The University of Aveiro will host the session “Patents: from scientific performance to rankings” on 9 April 2026, bringing together researchers and institutional stakeholders to discuss intellectual property strategies and the role of patents in research and technology development.

The initiative takes place at a time when the University of Aveiro ranks among the leading national institutions in European patent applications. According to the EPO Technology Dashboard 2025 from the European Patent Office, this performance has the contribution of CICECO–Aveiro Institute of Materials.

In 2025, Portugal reached a record 368 European patent applications.The University of Aveiro secured the 1st place in the 2026 Inventa Barometer – Patents Made in Portugal, reflecting a sustained institutional focus on research valorisation and knowledge transfer.

CICECO’s contribution

CICECO plays a central role in the University of Aveiro’s performance in patent production and technology transfer. As one of the most productive research units in Portugal in materials science, CICECO reports an annual output exceeding 550 SCI-indexed publications. Its intellectual property portfolio includes 210 national patents and 158 international patents filed between 2002 and 2025.

Recent data from the Inventa Barometer indicate that members of CICECO are listed as inventors in 35 patent applications, with protection extended across multiple jurisdictions, including Europe, the United States, Brazil, Japan, and China. These outcomes reflect research activities often developed in collaboration with industry partners and other academic institutions.

In the same period, further technology transfer activities include three licensed technologies and the creation of one spin-off dedicated to the commercialisation of a pharmaceutical formulation developed in CICECO.These indicators highlight the role of CICECO in translating scientific results into applications with potential economic and societal relevance.

Institutional framework for intellectual property

At the University of Aveiro, the management of intellectual property is coordinated by UACOOPERA, the structure responsible for identifying, protecting, and supporting the valorisation of research outputs. The interaction between research units such as CICECO and support structures like UACOOPERA has contributed to consolidating an innovation ecosystem oriented towards effective knowledge transfer and collaboration with external partners.

Programme and participation

The session will take place on 9 April 2026 at the Hélder Castanheira Auditorium, University of Aveiro, starting at 14:30.

Confirmed participants include João Coutinho and Mara Freire from CICECO, and Armando Silvestre from the Chemistry Department of the University of Aveiro. Additional contributors include Ana Trindade Fonseca (UACOOPERA), Jorge Machado (Inventa), and Vítor Moreira (Inventa). The session will be opened by Artur Silva and closed by João Veloso, Vice-Rectors of the University of Aveiro.

The programme includes presentations on the EPO Technology Dashboard and the Inventa Barometer, followed by a roundtable discussion on the importance of intellectual property protection as an indicator of research performance.

Participation is free of charge.