Minister of Economy visits Católica - Porto to learn about the innovation and business creation ecosystem based at Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry

Tuesday, June 25, 2024 - 17:39

With the aim of getting to know the companies that are in co-creation at the Biotechnology Building, the Universidade Católica Portuguesa - Porto welcomed Pedro Reis, minister of Economy, to its facilities on June 25th. The visit, at the invitation of Isabel Capeloa Gil, president of UCP, comes as part of the close collaboration between the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry at Faculty of Biotechnology, Biorbis (a biotechnology start-up based in the Biotechnology Building), and Pipa Corp (partner company of artificial intelligence applied to nutrition and spin-off of the University of California, Davis.

At this visit the minister team had the opportunity to get acquainted about examples of collaborations between companies and universities that play a central role in generating knowledge and in Portugal's growth strategy. In particular, the presence of companies like Biorbis in the CBQF translates into a close relationship in the execution of innovation projects with largely positive results for the institutions involved. The location of Biorbis, among other companies, at the university campus adds a new dimension to the proposed challenges and to the recognition of Católica as an entity of excellence in education in Portugal, in addition to contributing to the growth of investment in R&D activities in the Porto Metropolitan Area.

The visit of the Minister of Economy was accompanied by Isabel Braga da Cruz, pro-rector of UCP, Paula Castro, director of ESB, João Pinto, Director of Católica Porto Business School, Manuela Pintado, director of CBQF, John Melo, CEO of Biorbis and entrepreneur of recognized merit in biotechnology, Andrés Rodas García, director of Biorbis and Ilias Tagkopoulos, professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Davis, director of the NSF/USDA Artificial Intelligence Institute for Next Generation Food Systems (AIFS), an entity with support from two North American federal agencies (NSF and USDA), and Chairman of Pipa Corp.

Ilias Tagkopoulos' experience is an example of knowledge translation from academic entities to technology-based companies, especially in the development of technologies linked to artificial intelligence. Pipa Corp, the company he founded, is preparing an investment in Porto, namely at the Faculty of Biotechnology, with the aim of creating a team in Portugal to use artificial intelligence to solve problems and challenges in the areas of nutrition, agriculture and biotechnology. The knowledge generated will be capable of influencing human well-being and the sustainability of the environment and food systems around the world with “Made In Portugal” science.

This opportunity for discussion, evaluation of the co-creation system and sharing of entrepreneurship, innovation and investment practices is a unique opportunity to meet participants with extensive experience and ambition and translates into a highly productive and progressive meeting. The future perspective also brings into the conversation the importance of generating highly qualified jobs resulting from public and private investment in cutting-edge science, which is an essential factor in retaining talent in Portugal and attracting even more ambitious investments to Portugal.