Exhibition: Tech Demo & Business Showcase (09:00 – 17:30 | room: entrance/lounge)

The delegates will have the opportunity to present and/or just visit a wide group of technology showcases and some technology demonstrations / simulations. Any delegate can propose technologies to be presented, free of charge. The Business Showcase includes institutional showcases. The delegates have the opportunity (optional) to be present with a institutional showcase (free of charge) which offers the perfect spot for the companies to promote their expertise, products and projects, but also to interact and/or do business with other partners as well as with academic and scientific communities.

Company/Startup/Project

Azitek is a startup based in Porto, Portugal, specializing in proprietary RFID systems with high-accuracy technology. Our innovative system combines long-range tracking with precision capabilities, utilizing cost-effective and long-life tags to deliver unparalleled asset visibility and unlock new applications beyond traditional RFID.

Solutions for professionals to improve their clients’ physical performance and nutrition. Wisify was founded with the mission of providing innovative solutions to promote health, education, and scientific evidence. With a product that includes hardware and software, we add value and meet the needs of our customers, particularly healthcare professionals, by providing products and services that allow them to assess the physical and nutritional health of individuals, facilitating decision-making on the therapies to be implemented and improving work efficiency. Our tools are known for their quality, precision, simplicity of use and unrivalled performance, based on Bluetooth technology with iOS/Android and web/desktop applications, enabling a secure way of recording and analysing data on a cloud platform. Bearing this in mind and always remembering our strong commitment to customer satisfaction, we believe we are the ideal choice for high-quality technological solutions in the sports and nutrition sectors.

The Rocinha Cinema Academy is an initiative created by the residents of Brazil’s largest favela. Its goal is to develop local talent. Since its inauguration in December 2023, the ACR has already impacted the lives of 1,500 people. Through in-person audiovisual courses and cineclubs featuring debates on human rights, racism, sustainability, and other topics, the academy is already making a significant difference in the Brazilian audiovisual sector. Operating within an inclusive ecosystem, the academy inspires budding filmmakers and attracts professionals from the industry. Our first cohort continues to produce their initial short films, showcasing the immense potential and creativity within the community.

Driven by a commitment to preserve life, Aeroyan, a brand of Storminguniverse LDA, overcomes barriers isolating the vulnerable by deploying state-of-the-art drones, guided by an AI-based autopilot system. These remarkable machines, built to withstand nature’s fiercest elements, embody resilience and reliability. Aeroyan’s innovation extends beyond drones. It includes a comprehensive ecosystem for seamless delivery. This ecosystem has advanced logistics software, efficient ground operations, and robust support systems.

Medtiles is a pioneering medtech company dedicated to creating the next wave of Digital Health services, powered by Generative AI (Gen AI). Our mission is to accelerate the navigation and comprehension of medical data for healthcare institutions and health care providers, effectively generating, assisting and pinpointing critical information amidst vast pools of medical data.

XR.Lab develops products and projects using Extended Reality, which includes Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) for safety, operational and inspection training, especially for the Energy, Mining and other sectors. The objective is to train professionals to operate in remote, complex and risky places, but all in a virtual environment. This guarantees zero risk for operators, low cost, increased risk perception and greater engagement of trainees.

Entrescapes is a B2B solution for analyzing climate vulnerability and environmental viability in land use planning and climate funds. Our platform delivers fast and accurate reports with data-driven maps, empowering informed decision-making for landowners, real estate developers, and master planners in land investment and green development. For further information, please visit us at www.entrescapes.com.

AgroGrIN Tech upcycles fruit and vegetable side-streams into clean-label speciality ingredients, applying EU-patent technology, with a ZERO waste process. These ingredients are used the food, nutraceutical and cosmetic industries. We collect fruit & vegetable waste, side-streams and by-products; We produce sustainable & clean label ingredients; We do product development to meet our costumer needs.

UPWIND is developing a portable generator that uses Airborne Wind Energy technology to convert wind into electricity. Our goal is to provide affordable and sustainable electricity to communities and events that are off-grid, replacing the need for diesel generators.

