As part of the DemosAxia project’s staff exchange activities, project partners visited Startup Braga and the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, INL, in Braga, Portugal, on 27 and 28 May 2026.
The visit brought together participants from FORTH and ALPES LASERS, offering an opportunity for knowledge exchange, networking, and the sharing of best practices in innovation, science communication, project management, and research infrastructure operations.
On Wednesday, 27 May 2026, the programme started with a visit to Startup Braga, where participants met with Mr. João Fernandes, CEO of Startup Braga. The session focused on the role of Startup Braga in supporting startups, entrepreneurship, and the local innovation ecosystem. Participants had the opportunity to learn more about the services, initiatives, and support mechanisms offered to startups and innovation-driven projects, as well as the broader connection between research, entrepreneurship, and market-oriented development.
The staff exchange continued at INL, where participants met with Dr. Mariam Debs, Head of Communication, Conferences and Marketing at INL. The discussion focused on science communication best practices, offering valuable insights into how research organisations can communicate scientific results effectively, engage with different audiences, and strengthen the visibility and impact of research activities.
The programme also included a knowledge-sharing session with João B. Rodrigues, INL Project Management Officer, focusing on project acquisition and project management practices. During this session, participants exchanged experiences related to the management of research and innovation projects and were introduced to relevant ecosystem projects, including POEMS and EuroCDP.
Later in the day, participants met with Dr. Jana Nieder, Research Group Leader, and Dr. Christian Maibohm, Research Scientist, from INL. The meeting provided an opportunity to learn more about their research activities, exchange scientific perspectives, and explore links with the wider objectives of the DemosAxia project.
On Thursday, 28 May 2026, the visit concluded with an INL cleanroom tour and best practices exchange led by Dr. Ivan Prieto, Head of Micro and Nano Fabrication Facilities at INL. Participants gained insights into the operation of advanced cleanroom facilities and related best practices in micro and nanofabrication, further strengthening the exchange of technical knowledge within the consortium.
Participants from FORTH included Christina Stangel, Sotirios Psilodimitrakopoulos, and Eleni Petala, while Dimosthenis Toliopoulos participated on behalf of ALPES LASERS.
The visit contributed to the DemosAxia project’s objectives by supporting staff exchange, knowledge transfer, capacity building, and stronger collaboration between partners. It also highlighted the importance of connecting research organisations, innovation hubs, and advanced research infrastructures to support the development and dissemination of impactful research and innovation results.
The DemosAxia consortium warmly thanks Startup Braga and INL for hosting the visits and for sharing their expertise, experience, and best practices with the project team.
