Fraunhofer Center for Assistive Information and Communication Solutions – AICOSThe first research center managed by “Associação Fraunhofer Portugal Research”
Yesterday, September 29th, occurred a public presentation ceremony of Fraunhofer Portugal (Associação Fraunhofer Portugal Research) and the scientific activities of its research center Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS (Fraunhofer Portugal Research Center for Assistive Information and Communication Solutions) resulting from a partnership with the Universidade do Porto.
The session took place in Porto, with the presence of Prof. José Mariano Gago and Prof. Manuel Heitor, respectively Minister and Secretary of State of Science and Technology in Portugal, as well as the Secretary of State of Education and Science of the German Federal Republic, Frieder Meyer-Kramer.
During the ceremony a collaboration agreement was signed between the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the Associação Fraunhofer Portugal Research, and the Universidade do Porto, as well as a cooperation agreement between the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. These agreements foresee diverse collaboration activities in the areas of Science and Technology.
The session consisted also in interventions from the referred Portuguese and German Government members, and also from the Rector of Universidade do Porto, José Carlos Marques dos Santos, the Vice-President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Dr. Alfred Gossner, the President of the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Prof. João Sentieiro, the COO of Sonaecom, Dr. Luís Reis, the CEO of TNL, Dr. Nuno Silva Lopes, and the Executive Director of Associação Fraunhofer Portugal Research, Prof. Dirk Elias.
In their interventions, both Minister Mariano Gago as the Secretary of State Meyer-Kramer, have mentioned the importance of this collaboration for the Science and Technology policy of both countries.
The Rector of the Universidade do Porto also sated the coming of Fraunhofer to Porto in partnership with UP as proof of UP’s capacity to attract Science and Technology investment to Portugal.
On a similar note, both Dr. Gossner, in representation of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, as Prof. João Sentieiro, as President of the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, highlighted the excellent relationship existing between Portugal and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, and the pleasure it has been to contribute to the progress of this collaboration.
From the Industry side, the interventions of Sonaecom and TNL have demonstrated the interest the market has in investing in Science and Technology, particularly in Fraunhofer Portugal. Both have stated also the needs companies feel and the type of approach the R&D institutions must have in order to affirm themselves as long term partners in their innovation strategies.
Prof. Dirk Elias intervention, representing Fraunhofer Portugal and the research center Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS, allowed the contextualization of the organization framework and the presentation of the scientific activities developed by the center.
The public presentation ceremony allowed all participants to have a first contact with some of the projects and results from the research and development activities of Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS.
With a team of approximately 20 people, Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS has been centering its activity in the areas of assisted environments, contributing with solutions for professional and private users with limited or no access to Information and Communication Technologies.
Source: 30.09.2009, Fraunhofer Portugal