For the fifth consecutive year, Noesis is proud to support TecStorm, the largest hackathon in Portugal, organized by Junitec, the junior enterprise of Instituto Superior Técnico. The 9th edition of the event, held under the theme “Beyond The Edge Of Innovation,” brought together hundreds of university students from across the country, united by a shared goal: to develop technological solutions that address real and social challenges.
With over 500 applications received, the final took place on March 28th, 29th, and 30th at the Técnico Innovation Center (TIC). It welcomed 130 participants and showcased several innovative projects, which were evaluated across six impact areas: Connected Communities & Digital Inclusion, Digital Energy & Smart Revolution, Inclusive Smart Mobility for All, Sustainable Smart Construction, and Healthy and Green Living in a Digital World.
Throughout the event, Noesis provided mentorship to several teams, helping them bring their ideas to life. Our mentors supported participants from the early ideation phase, through mentorship, and into the final stage, offering strategic guidance, technical know-how, and critical thinking along the way.
This year, three of our colleagues joined the TecStorm mentor network: Márcio Carvalho and Paulo Carlos, both from Quality Management, DevOps & Automation, and Abel Espírito Santo, from the Enterprise Solutions team. Their expertise played a crucial role in helping teams shape their ideas, structure their projects, and refine their solutions.
Two of these teams stood out by earning recognition in their respective categories. The team mentored by Márcio Carvalho, Solar Farm, received the award for Most Sustainable Project. Meanwhile, ShopWise, mentored by Abel Espírito Santo, was awarded first place in the category Healthy and Green Living in a Digital World.
Márcio Carvalho shared that “taking part in the largest university event in Portugal focused on technology and entrepreneurship as a strategic mentor was a truly enriching and inspiring experience. The energy, creativity, and commitment of the participants make TecStorm a real hub of innovation. This year, just like in past editions, I had the satisfaction of seeing one of the teams I mentored win first prize in their category. On top of that, they also received the Special Award for Most Sustainable Project, which made my participation even more rewarding.”
Noesis was also represented on the judging panels across various categories. João Mascarenhas, from Enterprise Solutions, participated in the Digital Energy & Smart Revolution category, in partnership with Galp. Petronio Bernardino, Quality Management, DevOps & Automation, contributed his insights in the Connected Communities & Digital Inclusion category, sponsored by Vodafone. Ricardo Henriques, also from Quality Management, DevOps & Automation, evaluated projects in the Healthy and Green Living in a Digital World area, under the partnership of Sonae, while Pedro Silva, from Low-Code Solutions, served as a jury member in the Inclusive Smart Mobility for All, sponsored by Brisa. Their involvement reflects Noesis’ continued commitment to fostering innovation by helping identify and reward the most promising technological solutions developed by these young talents.
Beyond the competitive element, TecStorm represents a unique opportunity to share knowledge, stay connected with the academic community, and support the next generation of tech talent. As Márcio Carvalho noted, this exchange is deeply rewarding, not only for the students, who gain maturity and perspective by facing real-world challenges, but also for the professionals who guide them. For many, the experience of watching ideas evolve and take shape is a source of pride and inspiration.
Noesis remains committed to promoting innovation, supporting education, and empowering young talent through initiatives like TecStorm. We look forward to continuing this journey and helping shape the future of technology, one idea at a time.
The winning teams of this year’s edition were:
TREINAI – Connected Communities & Digital Inclusion
Watts Better – Digital Energy & Smart Revolution
Vision Aid – Inclusive Smart Mobility for All
AQUALAB – Sustainable Smart Construction
ShopWise – Healthy and Green Living in a Digital World
