As part of the COALESCE project, Dr. Mehar Ullah, a postdoctoral researcher and teacher from Lappeenranta–Lahti University of Technology (LUT University), recently completed a secondment at Cleanwatts Digital‘s Innovation Department in Coimbra, Portugal.
During his time at Cleanwatts Digital, Dr. Ullah worked closely with the company’s researchers and technical teams, gaining valuable insight into the practical implementation of research within an industrial environment. The secondment provided a unique opportunity to observe and study different areas of the company, understand its operational workflows, and engage directly with staff across various departments.
Through regular collaboration with technical experts, Dr. Ullah explored the company’s working processes in depth, asking questions and exchanging knowledge on innovation, technology development, and practical applications of research. This hands-on experience enhanced his understanding of how academic research can be translated into real-world solutions and successfully integrated into business operations.
The secondment has also contributed directly to ongoing COALESCE research activities. Dr. Ullah is currently working with Cleanwatts Digital to gather requirements and insights from the company’s operational processes, which will help inform future research within the project. The knowledge gained during the visit will support the development of research outputs and strengthen collaboration between academia and industry partners.
Reflecting on the experience, Dr. Ullah highlighted the value of working alongside company researchers and technical staff, noting that it provided a clearer understanding of how innovative ideas move from concept to implementation in a commercial setting.
In addition to supporting future COALESCE research, Dr. Ullah has collected extensive information about Cleanwatts Digital and its workflows. He is now preparing an article that will highlight the company’s activities, innovation processes, and future development pathways, helping to share valuable insights with the wider research community.
