On June 16th, Ana Sofia Mendes Abreu and Carolina Arruda, students of Electrical and Computer Engineering, were awarded the Vodafone Merit Prize for the curricular unit Mobile Networks and Internet of Things, taught by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Their group received the award for the project Smart Cooling, which presented a solution for the remote monitoring of water quality in aquaculture tanks. The system focused on measuring temperature and turbidity using an automated, low-cost, and energy-efficient setup, designed to be simple, effective, and adaptable to various operational contexts.

In this edition, four additional groups were recognized for their projects, which were presented to a jury composed of Técnico faculty and Vodafone representatives in a 10-minute pitch format, followed by a Q&A session. The finalist projects were: CliniScope, Realtime Energy Monitoring and Feedback, Drone Sense, and Track&Check. All finalists received diplomas as recognition for their dedication and the quality of the projects developed over a seven-week period.

Following the announcement of Smart Cooling as the winning project, its creators expressed their gratitude for the support received throughout the course, highlighting the importance of the professors’ guidance in improving both the project and its final presentation. They also emphasized the significance of initiatives like this one, promoted by Vodafone, which help shine a light on the academic work carried out by students.

In addition to the €1,800 merit prize awarded to the winning group, Vodafone also made a donation of €1,200 to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (DEEC), as a contribution to the ongoing enhancement of teaching conditions. At the closing of the ceremony, Sérgio Pequito, member of the DEEC executive committee, thanked Rui Gomes and the Vodafone team not only for the opportunity given to students to showcase their work, but also for the financial support, which will help strengthen pedagogical resources and foster the development of future innovation projects within the department.

The ceremony was attended by Rogério Colaço, President of Técnico, who stressed the importance of a strong and ongoing relationship between academia and industry, which he considers essential to train professionals capable of keeping pace with technological change. Highlighting the impact of Técnico’s students and alumni, he stated: “I am convinced that Técnico alumni are transforming engineering in Portugal and across Europe. These initiatives show how our students approach challenges, propose solutions, and stay in tune with technological developments.” He also underlined the importance of partnerships with companies such as Vodafone – a member of the Técnico Partner Network since 2019 – which directly contributes to the institution’s strategic mission of bridging education and research with real-world societal and economic needs: “Research and science cannot exist without a connection to society,” he concluded.

Pedro Amaral, Vice President of Técnico for Business Interface, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, also emphasized the strategic value of collaborations with companies like Vodafone, pointing out that these partnerships expose students to real-world challenges, reward academic excellence, and stimulate the creation of impactful technological solutions – many with immediate practical application, including potential implementation on Técnico’s own campus.

Representing Vodafone, Rui Gomes praised the quality of the projects and the talent of the participants: “I’m always surprised by the gadgets you bring! It’s great to see that Técnico continues to produce engineers with a promising future.”

News and photo: Técnico