INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory

29/12/2025

We’ve just closed an incredible chapter: the FORGING Project!

Three years ago, we set out with Horizon Europe to tackle a big question: How can Europe embrace emerging technologies responsibly?

Here’s what we achieved together:

✅ Built a multi-stakeholder forum with 600+ members.

✅ Ran foresight exercises, co-creation workshops, podcasts, and webinars to explore future challenges and design responsible technology pathways.

✅ Developed practical tools: FORGING Toolbox, Key Value Indicators, Perspective Cards, and the Theseus Foresight Simulator.

✅ Created 22 use cases across strategic tech areas: AI, digital twins, bio-inspired technologies, human-machine interaction, and energy efficiency.

✅ Published a White Paper with 22 policy recommendations to guide responsible innovation.

But this isn’t the end.

INL is now partnering with the European Commission Joint Research Centre on The Accelerator, launching in 2026 to drive transformative innovation for Industry 5.0 and climate resilience.

Europe’s digital and green transitions are here to stay, and we’re proud to help lead the way.

Read more about the FORGING project and its impact here: https://inl.int/forging-project-conclusion/

Photography Credits to: Eva Fadil

23/12/2025

Clean energy, a sustainable environment, health, digital technologies… 📈

All these areas of life benefit from Europe’s active investment in advanced materials.

At INL, we are committed to accelerating innovation in this field.

Our recent participation in the IAM-I Symposium, held under the Advanced Materials Initiative, is proof of that commitment.

Representing INL, Dr Andrea Capasso – co-leader of Working Group 4 on Electronics – presented the status of WG4 activities and the first consolidated results of the community survey.

🔗 Read more on the impact of our participation here: https://inl.int/inl-participation-iam-i-symposium/

23/12/2025

The holidays are as sweet as those beside us! 🎀

This year, INLers embraced the festive spirit by filling ornament balls with their most cherished memories.

The joy spread like wildfire, and the results were simply magical!

📷 Swipe through INL’s memory lane!

From all of us, we wish you holidays as warm and joyful as the day we gathered to decorate our Christmas tree! 🎄

22/12/2025

Remember how exciting it was to pass secret notes as kids? 🔐

The rush of possibly getting caught,
the clever manoeuvres to deliver it,
the excitement when the mission was accomplished…

Last week, INLers Andrea Cruz and Catarina Moura recreated that feeling back at the Paediatric Inpatient Unit of Braga Hospital.

As part of the Mission NERD initiative, we turned the hospital into a mini-lab!

And the star of the show?
Deciphering secret messages!

The experiment was delightfully simple:

➡️ Step 1: Write your most secret message using baking soda.

➡️ Step 2: Brush a turmeric solution over the paper.

➡️ Step 3: Watch the magic happen as turmeric reacts to the high pH of baking soda, revealing your message.

Who knew the Christmas spirit could shine through with just a sprinkle of baking soda and a dash of turmeric?

P.S. What would your secret message be? Tell us in the comments.

19/12/2025

Congratulations, Prof. Clivia Sotomayor! 🏆

INL’s Director-General has made an extraordinary impact on the world of phonon physics.

We're thrilled to share Prof. Sotomayor has been honoured with the prestigious 2025 Klemens Lifetime Achievement Award.

Presented at Phonons 2025 in Buenos Aires, the honour recognises the exceptional lifetime contributions to the field made by the world-leading scientist.

The INL community proudly applauds Prof. Clivia for standing as a distinguished figure of scientific excellence!

🔗 Read the full article here: https://inl.int/clivia-sotomayor-klemens-lifetime-achievement-award-2025/

INL Director-General, Prof. Clivia Sotomayor receives the 2025 Klemens Lifetime Achievement Award at the Phonons Conference in Buenos Aires.

17/12/2025

This episode of is guaranteed to make your mouth water! 🍪

Little ones gave lab-produced cookies a try, and then learned these snacks weren't exactly baked, but rather printed!

Available on RTP2.

🔗 Watch the full episode here: https://www.rtp.pt/play/zigzag/p15529/e879944/descomplica

16/12/2025

Last month, we celebrated the anniversary of the decision that launched INL's vision. 🥂

Today, we remember the special tribute to the laboratory’s legacy and the people who built its path.

🔗 Read the full story here: https://inl.int/celebrating-20-years-of-inl-the-beginning-of-a-vision/

16/12/2025

Portugal's industrial future just became more promising!

Last 8 December, INL joined Keenfinity and Universidade do Porto to present the key outcomes of the Sensitive Industry project, a groundbreaking initiative bringing Artificial Intelligence into the Portuguese industrial ecosystem

But that wasn't the only milestone on the agenda!

For the grand finale, Keenfinity welcomed Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, for the inauguration of its brand-new EMS factory production area, an expansion set to boost Portugal’s industrial competitiveness!

15/12/2025

INL's network goes beyond Europe! 🌎

Earlier this December, a delegation from INL visited the Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Brazil’s leading public health institution!

The visit was key to strengthening institutional ties, and exploring opportunities for joint projects and shared infrastructures!

Discover what else was on the visit's agenda: https://inl.int/inl-delegation-visits-fiocruz-to-strengthen-cooperation/

12/12/2025

Does minimalism have a place in low-noise circuits? 🔇

INLers certainly believe so!

A group of researchers at INL have developed a tuneable, compact bandgap reference design that significantly reduces flicker noise.

In practical terms, this innovation could have a major impact on implantable medical devices, where compactability is essential for safe integration into the human body.

🔗 Read more on this innovation here: https://inl.int/minimal-approach-low-noise-circuits/

nano

10/12/2025

INLer Sara Abalde-Cela won an ERC Consolidator Grant!

A true cornerstone of scientific excellence, this prestigious €2 million honour from the European Research Council (ERC) will propel Dr. Abalde-Cela’s research and career to new heights.

At INL, Sara works as Research Scientist PI, but her story here began years ago as an MSCA researcher. Since then, she hasn’t just grown within our laboratories, they’ve grown with her. From integrating our very first spin-off, RUBYnanomed, to stepping in as Research Group Leader, her contributions have been nothing short of remarkable.

INL could not be any prouder to be the birthplace of such ground-breaking research!

Huge congratulations, Dr. Sara Abalde-Cela!

🔗 Read more on the milestone here: https://inl.int/erc-consolidator-grant-sara-abalde-cela-inl/

06/12/2025

Happy Día de la Constitución!

Today, Spain celebrates the anniversary of its historic transition to democracy.

INL extends warm wishes to all Spaniards on this special day!