MARKED: Wayfinding System is a bike navigation system that helps riders find the city safe cycle network. It uniquely combines digital route planning with physical colour-coded wayfinding. To find out more, check out our website (https://markedwayfinding.com/).

SPINAGRO is a pre-sprouted sugarcane seedling company, born in 2017 from the desire of a young couple to start their own business. Today SPINAGRO is a very sustainable company, which produces the first sustainable Cachaça, organic compound and sugarcane seedlings, the whole process based in regenerative agriculture and circular economy.

Accessible AI-driven nearshore wave assessment tool to accelerate climate change resilient offshore infrastructure planning | pre-seed stage.

Kimera Biotecnologia is a Brazilian startup spin-off from the University of São Paulo’s School of Pharmacy in Ribeirão Preto, specializing in the creation and production of recombinant molecules through cell culture. In its portfolio, it has developed three hormones aimed at animal reproduction as alternatives to the eCG or PMSG hormones, which are obtained through methods that cause suffering to animals. These hormones are widely used in animal reproduction protocols, with an emphasis on cattle (Americas) and pigs (Europe). As such, Kimera created the products Follimera r-eCG, FSH and LH (still in the regulatory phase), all of which are produced without causing pain to animals.

Smartex advances textile manufacturing with cutting-edge AI solutions that eliminate waste and optimize production. Our integrated system combines real-time automated fabric inspection with a comprehensive digital platform for operational management and traceability. By leveraging these technologies, we empower manufacturers to enhance quality, boost productivity, and achieve greater sustainability in their operations.

FEUP Academic Solar Team is a Project that results from an initiative by students aiming to blend scientific innovation with environmental sustainability, leveraging the most advanced technology resources available. The project involves the design, construction and development of a vessel that not only represents the best of FEUP community in the field but also promises an innovative and educational perspective.

Everythink is an award winning studio for creativity, design and innovation, established in 2008 in Porto. This is a studio where creative methodologies and strategic thinking are the keys to create new products, services and experiences, with a positive impact on people’s lives. They  work on different areas and outputs, offering diversity and experience in an effect of cross-pollination offering innovative insights, efficiency and time-to-market. Naked Energy is a British design and engineering business, leading the global innovation in solar heat and solar PVT. Naked Energy’s vision is ‘Changing energy for good’, by displacing fossil fuel in commercial and industrial buildings globally through the deployment of its high impact, cost-effective, and versatile solar heat and power Virtu product range. Virtu is a high energy density solution delivering up to four times the CO2 savings per m2 in comparison to conventional solar PV.

Eavy Charging engineers and produces electrical vehicles fast charging systems for urban environments: 10 parking places can be sequentially charged using only one DC fast charger, to boost usage flexibility, while optimizing ROI by fostering high utilization rates.

Omniflow provides sustainable smart city solutions. Our Smart IoT Lamppost powered by wind and solar transforms a regular street light into a sustainable smart infrastructure capable of housing multiple added-value applications like AI computer vision analytics, EV charging or air quality monitoring.

Connect Robotics is democratizing autonomous deliveries using drones. It has daily operations in multiple areas, including at Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon, with thousands of deliveries already performed. The objective is to offer a flexible, safe, and reliable solution that incorporates the delivery and handling processes of pharmacies, hospitals, laboratories, and small businesses in general in a transparent and automatic way. The system is completely autonomous, and can be introduced without the need for infrastructure or specialized knowledge.

Specialised consultancy company that supports the growth of organisations through innovation, digital transformation and access to funding. Involved in various international and national projects, it is responsible for managing support activities for start-ups and SMEs, namely through launching networking opportunities and managing open calls such as: ENFIELD: Applied research of AI solutions for Healthcare, Manufacturing, Energy and Space. CODECO: Innovation and Research Community Engagement Programme for Edge Cloud Orchestration DATA4ALL: Testbed for technology and business validation CircularInvest: Make circular projects investment-ready LAUDS Factories: Solutions for open and decentralised urban Manufacturing STARHAUS: Decentralized manufacturing for sustainable production and consumption

Recycle Geeks is a circular economy business addressing electronic waste by recovering and reselling unused or broken computers and tablets. Launched in 2021, they offer a donation program where donors receive up to 66% of the value recovered, shared with a charity of their choice. The company also sells refurbished items and has expanded to repairs and trade-ins, earning recognition in various startup competitions and media features.

