Paulo Ferrão, a professor at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, is one of the 25 prominent figures featured in the book “A História Que Escreve Energia”, presented on May 29 by the Portuguese Energy Agency (ADENE). The publication looks back on 25 years of transformation in Portugal’s energy sector, bringing together key figures, decisions, and pivotal moments that shaped the evolution of public energy and environmental policies during a period marked by structural change in the country.

Paulo Ferrão, who is also a researcher at the Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research (IN+), has been one of the leading advocates of industrial ecology in Portugal. He headed the MIT Portugal Program, where he created the Ph.D. program in Sustainable Energy Systems, which he coordinated at Técnico.  This initiative paved the way for strategic studies on the resilience of the Portuguese energy system.

In an interview, the Técnico professor tells us about his journey in this field and the School’s driving role in scientific research and in the revitalisation of the energy sector.

In the book “A História Que Escreve Energia,” you appear alongside 24 other figures from the energy sector. Which aspects of your career do you believe contributed to your selection as one of the interviewees?

I see my inclusion in this book as closely tied to my journey at Instituto Superior Técnico. My career was built at Técnico through research, advanced training, and the connection between scientific knowledge, public policy, and industry. The work I’ve carried out in areas such as industrial ecology, sustainable energy systems, sustainable cities, and the energy transition emerged from this environment of scientific excellence and strong commitment to society.

Among the moments I consider most memorable are the co-creation of IN+— Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research, with professor Manuel Heitor, the national coordination of the MIT Portugal Program and, in particular, the coordination of the Sustainable Energy Systems specialisation area. It was in this context that I co-founded and coordinated, at Instituto Superior Técnico, the Ph.D. program in Sustainable Energy Systems, a pioneering program that trained a new generation of researchers and specialists capable of addressing the challenges of the energy transition.

Much of what led to my contribution in this book took place at Técnico. I believe that my inclusion in this work also represents Instituto Superior Técnico, whose culture of excellence, internationalisation, and commitment to public service shaped my career and enabled me to contribute to the development of Portugal’s energy sector.

What role has Técnico played in this sector?

Instituto Superior Técnico has profoundly shaped the Portuguese energy sector. Over the decades, it has trained generations of engineers, researchers, managers, and decision-makers holding positions of responsibility in companies, public administration, universities, and research centres.

But Técnico’s role goes far beyond education. It has led cutting-edge research in areas such as renewable energy, energy systems, energy efficiency, smart grids, hydrogen, decarbonisation, and sustainable cities, always in close collaboration with companies and public entities. It has also been a pioneer in creating international doctoral programs and strategic partnerships that have brought Portugal closer to the world’s leading knowledge centres, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Técnico’s greatest contribution has been its ability to combine scientific excellence with high-level education and collaboration with companies and public entities. This culture has allowed many of the solutions currently adopted in the energy sector to stem from research conducted at the School, while simultaneously training individuals who went on to implement these solutions. I believe this characteristic defines Técnico: it not only produces knowledge but also applies it for the benefit of society, and enhances the country’s competitiveness.

What is MIT Portugal all about?

MIT Portugal was a strategic partnership between Portuguese universities, research centres, MIT, companies, and public entities. It was created in 2006 with the goal of strengthening advanced education, research, and innovation in technological areas fundamental to the country’s development. I had the honour of coordinating the program between 2006 and 2016, during which time it established itself as one of the most successful international partnerships in Portuguese science and engineering.

What results from this project would you highlight?

Over the course of this decade, the program has attracted and trained 986 students, including 741 doctoral students and 245 master’s students. It received 3,110 applications for the Ph.D. programs from 30 different nationalities, produced over 1,000 scientific publications, contributed to the creation of nearly 20 startups, and fostered a strong culture of collaboration among universities, research centres, companies, and public administration.

In the area I directly coordinated—Sustainable Energy Systems—we created a scientific community that brought together Portuguese universities and MIT to tackle the major challenges of the energy transition. It was in this context that I co-created and coordinated, at Instituto Superior Técnico, the Ph.D. program in Sustainable Energy Systems, an innovative program that trained highly qualified researchers and promoted research on topics such as energy efficiency, energy markets, smart grids, sustainable mobility, renewable energy integration, energy planning, and sustainable cities. Many of these alumni now hold leadership positions across various universities, research centres, companies, and public agencies, both in Portugal and abroad.

One of the aspects I value most was the strong link between academia and industry. Many research projects developed in partnership with companies such as EDP, REN, GALP, EFACEC, and many others ensured that the knowledge produced at universities, and particularly at Instituto Superior Técnico, had practical applications and contributed to business innovation and the formulation of public policy. I believe this is one of MIT Portugal’s greatest legacies: demonstrating that it is possible to combine research excellence, advanced education and innovation, placing Instituto Superior Técnico at the centre of the transformation of Portugal’s scientific and technological system.