In a fractured, fast-changing world, Europe is facing urgent questions — about security, sustainability and technological sovereignty. At Encontro Ciência 2025,  Portugal’s largest annual science and technology gathering, we brought those questions into the room.

Held from July 9 to 11 at NOVA SBE in Carcavelos, this year’s edition explored the theme “Ciência, Inovação e Sociedade”, bringing together researchers, policymakers, and institutions to discuss the future of science in society. The European Commission was the official guest of honour, represented by high-level officials in the fields of science and innovation.

INESC-ID contributed with a flagship panel, joining voices from across the INESC network to ask a vital question: what role should research play in Europe’s resilience, autonomy, and defence?

Strategic Autonomy and Defence

At the heart of INESC-ID’s participation was the panel “The Role of Research in Resilience, Strategic Autonomy and Defence in the EU”, organised and moderated by Silvia Castro, Head of the Innovation Management Office. The session focused on Europe’s current challenges, highlighting how the INESC institutes are stepping up in response to shifting priorities, emerging risks, and a growing role for public research.

Defence was an unavoidable theme—a clear sign of the times—and many research areas were framed through that lens. But the conversation didn’t shy away from the deeper challenge: how can research serve both security and society without losing its compass? This focus was illustrated by presentations on dual-use technologies spanning cybersecurity, nanoelectronics, energy, health, and photonics.

The session featured contributions from Nuno Santos (INESC-ID), Nuno Cruz (INESC TEC), Carlos Henggeler Antunes (INESC Coimbra), Nazua Costa (INOV-INESC), and Susana Cardoso de Freitas (INESC MN), each presenting concrete examples of research underway and aligned with EU and national priorities.

It also drew on several insights, presented by João Claro (INESC TEC), from the recent INESC Brussels HUB Summer Meeting 2025, which gathered researchers, EU policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss strategic autonomy and the role of dual-use research in Europe’s future.

“The INESC Brussels HUB Summer Meeting showed how essential it is to have spaces for critical reflection — especially as we face growing geopolitical complexity and a rapidly changing research and innovation ecosystem,” remarked Silvia.

AI, Policy, and Education

Beyond the resilience agenda, INESC-ID contributed to a range of other  thematic sessions: Rui Henriques joined a discussion on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the agri-food sector — boosting efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness from farming to food distribution.

Helena Moniz participated in a panel on science-informed policymaking, where the Science4Policy initiative organised by PLANAPP was presented. The session highlighted how Portugal is positioning itself at the forefront of connecting research and public policy, with Helena noting that “initiatives like FCT’s Science4Policy calls are globally innovative” and that “we often fail to see what we’re good at in Portugal.”

Finally, the “Engenharia para Todos” (Engineering for All) initiative  — a partnership between INESC-ID, Instituto Superior Técnico and Câmara Municipal de Oeiras — helped connect science with wider audiences. Science Manager Maria João Verdasca presented an e-poster on the programme’s outreach model, while students from the C4 Science Club of Carnaxide showcased their Smart City project: a tangible example of how engineering education and hands-on science can promote civic engagement, creativity, and early contact with advanced technologies.

From strategic autonomy to smart cities, INESC-ID’s participation at Encontro Ciência 2025 showed how our work is addressing pressing societal needs by connecting research across fields and institutions.

“Just like last year’s session, which brought together diverse perspectives from across the INESC institutes on a common theme”, added Silvia, “this initiative was also an excellent opportunity for networking and strengthening inter-institutional ties” – a reminder that in complex times, collaboration is as vital as innovation.

Images | © 2025 INESC-ID