João Cardoso, a master’s student in Computer Science and Engineering, won the Axians Merit Award in Optimisation and Algorithms 2024/2025. The award ceremony took place in the Main Building’s Meeting Room at Técnico – Alameda campus on 16 May. The award, established by Axians, a member of the Técnico Partner Network, aims to recognise the students with the best performance in the Optimisation and Algorithms Curricular Unit (CU).
The student received a prize valued at 1,750 euros in recognition of his outstanding academic performance and the way he applied UC concepts in his work. In his speech, he stated that his success “is a direct consequence of the teacher’s good teaching” and emphasised that “this award also acknowledges the passion that certain students have for specific subjects.”
Pedro Amaral, the vice-president of Técnico for Corporate Interface, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, emphasised a strong partnership between Técnico and Axians, saying that ‘Axians is involved with Técnico in various ways’. He also added that ‘Técnico’s mission is to empower students to create value in companies in the future’.
Flor Silveira, head of the Human Development team at Axians, congratulated the students and emphasised the great value of a Técnico education. ‘Técnico provides more than just a degree or master’s, it teaches you to face challenges and prepares you for life’, she said. She also stressed the real-world impact of engineering on society, stating, “Axians aims to help build a better future by investing in education.”
The award ceremony included pitches from five students who scored more than 17 in the CU and accepted the challenge of presenting their ideas to the jury, which comprised professors Pedro Gomes and João Xavier from Técnico, and Daniela Moniz from Axians. The finalists were Dinis Felgueiras, Eduardo Silvestre, and Gabriel Batista, master’s students in Electrical and Computer Engineering; Henrique Braga, a master’s student in Data Science and Engineering; and João Cardoso, a master’s student in Computer Science and Engineering. Each student was recognised for their achievements with diploma awards.
João Xavier, a senior lecturer of the CU, expressed his gratitude to Axians for acknowledging the value of the CU. He also shared that he became aware of the CU’s impact when he heard that Daniela Moniz, a former student and jury member, was still applying the concepts she had learnt years before. Pedro Gomes, who also teaches the CU, highlighted ‘the recognition of the value and usefulness of the concepts taught’.
Daniela Moniz, a jury member and an alumna of Electrical and Computer Engineering, reflected on her student experience and highlighted the relevance of the course. She pointed out the increasingly strong connections between Técnico and the business community, noting that “Técnico is being transformed by its Partner Network.”
The ceremony was also marked by the delivery of a donation to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering to enhance the quality of teaching at the CU, totalling 1165 euros. Jorge Fernandes, vice-head of the department, thanked the company and emphasised that ‘more than an award, it’s collaboration between Técnico and society’.
