i.Talks Event Brings IST Participants to the Retail Lab | Upcoming Energies

On 22 January, the latest edition of i.Talks Técnico‑Galp took place at the Instituto Superior Técnico’s Campus Oeiras, bringing together doctoral students, researchers, faculty, and Galp representatives from the innovation and Retail Lab teams. The event aimed to strengthen dialogue between academia and industry, identifying real-world challenges and developing technological solutions collaboratively.

The session opened with Joana Mendonça, Vice-President of Campus Oeiras, highlighting the strategic importance of proximity between IST and the business sector. She emphasized that Campus Oeiras was designed to foster collaboration and that in-person engagement is essential to building trust and long-term partnerships, such as the one established with Galp.

The Retail Lab, inaugurated last year, was the focal point of the session. Nuno Pedras, Head of Digital Operations at Galp, presented the Lab’s role in simulating realistic service station environments to test and validate innovative solutions. Rui Miguel, Head of Release & Quality Assurance at Galp, explained how the Lab ensures high-quality, reliable software and hardware solutions for Galp stations, having identified and corrected over 7,000 issues in the past year. This practical validation allows for continuous improvement of operational systems, enhancing both employee and customer experiences.

Moderated by Sandra Gama from IST’s Department of Computer Engineering, the session also included an interactive exploration of three Retail Lab challenge areas:

1. New QA & Testing solutions in the Retail Lab
2. Development of innovative retail solutions
3. Technology-driven QA & Testing approaches

Participants engaged in in-depth discussions, explored initial research paths, and proposed potential solutions. The event concluded with a visit to the Retail Lab and a call for project proposals, encouraging continued collaboration and experimentation.

By connecting students and researchers with a real-world innovation environment, i.Talks Técnico‑Galp demonstrates Galp’s commitment to fostering applied research, testing new ideas, and accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge solutions in the energy retail sector.