She was also a member of the Portuguese National Scientific and Technological Council between 2012-2015 and a member of the advisory board of DG CONNECT (2014-2015).

She is the director of the Institute of Nanomaterials, Nanofabrication and Nanomodeling and of CENIMAT. She is member of the board of trustees of Luso-American Foundation (Portugal/USA, 2013-2020), Vice-Rector of NOVA and Scientific Council for Exact Sciences and Engineering Coordinator at FCT-MCTES.

In 2008, in the 1st ERC edition she earns an Advanced Grant for the project “Invisible”. In the same year she demonstrated with her colleagues the possibility to make the first paper transistor, starting a new field in the area of paper electronics.

Fortunato published over 500 papers and during the last 10 years got more than 18 International prizes and distinctions for her work (e.g: Elvira Fortunato was awarded with the Blaise Pascal Medal from the European Academy of Sciences (2016); IDTechEx USA 2009 (paper transistor); European Woman Innovation prize, Finland 2011).

Since November 2016 she has integrated the High Level Group for the Scientific Advise Mechanism of the European Commission.

Transparent electronics, Thin film transistors, Metal oxide semiconductors, Thin films, Microelectronics Nanotechnology, Biosensors