On May 23, as part of the Técnico Day celebrations, the Técnico Alumni Gala took place with the goal of reconnecting former Técnico students and raising funds for the Técnico Alumni Scholarships, aimed at supporting students facing financial difficulties. The event included the awarding of the Young Entrepreneur Award and the Career Award, both part of the first edition of the Técnico Alumni Awards, and presented to alumni from the Electrical and Computer Engineering program.

António Guterres, current Secretary-General of the United Nations, received the Career Award, which honors not only an “outstanding career but also the values that inspire generations of engineers and scientists: public service, global solidarity, and ethical leadership,” as stated by Rogério Colaço. António Guterres shared a video message to express his gratitude to Técnico, emphasizing the institution’s major role in his personal and professional path, and the value of its academic structure.

I thank you once again for this great honor and I thank Técnico for having been and continuing to be a school of deep learning and a school for life.

António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations

Maria Vilar, founder and CEO of Immersiv Studios, won the Young Entrepreneur Award, which recognizes “former Técnico students, at an early stage of their careers, who have stood out by creating value through entrepreneurial or technological initiatives.” The alumna currently leads projects focused on developing immersive solutions for brands, education, and retail. She also represents Portugal on the executive board of Euromersive, actively promoting innovation in immersive technologies across Europe.
“Since the voting was announced, I’ve received many messages of support. This is a moment to thank those who have been part of this journey. It’s an honor to be the first recipient of this award, in the place where I took my first steps,” said Maria Vilar.

The jury responsible for selecting the winners was composed of Rogério Colaço, Pedro Amaral, Ana Casaca (Director of Innovation at Galp), Ana Dias, and Teresa Fiúza (Executive Board Member at Banco Português do Fomento).