On 17-18 July2025, the University of Minho in Guimarães, Portugal, hosted the “Technology Pathways Workshop to Foster TRLs of Bio-Inspired Technologies and Smart Materials Technologies,” co-organized by INL, Fibrenamics and INOVA+.
The workshop brought together participants from academia, research and technology organizations (RTOs), and industry across Europe to co-develop technology pathways that support the transition of emerging technologies from lab to market. The focus was on societally and environmentally responsible bio-inspired and smart materials technologies.
Orchestrated by the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), the workshop applied a participatory, multi-level co-creation methodology aligned with Industry 5.0 principles. This approach, in line with Industry 5.0, emphasizes the creation of human-centered technologies that prioritize more than just efficiency and productivity, enhancing their positive societal impact.
The main aim of the workshop is to co-develop a technology pathway for the uptake of new technologies that is attentive to the societal and environmental implications. By adding the societal and environmental value-sensitivity lens to the technology development we are not only creating a more sustainable future but are also tackling the barriers of technology adoption through improving technology acceptance and trust.
The FORGING FORUM is a multidisciplinary, multisector community of experts from across Europe developing technologies that are not only innovative but also societally and environmentally value-sensitive.
This co-organised workshop reflects the evolution toward a more multidisciplinary and multisectoral research and innovation ecosystem.
For more information, visit https://www.forging-hub.eu.