On November 6th, Taguspark celebrated its 24th anniversary with the campus, alongside the 1st alumni meeting. Professor José Epifânio da Franca moderated the debate "Técnico as a Catalyst for Innovation and Entrepreneurship", which featured the presence of Maria Vilar, alumna of the Master's in Electrical and Computer Engineering (MEEC), Rui Jorge Santos, and Diogo Santos. The professor guided the conversation, asking the students various questions.

Maria Vilar is the founder and CEO of ImmersivStudios, a company specializing in the creation of virtual reality and augmented reality software, as well as gamification solutions for the B2B market and brand activation. She emphasized that at Técnico, she had the opportunity to explore, think, and create a project, mentioning that it was during her university life that she developed an interest in the world of entrepreneurship.

Pointing out that it is an institution that teaches a great deal to the students who attend it, she also believes that Técnico fosters resilience, which is important for professional life.

It weren't an easy 5 years, but it's not supposed to be easy.

Maria Vilar, ImmersivStudios CEO

After completing her Master's in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Maria Vilar stated that the greatest challenge she faced was managing the company’s capital, as her degree did not address this subject. However, she complemented her knowledge with additional training, particularly in the field of business management. Currently, the alumna is also a mentor for Técnico students, maintaining a close relationship with the school.

The session was also open to questions from the audience, during which Professor José Santos-Vítor, Head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, asked how Técnico can continue to support its students. In response to this question, Professor José Epifânio da Franca emphasized the importance of "opening the school," bringing investors and Técnico students closer together.

The anniversary of the Taguspark campus concluded with the cutting of the cake, with the participation of Rogério Colaço, President of Instituto Superior Técnico, and Manuel Severiano, alumnus of the first degree at Técnico – Taguspark campus.

Photography: Daniela Leonardo