Fibrenamics General Assembly sets out next strategic steps following 2025 review

Fibrenamics held its General Assembly yesterday, March 31, at the Antigos Paços do Concelho in Guimarães, in a session that brought together its members to review the Institute’s recent trajectory and discuss its next areas of development. The main items on the agenda included the review of the 2025 Activities and Accounts Report, Fibrenamics’ participation in the Fibrenamics Brasil Association, the admission of affiliate members, and participation in other entities.

2025 review and new strategic steps

Particular emphasis was placed on the 2025 review, a year in which Fibrenamics once again demonstrated its ability to connect science, technology and impact. The figures presented reflect a community of more than 5,000 members, 952 scientific publications, 70 commercialised innovative products, 500 national and international partners, 46 patents and 38 employees.

The report also highlighted a particularly dynamic year in terms of activity and external visibility, with participation in national and international initiatives such as JEC World, FEINDEF 2025, Space Tech Expo, and the organisation of key institutional initiatives such as Impulse and the Ignite Sessions. In terms of projects, 23 ongoing and 15 completed projects were presented, covering areas such as mobility, defence and protection, construction, health, and other fields of application.

The session was also marked by the unanimous approval of the 2025 Activities and Accounts Report by the members present, reflecting recognition of the excellent results achieved by Fibrenamics over the past year and reinforcing the Institute’s path of consolidation.

Institutional development and strategic vision

The General Assembly also highlighted institutional developments relevant to Fibrenamics’ recent trajectory, notably the renewal of the NP 4457:2021 and ISO 9001:2015 certifications. The former reinforces the management of research, development and innovation, with a focus on value creation and the capacity to innovate; the latter recognises the commitment to quality, partner satisfaction and continuous improvement. Together, these certifications strengthen Fibrenamics’ innovation capacity, operational efficiency and commitment to quality.

Another key point was the consolidation of the infrastructure of the Fibrenamics Innovation Hub: Defence & Protection, at AvePark in Guimarães, a development that reinforces Fibrenamics’ commitment to a strategic area and reflects the work the Institute has been advancing in the field of defence and protection.

On the strategic front, the meeting also included an update on Fibrenamics’ participation in the Fibrenamics Brasil Association, with reference to the definition of its statutes and the discussion of the terms of that participation.

Recognition, renewal and future outlook

Lastly, the session was marked by moments of recognition and institutional renewal, with special emphasis on the tribute to Professor Guilherme Pereira and the arrival of Professor Lígia Rodrigues. It also included the admission of new affiliate members and Fibrenamics’ participation in other entities through the subscription of participation units.

Over the past year, Fibrenamics has further reinforced its mission to turn knowledge into concrete solutions for industry and society. Supported by a trajectory of growth, innovation and impact built over a decade and a half, the Institute’s activity has increasingly established itself, in Portugal and beyond, as an example of knowledge transfer with real-world application. The General Assembly confirmed this trajectory and outlined the next steps of an organisation that continues to strengthen its role in connecting research, innovation and the market.