“AT ERT WE ARE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT THE VEHICLE OF 2035”

Since the auto industry runs through long cycles, ERT is already delineating its strategy for 2035. The example brought forth by Fernando Merino at Boosting Innovations, promoted by CeNTI and Cluster Têxtil, illustrates the lag that exists between innovative solutions and short-term business.

“Despite the numerous awards we have accrued, the truth is that we still face difficulties in doing business with our innovative solutions”, discloses Fernando Merino, during the afternoon session of Boosting Innovation(s), at Biblioteca Almeida Garrett, Porto, where specialists from multiple sectors gathered to discuss the applicability of Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) in the Portuguese companies.

For more than six years developing ERT’s innovation and strategic marketing department, Fernando Merino admits that the company has made “excellent connections, but we haven’t had results business-wise because the auto industry has very long cycles. Right now all thoughts are on the vehicle of 2035”, explains.

For Pedro Magalhães, TINTEX head of innovation, the solution seems to lie in a closer relationship with universities and research centres. “At TINTEX we focus on innovative processes, like saving water or energy. We all must do more in order to put innovative products on the market faster”, he states. “Innovation is Darwinian: he who innovates evolves, he who doesn’t lags behind”, concludes Pedro Magalhães.