The main innovative points of SusTEC can be highlighted as follows:
SusTEC is fully based on the Polytechnic higher education subsystem in Portugal, pursuing goals and objectives that are relevant for the consolidation of problem solving and practice oriented research in Portugal;
SusTEC comprises a strong regional dimension contributing to foster the economic development of mountain and cross-border regions where the integrated research units are located, aligned with Portugal and Europe Horizon objectives;
SusTEC can promote scientific and technical careers for young PhD holders in transdisciplinary research topics not covered in the current research units and tackling the challenges posed by changes in demography, climate, technology and the economy in mountain regions and countries;
IPB, CIMO and CeDRI have promoted partnerships and have established a significant number of cooperation agreements with public and private institutions (national and international), e.g., hospitals, SusTEC – Associate Laboratory for Sustainability and Technology in Mountain Regions 4/25 municipalities, associations of enterprises, R&D groups, and networks of excellence, aiming the regular collaboration towards the pursuing of their goals, which will enrich the SusTEC activity;
Both CIMO and CeDRI have a past of fruitful and recognized influence at national and international level, gathering skills of high relevance and complementarity, whose integration will strongly impact upon social and economic regional development, without losing national/international impact.