INESC TEC Strategic Meeting: 2023’s edition delved further into the future

This annual meeting aims to challenge the INESC TEC community to reflect and discuss the organisation’s structuring aspects. During this year’s edition, the INESC TEC community was invited to discuss the cross-cutting challenges of INESC TEC research, and where they envision themselves heading by 2030.

Science, technology and innovation with an impact on society, towards a sustainable future. This is the motto that paves the path until 2030. The strategic plan for the 2023-2030 period – a document designed with the contributions of the INESC TEC community – served as a starting point for this Strategic Meeting.

As in previous years, the Institute brought together members of the INESC TEC community, challenging them to explore relevant topics – this time focusing on the research strategy. “The 2023-2030 strategic plan established four cross-cutting challenges to the research we carry out in the various scientific fields”, said João Claro, Vice-Chairman of the Board and CEO, adding that this exercise stems from a set of survey, debate and public discussion actions involving the whole organisation.

This way, by continuing the work that led to the elaboration of the Strategic Plan, the event promoted a discussion around these challenges: the creation of digital models, the ambition to face extreme scenarios, trust in technology and the sustainability of technological transitions.

The Institute then formed four working-groups to address each theme – led by Filipa Ramalho (Centre for Enterprise Systems Engineering), Joana Dumas (Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence and Decision Support), Ricardo Bessa (Centre for Power and Energy Systems), Daniel Vasconcelos (Technology Licensing Office), Diana Viegas (Centre for Robotics and Autonomous Systems), Bárbara Maia (Management Control), Pedro Amorim (Centre for Industrial Engineering and Management) and Catarina Carvalho (Communication Service). The event also featured a panel dedicated to the presentation and discussion of the conclusions of the various groups, moderated by Rui Oliveira, Member of the Board of Directors.

The Strategic Meeting ended with a tribute to Manuel Matos, coordinator of INESC TEC Centre for Power and Energy Systems – who, for more than two decades, chaired the Institute’s Scientific Council. “This tribute shows the gratitude and recognition of the INESC TEC Community for the extraordinary contributions, commitment and personal dedication in the scientific leadership of the institution, recalling significant moments and remarkable contributions throughout a career dedicated to the progress of science and higher education”, said João Claro.

The event, held on September 15 at Palácio do Freixo (Porto) also featured socialising and networking opportunities.