Data & Analytics on the Green and Digital transition

As part of the INITIATE HORIZON EUROPE PROJECT Iscte held the workshop Data (&) Analytics on the Green and Digital Transition on June 18, 2024. The aim of the event was twofold: reflecting on the challenges of the green transition and digitalisation for companies and institutions in Portugal and understanding the extent to which Research & Innovation centres in Data Analytics can support and accelerate these processes in companies and institutions. The workshop brought together 20 entities – representing leading experts in these fields from different sectors of academia, associations, and business –, to share their vision and practices. Collectively, it was possible to reflect on the tangible contribution that the establishment of partnerships with the Academy can provide in these areas.

Workshop summary 

After welcoming the attendees and giving a brief introduction, Prof. Paula Vicente (the local coordinator of INITIATE) presented the objectives and main aspects of the INITIATE project, including scope definition, dimension assessment, and project partnerships. This provided attendees with a clear understanding of the project and their involvement as stakeholder group members. 

Next, Prof. Elisabeth Reis, a Full Professor at Iscte Business School, introduced and moderated the first invited speaker, Dr. Nuno Santos, CEO of Pitagórica. Dr. Santos delivered a presentation on digital transformations titled “Data (&) Analytics: The Challenges of Companies and Institutions in Transformation by Data.” He emphasized the potential for stakeholders to collaborate with HEIs to advance digitalization in their organizations and discussed barriers such as the need to review the management of public organizations in Portugal. Key topics that captured stakeholder interest included: 

• The potential and methods for using AI in data collection, processing, and analysis phases. 
• Principles guiding data analytics. 
• Data monetization strategies. 
• Examples of organic structures advancing digitalization. 
• Challenges and opportunities for collaboration between intra-organizational and inter-organizational entities in digital transformation. 

The second invited speaker, Dr. Jorge Vasconcelos, CEO of NEWES-New Energy Solutions, presented “Green+Digital Transition: Barriers, Opportunities, and Regulation for Companies and Institutions in Portugal.” He was introduced, and moderated, by Dr. Ana Simaens, Associate Dean (Engagement and Impact) at Iscte Business School. Dr. Vasconcelos discussed the opportunities and challenges in Portugal’s energy sector, particularly in decarbonization and green energy generation, highlighting the collaboration potential between public and private organizations with HEIs. Key topics included: 

• The integrated energy market in Europe. 
• Electrification of transport and buildings for energy sector decarbonization. 
• Political and regulatory reforms involving renewable energy in Portugal. 
• Technical and institutional issues in the renewables sector. 
• Strategies and market models in the energy transition. 
• Carbon tax to accelerate the decarbonization of Portugal’s energy system. 

The final invited speaker, José Paulo Esperança, Associate Dean (Innovation and International) at City University of Macau, spoke on “Circulation of Knowledge: The Role of Partnerships Between Academia, Companies, and Other Institutions.” He was introduced and moderated by Dr. Florinda Matos, Assistant Professor (Knowledge Management) at Iscte Business School. Dr. Esperança emphasized the importance of knowledge sharing for innovation and development, citing successful examples from Portugal as a technological exporter. He identified barriers such as the low societal impact of research, the gap between research and innovation, and limited private investment, especially from SMEs, in partnership with HEIs. He also highlighted the opportunity presented by the high number of unicorn start-ups in Portugal. Key topics included: 

• Strategies for private companies to advance research and collaborate with HEIs. 
• Promoting innovation and knowledge circulation. 
• The role of patents in promoting development. 
• The impact of public and private capital on accelerating development. 
• The effects of political cycles on research and innovation. 
• Incentive policies for start-ups leading to unicorns. 

The presentations engaged attendees, leading to questions and debates with the speakers. Stakeholders inquired about starting collaborations to improve SME data, initial steps for data collection and processing to accelerate the digital transition, ensuring investment distribution, and SME participation in research investments. The discussions explored pathways to enhance the energy transition and digitalization through greater integration between private organizations, especially SMEs, and HEIs. 

In closing, Prof. Paula Vicente highlighted the importance of quality collaboration between organizations such as SMEs and HEIs for fostering innovation and accelerating economic and social development. She emphasized that the INITIATE project represents a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to enhance relationships across several sectors of society through HEIs involvement and the promotion of knowledge circulation capable of generating economic and social benefits.