Two researchers from the Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T) at the University of Minho have been named winners in the iProof Proof of Concept Funding Competition, a TecMinho initiative that supports the acceleration of technologies developed within the university. This year, TecMinho invested a total of €50,000 to advance promising innovations toward market readiness.

The iProof competition, part of the UI-Transfer 2.0 project co-financed by COMPETE 2030, Portugal 2030 and the European Union, aims to stimulate value creation and innovation among researchers and help bridge the gap between academic research and real-world impact. Projects are selected based on novelty, expected impact, market opportunity and the strength of the project plan and team.

Among the five awarded projects, two are led by 2C2T researchers:

BioCoTX – Domain 1: Health, Biotechnology, Food Technology and Agriculture
Assistant Researcher Dr. Helena Felgueiras was selected for her project BioCoTX, which focuses on bioactive coaxial microfibers developed from laboratory prototypes toward market-oriented proof of concept. These advanced microfibers have potential biomedical applications and represent a novel approach in biomaterials innovation.

BiosenTex4Auto – Domain 2: Information Technologies, Electronics and Communication; Energy, Environment and Construction; Transport, Safety and Industrial Processes
PhD student Nuna Costa won with BiosenTex4Auto, a textile-based biosensor designed for automotive applications. This project illustrates how textile science can intersect with smart sensing technologies, offering new solutions for safety, monitoring and integration within vehicle systems.

The awarded projects reflect the strong scientific and technological foundation fostered at 2C2T, where high-quality, multidisciplinary research is strategically aligned with real-world challenges. The success of these initiatives highlights 2C2T’s commitment to excellence in textile science and engineering, as well as its active role in promoting innovation-driven research with societal and industrial relevance.

Through projects such as BioCoTX and BiosenTex4Auto, 2C2T continues to strengthen its position as a scientific platform for advanced research, where fundamental knowledge is translated into innovative technologies with clear application potential. This achievement underscores the center’s long-term commitment to rigorous scientific development, researcher training, and the creation of impactful solutions that bridge academia, industry, and society.

Read the full announcement on the TecMinho website:
https://www.tecminho.uminho.pt/noticia/iproof-da-tecminho-investe-50000-na-aceleracao-de-cinco-tecnologias-da-universidade-do-minho