The challenge was launched by entrepreneurs and local entities in the Azores, about a year and a half ago, in one of the moments of knowledge transfer organized by Fibrenamics. The main objective is to take the platform's innovation dynamics to the Azorean region. According to Carlos Almeida, Marketing Coordinator at Fibrenamics, “we started to prepare the ground, analyzing how the entrepreneurial fabric is characterized, what opportunities for innovation could exist in that region, which agents already worked in this field of innovation, especially the University of Azores and Inova (Institute of Technological Innovation of the Azores), and we try to align our Fibrenamics strategy and dynamics in order to complement what already existed in the region ”. On the other hand, it is also urgent to try to discover untapped sectors in the region and to realize that endogenous resources in the region have the potential to be valued.

Three anchors in a sea of ​​innovation opportunities

After careful analysis of the region's innovation potential, it was concluded that there are three very strong areas for implementation and development. Natural fibers of vegetable origin, of container or pineapple, are one of those examples. Basalt exploration in a new application sector for the production of basalt fiber, due, on the one hand, to endogenous resources and local abundance, and on the other hand, to the enormous market potential that this material presents, is another of these areas . Finally, a third anchor will be, according to Carlos Almeida, “something that we consider innovative, not only in the region but also worldwide”, which consists of combining nanotechnology with the recovery of waste, meeting one of the great demands of research today and development, which is nanocellulose. We will then go through obtaining, characterizing and applying nanocellulose, through the valorization of essentially forest residues, due to the exploitation of wood, which is also something very abundant in the region.

These three anchor projects will culminate in a fourth project, which is designated more as a technology, the composite materials. “All of these anchor projects are then directly applicable in the area of ​​composite materials”, guarantees Carlos Almeida.

“Very cautious, well thought out, well worked out processes”

The implementation of the Fibrenamics dynamics in other locations, as well as carrying out the challenges proposed by entities and companies are, for Carlos Almeida, “processes that must be very cautious, well thought out, well worked out, should not be of impulse but rather of much more awareness and less heart ”. For this reason, the Fibrenamics Azores project has gone through several phases and activities.

The first activity was about a year ago and consisted of a local presentation of what would be the strategy for the Fibrenamics Azores center with companies and entities in the region. From that moment, the first major action resulted in the aim of creating some impact and some knowledge dynamics in the region and, for that, it was decided to organize the second edition of the ICNF (International Conference on Natural Fibers). This event was a great opportunity to help boost and bring some demand for innovation and knowledge to the region and, on the other hand, also to bring people from outside to come to know the region, transforming and catapulting the Azores into a scientific area of ​​excellence. In all, more than 300 researchers from more than 45 different countries gathered at the ICNF.

Since the 5th of January and, after aligning the implementation strategy and further maturing the concept and what will be the operating strategy, it was installed at NONAGON, in the Science and Technology Park of S. Miguel, the Fibrenamics headquarters Azores. It will be in this place where you will work on the ground, with local companies and entities, in order to make the platform known, which you can bring to the region and get to know, more directly, the business fabric of the region, as well how to further strengthen ties with local bodies such as the University of the Azores and Inova and also local government and municipal entities. This first phase of implementation is expected, as a major project for Fibrenamics Azores, the construction of an innovation center, which will also have its location in the technological park and which will include the construction of a new building with new technologies. and equipment, in order to be the innovation and development partner for companies in the region.

In these next three months, Fibrenamics' goal will be to also receive companies at NONAGON and to organize three major activities: one that will be a more private, internal session, within the University of the Azores, with all the directors of the centers and researchers at the University , with a view to cooperation and presenting itself as a partner for the University. In this context, Fibrenamics is also applying for 3 doctoral grants, for young people living in the Azores, so that they can develop their doctoral work within these key areas of the center and in partnership with the University of the Azores and the University of Minho; a Fibrenamics Workshop somewhat similar to what the workshops have been up to now, but a little more comprehensive and generalist, more focused on the area of ​​innovation, and in which it is intended to bring together about 100 entrepreneurs from the region, plus local entities at this event , in order to promote networking and knowledge sharing in the area of ​​innovation; and the third event will be a more technical training action, more focused on what are the processes of management, research and development of innovation, also very oriented to the business fabric for the introduction of innovation methodologies, in a more technical way, with the companies.

Fibrenamics, a technical-scientific ally

For Carlos Almeida, “in this first phase it was very gratifying to see that we were welcomed with open arms and with great expectations on the part of companies to be able to start working quickly with us, many companies have already come up with ideas for innovation, with current needs, and possibly with two or three companies are already starting partnership and product and material development work ”. However, it has also been noticed that the dynamics of innovation is still quite sparse in the region. The business fabric is made up mostly of micro or small companies, very focused on the domestic market, for small products and services and with little added value, and where export is not yet a reality for many companies. It was also found that the search for innovation is not yet rooted. “We think that this is not a negative aspect but a positive aspect because it will certainly be a good opportunity for all companies and that it will make us have a lot of“ raw material ”to work in terms of innovation. There is a lot of technological capacity that is yet to mature or to be developed, many products that can arise, many markets that companies can start to work in, many value added products that can start exporting, and that is exactly what we want with these two moments that we are going to organize at NONAGON, to introduce a little this spirit of innovation with companies and that will certainly bear fruit in the medium and long term ”, assures the Fibrenamics Marketing Coordinator.

Cross-border knowledge

Fibrenamics has always been a multi-sector, multidisciplinary and international platform. It has always had partners from Brazil, England, France, Germany, among others, and its objective of bringing knowledge, in this case of fibrous materials, has always been universal.

The Azores was the place where Fibrenamics took the first step. In addition, last year a space was introduced in S. João da Madeira, which is a process that is still maturing, and where two workshops have already been organized, one at Sanjotec and the other at Oliva Creative Factory. In Peniche, Fibrenamics was also challenged by shipyards to introduce this dynamic of innovation much more in the perspective of composite materials for nautical, being also in negotiations to open a research and development pole for composite materials for the nautical industry in shipyards from Peniche. However, Fibrenamics' work does not extend only to Portugal, at the end of the last year the challenge also arose, on the part of Brazil and Argentina, for the introduction of this dynamic in these Latin American countries.