--- title: "PaperWeight AI wins National Innovation Prize - AlmaScience" description: "PaperWeight AI, the retail stock management solution that combines paper sensors and artificial intelligence, receives the National Innovation Prize." url: "https://almascience.pt/news/press-release/paperweight-ai-national-innovation-prize" date: "2026-10-16T06:11:15+00:00" language: "en-GB" --- # News ![PaperWeight AI, AlmaScience spin-off, distinguished at the 3rd edition of the National Innovation Prize in the Technologies category]() ## PaperWeight AI, AlmaScience spin-off, distinguished at the 3rd edition of the National Innovation Prize in the Technologies category [Press Release](https://almascience.pt/news/press-release) 04 July 2025 3 minutes read - [ ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Falmascience.pt%2Fnews%2Fpress-release%2Fpaperweight-ai-national-innovation-prize "Facebook") - [ ](https://twitter.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Falmascience.pt%2Fnews%2Fpress-release%2Fpaperweight-ai-national-innovation-prize&text=PaperWeight+AI%2C+AlmaScience+spin-off%2C+distinguished+at+the+3rd+edition+of+the+National+Innovation+Prize+in+the+Technologies+category "X (formerly Twitter)") - [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Falmascience.pt%2Fnews%2Fpress-release%2Fpaperweight-ai-national-innovation-prize&title=PaperWeight+AI%2C+AlmaScience+spin-off%2C+distinguished+at+the+3rd+edition+of+the+National+Innovation+Prize+in+the+Technologies+category "LinkedIn") PaperWeight AI, AlmaScience's first spin-off, **has just been distinguished with the Portuguese National Innovation Prize** in the "Technologies" category. PaperWeight AI offers **advanced technology for the retail sector that combines ultra-thin paper-based sensors with artificial intelligence, enabling real-time knowledge of product behavior on shelves.** This solution, with reduced investment, significantly increases retailer efficiency in **stock control, eliminating losses from theft, stock shortages, or waste.** The solution is discreet, efficient, and requires no cameras or visible electronic devices. The solution proposed by PaperWeight AI is based on a paper-based sensor that is installed on pre-existing store shelves, eliminating the need for substantial investments and minimizing installation time and complexity. This *plug-and-play* and fully scalable system, from small independent retailers to large retail groups, provides real-time information about shelf events such as stock-outs or theft, making store operations globally more efficient. At the end of its useful life, the paper-based sensor is fully recyclable. Carlos Silva, CEO of AlmaScience, explains that *"this recognition, which comes after a rigorous selection and evaluation process by NOVA SBE specialists, represents much more than an award – it is **the validation of the relevance and impact of what we are building at AlmaScience** and the recognition of the talent and dedication of the entire team that contributed, directly or indirectly, to the development of this innovative technology."* Yoni Engel, CEO of PaperWeight AI, states that *"**this distinction confirms our vision: making shelves intelligent with real-time information in a radically simple and scalable way**, without cameras, without shelf replacement, without friction. Just actionable data where it matters most."* Yoni Engel also adds that feedback from the retail industry has been very positive and that a pilot with a large national retailer is already underway, which should be followed shortly by another pilot at an international level. #### About AlmaScience AlmaScience is a collaborative innovation and R&D laboratory and a technological incubator dedicated to the development of sustainable functional materials and green electronics. AlmaScience provides technological solutions with a low environmental footprint, transforming natural materials such as cellulose and paper into solutions for application in different areas, such as biotechnology, smart packaging, retail, logistics and green electronics, among others. The research team is multidisciplinary and consists of about 30 researchers with skills in various fields, such as chemistry, materials science, printing technology, electronics, paper technology and biology, business development and innovation. These capabilities allow AlmaScience to quickly and effectively transform concepts into practical products and technological solutions with high commercial value and low environmental impact. #### About PaperWeight AI PaperWeight AI uses paper sensor technology to transform traditional retail operations, providing a suite of real-time data analytics solutions to better manage inventory, reduce waste, detect theft, and increase operational efficiency. In addition to sensors, the system integrates AI algorithms to detect weight, pressure, and touch in real-time. This provides retailers with real-time data on stock levels, theft detection, and planogram non-conformities, without the need for expensive and invasive camera-based systems or load sensors. Learn more at: [https://www.paperweight.ai](https://www.paperweight.ai/) - [ Green electronics ](https://almascience.pt/component/tags/tag/green-electronics) - [ PaperWeight AI ](https://almascience.pt/component/tags/tag/paperweight-ai) ### Continue reading... [ ![AI to Logistics. Human to humans. A vision of retail in 2036]() ](https://almascience.pt/news/thought-piece/ai-to-logistics-human-to-humans-a-vision-of-retail-in-2036)#### [ AI to Logistics. Human to humans. A vision of retail in 2036 ](https://almascience.pt/news/thought-piece/ai-to-logistics-human-to-humans-a-vision-of-retail-in-2036) 09 December 2025 [ ![AlmaScience is a proud member of GRETA: Green Responsible Electronics Through Advanced Technologies]() ](https://almascience.pt/news/latest/almascience-is-a-proud-member-of-greta)#### [ AlmaScience is a proud member of GRETA: Green Responsible Electronics Through Advanced Technologies ](https://almascience.pt/news/latest/almascience-is-a-proud-member-of-greta) 27 August 2025 ## Schema ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://almascience.pt" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "News", "item": "https://almascience.pt/news" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Press Release", "item": "https://almascience.pt/news/press-release" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "PaperWeight AI, AlmaScience spin-off, distinguished at the 3rd edition of the National Innovation Prize in the Technologies category", "item": "https://almascience.pt/news/press-release/paperweight-ai-national-innovation-prize" } ] } ```