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The event "7 years of CoLABs - impacts and perspectives" took place on June 30 at the Knowledge Pavilion in Lisbon. Fernando Alexandre, Minister for Education, Science and Innovation, toured the exhibition, meeting each Collaborative Laboratory (CoLAB) representative for direct discussions.

In his opening address, the minister described the CoLAB ecosystem as “the mobilization of a community that brings talent, qualifications, research, development, and innovation into society – generating value and improving community well-being.” He emphasized the role of CoLABs in “enhancing the value of knowledge” by linking academic and scientific research to economic activity, with a focus on sustainable technologies and solutions.

“CoLABs are a key element in shifting Portugal’s paradigm: from made in to created in.”
– Fernando Alexandre, Minister of Education, Science and Innovatio

Since 2019–2020, Portugal has expanded its research and development landscape, particularly in science, technology, and biomedicine. This momentum followed a clear governmental directive to strengthen innovation capacity.

At the Pavilion – part of the Ciência Viva (Live Science) Network –, more than 40 CoLABs presented active research and applied development in areas such as ocean preservation, smart home systems, energy literacy, health data, and child development. Research is coordinated across multiple institutions, both public and private, both academic and industrial/commercial.

Many CoLABs use digital platforms to collect and share data, promoting transparency and public engagement. These data systems support the advancement of precision agriculture, low-waste logistics, and smart housing, integrating energy efficiency and green electronics.

André Matos, President of FCoLAB (the platform uniting all of the country’s CoLabs), described CoLABs as “catalysts for innovative solutions” in a time marked by “social, geopolitical, and environmental vulnerability.” He added: “Investment in CoLABs is an investment in the Europe of the future: more competitive, resilient, cohesive, and sustainable.”

Europe’s role in sustainable development is strengthening. In July, China and the European Union jointly reaffirmed the Paris Agreement, calling it “the cornerstone of international climate cooperation.” The absence of another major global player was left unspoken.

At the bow of Europe, Portugal once again charts new ground, advancing green technologies through data, innovation, and an inherited instinct for discovery.
The country is participating actively in shaping sustainable solutions at a European level.

Six CoLAB case studies

At AlmaScience, more than ever, we view innovation as a collective effort. As one of Portugal’s Collaborative Laboratories (CoLABs), we’re proud to be part of a wider ecosystem that brings together science, technology, and societal impact. What unites us is an exploratory mindset rooted in both sustainability and ambition.

In this article, we bring the spotlight to six fellow CoLABs that, as AlmaScience, are working across sectors to preserve natural resources, rethink economic models with sustainability as a fundamental principle, and challenge the traditional silos between academia, industry, and public policy.

CoLAB +ATLANTIC

A team of 25 experts combines Earth observation, data science, geospatial analysis, artificial intelligence, numerical modeling, and science communication. Their goal is to accelerate the sustainable transition across the Atlantic space using data-intensive platforms. Notable developments include:

• Atlantic SENSE: A geodata platform for climate resilience and environmental monitoring.
• BigWaveTracker: A science-based tool to measure giant waves at Nazaré, Portugal.
• Project 19: An initiative in science communication and education that promotes ocean literacy and combats misinformation among teenagers.

Both Atlantic SENSE and Project 19 are endorsed as UN Ocean Decade Actions. See their 2024 Highlights video for more. Visit their website to learn more: https://colabatlantic.com.

ProChild CoLAB

ProChild CoLAB connects child-focused Portuguese institutions through data, R&D, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Its work centers on supporting vulnerable children, particularly those aged 0–3 with complex family backgrounds, through informed systems in foster care, adoption, and early development.

Ana Justino, Executive Director of ProChild, has over a decade of international experience in biotech and pharma product development. She explains: “ProChild is a collaborative laboratory that addresses poverty and social exclusion among children aged 0 to 17, with a primary focus on ages 0 to 10. Our transdisciplinary approach is based on scientific evidence. We work across public and private sectors to support child development, well-being, and rights.

We advocate for public policies to strengthen children’s rights and collaborate with the full childcare ecosystem—companies, academia, NGOs—to requalify the social systems that serve them. All our projects begin at the intersection of social intervention and technological development, because these sectors require digital transformation to function effectively.”

Visit their website to learn more: https://prochildcolab.pt

Blue Bioeconomy CoLAB

“Inspired by the Ocean, Driven by the Market, Powered by Knowledge”, the Blue Bioeconomy CoLAB (B2E)focuses on three key sectors of the blue bioeconomy: living marine resources, marine biotechnology, and sustainable aquaculture. An initiative from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, B2E links research, education, innovation, and business to bring science to market.

Its role as a bridge between academia and industry enables it to identify ocean-inspired, bio-based products and services with commercial potential. It also supports public engagement through ocean literacy and consumer awareness initiatives.

Operating on the values of “cooperation, innovation, sustainability, integrity, and audacity”, B2E maintains a strong and varied network of associates.

Visit their website to learn more: https://www.b2e.pt

Vasco da Gama CoLAB

Based in Porto and established in 2019 as a non-profit private association, Vasco da Gama CoLAB focuses on battery innovation and energy storage systems to support the energy transition. It is supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the Portuguese Innovation Agency (ANI).

The lab develops system-based technologies and mid-stage prototypes in partnership with public and private sector organizations. While it does not commercialize products directly, it provides business support for scaling new technologies. Jorge Pinto, Innovation Leader at VG CoLAB, reflects on talent retention challenges: “We’ve built a team of 25 in just 18 months. As a non-profit, we can develop advanced technologies but cannot commercialize them. That creates a challenge – since we work at the cutting edge, our people gain valuable skills, and naturally, they become highly sought-after by the industry.”

Visit their website to learn more: https://www.vgcolab.com/pt

Smart Energy Lab

Smart Energy Lab focuses on the relationship between people and energy in daily life, particularly in the home. Working at the intersection of engineering, service design, and user behavior, the lab develops digital tools that make energy consumption visible, understandable, and actionable – from electric mobility and smart homes to real-time energy tracking. Their team includes 35 engineers, seven service and business designers (including two anthropologists), and specialists in architecture and management, all working to simplify the energy transition for end users through intuitive, connected products. As João Wang de Abreu, Business Unit Manager, put it, “It’s 2025 and most of us still don’t know the temperature of our living room, or what it costs to leave a heater on. That’s what we’re here to change”.

Visit their website to learn more: https://smartenergylab.pt

Data CoLAB

Data CoLAB helps public and private organizations unlock the potential of their data to make smarter, more informed decisions. Based in Viana do Castelo, with nodes in other regions, the nonprofit lab brings together data science, governance, and digital transformation to turn untapped or misused data into actionable intelligence. The team includes 37 professionals across analytics, AI, engineering, and strategic design. Founded by seven institutions, including SGS and academia, Data CoLAB works across sectors to ensure data becomes a core driver of progress – or, as CTO Nuno Malta put it, “It’s rare to make a good decision without good information. That’s what we do — help people use the data they already have to make better ones.”

Visit their website to learn more: https://datacolab.pt