The 5th edition of the Vodafone Merit Award in Mobile Networks and Internet of Things, promoted in partnership with Vodafone, took place on 16 June, in the North Tower, at Técnico – Alameda campus. The project challenges Técnico students to develop solutions that serve society. The award aims to recognise the best project developed within the scope of the Mobile Networks and Internet of Things curricular unit, taught in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (DEEC).
The Smart Cooling group – composed of students Ana Sofia Abreu Mendes and Carolina Silva Arruda – was the project awarded, which included a financial incentive worth €1,800. The project presented a solution for remote water quality monitoring in aquaculture ponds, focusing on measuring temperature and turbidity using an automated, low-cost, and energy-efficient system designed to be simple, efficient, and applicable in various operational contexts.
Five finalist groups pitched their projects to the jury, made up of Técnico professors and Vodafone representatives, followed by a questions and answers session.
In addition to the winning group, four other finalist projects were presented: CliniScope; Realtime Energy Monitoring and Feedback; Drone Sense; and Track&Check.
During the jury’s deliberation on the winning project, diplomas were handed out to all the finalist students in recognition of the commitment and quality of the projects that had been developed over seven weeks.
After the announcement of the winning project, the creators of Smart Cooling expressed their gratitude for the support they received throughout the curricular unit, recognising the guidance of their professors, which significantly improved both the project and the presentation. They also valued Vodafone’s initiative, emphasising the importance of such opportunities to highlight the work done by students during their academic journey.
The President of Técnico, Rogério Colaço, emphasised the importance of a dynamic relationship between academia and companies, which is essential for preparing professionals to meet the rapid pace of technological change. He highlighted the contributions of Técnico students and alumni, stating: “I’m convinced that Técnico alumni are revolutionising engineering in Portugal and Europe. These initiatives show how our students tackle problems, propose solutions and keep pace with constantly evolving technology”. He also mentioned the importance of collaborating with companies like Vodafone, a member of Técnico Partner Network since 2019, which aligns with the School’s strategic mission of bringing teaching and research with the concrete needs of society and the economy: “Research and science cannot be conducted without a connection to society”, he emphasised.
During the session, Pedro Amaral, the Vice-President of Técnico for Corporate Interface, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, emphasised the strategic importance of partnerships with companies like Vodafone, stressing that these collaborations expose students to real challenges, recognise academic merit and foster the development of technological solutions with tangible impacts, many of which have the potential for immediate practical application – including implementation on the Técnico campus itself.
Rui Gomes, a Vodafone representative, praised the quality of the solutions presented and the potential of the participants: “I’m always surprised by the gadgets they bring here! I see people with a lot of potential here and I’m very happy to see that Técnico continues to produce engineers with a lot of future”.
Vodafone also donated 1,200 euros to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (DEEC), to improve teaching conditions. At the end of the ceremony, Sérgio Pequito, a member of DEEC’s executive committee, thanked Rui Gomes and the Vodafone team not only for allowing the students to present their work, but also for the financial support, which will help strengthen teaching resources and encourage the development of future innovation projects in the department.
