The 3rd edition of the Celfocus Merit Award in Machine Learning recognised the academic performance of João Castelo-Branco, a Master’s student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, who stood out for his work in the Machine Learning curricular unit. The award, worth 2,500 euros, was presented at a ceremony held on 24 March 2025, in the meeting room of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (DEEC), at Técnico – Alameda campus.
The event showcased the talent and academic excellence of Técnico students. In the first phase, five students were selected from over 280 enrolled in the curricular unit based on their academic performance. During the award ceremony, four of these students were invited to pitch their project ideas in five minutes. Diana Gaspar, Eduardo Pinto and João Rodrigues, master’s students in Applied Mathematics and Computation, and João Branco, a master’s student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, made their presentations, followed by a discussion with the jury, made up of Técnico professors José Santos-Victor, Margarida Silveira and Catarina Barata, and Luís Carlos Santos, Director of Artificial Intelligence at Celfocus.
The President of Técnico, Rogério Colaço, emphasised the importance of this initiative in strengthening relations between academia and the business world. ‘The main goal of these initiatives is to highlight the importance of partnerships, providing our students with early exposure to business environments and enhancing their connections with companies’, he said, also stressing that educational institutions like Técnico must be open and responsive to the needs of society.
The winner, João Castelo-Branco, thanked his professors, Celfocus and the academic community. ‘Receiving this award is very gratifying. It’s not only motivating but also reassuring to know that companies like Celfocus recognise the talent at Técnico,’ he shared.
The jury praised the high quality of the work presented, highlighting João Castelo-Branco’s curiosity and motivation as key factors in his distinction. Luís Carlos Santos also stressed the importance of effective communication: ‘Clear and effective communication is a valuable skill seen in Técnico students’.
The ceremony also included awarding participation certificates to Diana Gaspar, Eduardo Pinto, and João Rodrigues, along with a donation of 1,670 euros from Celfocus to enhance the teaching conditions of the Machine Learning curricular unit. Sérgio Pequito, DEEC’s Vice-President for Research, Development and External Relations, thanked the initiative and congratulated the students. ‘This support is fundamental for us to continue promoting excellence and providing better learning conditions,’ he said.
