A. Rita Farinha is a Researcher and Research Manager at the University of Coimbra (UC). She is a member of the Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes (CEMMPRE) as well as of the Advanced Production and Intelligent Systems (ARISE) Associated Laboratory (AL). She has a background in Chemical Engineering with a Master and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. She has previously worked in product/process development and was coordinator of the Texture Department at a mold-making industrial group. Leveraging her research knowledge and industrial experience, she worked as a consultant in Research, Development, and Innovation. She was responsible for developing R&D project proposals and monitoring their technical progress. She also participated in international projects under Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ and played an active role in the preparation of strategic studies for companies and other entities. Currently, she is working on national and international projects, providing support for CEMMPRE and ARISE's management and strategic plan while also communicating their activities internally and externally.