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The EngIQ Doctoral and Advanced Training Program celebrated its 15th anniversary with an event organized jointly by APQuímica, the EngIQ Directorate, and Galp, as the host company, at the Sines Refinery.
The “15 Years of EngIQ” event aimed to highlight a unique Academia-Industry connection in the country, projecting it into the future during a time of significant transformation in the chemical industry in Portugal, Europe, and the world, with innovative projects led by the sector. These include, for example, green hydrogen, the lithium battery value chain for electric vehicles, and CO2 capture and utilization, along with other circular economy projects, biochemistry/biotechnology, and new materials.
At the Sines Complex, the EngIQ community – over 80 PhDs and doctoral students, the five largest chemical engineering schools in the country and their research units, and more than 15 industrial companies in the sector, including large corporations, SMEs, and startups – had the opportunity to visit the Refinery and the Prof. Ramôa Ribeiro Research Center.
In the conference room, speeches were made by Cristina Cachola and Ana Casaca, responsible for Refining and Innovation at Galp, respectively; Luís Gomes, President of APQuímica; and Professors Fernando Gomes Martins and Sebastião Feyo de Azevedo from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Porto, the current and past directors of the EngIQ academic program. The floor was then given to the main protagonists of EngIQ – students (both alumni and current), companies, and universities.
In two complementary sessions, testimonials were heard, experiences shared, and perspectives on future evolution discussed, with the aim of projecting EngIQ into the future, unanimously considered a success story that should be preserved and strengthened.
The strong and continued commitment of the A4F group to the EngIQ program was once again demonstrated, notably by the large participation of HyChem, a partner company of the program, in Sines.
As in previous moments when EngIQ went through complex phases (2018-2019) until the current protocol between APQuímica and the Foundation for Science and Technology was renewed, the A4F group reaffirmed its unconditional support for the program and its future development, in the successful format it follows today.
This defense of EngIQ and its commitment were clearly highlighted in the speeches of Bruno Sommer Ferreira, CEO of Biotrend, a guest at one of the panels: “From the A4F group’s side, we maintain our ongoing commitment to the EngIQ program and also our role as host entities.”
This is reflected, as the executive stated, “in access to infrastructures, know-how, and other resources,” offering the opportunity to “work on complex topics with concrete applications in the real-world business environment, whether to solve pressing issues or to pioneer knowledge leading to new business opportunities.”
Bruno Sommer Ferreira admitted to being “impressed” by the metrics presented, which, he commented, “show that a focused program is instrumental in the training and retention of highly qualified human resources in our economic fabric, something that should be a strategic option, beyond the phase of investment in qualification as an end in itself.”
Now in its 16th edition, EngIQ is a postgraduate program and a platform for research in refining engineering, petrochemicals, and chemistry (www.eng-iq.pt).
Its objectives are to support the increased competitiveness of companies operating in Portugal by integrating PhD students into a business environment, and to promote specialized knowledge in these areas.
EngIQ includes a doctoral program and an advanced training course, designed to meet the training needs in relevant knowledge and business areas where several national and international companies operate in Portugal.
In its first 15 editions (2009-2023), EngIQ admitted 82 PhD students, with 47 completing their projects and obtaining their doctorate. In the companies, 153 employees attended advanced training courses and customized modules.
This program has unique characteristics as it is based on an innovative partnership between the five largest Chemical Engineering schools in the country and their R&D areas (University of Aveiro, University of Coimbra/FCT, University of Lisbon/IST, NOVA University of Lisbon/FCT, and University of Porto/FEUP), and the industrial companies associated with APQuímica.
Among the companies involved are HyChem, A4F Alga Fuel, and Biotrend, alongside Galp, Bondalti, EuroResinas/SonaeArauco, Cires, Repsol Polímeros, Hovione, Smallmatek, and Sika, among others.
With doctoral topics proposed by companies (demand-driven) and mostly developed in an industrial environment, EngIQ has recorded an employability rate close to 100% over its 15 years of activity. It is a recognized Portuguese case study at the European level for its Academia-Industry connection, knowledge transfer, and the integration of PhDs into the business sector.