ULusófona promotes reflection on sustainability and innovation

After the masterclasses on “Managers of the Future: What Sets the Best Apart?” and “Small Steps, Big Changes”, it was time to reflect, on 11 February, at Lusófona University - Porto University Centre, on “Sustainability and Business Innovation: Pathways to Competitiveness”.

The conference is an initiative of the Bachelor's Degrees in Management and Commercial Management, part of a series aimed at bringing academia closer to the business world and encouraging reflection on current topics in the field.

The opening was delivered by Diana Dias, Vice-Rector for Science and Innovation at Lusófona University and Director of the Faculty of Economic, Social and Business Sciences (FCESE), who emphasised the importance of viewing sustainability not as an add-on, but as a core axis of innovation policies and organisational competitiveness.

This was followed by Catarina Araújo, Vice-President of the Porto City Council and Councillor for Environment and Sustainability, who highlighted the role of cities as true engines of change, stressing the importance of long-term political commitments capable of transcending electoral cycles and ensuring continuity in sustainability strategies.

In her speech, she referred to the Porto Climate Pact and the City Climate Contract, emphasising the integration of environmental and social criteria, as well as the implementation of concrete measures for climate change adaptation.

From the business perspective, Ana Cláudia Pinho, Senior Sustainability Manager at Bial, shared data on annual investment in Research and Development, as well as environmental initiatives implemented, such as the incorporation of recycled materials in packaging, installation of photovoltaic solar panels, and reduction of emissions and energy consumption.

Luís Barbosa, General Director of the Science and Innovation Park (PCI) at the University of Aveiro, presented circular innovation as a strategic axis for the transition to more regenerative economic models. He explained how PCI integrates sustainability into its value chain, from incubation to acceleration, combining science, technology, and business maturity to support sustainable business projects.

The session concluded with the intervention of Gabriela Leite, from the organising degrees’ management, underlining the importance of continuing to promote spaces for dialogue between the university, companies, and the public sector, in a context where sustainability is recognised as a strategic dimension of contemporary management.

See the Event Photos on Lusófona University's Facebook page

Text
Bruna Pereira

Photography
Paulo Renato