Lola moves slowly, with her digital eyes blinking under the reflection of the screens. Dressed in a Técnico sweater, she greets those who approach her and captures the attention of the curious. “Albus Robotics manufactures Lola, but the software is entirely developed by our team at Técnico”, explains Inês Sousa, a student of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Técnico. ‘We want her to be able to provide home therapy in the future, especially to support elderly people or those with reduced mobility”.
Today is 11 November, and Técnico is attending the Web Summit 2025 with its own exhibition stand, bringing together its community at Europe’s largest technology and entrepreneurship conference, with the support of Fundação Santander, showcasing the work carried out daily at the School to turn ideas into concrete solutions.
Alongside Lola, just a few metres away, the Vizzy robot and the ISTSat-1 satellite represent different research areas currently underway at Técnico. Catarina Oliveira and Pedro Silva, students and volunteers, guide participants through the demonstrations. “It’s an opportunity to showcase our projects and Técnico’s innovation ecosystem”, says Pedro Silva, a student in the Undergraduate Programme in Engineering Physics. For Catarina Oliveira, a student in the Master’s Programme in Applied Mathematics and Computation at Técnico, the message is similar: “We want visitors to understand the high quality and diversity that our School offers. Técnico is much more than just a university – it is a hub for innovation and future developments”.
Under the motto “We Tech the Future” the pavilion becomes busier as the afternoon progresses. Among the entrepreneurial projects born at Técnico, we find FreshIST, a start-up founded by Ricardo Ferreira, a PhD student in Chemical Engineering at Técnico. “We have developed a device that delays fruit ripening, both on production and distribution”, he explains. “It all started with my PhD work. Thanks to the support of Técnico – from prototype development to patent filing –we were able to turn a research idea into a business project”.
Further ahead, Joana Almeida, a PhD student in Bioengineering, presents Surfactinnov, a Técnico startup that transforms industrial waste into sustainable products. “We produce biological surfactants – used in detergents and hygiene products – from microorganisms such as yeast and waste from the olive oil and cheese industries. Técnico’s role was key: from laboratory to scientific knowledge, including support for technology transfer, which allowed us to bring the laboratory projects to market”, she adds.
Throughout the day, visitors meet students, researchers and entrepreneurs, watching robots in motion, interacting with the satellite and learning about innovative solutions born at Técnico. “Here we show the best of Técnico: applied science, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, all together”, says Pedro Amaral, the Vice-President of Técnico for Corporate Interface, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “Events such as the Web Summit allow us to showcase the School’s work and demonstrate that Portugal has the capacity to innovate at the highest level”.
The day ends at Pavilhão de Portugal with the UniVerse – Entrepreneurial Academy initiative, promoted by Universidade de Lisboa, where Vicente Garção, co-founder of Lampsy Health and a member of the IST spin-off community, wins the award for best pitch. “It’s a very important award, largely because we are the only start-up representing both Universidade de Lisboa and Técnico”, he says. “One year as a start-up, but four years at Técnico, for which I am grateful for all the training”, he added, while proudly showing off the Técnico socks he wears as a lucky charm. The device, designed for domestic use, combines sensors and artificial intelligence algorithms in a lamp, enabling the automatic identification of epileptic seizures and the immediate sending of notifications to carers or emergency contacts.
News published on the 2nd day of the Web Summit: “Técnico is still part of me” – Students’ Organisations and alumni network strengthen community spirit at the Web Summit 2025
News published on the 3rd day of the Web Summit: “Enthusiasm” as a recipe for success and “way of thinking” as a tool: Técnico concluded its participation in the Web Summit 2025
