CONNECT5

Consortium

CONNECT5 is a non-profit consortium composed by 12 entities. It involves one cluster, 5 universities, 3 polytechnical and 3 research centres.

TICE.PT

Is the managing body of the ICT & Electronics Competitiveness Cluster that involves and mobilizes relevant actors across the country, covering the entire value chain in the area of ICT & Electronics.

The TICE.PT platform guarantees and promotes the interfaces between the academic world (universities and R&D institutes), and the business world (represented by associates) and also through networks, especially SMEs, represented by their associations.

TICE.PT aims to foster and leverage network strategies, in order to induce an active renewal in the national economic actors, produce positive effects on the national supply enhanced by innovation and knowledge, thus creating export capacity and value creation in national products.

Given its aggregating and representative nature, TICE.PT coordinates CONNECT5, and will play a very important role in connecting SMEs through its members, including business and industrial associations (Anetie, AIDA, ANJE, COTEC Portugal, ...) and connection to PORTUGALclusters and Science and Technology Parks. It will also act as a facilitator and point of contact for public entities, through the National Association of Municipalities and regional gouvernement.

Instituto de Telecomunicações

IT dedicates its activity to pre-competitive scientific research, having as main objective the creation and dissemination of knowledge in the ICTE domain. This Institute, with Poles in Aveiro, Coimbra and Lisbon, operates in four major areas: Wireless, Optical and Photonics Technologies, Networks and Services, Information and Data Science and Basic Sciences and Telecommunications Support Technologies.

Recognized as a Technology Interface Center, IT contributes to Connect 5 with the provision of consulting services and the development and testing of advanced technology for industrial SMEs and public sector entities, as well as in the training of highly qualified resources in all areas of telecommunications

Associação Laboratório Colaborativo em Transformação Digital

DTx develops its activity in applied research in different areas related to the digital transformation of organizations, processes and services in society and industry, in a transversal way.

This CoLAB focuses on the R&D of new paradigms of human-machine products, services and interfaces, promoting the technological development and industrialization of intelligent products, components and applications,includingcyber- physicalsystems, with high added value, through the integration of technologies and concepts such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity,digital manufacturing, among others.

DTx participates in CONNECT5 as a competence center in the development and validation of products and services for the telecommunications sector, providing testing and experimentation infrastructures to solutions based on intelligent networking systems and supporting the choice, adoption, use and training of products and solutions of intelligent networked systems.

Universidade de Coimbra

UC integrates 10 organic teaching and research units in several areas, with a significant role in the science and technology field, in technology and engineering research. In this context, we highlight the Center for Informatics and Systems of the University of Coimbra (CISUC), one of the main Portuguese research centers in the area of Computer Science and Information Technologies, organized into 6 groups: Adaptive Computing, Cognitive and Media Systems, Communications and Telematics, Evolutionary and Complex Systems, Information Systems, Software Engineering and Systems.

Under CONNECT5, UC will, through CISUC, contribute to the experimentation and testing of technologies in the areas of 5G and Cloud, by supporting the selection/ specification of experimentation platforms, definition of metrics for evaluation and analysis of results and impact, as well as to the qualification and training of digital skills in the context of these technologies, both in the perspective of their use in the development of products and services, as well as in their application in multiple sectors of the economy

Politécnico do Porto

P.PORTO is a higher education institution that stands out for its interdisciplinarity, particularly in the field of engineering, economic sciences and information technology. In these domains, within the scope of this DIH, the role of the Higher School of Technology and Management and its CIICESI research center, which undertake R&D and support work for companies in data science, IoT and cybersecurity, as well as the ISCAP, through the CEOS research center, which promotes inter and multidisciplinary R&D activities, focusing on the areas of digital services.

Through its research centers, the role of P.PORTO in the context of this hub will be a preponderant for offering companies and public entities support in the implementation of key enabling technologies to their operations, such as IoT, cybersecurity and data analytics.

Universidade da Beira Interior

UBI has several teaching and research facilities, with a wide range of knowledge areas. In the technological area, we highlight the Center for Skills in Cloud Computing, as well as the current establishment of the Advanced Computing Skills Center, which will connect the institution to the most innovative digital tools, being part of the strengthening of national scientific production in the field of advanced digital skills, AI and big data.

