Research

MIT Portugal Program research addresses the growing complexity of technical systems. It also examines the ways in which individuals, networks and societies manage these systems and the growing engagement of social science, economics and engineering in them.

This approach is based on Engineering Systems, a growing discipline in which MIT plays a key role. We believe an understanding of systems thinking is fundamental to the future of scientific and technological practice, and are helping Portugal become a leader in this field.

Another goal of MIT Portugal research is to create competitive advantage for Portugal in Europe through directed inquiry in advanced areas of science and technology that show great potential. During the Program’s initial two years, our four focus areas – Bioengineering, Engineering Design and Advanced Manufacturing, Sustainable Energy Systems, and Transportation Systems – each launched a robust portfolio of research projects, many of which are ongoing. In addition, we developed a number of integrative research projects under our Engineering Systems anchor program. We have subsequently identified promising new areas of inquiry, however, and now focus our research in the following areas:

• Stem Cell Engineering for Regenerative Medicine
• Sustainable Energy and Transportation Systems
• Materials and Design-Inspired Products
• Fundamentals of Engineering Systems

In July 2010, six awards were made in response to the FCT's 2009 Research Call.

In January 2009, fourteen awards were made in response to the FCT's 2008 Research Call.

MIT Portugal research is conducted by outstanding faculty, students and researchers at the universities and laboratories that make up our unique educational consortium, in close collaboration with the companies and institutions that have become MIT Portugal affiliates. We hope to create lasting connections among academia, laboratories, and industry in Portugal – in effect, a successful “entrepreneurship ecosystem” akin to the one for which MIT is renowned, in which marketable products and technologies are developed along with new knowledge in each research discipline.

Additional information about MIT Portugal research is available in our Strategic Report.