A day for INESC Porto

by Rita Ribeiro*

The 3rd Edition of the Innovation Day organised by AdI (Innovation Agency) took place at FIL (Lisbon) between 7 and 10 November.

INESC Porto was there and it was remarkably represented. Its space was complete and appealing: five pictures in tones of black and blue, four platforms covered with attractive images and an LCD screen that was used to present some of the projects developed at the Institute.

The MODAL project - Models for Predicting Algae Blooms, a project I participated in, was also represented at the exhibition. This project was supported by FCT and developed at LIAAD (Artificial Intelligence and Decision Support Laboratory), one of INESC Porto LA's most recent members.

As a member of the project's team, I was chosen to represent it during the Innovation Day at INESC Porto LA's booth.

On MODAL Project's platform, there was an aquarium with rubber algae and because we had no fish, we had to use rubber spiders. This caught people's attention immensely, even if it was just for the "water spiders".

But in the end, we managed to explain and draw attention to the ecological problem and the importance of predicting algae blooms.

I must say that the booth caused a significant impact on people: the lady shoe at UESP's platform was a delight to many girls and ladies at the fair. In fact, UESP's representatives were able to explain how this Unit is important to the Portuguese footwear industry; on USE's platform there was a brain establishing the analogy with power supply network management which made many people curious.

The profitability of renewable energies demonstrated by a simulation on the LCD screen managed to draw people's attention to the current environmental issue. Finally, the most successful element among the audience was the hip prosthesis with fiber optics on UOSE's platform. Everyone was absolutely astonished with the perspectives that this technology can bring in the future.

Whether it was for the booth's black colour or for any other original element, the truth is that no one was indifferent to INESC Porto LA's space.

There was, of course, some competition (some of it was "unfair", I might say).  Tagus Park's booth gave away Nespresso coffee while Galp's booth welcomed visitors with the kindness of the "Gas Girls"!

Altogether, I believe that we managed to communicate and draw people's attention.

It was all worth it and I would love repeating this experience.

Important point:
It is important to mention that Lúcia Sousa's was a wonderful company who helped me reduce the fatigue of standing up all day.

Thank you, Lúcia! :-)

*Collaborator at the Artificial Intelligence and Decision Support Laboratory (LIAAD).