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SUSTECHR3 2026 strengthens the link between science, technology and industry for a more sustainable future

13/10/2026
SUSTECHR3 2026 strengthens the link between science, technology and industry for a more sustainable future

International conference brought together researchers, academics and industry representatives in Porto to discuss the challenges of sustainability, digital transformation and innovation in production technologies.

On October 1st and 2nd, 2026, Hotel Vila Galé Porto hosted SUSTECHR3 – Global Conference on Sustainable Technologies, an international conference dedicated to the presentation and discussion of scientific research, technological developments and innovative solutions for a more sustainable, intelligent and competitive industry. Held within the scope of the PRODUTECH R3 Mobilizing Agenda – Recovery, Resilience and Reindustrialization, supported by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), the conference was a meeting space between the scientific community, companies and the different agents of the innovation system, promoting the sharing of knowledge and reflection on the great challenges of industrial transformation.

Under the commitment to contribute to a more sustainable future, SUSTECHR3 sought to bring scientific research closer to the concrete needs of companies, valuing the role of production technologies in responding to environmental, economic and social challenges. Science and innovation at the service of industrial sustainability The scientific program of the conference was structured around four main thematic areas: Decarbonization, addressing technologies and strategies for reducing emissions and improving the energy efficiency of industrial processes; Circular Economy and Eco-Design, focused on the efficient use of resources, waste recovery and development of sustainable products and processes; Digital and Smart Manufacturing, exploring the potential of artificial intelligence, automation, digitalization and advanced production technologies; Human-Centric and Resilient Value Chains, promoting more flexible, collaborative and people-centred industrial models. The conference was attended by researchers and experts from different institutions, providing the presentation and discussion of scientific papers subject to peer review, in an environment of multidisciplinary sharing and debate. In addition to the scientific sessions, the program included moments dedicated to strategic reflection on innovation, the evolution of production technologies and the challenges associated with their implementation in the business fabric.

PRODUTECH R3: transforming knowledge into value for the economy The realization of the SUSTECHR3 was directly associated with the objectives of the PRODUTECH R3 Mobilizing Agenda, a structuring initiative for the transformation of the Portuguese production technologies sector. With an overall investment of more than 160 million euros and a consortium of more than a hundred entities, the Agenda brings together companies, higher education institutions, research centres and interface organisations, seeking to develop innovative technological solutions and strengthen the competitiveness of the national industry. PRODUTECH R3 assumes an integrated vision of industrial transformation, combining research and development, technological innovation, qualification, internationalization and dissemination of knowledge. In this context, SUSTECHR3 also represents an instrument for valuing and disseminating scientific and technological knowledge, contributing to bring research results closer to market needs and opportunities. More than a conference, a contribution to the future One of the main challenges of industrial innovation continues to be the transformation of scientific knowledge into concrete, economically viable solutions capable of generating value for companies and society. It was precisely at this intersection between science, technology and industrial application that SUSTECHR3 sought to assert itself. By promoting dialogue between researchers, companies and decision-makers, the conference contributed to the identification of new opportunities for collaboration, the dissemination of knowledge and the reinforcement of a shared vision about the future of the industry.

In an international context marked by technological acceleration, energy transition and the growing demand for sustainability, initiatives such as SUSTECHR3 demonstrate the importance of a collaborative approach, in which research, innovation and the ability to execute go hand in hand. The SUSTECHR3 2026 thus reaffirmed the importance of cooperation between science and industry, placing production technologies at the center of building a more sustainable, resilient and competitive economy. More information: www.sustechr3.com

The PRODUTECH R3 project – Mobilizing Agenda for the Production Technologies Sector for Reindustrialization is funded by the European Union, under the #NextGenerationEU program, through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP)(https://recuperarportugal.gov.pt/).

#ConstruiroFuturo #FundosUE #PRR #NextGenerationEU #NextGenEU #construirofuturo #resiliencia #transicaodigital #transicaoclimatica #somosprr #PRODUTECHR3