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From the 1st to the 3rd of July, the Summer School of the project PhytoAPP took place at Lusófona University, in Lisbon. PhytoAPP is a project funded by the European Executive Research Agency of the European Commission, and coordinated by Professor Sergiy Lyubchyk from Lusófona University. Throughout the three days, the PhytoAPP Summer School featured a session of in-person and online lectures and practical sessions at Deep Tech Lab. Overall, the Summer School was a platform for participants to engage in the project, share ideas, and complement their theoretical and practical knowledge in the field. There were a total of nine lectures given by experts in the field from different countries, such as Professor Azer Zadigov (National Nuclear Research Center CJSC, AZ), Professor Daniel Anthony (Oxford University, UK), Professor Ziraddin Zadigov (National Nuclear Research Center CJSC, AZ), Professor Nurbol Appazov (Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda State University, KZ), Professor Tatiana Strekalova (Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda State University, KZ), Professor Gabor Somlyai (HYD LLC for Cancer Research and Drug Development, HU), Professor Katarina Siposova (Institute of Experimental Physics, SK) and Dr. Anastasia Tmur (YANDEX, NL). The lectures, which included Q&A and discussion sessions, covered a range of different and very interesting topics related to Medical Science: 1. Radiation benefits and risks for health; 2. Modern trends in Nuclear Medicine; 3. Navigating the Blood-Brain Barrier: Strategies and Challenges in Drug Delivery; 4. Prospects for avalanche electronics and its application in medical devices; 5. Potential Use of Camelthorn (Alhagi Pseudalhagi) Medicinal Plant Extracts in the Prevention and Treatment of Early-Stage Atherosclerosis; 6. New treatments with phytochemicals in mouse models of Parkinson and Alzheimer’s diseases; 7. Role of naturally occurring deuterium in cancer growth and prevention; 8. Amyloid Paradigm: From Pathological Structures to Functional Bionanomaterials; 9. AI in Drug Discovery: Accelerating the Path to Cures. Generally, as a project, the main purpose of the PhytoAPP is the design, development and delivery of innovative water-soluble Phytochemical Inhibitors for Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases prevention, by exploring the innovative nanotechnological solutions to overcome the challenge related to the phytochemical’s limitation on to their low water-solubility. Find more in the project's website!

On 10th of June, the Mid-term Meeting of the INNMEDSCAN project took place in Prague, Czech Republic. INNMEDSCAN is a project funded by the European Executive Research Agency of the European Commission, and coordinated by Professor Svitlana Lyubchyk from Lusófona University. The INNMEDSCAN project aims to develop a highly requested equipment in medical markets, a Hybrid Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Positron Emission Tomography (PET-MRI) Scanner. For this, the partners aim to design and produce a novel highly sensitive semiconductor-based photodetector, followed by the elaboration of the working prototype detector’s module suitable for elaboration of next generation of the hybrid PET-MRI scanners. In the mid-term meeting, the main advancements of the project were presented by all the teams of the Consortium related to the Work Packages (WP) of their responsibility, namely: Innovative Detectors Design and Production in Pilot Scale; Evaluation of the working Parameters of innovative Photodetectors; Electronic module’s Components Manufacture and Testing and Software development; Assembled the Detector’s Module for innovative PET/MRI Hybrid Scanners; Prototype Detector’s Module Testing & Validation. Moreover, the progress of Lusófona University’s coordination team on project management was also presented, with a focus on the communication and dissemination plan of the project and the data management plan. All teams from the Consortium were represented in the meeting, either in presence or online, namely: COFAC (Portugal), Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University (Turkey), Czech Technical University in Prague (Czech Republic); University of West Bohemia (Czech Republic); CascataChuva (Portugal); Institute for Nuclear Research of NAS of Ukraine (Ukraine); National Nuclear Research Center CJSC (Azerbeijan); Institute of Radiation Problems of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (Azerbeijan).

