Elvira Fortunato is Vice Rector at Nova University, Portugal, the Director of the Materials Research Center (CENMAT) and the integrated Associate Laboratory, i3N, the Institute of Nanostructures, Nanomodelling and Nanofabrication and an invited Professor at the Universidade Federal de Lavras, Brazil.

She pioneered European research on transparent electronics, namely thin-film transistors based on oxide semi-conductors, demonstrating that oxide materials may be used as true semi-conductors.

Prof. Fortunato’s research focuses on exploring new electronic active materials that are environmentally friendly and compatible with flexible electronics. Her paper electronics technology has applications that include biosensors, RFID tags for shipping, and product inventory management.

In 2016 she was awarded the Blaise Pascal Medal in materials science by the European Academy of Sciences; the Czochralski award in 2017, in recognition of her research work in the area of Advanced Materials Science; and, in 2020, the national Pessoa Prize in Portugal.