Biomedical engineering (BME) gives a framework for the advancement of the knowledge in the fields of medicine and biology, physical sciences, and engineering. Through cross-disciplinary activities that integrate the engineering sciences with the biomedical sciences and clinical practice, BME contributes enormously to the improvement of human health knowledge and conditions. The Doctoral Program NOVA I4H aims to qualify international level experts in these areas, armed with the necessary tools for intervening both in companies and in industries as drivers of innovation, as well as researchers able to contribute to strengthen and expand the research in BME area, in Portugal and in Europe.

To accomplish these goals, NOVA I4H will:

• Aim at the highest level of excellence;
• Provide new knowledge and understanding of living systems, particularly the human body, through the innovative and substantive application of experimental and analytical techniques based on the engineering sciences;
• Provide information and training in the development of new devices, algorithms, processes and systems that advance medicine sciences and improve medical practice and health care delivery;
• Foster the transfer of scientific and technological knowledge between the academic environment and companies, giving special attention to students’ awareness of Portuguese high-tech companies, to promote a more entrepreneurial culture and to stimulate innovation;
• Offer a flexible curriculum that includes courses, seminars, and workshops, which will address a large variety of state-ofart techniques and technologies;
• Promote advanced schools and short training periods in national and international research labs;
• Offer thesis projects, in which the student must carry out original work on top subjects of BME using state-of-the art techniques and technologies;
• Promote the best conditions to carry out the thesis work within projects (international, wherever possible) with clear individual responsibilities and commitments:
• Offer a flexible curriculum tailor-made to suit the diversity of individual scientific and technical interests of PhD students;
• Give special attention to the creation and development of entrepreneurial competences.

This collaborative strategy will allow to:

• Promote a collaborative partnership culture among students and program partners;
• Stimulate networking among academic institutions and companies;
• Foster the attractiveness of post-graduate education in the BME field;
• Foster networking among institutions, promoting a collaborative partnership culture among students and faculty.

To provide the training and preparation outlined above, the NOVA I4H partners have expertise in diverse domains of BME, such as biosignals (acquisition and processing), advanced biophysics, sensors and biomarkers, instrumentation (electronics, embedded instrumentation, processing, systems), methodologies for clinical studies, clinical certification, health data management and machine learning, and advance image processing for health care.

The program will organize advanced schools, workshops and specialized seminars on the most relevant topics of study. As before mentioned, co-supervision of theses by supervisors of different partners will be promoted.