On the 27th and 28th of May, the Mid-term Meeting of the Aqua Synapse project took place in Cavtat, Croatia. Aqua Synapse is a project funded by the European Executive Research Agency of the European Commission, and coordinated by Professor Sergiy Lyubchyk from Lusófona University. The main idea of the Aqua Synapse project is to establish the mechanistic basis of the positive health effects of deuterium depleted water. The isotope content of drinking water has been shown to possibly have implications to many diseases, such as cancer - while high concentrations of deuterium may induce mitochondrial dysfunction, and even lead to cell death, lower concentrations (deuterium depleted water), however, appear to have positive effects in human health and seem to represent a safe intervention with few, if any, side effects – but remains unclear at what concentrations the positive metabolic and behavioral effects become apparent. The project aims to verify this hypothesis and develop mechanisms to measure the health benefits of deuterium-poor water. In the mid-term meeting, the main progresses of the project were presented by all the teams of the Consortium related to the Work Packages (WP) of their responsibility, including: deuterium metabolic spectroscopy and deuterium metabolic imaging (WP1); deuterium impacting excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance in a human neuronal network model system (WP2); evaluation of effects of deuterium depletion in animal models of metabolic syndrome (WP3); evaluation of impact deuterium depletion in animal models of aging (WP4); production of deuterium depleted and control water samples, control of deuterium content in experimental tissue (WP5). The progresses of Lusófona University’s coordination team on project management were also discussed, particularly related to the communication and dissemination plan of the project and the data management plan (WP6). All teams from the Consortium were represented in the meeting, either in presence or online, namely: COFAC (Portugal), University of Oxford (England); University of Würzburg (Germany); Institute of Molecular Medicine João Lobo Antunes (Portugal); HYDLLC for Cancer Research and Drug Development (Hungary).

On the 21st of March, the Mid-term meeting of the EWALD project took place in Brussels – a project funded by the European Executive Research Agency of the European Commission, and coordinated by Professor Svitlana Lyubchyk. The project’s main objective is to develop an innovative framework to provide an Early Warning System (EWS) and responses to the Land Degradation threatening the EU from its external border, using multi-source and multi-scale Earth Observation (EO) data. Land degradation (LD) is the world's greatest environmental challenge affecting the environment, agriculture, and human wellbeing. Intensified by natural disasters and desertification, the LD may present potential risks and socioeconomic tension at the European Union (EU) frontier. In the mid-term meeting, the main progresses of the project were presented by all the teams of the Consortium related to the Work Packages of theirs responsibility, including: Technologies; Capacity Building; Strategies and Management. All teams COFAC (PT), RHEINISCHE FRIEDRICH-WILHELMS-UNIVERSITAT BONN (DE), SCIENTIFIC CENTRE FOR AEROSPACE RESEARCH OF THE EARTH OF THE INSTITUTE OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCE (UA), ZILINSKA UNIVERZITA V ZILINE (SK), LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ECOMM CO( UA), RESOURCE ENGENEERING COMPANY (MA), UNIVERSITE CADI AYYAD (MA) of the Consortium were represented in the meeting, either in presence or online.

Between September 16 and 19, 2024, João Reis, Professor of Industrial Engineering and Management and Senior Researcher at the RCM2+ Center, participated in the VIII International Congress of Scientific Knowledge (VIII CICC), held at the CENSA Higher Education Institutes (ISECENSA), one of the largest private universities in Brazil. The International Congress of Scientific Knowledge, organized every three years at ISECENSA, is a space for debate, the exchange of knowledge and the dissemination of cutting-edge research, with the aim of improving teaching and learning and training professionals prepared for the challenges of the 21st century. In 2024, the event explored how sciences and technologies are transforming scientific research, academic practices and society, encouraging reflection on ethical, social and environmental aspects, as well as promoting debate on the use of these innovations to create sustainable, peaceful and inclusive solutions to global challenges. Professor João Reis presented an international lecture in which he detailed the research of the RCM2+ Research Center in the field of Artificial Intelligence applied to Engineering, with an emphasis on the results published by the Center. He also gave a three-hour mini-course aimed at engineering students, highlighting RCM2+'s scientific output in this area and its innovative applications in engineering contexts. The international nature of the event was evidenced by the presence of 521 external representatives from various universities, including Lusófona, the University of Lisbon and the University of Illinois (USA), totaling 2,977 participants. It was four days of intense immersion in knowledge, networking and valuing knowledge.

