Season Greetings – 2023 Year in Review

MIT Portugal Program (MPP) is a model partnership, one of the oldest and most successful partnerships of MIT. MPP is also a shining example of what can be achieved when we work together, across borders to tackle the most pressing challenges of our time.

• In 2023, MPP fostered 27 smaller-sized research projects (19 seed and 8 exploratory). Each of these projects includes collaboration with Portuguese and MIT researchers. Since 2018 more than 100 research projects have been funded.
• This year also marked the successful culmination of the 7 flagship projects which have not only advanced the frontiers of science and technology but also created a rich fabric of collaboration among academia, industry, and MIT. These projects – Aeros Constellation, K2D, Operator 4.0, C-Tech, Transformer 4.0, Snob 5G, and NewSat stand as inspiring examples of how collaboration can redefine the boundaries of what is possible.
• Some notable achievements of MIT Portugal projects include the expected launch, in 2024, of a new nanosatellite (CubeSat) that will be the first of a constellation operated from Portugal and with Portuguese technology, collecting data to monitor the ocean and coastal geographic areas; and a new sensor system for intelligent submarine cables to monitor the oceans that will collect real-time data on earthquakes, tsunamis, marine fauna, pollution, vessel circulation, submersibles, etc.. Other transformative examples are the digital planning of cities for urban sustainability and the digitalization of industry.
• A new call for MPP-FCT PhD grants was opened and 10 PhD grants in the research area of Climate Science & Climate Change were awarded. Four MPP2030-FCT calls for PhD grants were opened in the current phase of the Program (2018-2023) allowing the training of 120 PhD candidates.
• The program continued to facilitate and host inspiring meetings, workshops, and opportunities to foster connections, educate, and promote community networking. Three Portuguese students were sponsored by MIT Portugal to attend the MIT Space Week at MIT.  MPP also organized the third edition of the Marine Robotics Summer School in Faial, Azores, for 24 MIT and Portuguese students. The MiFire payload (from the MPP Blue Origin Payload Competition) was successfully launched on the 19th of December to space on board of New Shepard Rocket from Blue Origin #NS24.
• MPP participated in more than 11 network and outreach activities, including Ciência 2023, and brought together 150 participants, and 34 speakers from diverse backgrounds at the Annual Conference. The conference also showcased cutting-edge research from Portuguese and MIT Students and researchers with over 60 Conference Posters and recognized the 5 best posters.
• And we continued committed to building a strong online presence and network which resulted in a community of over 23.000 followers.