Ongoing projects, cross-disciplinary discussions and the potential for new partnerships were topics addressed at the event held on 7 April 2026, which brought together researchers, companies, startups and international partners to explore collaboration opportunities in emerging fields of engineering and technology. As part of the Unite! Widening project, members of the Técnico community participated in a session dedicated to “knowledge sharing” and “building new scientific and technological partnerships”.
The day began with a look at the digital landscape, where algorithms, data and autonomous systems are reshaping the way of conducting research and engaging with society. The discussion covered the advancement of large language models, their influence on data analysis and their integration with fields such as robotics and Artificial Intelligence, in a context where cooperation between universities and companies was highlighted as a “key factor in accelerating innovation”.
In this context, José Franca, a professor at Técnico, shared insights gained over several decades. “We had talent and knowledge, but there was no industry to absorb them. This imbalance forced us to take action”, he said, recalling his journey in creating startups since the 1990s. He emphasised the importance of “models based on intellectual property, where the reuse of knowledge enables growth beyond initial limitations”. According to the professor, entrepreneurship emerges as “a consequence of aligning capabilities with real opportunities”.
From the digital scale to biological complexity
The afternoon brought a new focus, centred on technologies applied to healthcare, where engineering faces challenges on the scale of the human body. Biotechnology was addressed from different perspectives: from bioreactors that recreate biological environments in the laboratory to materials developed to stimulate tissue regeneration, via experimental systems that allow therapies to be tested under conditions closer to clinical reality.
In this regard, João Carlos Silva, a researcher at the Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB), presented the ‘Electrobone’ project, which focuses on bone regeneration. “The repair of extensive bone defects remains a significant clinical challenge, with some cases failing to respond to conventional treatments”, he explained. The project proposes combining three-dimensional electroconductive structures with biophysical stimulation, creating conditions closer to the bone’s natural environment. “The goal is to enhance regeneration by integrating physical stimuli with advanced materials, relying on multidisciplinary and international collaboration”.
Also in this field, Gonçalo Machado Ribeiro, a student awarded at the 9th edition of Técnico’s Lab2Market programme, presented the “FLASHGuard” project, focused on ultra-rapid radiotherapy. “The administration of radiation doses at speeds that far exceed conventional rates shows potential for protecting healthy tissue; however, its clinical application still depends on further technological advances”, he noted, highlighting that real-time monitoring is one of the main challenges. “Without devices capable of accurately measuring and controlling the beam during treatment, the transition to clinical practice remains limited”, he shares, highlighting the “importance of working together with industry as a way of overcoming barriers and bringing the technology closer to clinical application”.
Throughout the event, which included presentations and pitch sessions, the pace quickened as participants shared projects and ideas currently under development, culminating in a session dedicated to exploring European funding opportunities and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish an open innovation community. “This MoU marks an important step towards bringing together communities with diverse skills and strengthening interdisciplinarity, uniting academia, R&D institutions, and companies around common goals”, said Fátima Montemor, a professor at Técnico and project coordinator, who also highlighted the Unite! Widening programme as a “catalyst for the creation of new collaborations and the development of joint initiatives”.