EVOLUTION TECHNOLOGIES FOR WASTE-TO-VALUE. Development of turnkey solutions (Design Engineering) at the level of green processes of valorisation and conversion of waste into value-added products with impact on Bioeconomy and Circular Economy.

Bridging Borders: Leveraging the Portuguese Diaspora for Talent and Entrepreneurship
(09:00 – 10:30 | room: auditorium)

This roundtable will focus on the pivotal role of the Portuguese diaspora in addressing talent acquisition and retention in Portugal. The conversation will highlight strategies to create a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem by tapping into the skills, networks, and resources of the global Portuguese community.

Discussion topics:

• Engaging the Diaspora: Strategies to connect and leverage the global Portuguese community’s skills and networks.
• Fostering Entrepreneurship: How the diaspora can support new ventures and innovation in Portugal, with real-world examples of successful collaborations.
• Policy and Incentives: What the government and private sector can do to encourage more active diaspora involvement.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

• Maria Oliveira, Executive Director – Business UPTEC
• Bernardo Ivo Cruz – CEO of Fundação António Pargana

Panel Discussion

• Moderator: Professor Pedro Teixeira – Full Professor of Economics at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto and a former Director of CIPES – Centre of Research in Higher Education Policies
• Panel: 
  Bernardo Ivo Cruz, CEO of Fundação António Pargana
  Marta Feio, member of AIMA’s Board of Directors
  Verónica Orvalho, CEO Didimo  (Diaspora Entrepreneur)
  Gabriel Weber – PhD Student at FAUP and member of BOSS – Board of Students of UPTEC (Diaspora Student)

Signing of the Protocol between UPTEC and FAP and announcement of the Immersion Program in Entrepreneurship for Luso-descendants

He is a full Professor at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto and a Researcher at CIPES—Higher Education Policy Research Centre, of which he was director from 2009-2022. He has also been a researcher and visiting professor at the Universities of Oxford, California-Berkeley, and SUNY—Albany. Research centred on the economic and political analysis of education (particularly higher education) and the history of economic thought, including Human Capital: Critical Concepts in Economics (4 vols., Routledge, 2014) and the coordination of The International Encyclopaedia of Higher Education (3 vols., Springer, 2020). Secretary General of CHER – Consortium of Higher Education Researchers (2013-2022). Member of the Evaluation Panel of the Institutional Evaluation Programme of the European University Association and ENQA – European Association of Quality Agencies. Research Fellow at IZA – Institute for the Study of Labor and PROPHE – Program of Research on Private Higher Education. National expert for DG Education (2015-2018) and the EU Network of Experts on the Economics of Education (2019-2022). Member of the Academia Europaea. Member of the National Education Council (2014-2018) and the Education Council of the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation (2013-2018). Non-executive member of the Board of Directors of the Bial Foundation (2015-2022). Vice-Rector for Training and Academic Organisation at the University of Porto (2014-2018). Consultant to the Civil House of the Presidency of the Republic for Higher Education and Science (2016-2021) and Higher Education and Economic Recovery (2021-2022). Secretary of State for Higher Education in the XXIII Constitutional Government (2022-2024).

