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Did you know it is possible to detect contaminants in water using optical systems? INESC TEC aims to take this detection to a new level, by developing a new generation of optical sensors based on metamaterials, capable of achieving superior results in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and the ability to analyse multiple compounds simultaneously. This is the approach proposed by the WaveSense project, which seeks to overcome the limitations of current optical detection systems.
09th December 2025
The solution, designed to develop automation systems combining spectral sensors and proprietary analysis software for material characterisation and valorisation, won the Raw Materials category.
28th November 2025
The journey began in Ulm, Germany, with the participation in an international conference dedicated to analytical spectroscopy. It then moved on to Brno, Czechia, for a visit to the Central European Institute of Technology to join an international symposium on advanced measurement, analysis, and control for energy and the environment. Along the way, there was also a stop in Delft, the Netherlands, for the Annual Meeting of the European Optical Society. Let’s discover how far INESC TEC’s researchers went - powered by light.
30th October 2025
The project, called eSPRcancer, aims to create a new technology for the detection of breast cancer biomarkers - specifically the CA (Cancer Antigen) 15-3 - in a faster, more precise and more sensitive way. The initiative brings together INESC TEC and the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP).
20th October 2025
The goal is ambitious: to make quantum technologies more stable and reliable. Once achieved, the impact on society will be significant - from enabling more robust quantum processors based on photonic chips, to creating noise-resistant quantum communication networks and advancing high-precision quantum sensors. These breakthroughs could influence various fields, from more secure communications to more precise scientific instrumentation.
15th October 2025
Researchers from INESC TEC and the Centre for Research on Nanomaterials and Biomedicine (CINBIO) at the University of Vigo recently secured approval for an exploratory project funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), aiming to make optical sensors more accessible and robust. The goal is for these sensors to be used in the detection of contaminants such as glyphosate and BPA, efficiently and at lower costs.
30th September 2025
A team of researchers at INESC TEC is developing a prototype of a quantum camera capable of seeing the invisible. But what does this mean in practice? This prototype will be able to capture information in the infrared (IR) without the need for infrared cameras - which, besides being expensive (costing hundreds of thousands of euros), also have technical limitations, e.g., low resolution and speed, or high noise.
19th September 2025
What if we could replace chemical methods of catheter sterilisation? INESC TEC is part of a multidisciplinary team that developed a medical technology set to revolutionise the way catheters are sterilised, using a solution based on infrared radiation guided by optical fibre.
31st July 2025
Over four initiatives held across three cities, researchers from INESC TEC came together with a shared mission: to introduce young people to the fascinating world of science and technology and to inspire them to explore these fields. In total, more than 2,000 young students had the opportunity to engage with science and technology through Portugal’s largest engineering research institute.
30th June 2025
The variable-message signs on Portuguese roads are now more efficient thanks to a technology developed by INESC TEC, which aims to improve the visibility of LED lights and reduce sun glare in adverse conditions.
27th January 2025
Orlando Frazão, researcher at INESC TEC, was appointed Fellow of the European Optical Society (EOS) for the current year, acknowledging his vast career in applied photonics - namely in fibre-optic sensors.
02nd October 2024
Several INESC TEC researchers participated in the 19th edition of the Physics Summer School of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP). Through project mentoring and guided visits to the laboratories, the institution's researchers showed the 61 students who participated in this activity the differentiating role that INESC TEC plays in the interface between academia, science and technology.
04th September 2024