On October 27 and 28, the Técnico Innovation Center hosted the 11th edition of the PhD Open Days. The event featured debates, round tables, a pitch competition, and a permanent exhibition of posters produced by doctoral students.

After the opening ceremony, which included an address by Rogério Colaço, President of Técnico, Leonel Sousa, coordinator of the Técnico Doctoral School, opened the panel "Invited Talks: PhDs in Society". The professor introduced the speakers, Leonor Beleza, President of the Champalimaud Foundation, and Maria Manuel Mota, CEO of the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM). During the conversation, various topics were discussed, ranging from the importance of critical thinking and goal-setting for students and researchers to potential future collaborations.

Leonor Beleza highlighted the strong connection between the development of technologies and medicine, including in the areas of disease diagnosis and treatment. She also emphasized the role of engineers in this field, considering the growing need to collect and analyze large amounts of data ethically, taking into account factors such as privacy.

We have reached the point where collaboration between medicine and technology is no longer optional — it is essential.

Leonor Beleza, President of the Champalimaud Foundation

The Foundation’s president also highlighted the interest in collaborating with Técnico’s doctoral students and pointed out some of the challenges in this area, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus on patient care. The Champalimaud Foundation’s objectives include developing systems that integrate human-robot interaction, contributing to the rehabilitation of the nervous system. Currently, the Foundation collaborates with the Institute for Systems and Robotics (ISR), aiming at the application of robotics and artificial intelligence in neurology.

After Leonor Beleza’s talk, Maria Manuel Mota took the stage. She shared her personal experience and encouraged doctoral students to be bold in order to drive the development of new technologies. She also stressed the need for critical thinking, creativity, and resilience in a constantly changing world.

The panel concluded with answers to questions posed by members of the audience.