On July 9th, the CMU Portugal Program along with the MIT Portugal Program and UT Austin Portugal, will host the session “FCT’s Partnerships with U.S. Universities: Shaping the Future through Impactful Science” at Encontro Ciência 2025, Portugal’s largest science and technology meeting, at NOVA SBE Campus, in Carcavelos.
The joint session will shed light on the next chapter of the three programs towards 2030, while also reflecting on the legacy they have established over nearly two decades. These initiatives have served as bridges between science and society, connecting instruments such as education, research, and technology commercialization and entrepreneurship to increase their impact potential.
The first part of this session, featuring the Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre and the Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, Helena Canhão, will focus on the core features of the Partnerships under Phase 4 and the synergies between them.
The second part will feature a panel of invited speakers, each with a distinct engagement in the partnerships, who will share insights on the unique value of these collaborative frameworks and their role in fostering scientific advancement, capacity-building, and entrepreneurship in Portugal. Paulo Dimas, VP of Product Innovation at Unbabel and Chief Executive Officer at Center for Responsible AI, Hélder Silva, Head of Aerospace Flight Software, Thales Edisoft Portugal, and John G. Ekerdt, Professor Emeritus of the Cockrell School of Engineering, UT Austin will provide a well-rounded view of the Programs’ long-term relevance across society.
Agenda of the session:
2:30 pm – 4 pm
Amphitheater B137 I NOVA SBE Campus, in Carcavelos.
2:30 pm | Welcome Remarks I João Magalhães, CMU Portugal National Co-director
2:35 pm | Part I: 2025-2030: A new chapter, a reinvigorated ambition
New thematic areas and collaboration models
Unique features and synergies between the three programs: CMU Portugal, MIT Portugal and UT Austin Portugal
Q&A
Speakers:
Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre
Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, Helena Canhão
3:10 pm | Part II: Panel Discussion: A successful journey from the research bench to the market
Moderator: John Hansman, Co-Director for MIT Portugal, MIT, USA
Speakers:
- CMU Portugal: Paulo Dimas, VP of Product Innovation at Unbabel and Chief Executive Officer at Center for Responsible AI, Portugal.
- MIT Portugal: Hélder Silva, Head of Aerospace Flight Software, Thales Edisoft Portugal, and PI of AEROS, Portugal.
- UT Austin Portugal: John G. Ekerdt, Professor Emeritus of the Cockrell School of Engineering, UT Austin and PI of UT Austin Portugal at UT Austin, USA.
Q&A (25m)
3:55 pm | Closing Remarks I José Manuel Mendonça, UT Austin Portugal National Director
Additionally, CMU Portugal Ph.D. students will showcase their research through e-posters, which will soon be featured in the conference’s virtual gallery.
The full Program is available here.
To attend the event, registration is required through Encontro Ciência website.
