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JANTAR-DEBATEConselho Reg. do Colégio Engenharia Química e Biológica Ordem dos Engenheiros - Lisboa, Portugal26 Junho 2018
DA ACADEMIA À INDÚSTRIA,DA CATÁLISE ÀS MICROALGAS
Luís CostaA4F – Algae for futureChief Operations Officer
1999-2004 - Biological Engineering at ISTFormal training at Stylacats Ltd., United Kingdom, 2004
2004-2008 - Ph.D. Chemical Engineering at IST + StylaCats, UK“Zeolite-Supported Enzyme Catalysts: Transient Kinetics and Applications”
2009-present - A4F – Algae for future (Lisbon, Portugal)2009 Trainee2009 R&D engineer2011 Project manager2015 Manager of Operations, Science and Technology2016 Chief Operations Officer and Head of Biotechnology
My Professional Journey in Short
Impact on myself Solid training
Scientific / engineering backgroundState-of-the-artWorkload managementTeamworkNetworking
Foundation for CVEngineer from IST6 months in an SME in the UKInvited for PhD -> next career step
Personal growthLiving by myself and abroadWorking in a private company
1999-2004: Biological Engineering
External impact Zero…? Negative…?Portugal invested money on my training My tuition did not cover the costs…
Impact on myself Solid training
R&D skills (Catalysis, Enzymes, …)Individual workProject managementScientific written and oral comm.
CV improvementsPhD -> access to R&D positionsIndustrial collaborationInvited for Post-doc -> next step?
Personal growthFinancial independenceResponsibility over resources
2004-2008: Ph.D. Chemical Engineering
External impact FundingPortugal/FCT invested money on my PhD grant
DisseminationPublished 5 papers + 1 book chapter + several conference papers –> good for rankings and minor contributions for science
IP exploitationStylaCats was dismantled by shareholders before IP could be exploited
Why apply to A4F?It’s industry.It’s in Portugal.It’s true Biological Engineering.It’s R&D and also production.The company and the people seem inspiring.(‘I think I’ll like it.’)My academic background will be useful (the skills, not the topics!).(‘I think I could be good at it.’)In an SME, it’s more likely that I will be promoted quickly.(‘I think I could make a living out of it.’)They were convinced that I could be a valuable resource!
Started in Jan2009 – 1-month training
2009-Today: A4F
What have I done so far?InternLab technicianMicroalgae production unit technicianMicroalgae production unit supervisorR&D engineer – designing PBRs and production unitsR&D researcher – designing experiments, methodologies, etc.R&D/Client project manager – e.g. Secil, BIOFAT and D-Factory projectsHead of the R&D lab and pilot unitHuman resources – hiring, training and managingProcurement – from pipettes to industrial size equipmentRepresentation – conferences, papers, patents…Chief Operations Officer – ensure production units are producing correctly now,
and will produce more and better in the future
2009-Today: A4F
Some achievements @ A4F
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION DISSEMINATION & COMMUNICATION
Lisbon Innovation Laboratory and Experimental Unit Co-supervisor 2011-2017
Algafarm, Pataias (1 ha; 1300 m3) Project engineering & R&D manager 2011-2015
European Environmental Press Award, 2009 Cover of VISÃO magazine, 2014
Pilot Unit at Secil/CMP, Pataias (0,1 ha; 20 m3) R&D engineer & Operations manager 2009-2012
BIOFAT Pilot Plant at Pataias, (0,5 ha; 230 m3) Project engineering & Operation manager 2012-2015
Lisbon Microalgae Biotechnology Advanced Course Lecturer, 2013 & 2016 (1st and 2nd editions)
Impact on myself Professional growth - new skills CV development Career development Personal growthPerception of dimensions in business beyond technical: financial and political
Feeling of personal fulfilment as an accomplished professional so far…
2009-Today: A4F
External impact Training of young engineers
DisseminationPapers, patents, conferences…
Representation: contrib. to A4F’s international reputation
Contribution to success of public R&D projects 60+ M€
Substantial investment in infrastructure and HR qualification in Portugal (10+%)
2009-Today: A4F
External impact Contribution to success of
commercial projects
Algafarm (Secil, Pataias) – the largest PBR unit in the world to that datewww.a4f.pthttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCefd-PA2mYfKqPBggnULMzg
Algatec – Eco Business Park (Póvoa de Santa Iria) – the largest microalgae production platform in Europe to datehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2cI5Zq7LOobtfjilcsrk-w
2009-Today: A4F
External impact Promoting Portugal as a
location of excellence for investments on microalgae production – a Biological Engineering activity.
Making concepts such as Sustainability and Circular Economy a reality in business models.
Are Biological Engineering students good investment for Portugal?
We train them (€€€), then they leave to other countries, promoting foreign GDP…
More investment in Biotechnological production activities would help retention…
Where’s the investment capital? Business models too complex / risky for traditional banks? Specialized investment analysts or banks required? Something between VC and banks? Public funding has too much inertia and lacks efficacy?
Suggestions for the debate
THANK YOU!
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A4F ∙ www.a4f.pt ∙ [email protected]
This presentation is the confidential work product of A4F-AlgaFuel SA and no portion of this presentation maybe copied, published, performed, or redistributed without the express written authority of a A4F Officer.
© Copyright 2018, A4F-AlgaFuel SA
