The main idea is to always learn how to make something that is useful to society and then carry it through. "And for that stage we either try to find companies that interested or we go on with the entrepreneurial  project  ourselves", states Paulo Marques, the coordinator of INESC Porto’s Optoelectronics and Electronic Systems Unit (UOSE). This is precisely what happened with the creation of Fibersensing in 2004. Established as a spin-off company of INESC Porto, in 2008, Fibersensing had already achieved a 1.6 million Euro profit, exporting 80% of the material produced. Its clients include Airbus, the European Space Agency, General Electric, Siemens, Martifer and Refer.

The creation of this company was almost a need. "When optical fibres started being used in communications, they became widely known, and thus it was necessary to move to another area of research, which, at the time, was optical fibre sensors ", remembers Ireneu Dias, co-coordinator of UOSE.

Integrated in a European project for the development of optical fibre sensors that characterised strain states, it became possible for the Unit to give a contribution to the area of Civil Engineering. "That partnership led to practical results and the demonstration caused an impact in the construction area", they highlight. Some of the examples that illustrate this situation are the reinforcement of the D. Luís Bridge for the Metro of Porto, the flyover of Corujeira or the Bridge of Salvaterra de Magos.

With these demonstrations, it was clear that "sensors had legs to stand on and could succeed, but the companies were not interested", Paulo Marques highlighted, explaining that the "solution was the creation of a spin-off company". As is clear, he stressed, "it was necessary to carry out market studies, evaluations, and for that we are cooperating with the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto and professor Aurora Teixeira". But if the connection between INESC Porto and Fibersensing is maintained, a new evolution of that company or even a creation of another company can now be forged.

In fact, UOSE has already restarted the process and is now studying chemical and biological sensors in order to measure, for instance, the concentration of oxygen on waterways, or the production of methane in waste water treatment plants. "In a while, we will be looking for interested companies. And if there aren’t any, we will go forward with it anyway”, they concluded.

SIFO Project

Developed between 1985 and 1989, this project was financed by public operators of telecommunications and it constitutes the first experience in Portugal of a broadband network with service integration. The main goal was to develop a network based on optical technology that was capable of supporting the integration of narrow and broadband services. It is important to remember that, not long before, telecommunication operators admitted that it was possible to have a new network, but they thought it was too expensive to think about introducing it in Portugal on a short term basis. But the project went forward and it succeeded.

Once the learning process was restarted, INESC Porto integrated, in 1989, a European consortium for the development of optical fibre sensors with aeronautical applications.

In the early 1990s, there was a great "revolution" with the establishment of the optoelectronics centre and group. The centre later became a company while the group continued doing research. The programmes to support science and the industry (PEDIP I and II) have qualitatively changed INESC Porto’s infrastructure, which was, at the time, in the front line of the development of optical fibre Bragg gratings, with varied applications, including in communications.

In 2008, the partnership with the European Space Agency started. It entailed the development of an optical filtering technology that makes it possible to measure the levels of gases responsible for global warming and greenhouse effects. This technology can be applied in satellites since it makes it possible to build compact systems that can trace pollutant gases in the atmosphere.

Air fleets

Integrated in a European project, it tried to develop an optical fibre technology that would make it possible to remodel the entire communication infrastructure in the fleets.

Chemical sensors

The most recent steps are being given in the laboratory where the aim is to develop chemical and biological sensors that assess different concentrations of products or gases in the water. The possibility of establishing a new company to manufacture these devices is not put aside, in case there are no companies interested in manufacturing and commercialising the product.

QREN

INESC Porto has also applied to funds from the QREN programme and is now waiting to find out if a project –where the aim is to increase the “clean room”, a highly specialized laboratory area - has been approved.

Jornal de Notícias, 20 November 2009