Applications open for the third edition of the J. Norberto Pires Innovation Award

The General Council of the University of Coimbra has announced the opening of the call for applications for the third edition of the J. Norberto Pires Innovation Award.

Proposals for innovation initiatives or projects in the scientific, cultural, artistic, entrepreneurial, social, or financial fields can be submitted until the 30th of June.

Launched in 2022 as a tribute to the late UC Professor and researcher Joaquim Norberto Pires, the award aims to encourage and recognise innovative initiatives designed and developed by students, technical staff, faculty and researchers of the University of Coimbra (UC), or those with an academic or professional affiliation to the UC.

For the UC Rector , Amílcar Falcão, the prize "represents the commitment of the University of Coimbra to innovation and the opportunity to celebrate those who want to do things better and differently, like the Professor who inspired the initiative".

The President of the UC General Council, Gabriela Figueiredo Dias, said that "as the third edition begins, it's an honour to witness the growth of an initiative conceived and nurtured by the UC General Council, a prize that encourages innovation and also serves as a tribute to Professor Joaquim Norberto Pires".

The jury is made up of members affiliated with the UC, as well as external elements of recognised merit in various fields of knowledge. The project selected by the jury will receive 6,000 euros - or 3,000 euros if there are two winning proposals.

The J. Norberto Pires Innovation Award ceremony will take place on the 25th of September.

In 2023, the prize was awarded to the PkXplorer®Epi project, aimed at accurately determining the optimal drug dose for each epilepsy patient.

More information about the J. Norberto Pires Innovation Award is available at www.uc.pt/premionorbertopires/.

_{English translation: Diana Taborda}