The RCM2+ Research Center is proud to announce that two of its researchers have been ranked among the top 2% of the world's most influential scientists in 2024. RCM2+ researchers João Reis (Economics and Management) and Rui Cunha Marques (Environmental Science and Engineering) are among the 9 researchers from Lusófona University's Research Centers on the list of the world's most influential. The study report, carried out by Stanford University (USA) in collaboration with the publisher Elsevier, based on SCOPUS - the world's largest database of abstracts and citations of scientific publications until August 2024 - provides standardized information on citations, h-index, hm-index adjusted by co-authorship, citations of articles in different positions of authorship and a composite indicator. This edition of the “World's Top 2% Scientists 2024” includes 889 researchers linked to Portuguese institutions, 9 of whom are associated with Lusófona University Research Centers. This prestigious recognition highlights the contribution of RCM2+ and Universidade Lusófona to cutting-edge research and innovation.

On October 7, the launch meeting of the new E-NOSE Project took place in Novi Sad, Serbia. E-NOSE is a project funded by the European Union (REA) and coordinated by the Novi Sad Faculty of Technology at the University of Novi Sad. DeepTechLab, part of the RCM2+ Research Center at Universidade Lusófona, is part of the project's international consortium and was represented by professors and researchers Svitlana Lyubchyk, Sergiy Lyubchyk and Andriy Lyubchyk. E-NOSE (Acquisition and Modification of Hierarchically Nanostructured Oxide Active Materials for Advanced Biological Gas Sensor Project) aims to develop state-of-the-art gas sensors using cutting-edge nanotechnology: highly sensitive and fast “Electronic Nose” devices. But the project goes beyond sensor development - it also envisions a new global security system that integrates these sensors into mobile communication devices, enabling highly localized detection of threats such as epidemic outbreaks, fires and terrorist activities. This project involves multiple European and international partners (research institutions, companies and universities), who were present at the meeting, such as: Novi Sad Faculty of Technology (Serbia), NanoTechCenter (Ukraine), Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University (Turkey), Nanomaterials Research & Development (Poland), DeepTechLab Association (Portugal), NanoPhoenix (Italy), Institute of Materials Science of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan (Uzbekistan), Institute of Radiation Problems (Azerbaijan) and the Republican Scientific and Practical Center of Sports Medicine (Uzbekistan). At the meeting, various conditions inherent in the partnership between the organizations were discussed, as well as future networking events necessary for the continuation of the project. This meeting was also especially important for coordinating the partners and the tasks to be carried out by each of them in order to reach important milestones in the field of research, as well as for discussing the next steps to be taken in the project.

The startup CascataChuva, a member of the CATCHER project consortium, has been nominated for the “Sustainability Technology” category in the Innovation Radar Awards. Following the public vote to select the finalists at the end of September, it was recently announced that CascataChuva is among the finalists. The CATCHER project, under development at the RCM2+ Research Center and coordinated by Lusófona University, focuses on the development of an innovative technology to exploit atmospheric humidity and convert it directly into electricity. This innovation aims to make efficient use of a new sustainable source of energy, reinforcing the EU's leadership in renewable energies. Since 2015, the European Commission has awarded the Innovation Radar Prize annually to exceptional EU-funded innovators, highlighting promising innovations that are making the transition from the laboratory to the market. Nominees are selected on the basis of data collected by the Innovation Radar, which identifies innovators with high market potential. This year, the 10th edition of the Innovation Radar Award will be celebrated in Lisbon, together with the Europas 100 Hottest Startups awards. During the event, 12 startups, including CascataChuva, will present their innovations, competing in 3 categories. The event will feature panels and talks from leading experts in the EU startup ecosystem. In addition, innovators competing for the Prize will also be able to compete for the Europas 100 Awards. Stay tuned and mark your calendar: November 11 at La Destillerie in Alfama, Lisbon

On November 18, the DeepTechLab team from the RCM2+ Research Centre organized the CATCHER project review meeting at the Lusófona University in Lisbon, which was attended by representatives from the European Union and the project's international partners. CATCHER (Creating an Innovative Technology for Converting Renewable Energy from “Humidity to Electricity”) is a project funded by the European Innovation Council (ERC) and coordinated by Lusófona University. The RP2 review meeting brought together team leaders from the consortium, two CEI officials, four scientific monitors and an expert from the Innovation Radar to assess CATCHER's progress. The event included detailed presentations on the progress made by the project partners, as well as a live demonstration of the innovative device developed. Issues related to technological, environmental and socio-economic feasibility were discussed, as well as dissemination efforts and innovation potential. The experts and stakeholders took part in question and answer sessions, addressing challenges and reviewing the milestones achieved, with a focus on alignment with the project's objectives. The meeting culminated with a feedback session highlighting the successes achieved and outlining the next steps as the project moves towards its completion in March 2026.