UBI's role will support the computational modeling of cyberphysical systems, involving multiphysics, with a view to implementing digital systems twin; the implementation of sensors with energy-harvesting properties and embedded systems; and the supply of virtual factory concepts in industry 4.0 context.

Politécnico de Viseu

The IPV is a higher education institution that has a training offer comprising a wide range of areas of knowledge and its associated research. IPV research is organized into 4 structures, one of which is in particular the Center for Studies in Digital Services (CISeD), dedicated to the implementation of applied research in digital services, covering areas related to computer science, economics and management, culture, quantitative methods and electronic and mechanical engineering.

Based on the 4 pillars of CONNECT5, the IPV will have a significant contribution in the pole in the areas of technologies for sensorization infrastructures for industry, communications systems, Cloud platforms and HPC to support the industry.

Universidade do Minho

UM has 11 institutes and schools, organized into organic units, departments and research units. In this context, the School of Engineering of the University of Minho is the one that has contributed the most as a source of specialized knowledge, through the allocation of a large number of researchers from different research centers/units, among which stands out the Algoritmi center, integrated in CONNECT5.

Under Connect 5,UM's Algoritmi center will contribute to all the pillars of CONNECT5's operations, with particular emphasis on high-performance computing, network infrastructure, 5G, IoT and Smart Cities.

Politécnico de Leiria

The IPLeiria is a higher education institution dedicated to education and research, affirming itself as the central point of an ecosystem of research and innovation oriented to the economic and social fabric of the region where it is inserted. In the field of new digital technologies, IPL's eiria activity is developed in the field of education, training and research in prominent areas such as AI systems, 5G technology, IoT, advanced manufacturing techniques and digital transformation.

Under CONNECT5, the ipleiria will be directed to the areas of 5G mobile networks, Planeamento radio coverage and antennas; IoT systems and interfaces; Electronics; Mobile computing; Computer vision and mobile robotics; Virtual reality; Cybersecurity.

Universidade de Aveiro

The UA's mission is to intervene and develop graduate training, research and cooperation with society. In recent years, the UA has made a strong investment in its technological capacity, both in terms of infrastructure and in research lines, including qualified human resources, being a privileged partner of companies and other national and international entities.

Given the potential and infrastructure of the UA, it will play a crucial role in supporting the capacity building in the use of digital technologies and their ownership by companies and public administration bodies, providing access to their equipment, including 5G networks.

Universidade do Porto

UPORTO combines quality education with the scientific research of excellence developed within its ecosystem. In the technological aspect, we highlight the Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto (UPTEC), which has played an important role through the support of the incubation of start-up companies and the integration of business innovation centers, and the Faculty of Engineering, which has leveraged the launch of technology-based companies and contributed to the valorization and transfer of technology to the national business fabric.

In this sense, UPORTO/FEUP will provide all its know-how,includingR&D products and services, consulting and studies and training, with a focus on the following scientific technical areas: Wireless Connectivity (5G and 6G), Internet of Things, Cloud and Edge Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Virtual and Augmented Reality, Computer Vision, Data Science and Big Data, Simulation, with application in Industry 4.0 and Sustainable Cities and Communities.

CEIIA

CEiiA has a competences’ profile that covers engineering, development, prototyping and simulation of new business models, through the utilization of digital tools, particularly by testing and developing new generations of products and services that rely on cutting-edge positioning and connectivity technologies in the areas of mbility, asset tracking, and energy autonomy. In this regard, CEiiA has been involved in several projects aligned with CONNECT5 activity, as the development and implementation of sustainable mobility solutions, focusing on new vehicles and intelligent mobility management systems, working in several cities across the world. This vast technological knowledge, experience, and wide network of deployment partners will be fundamental to mobilize technological and digital capabilities through the value chain. CEiiA is willing to provide consulting services in the fields of product design, development of safe and reliable embedded systems, with embedded intelligence, targeting mobility, and hardware/software co-design and pre-certification

Services

Connect 5 supports the process of digital transformation of businesses and public administration by providing services to foster the use of technologies and enhance their economic recovery, other than those currently available by the market. Specifically, the services provided by the Digital Innovation Hub are:

Test before investing

CONNECT5 develops activities that allow the experimentation of new digital technologies, so that it is possible to evaluate new opportunities.

