Ricardo Bernardo

Background

About Ricardo Bernardo

I’m a civil engineer passionate about the intersection between energy, buildings, and innovation. My journey started with a Ph.D. in photovoltaic/thermal solar energy at Lund University, Sweden, part of the pioneering Marie Curie international network of doctorates in solar engineering. Since then, I’ve explored energy from every angle: as a researcher, university teacher, consultant, inventor, and now entrepreneur. I’ve led and contributed to numerous European and national R&D projects on energy efficiency, renewable integration, and sustainable building design, bridging the gap between science, technology, and real-world application. After over a decade in Sweden, I returned to Portugal to join the Portuguese Energy Agency (ADENE) as R&D Coordinator, strengthening the link between policy, innovation, and implementation. Today, I’m Co-Founder and Head of Building Engineering at Zerotude, where we’re developing AI-driven tools that make large-scale energy renovation planning faster, smarter, and more sustainable. Passionate about the future of energy and buildings Bridging academia, technology, and entrepreneurship Always looking for collaborations that drive real impact