In 2016, the Instituto Superior Técnico (Técnico) established the Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo Award as a way of promoting the importance of gender equality at Técnico and recognising the crucial role that women play in all areas of engineering. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo was an engineer and a distinguished student at Técnico, who had a significant impact on Portuguese society and politics at different stages of her life; in particular, she was the first woman to hold the office of Prime Minister of Portugal.

The Award aims to honour two women each year who graduated from Técnico:

• A former student who completed her studies at Técnico more than 15 years ago, calculated as at 31 December of the year before the award is presented, and who has distinguished herself through her professional and/or social contributions (Role Model category);
• A recent graduate of Técnico, aged under 27 as at 31 December of the year before the award is presented, who has distinguished herself through the scientific quality of her master’s thesis and her academic record at Técnico (Young Alumna category).

2026 – 10th Edition

Nominations for the 10th edition of the Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo Award may be submitted between 15 July and 15 September 2026.

• Public notice
• Jury appointment notice
• Award regulations

• List of winners from previous editions

In the Role Model category:

• 1st Edition – Maria da Graça Carvalho
• 2nd Edition – Isabel Vaz
• 3rd Edition – Manuela Veloso
• 4th Edition – Paula Panarra
• 5th Edition – Helena Pereira
• 6th Edition – Ângela Nunes
• 7th Edition – Elsa Abranches
• 8th Edition – Carla Lewark
• 9th Edition – Cristina Cachola

In the Young Alumna category:

• 1st Edition – Inês Godet
• 2nd Edition – Bárbara Fernandes Simões
• 3rd Edition – Mariana Araújo
• 4th Edition – Catarina Belém
• 5th Edition – Maria Teresa Parreira
• 6th Edition – Maria Botelho and Hemaxi Narotamo
• 7th Edition – Marta Tomé
• 8th Edition – Eduarda Vaz and Sofia Aparício
• 9th Edition – Diana Marques and Susana Monteiro