From Knowledge to Competitiveness: Portugal-US Partnerships 2026 Summit

On October 30, 2026, the MIT Portugal, CMU Portugal and UT Austin Portugal communities gathered at the University of Aveiro for the Portugal–US Partnerships 2026 Summit — the first conference of Phase 4 and the first joint conference of the three partnerships.

Under the theme From Knowledge to Competitiveness in Science, Technology and Innovation, the summit brought together researchers, students, industry leaders, policymakers, and innovation stakeholders to explore how science, technology, and innovation can strengthen Portugal's competitiveness and global impact.

MIT Vice Provost for International Activities Duane Boning joined the conference on behalf of the MIT Portugal Program, speaking about the program as one of MIT's longest-running international collaborations — with the program’s impact felt both at MIT and in Portugal.

The MIT Portugal session featured three research talks by joint MIT and Portuguese research teams on how emerging technologies in energy, space, AI, and climate science are addressing global challenges and driving competitiveness, moderated by Co-Director John R. Hansman. 

AI-Driven Friction Stir Deposition for Repair of Critical Aerostructures

Zachary Cordero, Director, Aerospace Materials and Structures Laboratory, MIT

Eduardo A. S. Marques, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, U Porto

AstroBit: An Open-Source Foundation for Small Spacecraft

Zachary Manchester, Professor in Aeronautics and Astronautics, Director, REx Lab, MIT

João Paulo Monteiro, Researcher at IST NanosatLab, U Lisboa

Pathways for decarbonizing concrete construction: Design and materials

Caitlin Mueller, Associate Professor, MIT

Raul Fangueiro, Full Professor, University of Minho

The event also showcased over 80 posters from MSc and PhD students across the three programs, with MIT Portugal's posters representing all eight of the program's research areas.

During the closing session, partnership leaders joined Fernando Alexandre, Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, and João Ferreira, Secretary of State for the Economy, to reflect on key takeaways and the path ahead — underscoring the vital link between the partnerships, Portugal's competitiveness, and the translation of knowledge into economic and societal value.

Read more about the Summit , view poster gallery and photos here.