On 23 May, several Técnico alumni gathered in the Great Hall of Alameda campus, to the Técnico Alumni Gala, in order to celebrate the school’s 114th anniversary. The Gala included a convivial dinner, which served as a motto for raising funds for the Técnico Alumni Scholarships, designed to support students with financial difficulties.
‘This dinner is dedicated to an important issue that should concern us all – preventing talented individuals from being unable to complete their training due to economic difficulties. It’s a way of giving back, so that our students can finish their education, said Rogério Colaço, the president of Técnico.
During the dinner, the amount corresponding to five more Técnico Alumni Scholarships was raised, each worth 3,000 euros, as announced by Pedro Amaral, the Vice-president of Técnico for Corporate Interface, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. ‘While we were at dinner, five new scholarships were confirmed, which shows the power of bringing this community together’, he said.
Ana Dias, President of the Técnico Alumni Association, highlighted the difficulties many students, especially those from outside Lisbon, face in affording their training. ‘Nowadays, we have alumni who are more aware of this dynamic. They not only want to be part of it, but also aim to increase the number of scholarships available. If each of you contributes, you can change the future of these students’, she stated.
The event gathered Técnico alumni in a spirit of reunion and solidarity and marked the inaugural edition of the Técnico Alumni Award. Companies from the Técnico Partner Network, such as Tekever, Galp, and NTT Data, also attended, playing a vital role in supporting the institution and fostering its innovation and talent ecosystem.
‘It’s always a joy and a pleasure for me to see the Great Hall full of former students returning to their home, Instituto Superior Técnico,’ Rogério Colaço shared during the session.
First edition of the Técnico Alumni Award celebrated the careers of António Guterres and Maria Vilar
Another highlight of the gala was the first edition of the Técnico Alumni Award, created to honour the exceptional career of former students in two categories: ‘Career’ and ‘Young Entrepreneur’.
The ‘Young Entrepreneur’ award category featured finalists nominated by the entire society and voted on by the Técnico community, honouring Maria Vilar, founder and CEO of Immersiv Studios.
Maria Vilar, an electrical and computer engineer specialising in robotics and artificial intelligence, leads the development of immersive solutions for brands, education and retail. She also represents Portugal on the executive board of Euromersive, promoting innovation in immersive technologies at European level.
The other finalists in this category were Francisco João Lopes (Sonant AI, LINK Agency, Portal de Sabedoria), Joana Pinto (Clynx Health), Nuno Pereira (Paynest) and Vicente Garção (Lampsy Health).
In the ‘Career’ award category, recognition was given to António Guterres, a Técnico alumnus and the current Secretary-General of the United Nations. ‘Técnico has changed the way I see the world and the others. No matter where life takes us, we will always belong to the community that shaped us. Técnico is more than the place where I studied – it was the place where I learnt to learn, and that is the most valuable skill of all’, he said in his recorded speech shared with attendees.
The trophy awarded to the winners was developed in collaboration with the Faculty of Fine Arts at Universidade de Lisboa. It features a unique design incorporating symbolism: cork representing Portugal, wood (from old Técnico stretchers) symbolising tradition and expansion, and acrylic representing the future and innovation.
The jury responsible for selecting the winners was made up of Rogério Colaço, Pedro Amaral, Ana Casaca (General Director of Innovation at Galp), Ana Dias and Teresa Fiúza (Executive Director of Banco Português do Fomento).
The Técnico Alumni Gala 2025 focused on reaffirming the spirit of community, solidarity, and excellence that has defined the history of Instituto Superior Técnico. It served to strengthen the connections between the past, present, and future through a commitment to education, innovation, and social responsibility.
