Jornadas IT 2026 took place on April 10, 2026, under the central theme “Space, Defense and Emerging Technologies”, reinforcing the strategic role of the Instituto de Telecomunicações (IT) in national and European innovation ecosystems.
Hosted at the School of Technology and Management, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, the event gathered researchers, institutional leaders, and industry experts to explore cutting-edge developments in areas such as resilient and secure communications, surveillance and monitoring, sensing technologies, and artificial intelligence.
The opening session featured José Carlos Pedro, President of the IT Board, alongside Nuno Almeida from the Instituto Politécnico de Leiria and Gonçalo Lopes, Mayor of Leiria. Contributions from key entities, including the Força Aérea Portuguesa, Portugal Space, and AED Cluster Portugal, emphasized the importance of collaboration across sectors.
The program featured keynote presentations addressing future strategies and opportunities in the field, followed by thematic sessions covering basic sciences, wireless technologies, optics and photonics, networks and services, and information and data sciences, all aligned with space and defense challenges.
A strategic panel on “Space and Defense in Portugal”, moderated by Francisco Fontes (Altice Labs), brought together representatives from leading organizations such as Indra/Deimos, EID, Tekever, and LusoSpace, fostering discussion on the country’s positioning in these critical domains.
Throughout the day, poster sessions showcased the work of IT research groups, promoting scientific exchange and strengthening internal collaboration.
The event concluded with the 2026 Awards Ceremony and Closing Session, recognizing excellence within the IT community.
Jornadas IT 2026 successfully reinforced the Instituto de Telecomunicações commitment to advancing research, innovation, and strategic partnerships in Space, Defense, and Emerging Technologies.
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