions included the development of innovative materials and solutions for the construction sector, supporting the transition towards more sustainable buildings through improved energy performance, resource efficiency and digitalisation.

CICECO researchers coordinated and contributed to several key activities across the project:

• João Tedim – WP2: Development of advanced Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled domestic water heaters, anticipating the electrification of heating systems and supporting the energy transition.
• Paula Ferreira – WP1: Development of solutions based on 100% recycled expanded polystyrene (EPS).
• Paula Vilarinho – WP4: Development of high-thickness ceramic flooring incorporating high levels of recycled materials with optimised surface properties.
• Ana Barros – WP4 – SENSING HOME: Development of smart sensing solutions to improve comfort, energy management and sustainability in buildings.

The ILLIANCE Agenda sought to address the challenges of carbon neutrality through the research, development and industrialisation of innovative technologies for healthier, more comfortable and sustainable buildings. During the project, new solutions were developed in areas including energy efficiency, digital and climate transition, electrification, hydrogen technologies, intelligent energy management, and occupants' wellbeing and safety.

The University of Aveiro participated through seven departments and four Associated Laboratories — CICECO, CESAM, I3N and the Institute of Telecommunications — involving more than one hundred researchers, academic staff and technical personnel. The initiative represented the University's largest investment within the Mobilising and Green Agendas, corresponding to approximately €13.7 million across 16 research and development projects.

The project generated 86 new Products, Processes and Services (PPS), with the University contributing to seven of the nine PPS developed. Additional outcomes include four joint patent applications, five licensing agreements, two industrial design registrations, more than 160 scientific publications and over 300 presentations at national and international conferences.

Speaking at the closing session, Artur Silva, Rector of the University of Aveiro, highlighted ILLIANCE as an example of how excellent research can be translated into innovation with societal and industrial impact through close collaboration with companies. Beyond the measurable outputs, he emphasised the project's lasting legacy in strengthening scientific capabilities, developing highly qualified teams and reinforcing cooperation between academia and industry.

The ILLIANCE Agenda also consolidated the long-standing collaboration between the University of Aveiro and Bosch, creating a strong foundation for future joint initiatives, including the recently approved Next2Heat project, which will continue to advance sustainable heating technologies and energy-efficient solutions.

ILLIANCE site: https://www.illiance.pt/