Elvira Maria Correia Fortunato is a full Professor at the Department of Materials Science, NOVA University Lisbon (NOVA FCT), and a pioneering researcher in transparent electronics and sustainable materials. She served as Vice-Dean of NOVA University (2017-2022), Director of the Associated Laboratory of the Institute of Nanomaterials, Nanofabrication and Nanomodelling (1998-2022), and Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education of Portugal (2022-2024). Education: Degree in Physics and Materials Engineering (1987) – NOVA FCT PhD in Materials Engineering: Microelectronics and Optoelectronics (1995) – NOVA FCT Research Interests: Her work focuses on transparent electronics , flexible and printed electronics , microelectronics , nanomaterials , and biomedical applications of nanotechnology. She is a trailblazer in sustainable electronics, having developed the world’s first paper transistor and led groundbreaking projects like INVISIBLE and DIGISMART , both funded by the European Research Council (ERC). Scientific Awards & Honors: Grand Officer of the Order of Infante D. Henrique (2010) Blaise Pascal Medal (2016) Czochralski Prize (2017) Pessoa Prize (2020) Horizon Impact Prize (2020) World Federation of Engineering Organizations GREE Award (2020) Strait of Magellan Prize (2020) Innovation in Materials Prize – FEMS (2021) Human Rights Prize – Portuguese Parliament (2021) Portugal's Women's Leadership Award (2021) IUMRS-Frontier Materials Scientists Award (2021) Gold Medal – Portuguese Order of Engineers (2021) 2023 Career and Recognition Award – Portuguese Materials Society Trusted Personality of the Year – Reader’s Digest (2024) Most Influential Women in Portugal – Revista Executiva (2024) Leadership & Service: She has been a member of the European Commission’s Group of Chief Scientific Advisors (2015-2020), the Luso-American Foundation Board of Trustees (2014-2022), and the Chancellery of the Honorific Orders of Portugal since 2010. She is an elected member of the Engineering Academy, European Science Academy, Lisbon Science Academy, and Europaea Academy. Labs & Teams: She led the Associated Laboratory of the Institute of Nanomaterials, Nanofabrication and Nanomodelling for over two decades and has coordinated numerous national and international projects, including initiatives promoting gender equality in academia through the SPEAR project.









