On August 27, 2025, the SMARTNESS welcomed Professors Liliam Carrete and Douglas Zampieri, the new Technology, Partnerships and Innovation Managers at FAPESP, for a day of presentations, demonstrations, and dialogue on the center’s progress and future directions.
The visit was opened by Prof. Christian Rothenberg (UNICAMP), Principal Investigator of SMARTNESS, alongside Prof. Luiz Bittencourt (UNICAMP), Co-PI, Maria Valeria Marquezini (Ericsson), Co-PI, and Dr. Eduardo Sartori (UNICAMP), Technology Transfer Manager, who, together with other faculty, researchers, and students, introduced the center’s mission and activities.
Throughout the morning, the FAPESP delegation was presented with the strategic vision of SMARTNESS, emphasizing the integration of science, technology, and innovation. Particular attention was given to how the center bridges fundamental research with industry collaboration, highlighting its role as the first FAPESP Engineering Research Center (ERC) in telecommunications.
The presentation detailed impact metrics and technological maturity indicators from the first two years of operation. SMARTNESS has consolidated 12 active Work Packages across five Research Strands, involving over 50 senior and early-career researchers, 30+ scholarships (including 6 postdocs, 19 PhDs, and 12 MSc students), and more than 15 university partners. In addition, laboratory infrastructure has been expanded with cutting-edge networking equipment, private 5G installations, and immersive demonstration spaces.
Scientific output has been notable, with publications and demonstrations presented at major national and international venues, including SBRC, NetSoft, and SIGCOMM, often earning awards for technical innovation. Intellectual property results were also reported, with patents filed and ongoing licensing discussions illustrating the center’s growing innovation capacity.
The agenda included a coffee break at the LCA showroom, where the managers experienced live demos such as the UNetyEmu drone simulator, holographic VR streaming, and immersive Smartness Showroom applications.
Looking ahead, the leadership team outlined the strategic plan for years three and four, including the inauguration of the SMARTNESS 5G Studio Lab, initiatives to strengthen entrepreneurship and engagement with the productive sector, and international collaborations such as Prof. Rothenberg’s upcoming research exchange at Telefónica R&D in Spain.
A strong sense of mutual recognition and purpose marked the exchange. On the one hand, SMARTNESS had the opportunity to demonstrate how its research strands and projects are already producing tangible results, from scientific publications and patents to advanced testbeds and immersive demonstrations that anticipate the challenges of next-generation networks. On the other hand, the FAPESP representatives emphasized the importance of centers like SMARTNESS in translating cutting-edge academic knowledge into technological and social impact for the State of São Paulo. Their positive feedback highlighted the center’s ability to balance scientific excellence with innovation potential, while also training a highly qualified workforce and fostering collaborations with industry. The visit reinforced the alignment of SMARTNESS with FAPESP’s mission for Engineering Research Centers and opened new perspectives for deepening partnerships and expanding the center’s role in Brazil’s innovation ecosystem.
