‘It was incredible to see the different research projects carried out here [at Técnico]’. This is how Lisa Bandari, UK Ambassador to Portugal, summed up her visit to Instituto Superior Técnico on 13 January. The visit aimed to strengthen scientific collaborations between the two nations and learn about the latest innovations developed by the Técnico researchers.
The official reception was led by the Vice-President of Técnico for International Affairs, Zita Martins, who emphasised Técnico’s role as a ‘benchmark of excellence in education and scientific research, both nationally and internationally’. During the session, the diverse academic community was highlighted since it welcomes students from 65 countries, with 17% of the student body made up of international students, which reflects Técnico’s global prestige.
During the visit, several topics were discussed, including the need to expand the double degrees agreements, strengthen strategic partnerships and promote new long-term international cooperation agreements. ‘Yes, for us it’s a significant part of the work that the British Embassy does here in Portugal’, said the Ambassador, also emphasizing the importance of initiatives that facilitate international collaboration and encourage the development of joint solutions to future challenges.
The delegation had the opportunity to explore some of Técnico’s most advanced scientific facilities, including a visit to some laboratories within the Lasers and Plasmas Group (GOLP) at the Institute for Plasmas and Nuclear Fusion (IPFN), located in the Interdisciplinary Building. The itinerary included visits to the VOXEL Laser Lab, guided by researcher Marta Fajardo, and the AWAKE-CERN Lab, led by Nélson Lopes. Additionally, the delegation visited the MotLab/Quantum Plasma Lab and the Plasma Engineering Lab, where researchers Tito Mendonça and Hugo Terças presented significant advancements in quantum plasmas and plasma engineering. The Plasma Engineering Lab (N-PRIME), which was the second-to-last laboratory visited, was guided by Luís Alves and Edgar Felizardo, who discussed new frontiers in space exploration and the development of innovative plasma technologies that offer social benefits.
The visit concluded at the Laboratory for Intense Lasers (L2I), located in the Physics Building, where Gonçalo Figueira demonstrated the advancements in high-intensity laser technologies, whose international impact was recognised.
At the end of the visit, the Ambassador highlighted the crucial role of institutions such as Técnico in maintaining international dialogue and promoting scientific cooperation, reaffirming the importance of diplomacy so that knowledge and innovation continue to transcend borders.
‘We know that about one in five Portuguese scientists working abroad are based in the UK. This connection is crucial not only for facilitating scientific exchange but also for strengthening the economic relationship between the two countries,’ said the Ambassador. ‘Furthermore, I see great potential in Portuguese start-ups looking for funding and development opportunities in the UK’, she concluded.
‘The close links between Portuguese scientists and leading institutions in the UK, such as Imperial College and Oxford, are remarkable. Some of these collaborations date back to the 1980s and continue to bear fruit in the field of research,’ said the Ambassador, highlighting the long-lasting impact of cooperation.
