Fraunhofer Center for Assistive Information and Communication Solutions – AICOS
03.10.2024
In September, Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS (FhP-AICOS) celebrated 15 years of innovation, collaboration, and impactful research with a week-long series of events at both our Porto and Lisbon facilities. The anniversary week served not only as a reflection on our achievements but also as an opportunity to showcase our work and the talented team behind it to our partners, industry leaders, students, and the community.
Over the course of the week, we opened our doors to a wide variety of audiences. Academia Day allowed students from different universities and fields of study to interact with our researchers and experience firsthand the technologies and solutions we develop. On Industry Day, we welcomed CEOs and innovation leaders from major Portuguese companies who explored how FhP-AICOS’ solutions address some of the most pressing challenges in production and shopfloor environments. We also concluded the Fraunhofer Portugal Challenge 2024, an idea contest that brought together some of the brightest minds from Portuguese universities and announced the winners of this year’s top technology-based innovations.
In addition to these events, Institutional Day celebrated our long-standing partnerships with various organizations that have contributed to our shared success over the years. Community Day was dedicated to our own team, with workshops and activities fostering collaboration and growth. Finally, the week concluded with an Alumni celebration that brought together past and present collaborators to reflect on FhP-AICOS’ journey and the transformative impact it continues to make.
As Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS Director, Liliana Ferreira reflected on this significant milestone, she highlighted the unique factors that have driven FhP-AICOS' growth and impact over the years. “The decision to set up a Fraunhofer centre in Portugal in 2009 was driven by the country’s growing commitment to science and innovation. Portugal was transforming into a fertile environment for technological advancement, with excellent universities, a strong synergy between scientific and technological sectors, and a global outlook on research and development,” she explained.
Shaping the future over the years
Since its founding, FhP-AICOS has become a leader in several key areas, most notably in digital health and digital industry, where our solutions are shaping the future of healthcare and industrial processes. One of the key milestones in FhP-AICOS’ journey was the development of technologies for active aging, which addressed the challenges of supporting an aging population in Europe. These technologies have since evolved and been adapted for new applications, such as fall detection algorithms that initially aimed to assist elderly individuals but are now being used to ensure the safety of workers in industrial settings. “Our ability to adapt and evolve our solutions for different markets, such as the integration of our fall detection technology into products now used by 1,200 workers in France, demonstrates our team’s innovation and responsiveness to real-world needs,” highlights Liliana Ferreira.
Over the past 15 years, FhP-AICOS has grown into a dynamic research organization with more than 100 people across two research units in Porto and Lisbon. Our interdisciplinary team continues to work at the intersection of technology and society, creating solutions that address complex challenges in both the private and public sectors. From artificial intelligence and machine learning to cyber-physical systems and human-centred design, our projects focus on developing future-forward solutions that combine technological excellence with social impact.
Focusing on the People Behind the Innovation
Collaboration remains at the heart of FhP-AICOS' mission. As Liliana Ferreira noted, “the success of Fraunhofer Portugal, particularly AICOS, is down to people—the dedicated team, both past and present, that has consistently thought outside the box, questioned the status quo, and created innovative solutions. Our partnerships with academic and industrial stakeholders have also been crucial in shaping AICOS into what it is today.”
Looking to the future, Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS continues to embrace emerging trends in digital futures, ensuring that our work remains at the cutting edge of innovation. Liliana Ferreira emphasized that “the digital innovations of the future must address societal concerns in a sustainable way, promoting inclusivity and reducing inequalities. A humanistic approach to technology is a key factor in ensuring its positive impact.” This approach will guide AICOS as it navigates the growing demands of digital transformation, healthcare innovation, and the development of solutions that enhance workers’ well-being and industrial competitiveness.
As we continue to grow, Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS remains committed to fostering multidisciplinary collaboration, pushing the boundaries of science and technology, and making a lasting impact in Portugal and beyond. The last 15 years have been a testament to our collective ambition, and we look forward to what the next 15 years will bring.