The Vencer o Adamastor Award, now in its third edition, offers a prize of €20,000 to recognize the innovative work of young scientists in Portugal. This prestigious award highlights outstanding contributions in the fields of electrotechnics, computing, and related areas, emphasizing not only scientific excellence but also the potential for future innovations that benefit society.
A Legacy of Scientific Progress
The award was launched to honor the creation of INESC in 1980 by José Tribolet and João Lourenço Fernandes, inspired by the organization’s motto: “Vencer o Adamastor”, symbolizing the country’s efforts to overcome historic challenges in scientific and technological development. Over the past four decades, INESC and other institutions with similar models have made significant contributions to the Portuguese scientific system. However, Portugal can still aspire to become a global leader in science and technology. The Vencer o Adamastor Award seeks to recognize and celebrate young scientists who are building this future.
Partnership and Visibility
To enhance the award’s impact, INESC has partnered with Jornal Público to increase the visibility of the prize, the winner, and the importance of scientific advancement. This collaboration includes several stages:
- Creation of the award’s image;
- Promotion of the award during the application phase;
- Coverage of the award ceremony;
- Promotion of the winning research and related technologies.
Award Objectives
The Vencer o Adamastor Award aims to distinguish young Portuguese scientists, or those who have been residing in Portugal for at least three years, who have already demonstrated a significant capacity to contribute to science in the areas of electrotechnics and computing. Candidates must show not only current scientific excellence but also a vision for future technological and scientific developments, with the potential to become leaders in research and innovation.
Applications are open until October 21, 2024.
1st Edition of the Award
In the first edition of the Vencer o Adamastor Award, held on February 1, 2023 at Instituto Superior Técnico, the award was given to Gonçalo Correia for his pioneering work on compact artificial intelligence networks aimed at improving the energy efficiency of AI models. The project stood out for its innovation in the AI field and its relevance to the future of sustainable technologies. The ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic, who presented the award, alongside representatives from various scientific institutions.
2nd Edition of the Award
The second edition of the award, held on July 23, 2024 at the Técnico Innovation Center in Lisbon, recognized the work of Manuel Goulão on post-quantum secure multi-party computation, a central topic in cryptographic security given the growing capabilities of quantum computing. The event highlighted the importance of the award as an incentive for the development of innovative technologies, and the prize was presented by Professor José Tribolet.