ISQ Group endorses International Charter for Sustainable Development

ISQ has endorsed the Charter of Principles of BCSD Portugal (Business Council for Sustainable Development), which establishes the guidelines for good business management based on the most modern standards of sustainable development. This important instrument allows the underwriting companies to be recognized with their customers, suppliers and society in general by the adoption of solid sustainability commitments. In this sense, "according to what has already been common practice in the ISQ Group, we will continue to adopt internationally recognized standards aligned with the highest ethical, social and environmental management standards that translate into sustainable management," argues Pedro Matias, President of ISQ."It could not be otherwise in the management of the 21st century, given that sustainability trends must be increasingly an integral part of business activity," says Pedro Matias. Sustainability issues are increasingly relevant throughout the value chain and in the relationships that are established between customers, suppliers and partners. In a global company, ultimately, all companies are suppliers and customers, regardless of their size. Many national and international competitions already include requirements associated with the sustainable practices of companies as selection factors, which redefines sustainability as a factor of competitiveness and with the potential to find dynamic solutions with positive impacts on products, services and organizational structure. Increasingly the mindset of managers focuses on social responsibility and sustainability, challenging the conventional assumptions of business-as-usual for business-for-sustainability, bringing innovation to the entire value chain. ISQ has been adopting measures aimed at addressing the Sustainable Development Goals. In this field, ISQ's strategy is based, above all, on commitment to people, on the commitment to innovation, research and technology and on the economic development of the country as a Technological Interface Center. The Interface Centers promote the approximation between science, technology and the economy, thus contributing to national innovation, supporting companies in the dissemination and transfer of technology, reinforcing their qualification and internationalization. ISQ also has accredited laboratories, the guarantor of rigor and ethics with all partners. "Our code of conduct is based on five values that are the form and substance of our personality as a Group and that underpin our ethical and behavior principles: competence and rigour (technical excellence), integrity and independence (impartiality and professionalism) and innovation (competitive advantage)," says Pedro Matias. Also noteworthy is the recently published book, which was the collaboration of ISQ: the "BINOMIUM TECHNOLOGY & SUSTAINABILITY", which addresses the contribution that science, technology and innovation can make today to the sustainable development of "Man" and "Planet Earth". It is a differentiated analysis of the dynamics between technology and sustainability, reflecting its impact on today's world. The book also features testimonials from the European Space Agency, the European Maritime Safety Agency and academic entities from the Uk and Sweden. Examples of ISQ Projects in the Area of Sustainability: At the level of urban mobility, for example, ISQ supports cities in the diagnosis of their sustainable development, in the characterization of the environmental impact and in the analysis of their carbon footprint through their own methodologies and tools. The aim is to enable cities to better manage performance and decision-making that results in more effective strategic planning and better sustainable development. Also in the area of industrial sustainability, we highlight the MAESTRI project that aims to promote the sustainability of European industries through the development of tools that monitor and manage the efficiency in the use of resources (raw materials, water and energy) of production systems. This management system is done through an online platform, within the framework of the Internet of Things. This initiative is being developed by a European consortium of 15 European entities from 5 Member States. Also in terms of industrial sustainability, the ISQ Group has just won the coordination of the TRUST – Twinning foR indUstrial SustainabiliTy project, in a competition in which it will work with European universities (Cambridge, UK and Chalmers University in Sweden). The TRUST aims to boost excellence in research and development in the area of industrial sustainability by increasing scientific and technical knowledge, which will support and involve European industries on their way to achieving the Sustainable Development goals. In terms of energy resource efficiency, it is important to highlight the SWSS (Smart Water Supply Systems) project, aligned with the need to make water supply systems more efficient. This is a project coordinated by ISQ and responds to the challenges launched by the European Union for 2020 in terms of energy-intensive economic sectors, water losses under the Water Framework Directive and the need to deepen knowledge of systems. In partnership with INEGI (Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering), ISQ has developed the EcoTermIP project, which aims to promote the eco-efficiency of thermal processes for the competitiveness and sustainability of portuguese industry, in sectors such as metalworking, ceramics, dairy feed and meat-based manufacturing. In the agricultural sector, ISQ contributes to the improvement and sustainability of national agriculture with the participation in various R&D projects, precision agriculture and resource efficiency, such as the Qualimilho project, which aims to ensure quality and safety in the national corn and MilkEE project, which exploits resource efficiency in dairy farms and opportunities for symbiosis with the forestry sector.