On 6 November, Técnico – Oeiras Campus celebrated its 25th anniversary, under the motto “Técnico Sem Filtros”. The event brought together students, professors, alumni and staff, featuring a programme that combined inspiring stories, humour and magic.

André Melão, a master’s student in Telecommunications and Informatics Engineering and a magician, hosted the event, kicking off the session with a magic show. Throughout the event, the student bridged the different moments of the celebration with tricks, humor, and spontaneous interactions.

The first moment of the evening was the panel discussion “Inspiring Stories”, which featured three guests from the Técnico community: Joana Mendonça, Vice-President for the Oeiras Campus; Pedro Amaral, Vice-President for Corporate Interface, Innovation and Entrepreneurship; and Diogo Mónica, Técnico alumnus and Co-founder & Executive Chairman of Anchorage Digital.

Joana Mendonça emphasised the special nature of the moment: “Welcome to this celebration and absolutely wonderful event that brings us together here for a celebration that is a little different from the usual. We are celebrating Técnico and we are also celebrating our students”. She also highlighted the active role of the Alumni platform, which has been growing as a space for connecting former students and the institution.

Pedro Amaral and Diogo Mónica shared their professional experiences and reflected on the impact of their education at Técnico on their careers.

Diogo Mónica recalled his time on campus and the importance of an open and curious mindset. “I realised early on that security would be at the heart of everything I wanted to do. Técnico gave me that solid foundation and the confidence to explore the world”.

The event continued with a stand-up comedy performance by Guilherme Duarte, a comedian and Técnico alumnus (Computer Science and Engineering), who revisited episodes from his academic life, long nights of studying, and the technological changes of recent decades — from floppy disks to ChatGPT. “Always say good morning to ChatGPT — when machines take over the world, they will remember who was nice to them”, he joked, eliciting laughter from the audience.

André Melão returned to the stage for one last magic trick. In a symbolic performance, the numbers revealed the exact date and time of the event, highlighting the importance of the present as a starting point for the future — a message that embodies the spirit of the anniversary.

Rogério Colaço, President of Técnico, closed the event with a speech highlighting the impact and importance of the Oeiras campus over the past 25 years. “When we look back, we realise that the Oeiras campus has expanded tremendously. Today, it is a benchmark, with research centres in areas ranging from electronics to biomedical engineering. The first satellite entirely designed and built in Portugal was born here”, he said.

He also announced the start of landscaping work on the campus, a project developed in partnership with Oeiras Municipal Council, which aims to strengthen Técnico’s connection to the local area and improve the teaching and research environment. “This campus is central to Técnico’s strategy. This is where talent is nurtured, science is pursued, and the future of the country is built. Celebrating 25 years is celebrating knowledge, innovation and the people who bring this space to life every day”, concluded Rogério Colaço.