How much can we include in four decades of history? What separates 1985 from 2024? How much has the world changed? What about Portugal? And what about INESC TEC? What is INESC TEC’s role locally, nationally, and internationally? Which path should the Institute follow? The 2024 edition of the Strategic Meeting explored many questions and ideas for the upcoming years. Three hundred people came together to set the stage for the Institution’s 40th anniversary celebration – which will kick off in early 2025.
Next year marks four decades of INESC TEC’s existence. However, 1985 did not exclusively mark the establishment of the Institute in Portugal – the country signed the Treaty of Accession to the European Communities. Following these observances, the INESC TEC community was asked to discuss the institution’s future, focusing on the 40th anniversary and the Institute’s role in Portugal and the European ecosystem.
“The INESC TEC Strategic Meeting is always a special moment for reflection, where we come together to collectively discuss questions we consider relevant to the life of the Institution. This year, as we approach such a crucial date, we engaged the Community in an brainstorming exercise on the best way to celebrate it – in Portugal and across Europe”, explained João Claro, Chairman of the Board of Directors.
The event focused on exploring ways to celebrate the Institute’s 40th anniversary, involving different national and international entities, and considering: the past and the evolution of the Institute; the present, the work in progress within the scope of INESC TEC’s Strategic Plan 2023-2030 and the contribution to a reflection and a reformulation of the future of European Research and Innovation within the scope of FP10 (in the recently published position paper); and the future, namely, the challenges and the contributions of INESC TEC to address said challenges.
“Ten years ago, for instance, during the celebration of the 30th anniversary, we organised the first edition of the INESC TEC Autumn Forum, promoted an event for young researchers, produced 30 documentaries, and held a concert at Casa da Música featuring technology developed by INESC TEC, among other initiatives. We cannot yet reveal what the plan for 2025 will be, but we know that this Strategic Meeting was an excellent motto and that the contributions resulting from this joint reflection will lead to a remarkable celebration”, concluded the Chairman of the Board.
The event took place on September 13, at the Alfândega do Porto – Centro de Congressos, and welcomed close to 300 people.
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