28 February 2014 - Philippine Ambassador to Portugal Philippe Lhuillier made a visit to the Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN) located in Coimbra on February 12. The Ambassador was warmly received by Professor Teresa Mendes, President of the Board of IPN who gave a short overview of the operations of the IPN.
Founded in 1991 as an initiative by the University of Coimbra, the IPN is a non-profit private institution dedicated to innovation and development of science and technology for the benefit of the public. The Institute promotes transfer of technology and interface between the scientific and technological system and the production sector.
Professor Mendes explained that the IPN aims to contribute to the transformation of the business environment by promoting a culture of innovation, quality, rigor and entrepreneurship, built on solid relationship between research and the enterprise. The IPN also provides consultancy and specialized services for business organizations especially spin-off companies.
After the briefing, the Ambassador was given a tour in one of the six research laboratories at IPN where a company has commissioned the Institute to conduct trial and testing on a new material designed for insulation in the construction industry. Professor Mendes noted that the uniqueness of the Institute lies in its business and ideas incubation program which support the development of innovative and technology-based ideas.
Aside from the research laboratories, the IPN facilities include rooms called "incubators" where companies can rent in order to gain access to the scientific and technological support and an environment which encourages the development of knowledge on quality, management and marketing. Business companies also benefit from the network of national and international markets provided by the IPN. Newly-enrolled companies occupy the nursery incubators until they mature and transfer to the advanced facilities until such time they graduate from the program.
Ambassador Lhuillier thanked Professor Mendes for the visit and for offering to share the IPN's experience in linking research on science and technology with the development of the business sector. END
