
About the Project
AI for REAL-world NETwork operation
Acronym
AI4REALNET
Responsible
Ricardo Jorge Bessa
Status
active
Starting Date
January 1, 2023
Ending Date
January 31, 2027
Effective End Date
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Global Budget
€3,999,976.25
Funding
€516,975.00
Website
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Datasheet
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Members
Team Leaders
Team Members

Alexandra Xavier
Centre Coordinator

Catarina Ramos Carvalho
Technical Specialist

Duarte Filipe Dias
Assistant Centre Coordinator

João Paulo Cunha
Centre Coordinator

José Paulos
Researcher

Pedro Gabriel Ferreira

Ricardo Jorge Bessa
Centre Coordinator

Sara Correia Neves
Assistant Researcher

Susana Cristina Rodrigues
Service Manager
Dissemination
INESC TEC has a unique and differentiating management model, improved over its 35 years of history. Reflecting its unique position between academia and industry, the management at INESC TEC carefully balances, in a hybrid model, the academic culture of scientific freedom and dialogue with a culture of efficiency and responsibility in management.
Associated Centres
Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship
The mission of our Centre for Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CITE) is to carry out multidisciplinary activities at the intersection of technology, innovation, sustainability, and management, promoting the exploration, implementation, and adoption of responsible and sustainable socio-technical systems. We focus on the areas of Innovation Management, Technology Management, and Technology-Based Entrepreneurship, exploring theories, methods, models, and tools to support the innovation process. Through research and innovation activities—including consultancy and advanced training—we address environmental, social, and economic challenges, contributing to the exploration, implementation, and adoption of innovative solutions. We create impact through research and innovation outcomes, aligning our activities with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We place high value on collaboration with both national and international partners. We are a member of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), where our mission is to support Portuguese companies on their innovation journey by identifying and fostering international partnerships for business or innovation development, while also helping to find the most relevant funding sources. We support the implementation of innovation management systems, integrating technology management with new business models and value chains, and promoting sustainable and responsible practices. We also run open innovation and acceleration programmes, contributing to the development of startups and the strengthening of innovation ecosystems. We work across three core areas: innovation management and the front end of innovation (FEI), technology management and policy, and entrepreneurship and business model innovation.

Biomedical Engineering Research
The impact that science and innovation can have on the prevention, early detection, and support for the diagnosis of various types of diseases is fully explored at our Centre for Biomedical Engineering Research (C-BER). Guided by an interdisciplinary approach that prioritises technology transfer with economic impact—through the creation of new systems, tools, and methods related to disease diagnosis and monitoring, ageing, human rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and functional assessment—our researchers are dedicated to developing advanced technologies positioned at the intersection of engineering, medicine and health, and general well-being. Promoting strategic partnerships with clinical partners, research institutes, and encouraging international cooperation is one of the centre’s key priorities. Its research is structured across three distinct areas: Biomedical Imaging, Bioinstrumentation, and Neuroengineering.

Artificial Intelligence and Decision Support
Our Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence and Decision Support (LIAAD) conducts research in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, and Modelling. These areas are cross-cutting and apply to all sectors of society and the economy. The vast amounts of data being collected, alongside the ubiquity of digitalisation and sensorisation, are increasingly creating opportunities and challenges for automating decision support. The combination of Machine Learning and complex models is transforming the economy, healthcare, justice, industry, science, public administration, and education. This encourages us to invest in diverse technological and scientific approaches and perspectives. Our overarching strategy is to explore the flow and diversification of data, and to invest in research lines that will lead to the development of applied Artificial Intelligence foundations and models that are responsible and human centred.

Power and Energy Systems
The Centre for Power and Energy Systems (CPES) is a global reference in the large-scale integration of renewable-based electricity generation into the power system.We research and develop advanced solutions that enable the monitoring, control, optimisation, and forecasting of electricity production and consumption, as well as multi-energy systems. Our work supports the decarbonisation of the energy system, the electrification of society, and the large-scale integration of renewables, making power grids more flexible, intelligent, and resilient.Our research results include models, methodologies, hardware, and software (much of it open source) designed for various energy sector stakeholders, including citizens, communities, service providers, system operators, regulators, policy-makers, and governmental bodies.We operate a Smart Grids and Electric Vehicles Laboratory – the X-Energy Lab (link) – where we validate technological advancements in real-world conditions, ensuring that our solutions have a tangible impact on the energy sector.Thanks to our expertise, we hold a prominent role in both national and international projects supporting the energy transition, while also providing direct services to key players in the electricity sector.