These services will have a very relevant contribution to Pillar II) Digital transformation of the business fabric, namely in the sub-pillars "Business fabric, focusing on SMEs" and 'Transfer of scientific and technological knowledge to the economy', as they will allow national technology companies (start-ups and SMEs) to scale up solutions and digital products by two ways. In the case of solutions developed by these companies, by providing them with the conditions and infrastructure to experiment with or demonstrate to potential customers the applicability in a particular sector, technology, product or process. In the case of commercial solutions developed by other solutions or solutions that are not yet with the necessary technological maturity and/or come from the scientific system or ongoing R&D projects, CONNECT5 will be a platform for promoting and transferring these new solutions to the business fabric, allowing their demonstration and the maturity necessary to reach the market, supporting the identification of the most suitable solution for each company, its process and objectives, as well as the contact and experimentation of these solutions before the adoption. In addition, the services to be offered by Connect 5 will contribute to the objectives of Pillar III) Digitization of the State, making available and contextualizing the appropriate tools and technologies that can contribute to the simplification and dematerialization of the administrative procedures of public bodies responsible for the management of cities and territory, and thus better serve citizens and companies located in these territories.

In this way there is a perfect alignment of the services in this area with the sub-pillars 'Digital Public Services', 'Agile and open central administration' and 'Regional and local administration connected and open'.

Support in the search for financing for investments

Connect 5 will support SMEs and public sector entities in identifying and accessing funding instruments appropriate to the development and implementation of projects in the area of cyberphysical systems. This will provide support services to obtain financing that will increase the purchasing power of SME companies and public sector entities wishing to use emerging technologies, through the acquisition of funds to co-finance and boost the implementation and adoption of these new technologies by these entities, as well as the development of technological startups in the area of cyberphysical systems. These CONNECT5 actions will contribute to and respond to the objectives of Pillars II) and III), particularly in the sub-pillars 'Entrepreneurship and investment attraction', 'Business fabric, focused on SMEs', 'Transfer of scientific and technological knowledge to the economy' and 'Digital public services'.

Skills and training

With its training actions, CONNECT5 also aims to (iii) contribute to raising skills and qualifications in areas related to cyberphysical systems, so that potential beneficiaries (companies and public sector entities) can make the most of technological innovations. In this sense, a set of strategic actions will be developed, based on the design and delivery of training and training services, on emerging technologies, their adequacy and benefit for each sector, activity and/or entity. The development of skills of people, companies and government entities in relevant areas will not only facilitate and promote the adoption of these technologies, but will empower these agents to develop productive solutions and management tools and competitiveness of the territory, based on cyberphysical systems. These CONNECT5 training services are thus fully aligned with Pillar I) Training and digital inclusion, with direct contribution to the themes of vocational training and digital literacy for the three sub-pillars 'Digital Education and Requalification', with Pillar II) focusing on the sub-pillar "Business fabric, focusing on SMEs" and also with the sub-pillar "Digital Public Services" of Pillar III).

Innovation ecosystem and networking

CONNECT5 assumes as its main objective to promote the relations between the agents that make up the innovation ecosystem. In this follow-up, Connect 5 will support cooperation and synergy between various non-business entities of the R&R&D system and companies for the development of new projects to leverage new knowledge, also seeking to act in the promotion area, through the organization of events and conferences as a stimulus to cooperation, and in identifying difficulties and needs of companies in the implementation of projects and adaptation to new technologies. The involvement of Agents of the R&R&D system also allows feeding the CONNECT5 with results of research actions to be matured within it (ensuring a permanent technological update). On the other hand, CONNECT5 makes it easier to identify gaps in need of bridge, thus creating opportunities for new R&R&D projects to be developed in external consortium. Thus, it is clear the contribution of this type of actions and services to Pillars II) and III), in the sub-pillars 'Entrepreneurship and investment attraction', 'Business fabric, focusing on SMEs', 'Transfer of scientific and technological knowledge to the economy' and 'Digital public services'.;

CONNECT5

Vision

Mission

European innovation ecosystem

Showcase national / international

Enabling technologies

Identify gaps / needs

SME or eGovernment policies