
Contents
WELCOME
On behalf of the Organizing Committee, we are pleased to invite you to attend the “Spanish-Portuguese Industry-Academia Aerogel Meeting”, to be held on 1-2 March 2021, in Coimbra, Portugal.
This meeting is organized by AERoGELS COST Action (https://cost-aerogels.eu), the Chemical Process Engineering and Forest Products Research Centre (University of Coimbra, Portugal), the I+D Farma research group (University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain) and Flucomp (Asociación de Expertos en Fluidos Comprimidos, Spain).
AIMS & SCOPE
Aerogels are unique nanostructured porous materials with special properties adapted to fit a multitude of advanced applications. Their extremely high porosity and diverse chemical compositions lead to unusual performance as thermal and acoustic insulators, energy storage materials, catalysts, sensors, adsorbents of pollutants, drug carriers, wound dressings and bone grafts, among other uses.
Further advances on aerogels and exploitation of their wide application potential need the overcoming of some of their structural limitations and fading of constrains for large production. This may be achieved by novel material designs, synthesis processes intensification, effective production layouts, also supported by modelling tools and adapted characterization techniques.
COST Action AERoGELS (CA18125) ‐ “Advanced Engineering and Research of aeroGels for Environment and Life Sciences” assembles expertise from interdisciplinary and intersectoral domains, bringing together the knowledge on research and technology development of aerogels at the European level from academia, industry and regulatory experts.

This meeting, framed under the scope of COST Action AERoGELS, aims at gathering, integrating and strenghtening the scientific-technological-production knowledge in aerogels developed in the Iberian Peninsula. It also aims to create new collaboration bridges in the Portuguese and Spanish aerogel community to foster synergies for production development and leading roles enhancement in the European/World context.
The meeting will promote the networking among participants through several sessions for oral presentations from Iberian academia groups and industry players, posters discussion, one Iberian meeting table for analysis of the status and role of Portugal and Spain in the aerogels community, and one Early Career Investigator’s Forum that will give the floor to new ideas and promote training sustainability of aerogels development in the Iberian Peninsula.
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Luisa Durães (Chair, Univ. Coimbra, PT)
Carlos A. García-González (Co-Chair, Univ. Santiago de Compostela, ES)
Amparo López Rubio (IATA-CSIC, ES)
Ana Borba (Univ. Coimbra, PT)
Beatriz Bernardes (Univ. Católica Portuguesa, PT)
Clara López-Iglesias (Univ. Santiago de Compostela, ES)
Joana Barros (i3S, Univ. Porto, PT)
María Carracedo-Pérez (Univ. Santiago de Compostela, ES)
Miguel Sánchez-Soto (Univ. Politécnica de Catalunya, ES)
Pedro Simões (Univ. Coimbra, PT)
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Anna Roig (ICMAB-CSIC, ES)
Catarina Reis (Univ. Lisboa, PT)
David Diaz Diaz (Univ. La Laguna, ES)
Falk Liebner (Univ. Aveiro, PT)
Inês Flores-Colen (Univ. Lisboa, PT)
Manuel Piñero (Univ. Cádiz, ES)
Mara Braga (Univ. Coimbra, PT)
Marta Corvo (I3N, Univ. Nova de Lisboa, PT)
Miguel Pérez (Univ. Valladolid, ES)
Rosana Simón (Univ. Vigo, ES)
PROGRAMME
Plenary speakers
Joint presentation of industry panel:
Dr. Eunate Goiti (Tecnalia)
Dr. Francisco Ruiz (Keey Aerogel)
IMPORTANT DATES
Abstract deadline for ECI forum: 7 January 2022
Abstract decision: 21 January 2022
Registration deadline: 28 January 2022
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION
We invite Early Career Investigators (PhD students and young post-doctoral researchers) to submit abstracts for Oral or Poster Presentation at the event. The abstract submission deadline is 7 January 2022
Please, fill in the template provided in this link and send it to luisa@eq.uc.pt
A notification of acceptance or rejection will be sent before 21 January 2022.
The registration of the presenting author who submits the abstract is compulsory.
VENUE
Event location
University of Coimbra
Faculty of Sciences and Technology
Rua Sílvio Lima, Pólo II
3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal
https://www.uc.pt/fctuc
https://goo.gl/maps/nZuQy5TT8utSb583A
GPS: 40.18663, -8.41218
Tourist information
Coimbra is a riverside city (Mondego river) in central Portugal. Once Portugal’s capital (from 1139 to 1256), Coimbra is one of the country’s most historic cities, famous for its university, which is one of Europe’s oldest (it was founded in 1290). It’s rich in centuries-old monuments that illustrate every chapter of the history of architecture, and the university and surroundings are listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Easily accessible by train or bus between the country’s two largest cities (Lisbon and Porto), it’s worth a visit not just for the monumental university but also for the ancient site of Conimbriga, which has some of Europe’s best-preserved Roman mosaics. In between, choose among the different romanesque, gothic, and baroque churches, and visit one of Portugal’s best national museums.
To learn more about Coimbra please visit https://www.coimbraportugaltourism.com

How to arrive from the airport
Portugal makes part of the network of the major international airlines, so it is easy to find frequent and regular connections from all parts of the world. The airports nearer to Coimbra are located in Lisboa (190 km away) and in Porto (120 km away).
From Lisboa (Humberto Delgado) International Airport
By train: you will need to take the metro or to catch a taxi to Lisboa Oriente railway station; the journey should take approximately 10 minutes. Trains to Coimbra run every hour and you should expect the journey to take approximately 2 hours.
