NOVA ID FCT - ASSOCIACAO PARA A INOVACAO E DESENVOLVIMENTO DA FCT

Their core work

NOVA ID FCT is the innovation and technology transfer arm of NOVA University Lisbon (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia), managing the university's participation in EU-funded research. Their core scientific strengths lie in advanced functional materials — particularly printed electronics, nanomaterials, green chemistry, and polymer engineering — with applied work spanning food packaging, environmental remediation, cultural heritage preservation, and predictive maintenance. They bridge fundamental materials science with industrial applications, turning lab-scale discoveries in areas like deep eutectic solvents, oxide nanowires, and bioplastics into demonstrable prototypes and processes.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2018), NOVA ID focused heavily on fundamental materials science: paper electronics, thin-film energy harvesting, nanoporous sorbents, and optoelectronic interfaces — strongly ERC-driven, lab-oriented research. From 2018 onward, the emphasis shifted toward sustainability, circular economy, and societal impact: critical raw materials recovery, cultural heritage preservation, science diplomacy, and bio-based alternatives. The trajectory shows a materials science powerhouse increasingly directing its capabilities toward environmental and industrial sustainability challenges.

NOVA ID is pivoting its deep materials science expertise toward green transition applications — expect future work in critical raw materials, sustainable packaging, and waste-to-resource technologies.

How they like to work

NOVA ID operates as both a project leader and a reliable consortium partner, coordinating 9 out of 42 projects (21%), typically those closest to their core materials science expertise (CapTherPV, SCENT, TREND, Des.solve). As a participant, they join large consortia across diverse topics, contributing specialized materials or analytical capabilities. With 444 unique partners across 50 countries, they are a well-connected hub — not dependent on a small circle but open to new collaborations across Europe and beyond.

NOVA ID has built an exceptionally broad network of 444 unique consortium partners spanning 50 countries, making them one of the more internationally connected Portuguese research entities. Their partnerships extend well beyond Southern Europe, with strong representation across EU member states and associated countries.

What sets them apart

NOVA ID combines deep fundamental materials science (ERC grants in printed electronics, nanowires, green solvents) with a strong track record in applied industrial projects (food packaging, predictive maintenance, electrochromics). This dual capability — from molecular design to prototype — is rare for a Portuguese institution and makes them a valuable partner when a consortium needs both scientific depth and application-oriented delivery. Their 50-country network and experience across RIA, IA, CSA, and MSCA schemes means they understand how to contribute across different project types and funding instruments.

Highlights from their portfolio

• Des.solve
  Largest funded coordinated project (EUR 1.87M) on deep eutectic solvents — a high-potential green chemistry platform with pharmaceutical and biomaterials applications.
• CapTherPV
  Their highest single grant (EUR 2.0M ERC Starting Grant) integrating three energy conversion technologies into thin films — signals strong PI-level research leadership.
• SCENT
  Coordinated EUR 1.5M ERC project on hybrid gels for rapid microbial detection — demonstrates biosensor expertise with direct health and food safety relevance.