In the beginning of the next academic year, the RNL laboratories located in DEI building (1st and 2nd floor) will be renovated. 6 companies have partnered with Técnico to support this renovation: Novabase, Accenture, Deloitte, Sky, Xpand IT and Sonae MC. This is the first time that this type of partnership – still uncommon in the Portuguese university ecosystem – has been established at Técnico, but it is expected to serve as a role model for many more.
The RNL laboratories renovation “has been planned for several years, but it has been successively delayed due to lack of funds”, recalls professor José Carlos Monteiro, former Head of DEI and one of the main drivers of this project. The Technology Transfer Office at Técnico (TT @ Técnico) and professor José Carlos Monteiro aligned a strategy to address this problem. “Companies are very interested in joining Técnico, and to showcase their branding to our students”, says the Técnico professor.
The support of Accenture, Deloitte, Novabase and Sky is done through Técnico Partner Network, but the same support can be done by companies on their own, as in the case of Sonae MC and Xpand IT.
The Vice-president of Técnico for Operations and Enterprise Relationships, professor Pedro Amaral, highlights the effort of the IST Departments and Research Centres “to improve their relationship with Técnico partners, thus contributing to the improvement of infrastructures and activities”.
The Vice-president of Técnico for Facilities and Equipment, professor Miguel Amado, stresses the importance of this support “for researchers and students, which will allow to modernise the existing research and learning facilities, and will strengthen links with industry, thus disseminating the fruits of Técnico research to society”.
Companies highlight the importance of investing in engineering research and education
Novabase was one of the first companies to join Técnico Partner Network. According to Isabel Costa, Head of Talent Acquisition & Employer Branding at Novabase-Celfocus, “supporting the RNL laboraties renovation was a natural decision because it is another way of providing these young people with the right conditions to develop their skills and successfully enter the job market”.
The partnership between Técnico and Accenture has been reinforced over the past few years and, in March 2019, the company joined Técnico Partner Network. “We want to become more present in students’ lives and facilitate their transition to the workplace”, says engineer Rui Barros, Managing Director at Accenture Portugal and Técnico alumnus. “This laboratory will allow students to access the latest technologies and information, which will inspire them to develop their activities and to contribute to the development of society”, he added.
“We were very proud when we joined Técnico Partner Network in November 2019”, says Nuno Carvalho, Partner Consulting Technology at Deloitte Portugal. “One of our goals is to help modernising existing spaces, so that students can develop technological skills in an increasingly sophisticated way”.
Sky has been investing in Portugal since 2015, in a technological center of excellence that currently employs 300 people. “Our engineers develop innovative entertainment solutions that serve millions of customers in the European and North American market”, stresses engineer António Vieira, Director at Sky Technology Centre – Portugal and Técnico alumnus. The support of Sky is done through Técnico Partner Network, whose membership will soon become effective. “Our company will support and will actively participate in various academic activities in order to stimulate the student community and to improve engineering research and learning conditions”.
Bruno Mourão, Head of IT Transformation and IT Strategy & Experimentation at Sonae MC | BIT and Técnico alumnus, says “we decided to support Técnico as soon as we knew about this initiative. It is quite symbolic that we support the RNL laboratories renovation, which many of us look back with nostalgia”.
Xpand IT has a long-standing relationship with Técnico. It was founded by two Técnico alumni, it is member of IST Spin-off Community and patron of a scholarship programme. Rui Maia, Partner & CHRO at Xpand IT and Técnico alumnus, says: “We have always recognised the importance Técnico graduates. We offer summer internships and we have created recently merit scholarships to reward academic merit”. According to engineer Rui Maia, “this support is another important pillar of our partnership and it will certainly contribute to improve students’ learning”.
A role model for other companies
Professor José Carlos Monteiro is aware that “Técnico has many other degraded spaces” and stresses: “similar partnerships can help to renovate these spaces”. “The RNL laboratories renovation will serve as a showcase for this type of partnerships, so all stakeholders have been working hard for the success of this initiative”.
“It is of utmost importance that companies and civil society know and understand the advantages of a closer relationship with the best engineering school in Portugal”, says professor Miguel Amado. “Supporting training and research activities is a very important contribution for the sustainability of our future society, which is something that everyone, and especially Técnico alumni, understands quite well.
According to professor Pedro Amaral, “the process of economic development in Portugal relies heavily on the synergy between the universities (as knowledge creators) and company’s execution capability”. “The quality of working environment is a very important starting point so that our talents can be better prepared for what is necessary”.