On January 13, 2025, Professor João Carlos Gonçalves dos Reis successfully defended his Aggregation Test at the University of Lisbon's Higher Institute of Economics and Management (ISEG). With the theme “From Sociotechnical Systems to Sustainability: Integrating Green Practices into Military Logistics”, the defense underlined the importance of sustainable practices in military logistics, a crucial area for innovation and sustainability in the sector. Professor João Reis stressed that, although this is a significant achievement in his career, it is not just his, but that of the entire Industrial Engineering and Management (IEM) team with which he collaborates, reflecting his commitment to academic excellence and innovative research in the areas of IEM. According to him, this is yet another validation of the credibility of the work carried out by the RCM2+ team at Lusófona University, which not only enriches the academic field, but also reinforces the commitment to innovation and sustainability in the field of logistics management, particularly in military logistics.

João Carlos Gonçalves dos Reis, lecturer on the Industrial Engineering and Management (EGI) course and researcher at the RCM2+ Research Center at the Faculty of Engineering of Lusófona University, received the INA Award for Best Research in Public Administration on November 7. Due to the impact of the topic in the area of Public Administration, the award was presented to him by His Excellency the President of the Republic, Prof. Dr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. The award was given during the 13th National Congress of Public Administration, held on November 7 and 8 at Culturgest in Lisbon. This year, the central theme of the event was “Democracy, Public Service and Knowledge” and it was part of the celebrations for the 45th anniversary of the National Institute of Administration (INA) and the 50th anniversary of April 25th. The INA Prize - Best Research in Public Administration is intended to distinguish individuals whose doctoral theses have been defended at higher education institutions in Portugal in the last two years. This edition awarded the best doctoral thesis related to democracy and the modernization of the State, developed by João Reis, with the title “From research into artificial intelligence to e-Democracy: contributions to political governance and the modernization of the State”, defended in November 2023, as a doctoral student in Political Science, at the Department of Social, Political and Territorial Sciences (DCSPT) of the University of Aveiro.

The scientific article entitled “A two-level optimization-simulation method for production planning and scheduling: the industrial case of a human-robot collaborative assembly line”, written by Professor Miguel Vieira, was awarded the “Augusto Queirós Novais Prize” 2024. The distinction was awarded by APDIO - the Portuguese Operational Research Association, during the annual Operational Research congress (IO2024), held in March at the School of Technology and Management of the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu. The Augusto Queirós Novais Award, one of the most prestigious in the field of Process Systems Engineering research, aims to recognize the scientific articles with the greatest impact published by APDIO members. In this year's edition, the winning article, published in the renowned International Journal of Production Research, stands out for its presentation of an innovative simulation and optimization methodology based on the Recursive Optimization-Simulation Approach (ROSA). This approach offers valuable support in decision-making for production planning and scheduling, especially in collaborative assembly lines between humans and robots, promoting integration and efficiency in the industrial context. APDIO, founded in 1978, is a scientific association that brings together Portuguese professionals and academics dedicated to Operations Research. With around 250 members, the association regularly organizes events, such as conferences and symposia, which encourage the development and application of advanced methodologies in areas such as optimization and the management of complex systems. The distinction received by Miguel Vieira, Professor of Industrial Engineering and Management, and the relevance of his work demonstrate the impact of the RCM2+ Research Center's research in the area of Operations Research and its ongoing commitment to technological and methodological innovation.

Dear students and teachers, We are excited to invite you to the conference “ONE WATER: New Water Sources and Nature-based Solutions”, which will take place on June 5 and 6, 2025, in Lisbon. This event will bring together national and international experts to discuss the integration of new water sources and nature-based solutions in the context of global water management challenges. It will be a unique opportunity for knowledge exchange and networking between academics, professionals and policy makers. For more information and registration, visit: https://lisbonpubliclaw.pt/waterwastelisbon/.

