The Faculty of Technology (FT) at Unicamp, located on the Limeira campus, held this week the second edition of the workshop “Trends and Innovation in Research and Postgraduate Studies” and the “FT Extension Showcase”. The events aimed to promote discussions on research, innovation, postgraduate studies, scientific production and university extension. On Wednesday (9), the opening session of the activities was attended by the rector Paulo Cesar Montagner and the pro-rectors of Research, Ana Maria Fratini Fileti, and Postgraduate Studies, Claudia Morelli. The director of FT, Leonardo Bravo Roger, and the Postgraduate Studies coordinator, Rosa Cristina Cecche Lintz, also participated. The second day of the event, Thursday (10), was dedicated to extension, with a program focused on the presentation of projects developed by FT faculty.
To kick off the activities, the former rector of Unicamp and current administrative director of the São Paulo State Research Foundation (Fapesp), Antonio José de Almeida Meirelles, gave a lecture to those present.
According to Daniele Ribeiro, postgraduate technical assistant at FT, the event arose from the proposal to integrate the areas of postgraduate studies, research, and outreach. The first edition took place last year and, given the good participation, the program was expanded this year, with the theme "Research that transforms society".
In his opening remarks, the rector highlighted the University's trajectory in creating new structures, reorganizing courses, and stimulating innovation. Among the milestones mentioned was the transformation of old courses into Faculties of Technology (FTs), a process considered fundamental to the University's current configuration. Montagner also emphasized the growth of the teaching staff, with a record number of hires, close to 2 new professors.
Another highlight was innovation. According to data presented, Unicamp's "spin-off companies" total approximately 1.600 units, responsible for around 52 direct jobs and an estimated revenue of R$ 28 billion.
The rector also advocated for increased cooperation between the University, businesses, and society, and mentioned discussions for the creation of an innovation district in Piracicaba. In conclusion, he reinforced the need for Unicamp to integrate knowledge, innovation, and regional development to respond to the transformations and new demands of society.
Partnerships
The contribution of Unicamp to scientific production and technological development was highlighted by Vice-Rector Ana Frattini during the opening of the workshop. She emphasized the importance of the research produced at the University, which currently accounts for 7% of scientific articles published by Brazilian authors, representing between 6 and 7 papers per year. She also drew attention to the importance of fundraising and partnerships with companies. "In 2024, about one-third of the extra-budgetary resources allocated to research originated from the private sector," the Vice-Rector pointed out.
The importance of connecting research and society was also highlighted by Frattini. “The University currently maintains approximately 1.300 active patents and nearly 300 technology transfer agreements, with 25 to 30 new agreements signed annually,” she informed. She also emphasized the importance of events like the workshop in bringing the university community closer to the administration and discussing the institution's future. “We are open to listening to you,” she concluded.
Integration
The need to broaden the impact of teaching, research, and outreach on society was the point mentioned by the Vice-Rector for Graduate Studies, Cláudia Morelli. According to her, the FT workshop stood out precisely because it brought together the three core areas of the University in the same space for reflection and dialogue. “The proposal [of the event] is aligned with a guideline that has been worked on in Unicamp's graduate programs: to stimulate research capable of producing concrete impacts on society. The interdisciplinarity characteristic of technological areas contributes to this approach and to the construction of solutions with social impact,” she mentioned.
Another point addressed was the role of the University in a period of rapid transformations, including the advancement of artificial intelligence. According to the Vice-Rector, Unicamp should not only follow or use tools developed by other sectors, but also actively participate in their creation and propose new solutions. Morelli recalled that approximately 90% of the research conducted at the University originates from postgraduate studies and advocated for the creation of academic environments that stimulate curiosity and the search for new tools and knowledge. "We shouldn't just use the ones that are already out there," she stated, arguing that students and researchers should also be encouraged to propose and develop new technologies.
90 seconds
The work developed by the FT faculty was presented in poster format, allowing for the dissemination of initiatives carried out in different areas. Among the activities was the "My Research in 90 Seconds" contest, aimed at postgraduate students. In this edition, 45 videos were produced, in which researchers present their work in a brief and accessible way. The contest includes prizes for the top three winners, chosen by a technical committee, as well as a popular vote.
The postgraduate program in Technology at FT, coordinated by Professor Rosa Cristina Cecche Lintz, has three areas of concentration: Environment, Materials, and Information Systems. Currently, the program has 204 active students and has already graduated 425 masters and 125 doctors. The faculty consists of 52 permanent professors and 17 collaborators, with backgrounds in different areas of knowledge, including engineering, biology, pharmacy, and chemistry. “The diversity in the background of faculty and students is one of the characteristics that strengthens the interdisciplinary nature of the postgraduate program. Academic production seeks, among other objectives, to contribute to improving the quality of life, supporting public policies and contributing to the formulation of laws, as well as engaging with the principles of sustainable development. This diversity is also reflected in the origin of the students, who come from different regions of Brazil and other countries. Plurality broadens all possibilities,” stated Lintz.
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