The Centre of Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry hosted the second Cross-border Integration Workshop of the CROSSPATHS project at Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Porto. This restricted event focused on strengthening connections between research institutions and the Portuguese innovation ecosystem, with the participation of industry representatives, innovation agencies, and CROSSPATHS consortium partners.
One of the main highlights of the day was the round table session, moderated by CBQF Director Manuela Pintado. The session offered a frank and productive dialogue between companies and institutional stakeholders on the practical challenges of research-industry collaboration.
Company CEOs from TecmaFoods, Naturtech, Simplyeast and AgroGrIN Tech shared their perspectives, emphasizing key barriers such as limited timeframes, the speed of industrial processes, and the gap between research output and commercial needs. Participants pointed out that while funding exists, long project durations and slow responses often make it difficult for businesses to bring innovations to market in time.
Several company representatives highlighted the importance of quicker access to applied knowledge, stronger alignment between partners, and more hands-on support during industrial validation and scale-up. Others pointed to the need for more skilled professionals in areas related to technology transfer and industrial application.
Débora Campos, Founder & CEO at AgroGrIN Tech, when asked about the industrial scale-up of a biotech startup, commented: “One of our biggest challenges was finding industrial partners with the expertise to negotiate and scale up our innovation - there’s a real gap in supporting biotech-based startups through the industrial validation stage.”
Although R&D projects may lack the agility to respond to immediate real-world needs, collaboration between businesses and research institutions remains essential for developing innovative solutions. These partnerships allow earlier access to deep, specialized knowledge and solid R&D support, offering long-term stability once collaborations are in place.
Tiago Duarte, Founder at Simplyeast, when asked about the success of R&D projects involving research units and companies, noted: “For R&D collaborations to be truly impactful, all partners need to be equally committed and involved. Too often, misaligned expectations between companies and research institutions, particularly around timelines, operational constraints and CAPEX/OPEX requirements, compromise the success and full potential of these projects.”
Institutional representatives from ANI, CCDR-N, PortugalFoods and AEP also contributed to the discussion, highlighting structural challenges within Portugal, such as the fragmentation of the innovation landscape due to intensive regulamentation, as well as cultural challenges within Europe and other countries. They also underline the need for stronger coordination among existing entities, focusing on activities integration, avoiding the creation of new layers, and the need to reduce bureaucracy. The importance of promoting cross-border collaboration platforms, like CROSSPATHS project, will ensure better integration of national and European capacities.
A concrete proposal emerged from the discussion: the creation of a "Concierge" service to map national R&D capacities and connect companies with the most suitable partners. This structure would help reduce delays, avoid duplicated efforts, and accelerate the innovation journey for companies.
This workshop, the took place on June the 13th, was part of the CROSSPATHS project’s mission to foster collaboration between research institutions and innovation ecosystems in Europe, particularly in widening countries. The open exchange of experiences and needs reinforced the urgency of more agile, connected, and strategic approaches to research and innovation.