Bernardo Ivo Cruz has a PhD in Political Science from the University of Bristol and was a Chevening Doctoral Fellow at the British Foreign Office. He is also an Alumnus of the Prince of Wales’s Business and Sustainability Programme at the Institute of Sustainability and Leadership at the University of Cambridge, UK, and a Corresponding Academician of the International Academy of Portuguese Culture. He is currently Executive Director of the António Pargana Foundation, Visiting Professor at the Institute of Political Studies of the Portuguese Catholic University and at the Nova School of Law of the New University of Lisbon, member of the Scientific Committee of the Centre for Sustainable Finance of the Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics, Associate Researcher at the Research Centre of the Institute of Political Studies of the Portuguese Catholic University, member of the Board of Directors of the Lisbon Club and weekly columnist for Diário de Notícias. Over more than 30 years of professional activity, he has worked in public administration, higher education, and the private and third sectors. He served as Secretary of State for Internationalisation and Deputy Secretary of State to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. He taught at Bristol and Cardiff Universities, chaired the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK and coordinated the National Reconciliation Programme in East Timor, organised by the Club of Madrid. He was also Honorary Consul of Botswana in Portugal. Bernardo Ivo Cruz has lived and worked in Belgium, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Portugal and East Timor.

Marta Feio holds a law degree from the Portuguese Catholic University (Lisbon), obtained in 2004. In the same year, she attended the Advanced Program in Regulation Economics and Competition Policy at the Faculty of Economics of the same university. In 2005, she completed a postgraduate degree in European Union Law at the College of Europe in Bruges. Throughout her career, she has served as legal advisor in the areas of Corporate Law and Corporate Governance at BUSINESSEUROPE (European Industry Confederation), Chief of Staff to a Member of the European Parliament, and Senior Advisor at Eupportunity (European Affairs Consulting), where she was responsible for monitoring and contributing to the development of European regulatory policy in various sectors. Upon returning to Portugal in July 2014, she took on the role of Manager of Institutional Affairs at Tabaqueira. In January 2021, she joined ATIC – Technical Association of the Cement Industry, as Executive Secretary-General. In May 2023, she was appointed Chair of the Board of Directors of the Collaborative Laboratory c5Lab. At the end of July 2024, she was appointed as a Member of the Executive Board of AIMA – Agency for Migration and Asylum, I.P. In recent years, she has attended various executive programs in the areas of leadership, governance, and sustainability/ESG.

Born in Argentina to a Portuguese father, Verónica Orvalho has been a global leader in facial technology research and development for over two decades. Passionate about using her technology to foster authentic communication, she founded Didimo to make the digital world more human—whether in gaming or immersive experiences. Verónica has pioneered patented technology that generates high-fidelity digital humans, allowing companies to engage users in innovative ways. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Graphics and teaches at Porto University. As a TEDx ambassador, she has inspired ideas on global stages and contributes to the SIGGRAPH community as a published author and jury member. She established a European and US-funded research laboratory at Porto University, published significant works at major international conferences, and commercialized unique IP with companies like Microsoft and Universal Studios. Her inventions have been utilized by Universal Studios, Sony, Microsoft, and Amazon. In addition to her entrepreneurial efforts, Verónica has mentored the next generation of innovators as an EU EIC mentor since 2020 and was named an EIC Ambassador in 2024. Recognized as an EY Winning Woman in 2022 and shortlisted for the European Women Innovator award in 2021, she champions education for all, believing in knowledge’s power to unlock potential. On a personal note, Verónica is a devoted mother to two children, striving to create a world where everyone can express themselves freely and safely in the digital realm.

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Weber is an architect with a Master’s degree from the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto (2022). He is the winner of the 20th edition of the Fernando Távora Prize in 2024 with the proposal “From Benin to Benim: Marginal Projects, Radical Architectures.” In 2023, he was awarded the Viana de Lima Prize for achieving the highest grades in Design courses. He is the author of the book Manual de Prácticas del Autobús – 474 Jacaré Copacabana (Barcelona: NoLibros, 2024), an extension of his master’s thesis, which was a finalist for the Archiprix Portugal in 2023. Currently, he is a PhD student at FAUP, conducting research on the Agudá Project under the supervision of Professors Carla Garrido de Oliveira from the University of Porto and Roberto Conduru from Southern Methodist University, Texas. He interned at the Porto-based studio MeroOficina and collaborated with the office of Architect Adalberto Dias. In parallel, he worked as a freelance illustrator, on drawings for the book Arquitectura do Bacalhau & Outras Espécies by André Tavares and Diego Inglez de Souza (Porto: Dafne, 2022), and for the exhibition Marina Tabassum: Materials, Movements, and Architecture in Bangladesh (Lisbon: CCB, 2024).

