Full Professor Manuela Pintado, Director of the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF) at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, has been invited to join the Advisory Council of COTEC Portugal, one of the country’s leading platforms dedicated to promoting innovation and the competitiveness of Portuguese companies.
COTEC Portugal is a non-profit association whose mission is to enhance the competitiveness of companies operating in Portugal by fostering the development and dissemination of a culture and practice of innovation, as well as leveraging the country’s resident knowledge. Since its founding in 2003, COTEC has counted the President of the Republic as its Honorary President and has been recognized as a public utility institution. Its activities are structured around three strategic pillars — Anticipate, Activate, and Advocate — aimed at encouraging reflection on future trends, promoting collaborative innovation, and contributing to effective public policies that stimulate business innovation.
“It is an honor to join the Advisory Council of COTEC Portugal and to contribute to strategic reflection on the paths of national innovation. I believe that collaboration between science and industry is essential to transform knowledge into economic and social value,” highlights Manuela Pintado, Director of the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry of Faculty of Biotechnology of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa.
With a career distinguished by excellence in research and a strong commitment to knowledge transfer, Manuela Pintado has led numerous projects in collaboration with companies and scientific institutions, both nationally and internationally. Her work spans functional foods, cosmetics and materials, valorization of byproducts and waste, and the production and characterization of bioactive compounds. As director of Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry and coordinator of the Bioactives & Bioproducts Research group, she has fostered a culture of innovation and collaboration that strengthens the link between science and industry, contributing to sustainable development and national competitiveness. Manuela Pintado’s appointment to the Advisory Council of COTEC Portugal represents a significant recognition of her professional journey and an opportunity to deepen the dialogue between the scientific community and the Portuguese business sector.
