On May 19, a group of PhD students gathered for their 8th INESC-ID PhD Meetup and were introduced to Sandra Aresta, Knowledge Transfer Manager at INESC-ID, who presented the topic “Beyond Publications: Patents, Spin-offs, and Alternative Paths for PhDs”. During the session, Sandra shared her personal journey and professional experience, offering insights into what it means to work in the field of technology transfer. She then explained the processes within INESC-ID and how PhD students can benefit from this field, including filing patents or even founding a startup.

After an hour and a half of absorbing what was brand-new information for some of the participants, the questions kept coming. What followed was a lively coffee break with even more questions for the speaker, and animated discussions between the students themselves, as their conversations remained focused on how their research could lead to broader impact beyond academia.

The PhD journey can be challenging, and concerns about the future can be a significant source of anxiety for many students. With career-oriented meetups like this, the Communications and Outreach Office of INESC-ID aims to give PhD students an overview of the diverse opportunities beyond academia and strengthen their CVs, while also building a sense of community.

Images | © 2025 INESC-ID