Austrian Delegation Visits Instituto Superior Técnico to Foster Research Collaborations

A distinguished delegation organized by the Austrian Embassy visited the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) this week with the aim of exploring potential collaborations and partnerships. The visit was led by Austrian Research Centers GmbH (ARC), Austria’s largest research center dedicated to applied research and development outside the university sector. This initiative marks a significant step towards strengthening the research and innovation ties between Austria and Portugal.

The primary goal of the visit was to gain a comprehensive understanding of IST’s organizational structure, including its dynamic educational environment and extensive research activities. This foundational knowledge is crucial for establishing future partnerships. The delegation focused on identifying areas of convergence between IST’s capabilities and the interests of Austrian enterprises, with the aim of fostering collaborative opportunities.

During the visit, the delegation sought to pinpoint synergies between IST’s research strengths and the strategic interests of Austrian businesses. By identifying these common areas, the delegation aims to pave the way for joint research and innovation projects. This initiative is expected to lead to strategic partnerships that leverage the strengths of both Austrian and Portuguese institutions.

A significant aspect of the visit was the initiation of a proactive and constructive dialogue between IST and the Austrian business entities. The discussions aimed to create an environment conducive to developing strategic partnerships and collaborative research initiatives. The dialogue focused on leveraging each institution’s strengths to foster innovation and address common challenges in the industry.

The delegation comprised several high-profile individuals from Austria’s research and industrial sectors:

  • Michael Auer: Managing Director of the Austrian Institute for Packaging (OeIV)
  • Bernhard Ecker: Journalist from Trend PRESS
  • Iris Filzwieser: President of Austrian Cooperative Research (ACR) and CFO of Mettop GmbH
  • Wolfgang Haidinger: Department for Research, Technology, and Innovation at the Federation of Austrian Industry (IV)
  • Peter Hofer-Hauser: Deputy Managing Director of the Austrian Foundry Institute (OGI)
  • Rita Kremsner: Deputy Managing Director of ACR and the visit organizer
  • Hartmuth Schröttner: Senior Scientist at the Centre for Electron Microscopy (ZFE)
  • Christa Zengerer: Managing Director of the Austrian Foundry Institute (OGI)
  • Daniel Zins: Department of Innovation & Digital Transformation at the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKO)

This visit represents a critical step towards fostering closer research and innovation ties between Austria and Portugal. By encouraging collaborations between IST and Austrian entities, both countries can benefit from shared knowledge, resources, and technological advancements. The proactive dialogue and the identification of synergies during the visit are expected to lead to impactful joint initiatives.

As the delegation concluded its visit, the groundwork for future partnerships and collaborative projects was effectively laid. The potential collaborations between IST and Austrian research and industrial entities promise to drive innovation and contribute significantly to the technological and industrial advancement of both nations. The visit not only highlighted the mutual benefits of such collaborations but also underscored the commitment of both countries to advancing research and development through strategic partnerships.

Photonics West 2024

Members of NanoXCan consortium showcased their work at Photonics West in San Francisco. The Photonics West is the largest Photonics conference in the world, with over 24000 attendees. As described by the organisation, this year’s edition provided an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, enjoy lively conversations, learn about the latest breakthroughs, and establish important new connections. Attendees came to hear cutting-edge research in biomedical optics, biophotonics, industrial lasers, optoelectronics, microfabrication, MOEMS-MEMS, displays, quantum technologies—including quantum 2.0—and more.

Marta Fajardo from IST gave a talk with NanoXCan results on X-ray optimization, while Konstantina Kostourou from NANEO Precision IBS Coatings GmbH hosted NANEO’s booth at the German Pavillion, where german companies present their products and services under the „made in Germany“ brand. Konstantina had the chance to not only attend some interesting conference talks and workshops, but to also discuss NANEO’s most recent research activities with and get feedback from some of the top experts in the photonics field. In parallel, an informal meeting between NANEO (Daniel Kopf and Konstantina Kostourou) and NanoXCAN partner GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ UNIVERSITÄT HANNOVER (Uwe Morgner) took place, where specification requirements and upcoming plans for simulations were discussed. 

Incoherent Diffraction Imaging workshop in Hannover

NanoXCan team gathered in Hannover, at the Rathaus, with international experts on IDI to discuss the potential of the technique for the NanoXCan X-ray microscope. The workshop was complemented by a 2 day work meeting of the project team. 

Prize at Ultrafast Optics Conference

Patrícia Estrela won second place for best poster awards, at the Ultrafast Optics Conference. The prize was sponsored by Amplitude.

Participation in Journal Club

Pablo Claveria from IST today participated in the epp team’s Journal Club by reviewing the F. Frost et al PRL paper “Imaging via Correlation of X-Ray Fluorescence Photons”. It was followed by a live demonstration of varying speckle size at the VOXEL lab.

If you want to see the epp click on the link: http://epp.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/team/

Bayesian optimisation

In order to optimise the energy coupling from a laser pulse to a finite-size spherical solid target, we have performed a Bayesian optimisation study using a reduced model based on 2D Osiris simulations. The numerical scheme, showed in the figure, optimises the laser duration, wavelength and particle density of the spherical solid target for the maximum K-alpha ionisation yield. In this way we can explore the multidimensional parameter space to optimise the X-rays K-alpha production from the laser-target interaction.

Spectral Broadening and post-compression

Mariana Cunha da Silva has been working on Spectral Broadening and post-compression, at the Voxel lab in IST.

During this experiment Mariana mentioned that in order to achieve pulses in the very limit of temporal duration requires not only an ultrashort laser system, such as the ones available in the laboratories of the GoLP team but also a post-compression installation, an extra set of equipment that broadens the spectrum allowing, after, the temporal compression of the pulse. 

Here we see how the pulse spectrum changes while propagating inside a Hollow Core Fiber, a thin cylindrical piece of glass filled with a noble gas, in this case, Argon.  

Physics week at IST

On 12th of May 2023, as part of the Physics week at IST, Mariana Cunha da Silva gave a presentation about the NanoxCAN to students.

One of the topics of the presentation was the “Dive in the plasma realm”.

NanoxCAN meeting in Hannover

NanoxCan partners and researchers met in Hannover, between 25th and 26th of April 2023.

The meeting took place in Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany and conducted by Dr. Milutin Kovacev. During the first day it was presented the updates for the project as well as discussed the upcoming steps for the Horizon 2020 Pathfinder Project. The Hannover PIs and researchers gave a tour and guided visit to the they’re laboratory and an exclusive visit to the lab that is currently under construction. At the end of the first day everyone had the chance to visit the Einstein Elevator, located at the Hannover Institute of Technology, were it was also showed a demonstration video.

On the second day it was given the last updates, it was planned a strategy for the communication and dissemination of the project.

Jobs week

“Semana das Profissoões” in Liceu Camões, in Lisbon is a week destined to students learn about different jobs. The Auditorium at Camões High School was packed with science students from 11th e 12th grade. Dr. Marta Fajardo was invited to speak along a Biologist and a Forensics Analyst.