There are two railway stations in Coimbra: Coimbra A– Estação Nova, “The New Station” and Coimbra-B – Estação Velha, “The Old Station”. All trains stop at Coimbra B. Once there, you should take a shuttle to Coimbra-A (your train ticket already includes this short trip).
Train schedules: https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/train-times
By express bus: you will need to catch a taxi to “Sete Rios” Bus Station; the journey should take approximately 10 minutes. Express buses to Coimbra run every hour and you should expect the journey to take approximately 2 hours and a half.
Buses schedules: https://rede-expressos.pt/en/timetables
By transfer: the shared transfer service Coimbra Airport Shuttle offers numerous daily shuttles going to or departing from the airports of Lisbon and Porto. In this case, the Shuttle will leave you directly at the hotel. Check availability and prices at: https://coimbra.airportshuttle.pt/
From Porto (Francisco Sá Carneiro) International Airport
By train: from Porto airport you will need to travel to Gare da Campanhã (the main train station in Porto). It is recommended that you travel to this station by taxi or underground metro. You will find taxis readily available at the front of the airport and the underground station as well. You should expect the journey to take approximately 30 minutes. Several trains run from Porto to Coimbra daily. You should expect the journey to take one hour and a half.
There are two railway stations in Coimbra: Coimbra A– Estação Nova, “The New Station” and Coimbra-B – Estação Velha, “The Old Station”. All trains stop at Coimbra B. Once there, you should take a shuttle to Coimbra-A (your train ticket already includes this short trip).
Train schedules: https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/train-times
By express bus: you will need to travel by metro (line E) until the “24 de Agosto” Stop (30 minutes). From there, walk to the Bus Station “Terminal Rodoviário”, Street: “Campo 24 de Agosto, n.º 125” (2 minutes). Express buses to Coimbra run every hour and you should expect the journey to take approximately one hour and a half.
Buses schedules: https://rede-expressos.pt/en/timetables
By transfer: the shared transfer service Coimbra Airport Shuttle offers numerous daily shuttles going to or departing from the airports of Lisbon and Porto. In this case, the Shuttle will leave you directly at the hotel. Check availability and prices at: https://coimbra.airportshuttle.pt/
Accommodation options
Coimbra offers a great variety of hotels, youth hostels and local accommodations in a wide range of price categories. Nevertheless, early reservation of accommodation is advised.
You can profit of the discount provided for EIFS2022 conference attendees at the following hotels. Please check this in the Hotel desk.
- Vila Galé Coimbra (****)
Website: https://www.vilagale.com/pt/hoteis/centro-de-portugal/vila-gale-coimbra
(1400 m from the 38-bus stop, Largo da Portagem) - Hotel Dona Inês (****)
Website: https://www.donaines.pt
(1300 m from the 38-bus stop, Largo da Portagem) - Hotel Tivoli (****)
Website: https://www.tivolihotels.com/en/tivoli-coimbra?utm_campaign=local-gmb&utm_medium=organic_search&utm_source=google_gmb
(1000 m from the 38-bus stop, Largo da Portagem) - Hotel Astoria (***)
Website: https://www.almeidahotels.pt/pt/hotel-astoria-coimbra
(150 m from the 38-bus stop, Largo da Portagem) - Hotel Oslo (***)
Website: http://www.hoteloslo-coimbra.pt/
(450 m from the 38-bus stop, Largo da Portagem) - Hotel Dom Luís (***)
Website: https://www.hoteldluis.pt
(Free transfer available from the hotel to the center of Coimbra – Largo da Portagem, near 38-bus stop; Please check hotel website for transfer schedules) - Hotel Ibis Coimbra Centro (**)
Website: https://all.accor.com/hotel/1672/index.pt.shtml?utm_campaign=seo+maps&utm_medium=seo+maps&utm_source=google+Maps
(250 m from the 38-bus stop, Largo da Portagem) - Riversuites
Website: https://www.riversuites.pt/
(500 m from the 38-bus stop, Largo da Portagem) - Casa da Baixa Downtown House
Website: http://www.casadabaixacoimbra.com/
(200 m from the 38-bus stop, Largo da Portagem)
REGISTRATION AND FEES
Registration Fees (VAT included):
Registration only:
Before 28.Jan.21: 0 €
After 28.Jan.21: Not available.
Registration+Gala dinner
Before 28.Jan.21: 25 €
After 28.Jan.21: 50 €
For registration, please fill the form by clicking here.
Payment of the registration fees should be carried out by wire transfer to the bank account below. In the bank transfer concept, please indicate clearly the name of the participant and send a copy to the conference secretariat (info@flucomp.es).
Entity: La Caixa
IBAN: ES25-2100-3739-15-2200124067
SWIFT: CAIXESBBXXX
Account holder: Asociación de Expertos en Fluidos Comprimidos
MEETING SPECIAL ISSUE
There will be a Special Issue of the event entitled “Current Research and Technological Advances on Aerogels” to be published in Gels Journal (MDPI, Q1-journal, IF=4.702).
Meeting attendants will have a discount on the article processing charges (APC) for their manuscripts submissions to this Special Issue of 30% if submitted before end of March 2022 and of 20% before end of April 2022.
CONFERENCE PRIZES
Prize for the best oral presentation in the ECIs Forum: Fee waiver in Gels journal (prize sponsored by Gels journal)
CONTACT DETAILS
Conference Secretariat:
For scientific issues, luisa@eq.uc.pt or carlos.garcia@usc.es
For registration issues, info@flucomp.es
SPONSORS
