Career Award

On the next 10th of April, the 2025 Conferment Ceremony will award another Career Award to Engº José Manuel Fernandes, Founder of the FREZITE Group.

The six previous editions of the FEUP Career Award were granted to João Oliveira Cortez (2023), António Mota (2022), Carlos Moreira da Silva (2021), João Serrenho (2020), António Segadães Madeira Tavares (2019), and Luís Valente de Oliveira (2018).

*José Manuel dos Santos Fernandes was born on 23 September 1945. He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the U.Porto (1978) and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Machinery from ISEP (former Industrial School of Porto).
Since 2022 he has been the manager of the business group EIVA – Lda.
Between 2005 and 2022 he was chairman of the Board of Directors of the Frezite Group, of which he was a founder in 1978 and which has companies in Spain, Germany, Czechia, Poland, Finland, Brazil and Mexico.
Between 2014 and 2019 he was chairman of the Advisory Board of AEP – Associação Empresarial de Portugal, of AEBA – Associação Empresarial do Baixo Ave, chairman of COPRE – Conselho Consultivo Pro-Economia do Conselho da Trofa, member of the Industry Council of CIP – Confederação da Indústria Portuguesa and member of the Board of Trustees of the U.Porto.
He was president of the General Assembly of AIMMAP – Associação dos Industriais Metalúrgicos, Metalomecânicos e Afins de Portugal (2009-2019), where he had already been president of the Board between 1998 and 2004.
In 2013, he was chosen by the Ministries of Defence and Finance to lead the Monitoring and Inspection Committee for the reprivatisation of the Viana do Castelo Shipyards (ENVC).
In 2008, at the invitation of the Prime Minister, he was the coordinator of the Business Mission for Capital Goods to Venezuela to strengthen economic diplomacy.
He was a member of the General and Supervisory Board of EDP (2009-2013).
He was a member of the General Assembly of EXPONOR (1998-2008) and a member of the General Assembly of EUROPARQUE (1998-2009).
After being vice-president of the Board of CIP – Confederation of Portuguese Industry (2001-2004), he took on the role of president of the General Assembly (2004-2007) and was a representative on the National Council for the Environment and Sustainable Development (2000-2002).
He was vice-president of the Portuense Industrial Association (1984-1998) and was a representative on the National Quality Council (1988-1998) and the Science Council (1996-2002).
He was Managing Director of MIDA between 1974 and 1990.
He also worked at Metalúrgica Costa Néry S.A., where he was a director from 1972 to 1975.
Between 1960 and 1972 he worked at CERLEI, from apprentice to production manager.