He has undertaken the functions of Chairman of the Administrating Committee of the iParque – Coimbra Inovação Parque SA, in Coimbra, since 2007 until 2012, and Chairman of the Central Region Coordination Committee between February and July of 2012. J. Pires was a member of the National Council of Science and Technology and of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Council. In his academic record he has carried out several different positions and has practice numerous tasks in several scientific associations. He is author of over 150 publications in magazines, books, and several hundred articles with a technical and scientific nature. J. Pires also maintains an extensive activity of publications in journals and magazines regarding national and international issues. His personal profile can be seen in: http://robotics.dem.uc.pt/norberto