Digital Industry Innovation Lead

Digital Industry Innovation Lead Job Title: Digital Industry Innovation LeadJob Category: ManagerJob Ref: AICOS_Jobs_2025_28Job Type: Full-time contractJob Location: Porto, PortugalOrganisation: Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS (FhP-AICOS) 1. Why This Role MattersFraunhofer Portugal AICOS is reinforcing its leadership in applied research and innovation by strengthening its focus on key areas – Digital Health, Digital Industry, and Digital Futures.Industrial environments are complex socio-technical systems, where people, equipment, and data must interact seamlessly. At AICOS, we believe technology should empower workers, optimize processes, and improve working conditions while strengthening industrial competitiveness.As Digital Industry Innovation Lead, you will be responsible for this mission. You will drive innovation that merges the real and digital worlds to improve productivity, safety, and sustainability across manufacturing, logistics, and other industrial domains, considering technologies from AI to IoT systems. 2. Your MissionAs Digital Industry Innovation Lead, you will:Define and implement the Digital Industry innovation roadmap, aligning R&D activities with industrial challenges and emerging market trends.Build and strengthen collaborations with industry partners, technology providers, and other research organizations.Represent AICOS in national and international industrial innovation ecosystems, positioning the organization as a reference in industry digitalization.Ensure that research outcomes are effectively translated into real-world applications through demonstrators, pilots, and other technology transfer initiatives.Identify and shape funded and contract research opportunities, working closely with Business Development, Pre-Award and R&D teams.Collaborate with the Fraunhofer Portugal Technology Transfer Office to protect innovation assets, ensure compliance with institutional policies, and implement best practices in technology transfer.Work in close articulation with the Heads of the Scientific Departments to foster integration between research activities and the strategic priorities of the area, guarantee scientific excellence and novelty, and identify competency needs and opportunities for skills development. Follow and support ongoing projects, maintaining continuous collaboration with project managers and R&D teams to capitalize on project outcomes and ensure the transferability and reuse of results, methods, and tools across projects and industrial contexts. 3. Your ProfileYou are a technically grounded, innovation-oriented leader who can navigate between research and industry with ease. You understand industrial systems, can discuss complex technologies in detail, and know how to connect technical potential with business relevance.We are looking for someone with:A degree in engineering, computer science, or related discipline, ideally in areas such as Electronics, Informatics, or Industrial Engineering.At least 2 years of professional experience in applied research, IT consultancy, or digital transformation projects within industrial or manufacturing contexts.Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage R&D or innovation portfolios.Solid understanding of industrial systems, IoT- and AI- based applications for predictive maintenance, process optimization, or decision support.Sensitivity to the impact of technology on occupational safety and health.Demonstrated experience working with or for industrial organizations, IT services providers, technology providers, or system integrators.Excellent communication and relationship-building skills - able to engage confidently with engineers, researchers, and decision-makers alike.Strategic mindset, results orientation, and a motivation to convert research outcomes into tangible societal and industrial impact.Excellent written and verbal communication in Portuguese and English. 4. What We Expect in Your First 12 MonthsMonths 0-3Gain a clear understanding of AICOS’s structure, research areas, people, and internal processes.Map ongoing projects and activities relevant to the Digital Industry vertical.Build trust, credibility, and strong working relationships with scientific teams, project managers, and internal stakeholders.Months 4-9 Develop and refine the first version of the Digital Industry Innovation Roadmap, aligning it with AICOS’s cientific capabilities and industrial needs.Start engaging with external stakeholders.Begin positioning AICOS within relevant industrial and innovation ecosystems.Deepen understanding of the Digital Industry domain, emerging technologies, and market trends.Support proposal preparation or project definition activities connected to the area.Months 10-12 Strengthen AICOS’s external visibility and reputation in the Digital Industry ecosystem.Showcase results through demonstrators, dissemination, or participation in sector events.Define next-year goals for the Digital Industry roadmap. 5. We OfferA dynamic, multicultural, and collaborative environment, where scientific excellence meets real-world application.A culture that values initiative, responsibility, and innovation.The chance to contribute directly to Fraunhofer Portugal’s mission of bridging research and industry, leading projects with tangible impact on society and the economy.Excellent working conditions in a supportive, inclusive, and flexible environment.Opportunities for professional growth.A competitive salary package, adjusted to your academic qualifications and professional experience.A comprehensive private health insurance plan. 6. Experience and SkillsTell us about your experience and skills in the areas below. Use the scale provided to indicate your level of familiarity (No experience, Basic Knowledge, Solid Experience)Technical and Domain KnowledgeIndustrial Processes & SystemsArtificial Intelligence and Machine LearningCyber-Physical Systems and SensingInnovation and Strategic SkillsTechnology mappingMarket & Trend AnalysisTechnology Transfer and IP AwarenessProject Coordination & ReportingCollaboration and Leadership SkillsInterdisciplinary CollaborationTeam LeadershipPresentation and Public SpeakingStrategic Thinking and Decision-Making 7. Application ProcessApplications are open from the 11th of November to the 17th of December 2025.The selected candidate is expected to start working on January 1st, 2026.Applications must be made via Fraunhofer Portugal Website and contain: Curriculum Vitae – mandatory;Motivation Letter – mandatory;Recommendation Letters – optional. 8. Selection ProcessAdmitted candidates will be subject to a curricular evaluation. Based on the results, the top-ranked candidates will be invited for an interview. All applicants will be notified of the results of the call via the email address provided in their application.After notification, all candidates have 10 days to comment. 9. NoteThe research activities in the scope of this job opportunity are planned to be developed within the framework of the following projects: AI4CarOps – AI-Powered Vehicle Reception Operations for Car Workshops, with Notice No. MPr-2023-07 SIID I&D Empresarial and Project Reference No. 18234 - COMPETE 2030 Copromoção.ATE – Aliança para a Transição Energética, with Notice No. 01/C05-i01/2021 Agendas Verdes para a Inovação Empresarial and Project Reference No. 56 - NextGenerationEU (PRR) Copromoção.FIBFlow – Financial Intelligent Business Flow, with Notice No. MPr-2023-08 SIID I&D Empresarial and Project Reference No. 20856 - COMPETE 2030 Copromoção.Microelectrónica – Agenda Microeletrónica, with Notice No. 01/C05-i01/2021 Agendas Verdes para a Inovação Empresarial and Project Reference No. 19 - NextGenerationEU (PRR) Copromoção.NeAIxt – New Generation of Edge AI Crossing Technology Fields, with Notice No. HORIZON-JU-Chips-2024-1-IA The Chips Joint Undertaking (JU) and Project Reference No. 101194172 - Horizon Europe Framework Programme.PRODUTECHDIH – PRODUTECH Digital Innovation Hub, with Notice No. 03/C16-i03/2022 Polos de Inovação Digital (DIH) and Project Reference No. 760 - NextGenerationEU (PRR) Copromoção.NEURA – New EEG with Unified Radio Antenna, Project Proposal submitted within Notice No. MPr-2025-01 SIID I&D&I Empresarial - COMPETE 2030 Copromoção.RAICC – Responsible AI Call Center, Project Proposal submitted within Notice No. MPr-2025-01 SIID I&D&I Empresarial - COMPETE 2030 Copromoção.VineKeeper – Intelligent Identification and Digital Curation of Portuguese Wine Heritage, Project Proposal submitted within Notice No. MPr-2025-04 SIID-I&D Empresarial - COMPETE 2030 Copromoção.