B2B Meetings (09:00 – 11:30 ; 14:00 – 16:00 | room: copa) 

Pre-scheduled B2B meetings. All the delegates that had interest in this activity, could demonstrate it by ticking the relevant box in the online registration form via specifying the type of partner/contact they look for in order the event organisation team could promote the match. In cases where proposal for a meeting proved to be successful (i.e. both counterparts confirmed their interest), a B2B meeting was scheduled and is to take place during the day of UPTEC Sessions.

Talk: How to Make an Impact when Pitching to Investors (10:30 – 11:30 | room: auditorium) 

The keynote will combine the key elements of the Best3minutes methodology with investor-specific pitching techniques, empowering startups to make a memorable impact with their pitch.

Martina helps startups, women entrepreneurs and professionals to generate new business opportunities and to obtain resources and investments for their projects and ideas. She does this through the development of a pitch, business strategy design and personalized coaching, in different formats:
– Pitch training sessions 1:1: Aimed at Founders, CEOs, and professionals.
– Pitch Workshops / Masterclass: Aimed at Startups, Incubators, Accelerators, Universities, Business
Schools, entrepreneurship, and innovation programs.
– Strategic Consulting: Aimed at professionals and solopreneurs looking to scale their careers, and
their ventures, through the development of a strategic pitch that allows them to better connect with
their customers and reach new markets.

See more: Best3minutes.com

Investors Day: Reverse Pitch – Tech and Blue Tech (11:30 – 12:30 | room: auditorium) 

Experience a unique twist on pitching as investors present their visions and needs at Investors Day – Reverse Pitching. Discover what top investors are looking for and how your startup can meet their goals, namely in the tech and health sector.

Investors Day: Reverse Pitch – Health Tech (11:30 – 12:30 | room: cowork) 

Experience a unique twist on pitching as investors present their visions and needs at Investors Day – Reverse Pitching. Discover what top investors are looking for and how your startup can meet their goals, namely in the tech and health sector.

UPTEC NON-STOP: Startup Pitches (14:00 – 16:00 | room: Auditorium) 

UPTEC Non-Stop is an opportunity for entrepreneurs installed at UPTEC (Science and Technology Park of U.PORTO) to present their business ideas to the wider scientific community, industry representatives, investors and to the media. The companies represented come from various scientific areas and each will have 5 minutes designated for a pitch in order to incite interest in the potential partners and investors. The event will take place at the UPTEC Asprela campus.

Debate: Diverse Innovation Ecosystems (16:00 – 17:30 | room: auditorium) 

Innovation ecosystems are dynamic networks of organisations, individuals, and resources that foster the creation and commercialisation of new ideas and technologies. These ecosystems thrive in environments that support collaboration, knowledge sharing, and access to capital. Regions with a vibrant innovation ecosystem often benefit from a diverse pool of investors, skilled labor, and strategic partnerships, creating a competitive advantage. This debate will delve into these matters from the comparative perspective, addressing best practices, opportunities and challenges present in different regions and with regard to different types of these ecosystems.

Moderator: Wilson Caldeira, FEUP
Panel:
EU & the UK Innovation Ecosystem: Farid Singh, Nexwin, Startup Wise Guys
Defence Innovation Ecosystem: Erick Galante, AGITEC 
LATAM Innovation Ecosystem: Luiz Henrique Catalani, AUSPIN – USP Innovation Agency
PT Innovation Ecosystem: Marília Santos, Startup Portugal

Wilson Caldeira holds a Master’s degree in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship from the University of Porto (FEUP-Portugal). He has specialized in Innovation & Entrepreneurship from Stanford University (USA) and in Management from Fundação Dom Cabral (Brazil). Wilson also holds an MBA in Marketing at Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV-Brazil) and earned his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ-Brazil). He was an entrepreneur in the e-health sector and has served as the Director of Marketing and Sales for technology-based companies. Currently, he is the CEO & Co-founder of Caldeira Marketing Consulting, focusing on innovation, entrepreneurship, marketing, and sales. As an educator, Wilson is an invited assistant professor at the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Porto (Portugal), Fundação Dom Cabral (Brazil), and PUC-Minas (Brazil).