The workshop on monitoring land degradation using QGIS and Google Earth Engine took place between February 10 and 13, 2025, at the Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech, Morocco. Part of the EWALD (Earth Observation for Early Warning of Land Degradation at European Frontier) project, coordinated by Lusófona University and funded by the European Union, the event brought together experts and researchers from various international institutions, including project partners, to discuss innovative methodologies in the use of remote sensing and geospatial analysis in monitoring land degradation. Deep Tech Lab (*) staff took part in the workshop, representing Lusófona University. The program began on February 10 with presentations on the opportunities and challenges of remote sensing of soil degradation, led by Sophia Hueffmeier, and on the importance of monitoring for the Sustainable Development Goals, presented by Nikhil Raghuvanshi. On the 11th, participants had the opportunity to apply the concepts presented in practice, through a practical session on QGIS and Google Earth Engine, led by Hanna Guehmann. On February 12 and 13, the workshop culminated in a field trip to the Ouarzazate region, where participants were able to directly observe the impacts of soil degradation and apply the methodologies discussed during the event. This experience allowed for a more in-depth analysis of the local reality and the exchange of knowledge between researchers, reinforcing international cooperation within the framework of the EWALD project. The event highlighted the importance of using advanced technologies in environmental monitoring and reinforced the need for scientific collaboration to tackle the global challenges of soil degradation. (*) - Svitlana Lyubchyk, lecturer on the Master's Degree in EGI/Lusófona and RCM2+ researcher, was present.

On February 20, 2025, Universidade Lusófona - Centro Universitário de Lisboa hosted the Mid-Term Meeting of the DETMED project, an initiative funded by the European Commission's European Research Executive Agency (REA) and coordinated by the institution itself. The project aims to develop an innovative prototype of a compact, high-precision gamma probe to optimize the surgical removal of tumours, increasing the effectiveness of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Through advanced research in optoelectronics and the application of cutting-edge technologies, DETMED is committed to international collaboration to boost the new generation of high-sensitivity gamma detectors, bringing together experts from Portugal, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Ukraine, Germany, Hungary and Azerbaijan. During the meeting, the consortium teams presented the most recent advances in the project and outlined the next steps to be taken in the different Work Packages (WP), with emphasis on the preparation and testing of innovative SiPM samples, the investigation of scintillating material parameters, the development of the electronic circuit and the gamma probe reading system, as well as the overall management of the project. In addition to the technical progress, the mobile researchers shared their experiences and contributions to the advancement of research. The event was attended in person and online by all the consortium members, including Universidade Lusófona/COFAC (Portugal), CascataChuva LDA (Portugal), Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine VI Vernadsky (Ukraine), Nanomaterials Research & Development (Poland), Elmek Mozgasban Alapítvány (Hungary), Technical University of Dortmund (Germany), Jožef Stefan Institute (Slovenia), University of West Bohemia (Czech Republic), Institute of Radiation Problems of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan and SETM LLC (Azerbaijan). The European Union was represented by a member of the REA, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and research in the fight against cancer. With the advances presented, the project is now moving on to the next stages of development, aiming to revolutionize the precision of medical procedures and contribute to significant improvements in the care of cancer patients. RCM2+ researchers Svitlana Lyubchyk, Andriy Lyubchyk and Sergiy Lyubchyk were present.

Following the recent elections to national bodies, the EGI team is pleased to report that on March 25, Maria do Céu Ferreira, a lecturer on the Bachelor's and Master's degree courses in Industrial Engineering and Management at Lusófona University and a researcher at RCM2+, took office as National Coordinator of the Specialization in Metrology of the Order of Engineers. Congratulations to Maria do Céu Ferreira and best wishes for a job well done.

RCM2+ took part in the IPC & Science2Business Job Summit, which took place on April 1st at the Convento de São Francisco in Coimbra. This is a day dedicated to knowledge, networking and innovation, with companies and professionals. It is therefore an opportunity to explore new trends in the job market and discover innovative projects with real impact. RCM2+ was there to showcase the work of researchers from the Coimbra and Lisbon hubs.