On May 6, the meeting room of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico opened its doors to host an i.Talks session in collaboration with NOS. The initiative aimed to promote interaction between researchers and professors from Técnico and the telecommunications company, fostering partnerships in research and technological innovation.
Moderated by Fátima Montemor, the deputy director for scientific activities of Técnico Research Units, the session featured four main topics: the Internet of Things (IoT), Data Models (Machine Learning), generative artificial intelligence, non-terrestrial 5G networks & IoT, and the role of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), such as drones, in air corridors.
The presentations were delivered by Ricardo Dinis, a Técnico alumnus and Head of Mobile Network Analytics and R&D at NOS, and Mónica Gomes, a Project Manager at NOS. Their interventions sparked an active discussion among professors and researchers, covering various topics from artificial intelligence to a national blackout that had occurred a few days earlier, demonstrating a strong alignment with the participants’ research interests.
Among the topics discussed, the use of drones in air corridors generated particular interest. Ricardo Dinis emphasised the importance of enhancing air traffic control in this new context and highlighted the potential of drones in critical areas such as healthcare, stating, “These vehicles can save lives.”
The session also included a presentation by António Grilo, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and researcher at Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores – Investigação e Desenvolvimento (INESC-ID), who highlighted his research involving coverage provision using flying stations.
In the closing session, the moderator challenged participants to think of concrete synergies that could benefit both Técnico and NOS. The potential for developing joint master’s theses and fostering NOS’s involvement in CAPSTONE projects aligned with the company’s focus areas, as part of Técnico Partner Network, became evident.