Farid Singh is passionate about helping people succeed and solving problems. He is the founder of Technology and Innovation Consulting firm Take 3 Innovate, Entrepreneurship firm Nexwin OU, General Partner for Wise Guys Cyber Fund 1, and an Innovation Consultant for companies like Intel Corp USA, Prosegur Security and many more. He has over 15+ years of corporate experience and now spends his time between investing, innovation, startups and technology. He also gives Masterclasses on Building purposeful companies, Blue ocean strategy, Path to Product Market Fit, Experimenting and Building killer CX. He has worked with over 200 startups from all over the world in verticals from SaaS, Fintech, Cybersecurity, Defence AI and Sustainability. Farid has a deep technical background but also holds an MBA from INSEAD, A Bachelors Engineering degree and a Masters of Engineering from Leeds University UK.  He is the Head Learning and Design Coach for programs at INSEAD which focus on Design Thinking, Creativity, Product Service design and Business Innovation. He is also a certified Blue Ocean Strategy Practitioner and helps companies overcome competition.

Erick is the Head of AGITEC (www.agitec.eb.mil.br), the Technology and management agency with the Brazilian Army. Prior to this post, he was the vice-dean for pos-graduation at IME (www.ime.eb.br ). The Col Galante has a PHD at the Centre for Defence Chemistry at Cranfield University/ Defence Academy of United Kingdom, when he investigated environmental impacts from open burning of explosives Erick holds a Diploma in Chemical Engineering, a post-graduation in Safety engineering (emphasis in risk assessment), and was awarded two MSc, one in environmental engineering and one in Explosives ordnance engineering by Cranfield. Over his carrier in the army Erick has completed the EOD (Explosives ordnance disposal) at the Brazilian Air Force and has over thirteen years of experience working in ordnance Factories. The Coronel is member of Internation Explosives Engineers Association (IEspE), Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC),and  Brazilian Society for safety engineering (SOBES) as well as a board member at Rio de Janeiro Engineering council (CREA-RJ) since 2019.

Prof. Luiz Henrique Catalani is the Coordinator of AUSPIN – USP Innovation Agency (Jan/2022). He has graduated from Chemistry (1979) and has a PhD degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of São Paulo, USP (1984). He made his Post-Doc at the University of Wurzburg (Germany, 1984-1986) and at the University of Harvard (USA, 1986-1988). Prof. Catalani was employed by USP in 1988 where he works as a Full Professor until the present day. 

As Head of Growth and Acceleration at Startup Portugal, Marília is deeply committed to the development of the Portuguese entrepreneurship ecosystem, with a particular focus on the 100+  National Incubators and Accelerators, very relevant stakeholders in the national startup industry. Before joining Startup Portugal, Marília had an international career in science (biofuels, developmental biology and neuroscience) having worked at prestigious research institutions such as Gulbenkian Institute or ETH Zurich, and pivoted to Entrepreneurship to work as Operations and Community Manager at Founders Founders, a community of 15 startups and scaleups in the city of Porto.

The Circle 2024 (16:00 – 17:30 | room: Cowork/Copa) |*by invitation

This activity is designated for the members of the Circle.

The “U.Porto Spin-Off Circle,” or “The Circle,” is a club formed by companies that have emerged from the entrepreneurial and innovative ecosystem of the University of Porto. Many participating companies bear the “U.Porto Spin-Off” brand, which recognizes them as having emerged from U.Porto’s Research & Development and Innovation environment. In other words, “The Circle” is a unique initiative that brings the U.Porto spin-offs together in forums to debate the main challenges facing companies within some of the most dynamic value chains in the world. U.Porto develops its innovation ecosystem in conjunction with these companies, streamlining the exchange of experiences and the improvement of their processes and business.