News: Microelectronics
26 September 2024
QPT joins Polytechnic of Coimbra’s academic business incubator INOPOL
Independent power electronics company Quantum Power Transformation (QPT) Ltd of Cambridge, UK — which was founded in 2019 and develops gallium nitride (GaN)-based motor drives — has joined INOPOL, the academic business incubator of the Polytechnic of Coimbra (IPC), located near its R&D office in Portugal. The partnership will allow QPT to engage with the local entrepreneurial community, collaborate with talented students, and work alongside academics on innovative research.
INOPOL Entrepreneurship Academy is the organic unit of IPC responsible for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship while supporting the growth of startups and spinoffs. It also plays a key role in facilitating knowledge transfer between academia and industry, and helping students and graduates to connect with the job market. QPT reckons that IPC’s expertise in engineering, including fields like power electronics and robotics, makes it a valuable partner for its R&D efforts into next-generation, more efficient electric motor technology.
For QPT, the partnership provides access to specialized facilities and talent, particularly through IPC’s engineering school ISEC – Coimbra Institute of Engineering, which offers programs focused on power electronics, motors and drives. IPC’s emphasis on practical research and its collaboration with regional industries align well with QPT’s goals, especially in areas such as electric drives and renewable energy.
“We look forward to the opportunities this collaboration will create for our startups, students, researchers and the broader academic community, enhancing connections that will spark new ventures and contribute to the creation of impactful solutions,” says INOPOL’s director Sara Proença.
INOPOL’s spirit of innovation “aligns perfectly with our vision,” comments QPT’s CEO Rupert Baines. “This collaboration opens doors for us to strengthen our research capabilities in power electronics and recruit exceptional talent,” he adds. “Together, we aim to push the boundaries of what’s possible in industrial drives and energy solutions. Our work in Portugal complements and enhances our activities in Cambridge.”
