Full Professor at the NOVA School of Science and Technology (FCT NOVA), Rodrigo Martins is one of the five prominent scientists appointed by the European Commission as members of the Scientific Council of the European Research Council (ERC).

The new members were selected by an independent Identification Committee, composed of six renowned scientists, appointed by the European Commission. The Independent Committee is chaired by Professor Carl-Henrik Heldin, who is also Chairman of the Board of the Nobel Foundation.

The scientific community was consulted during the selection process of the new members who will take office on January 1, 2021.  In addition to the Portuguese professor, the elected members are: Alice Valkárová, from the University of Prague; Nicola Spaldin, from the ETH Zurich; Dirk Inzé, from the University of Ghent and Liselotte Højgaard, from the University of Copenhagen.

Composed of 22 scientists and distinguished scholars representing the European scientific community, the ERC Scientific Council is an independent governing body. Its main function is to define the ERC strategy and select the peer review evaluators. It is chaired by the interim president of the ERC, Jean-Pierre Bourguignon.

The ERC, created by the European Union, is the leading European organization for funding excellent frontier research. Every year, it selects and funds the best researchers, of any nationality and age, to manage projects based in Europe. It offers four grants schemes: Initial, Consolidator, Advanced and Synergy. In addition, the ERC supports researchers to establish bridges between their pioneering research and the early phases of its commercialization.

Materials engineer and researcher Elvira Fortunato, “mother” of the paper transistor and coordinator of the SYNERGY project, was distinguished on September 23^rd by the European Commission with the Horizon 2020 Impact Award, for creating the first transparent screen with eco-sustainable materials.

On Friday 11^th of December, in a plenary session, parliament unanimously approved this salutation vote, presented by the Education, Science, Youth and Sports Commission, noting that Elvira Fortunato “is one of the most prestigious and most awarded Portuguese scientists in the country “, being also” an example of citizenship”.

Read the full piece here on Notícias ao Minuto.

Elvira Fortunato, vice-rector of Universidade Nova de Lisboa and scientific advisor to the European Commission, is one of the most prestigious engineers in Portugal and abroad. Her work Invisible, in the area of transparent electronics, earned her the Horizon Impact Award this year.

But the challenges in the design and manufacture of new transistors and other electronic components do not end here. Many of its innovations include paper electronics and nanomaterials. And the results are in sight. In addition to a vast number of patents, Elvira Fortunato has worked in partnership with large national and multinational companies, such as Samsung, Merck, Hovione and Navigator.

A conversation not to be missed. Watch the full interview here.

What can help us in the future is available to anyone and whoever says it, is one of today´s most important scientist. For Elvira Fortunato, cooperation and sharing are essential.

Professor Elvira Fortunato participated in the 4^th interview of the 5 Great Things Talk series entitled: “4Leaders – Do Great Things”. The series highlights the achievements of 5 Portuguese leaders. According to Professor Elvira Fortunato, one of the most awarded national scientists ever, cooperation and sharing are critical to succeed and, therefore, those are the words she chooses to face the future.

Access to the article here.