Young Summit: AI and Entrepreneurship Debated at Lusófona University

On 12 May, the Grand Hall of Lusófona University – Porto University Centre hosted the Young Summit – Workshop “Artificial Intelligence as a Driver of Entrepreneurship”, an event that brought together entrepreneurs, researchers, lecturers and students to reflect on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on innovation and value creation across various sectors of activity.

Throughout a day marked by expert presentations, networking moments and the sharing of best practices, participants explored how AI can enhance sustainability, efficiency and the competitiveness of organisations.

The topics discussed during the event reflected an integrated and strategic approach to how AI is profoundly transforming the entrepreneurial ecosystem, with particular emphasis on the role of automation and data analysis in the creation of organisational value.

The opening session was led by André Campos and Manuel Silva, representatives of the startup Susplus, who presented an innovative digital solution for carbon management aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises in the fisheries and agri-food sectors. They demonstrated how AI can automate the calculation of CO₂ emissions, identify decarbonisation opportunities and ensure data traceability through blockchain systems.

During the morning, Gilberto Santos, CEO of the textile company Cordeiro e Campos SA and a student of the Master’s in Management, shared the experience of an organisation with over four decades of activity that is integrating AI into its industrial processes. His presentation highlighted not only the benefits of the technology but also the associated ethical and social challenges, such as data privacy, employment impact, technological dependence and inequalities between countries with different levels of digital maturity.

After the lunch break, lecturer Pedro Cardoso, involved in the Travel Feeling project, presented the changes brought about by AI in the tourism sector, namely the automation of customer service through chatbots, the personalisation of offers based on users’ history and preferences, price variation forecasting, and the creation of personalised itineraries based on data provided by the clients themselves.

In the final part of the programme, Luís Gouveia, from CloudFy – Software Solutions, addressed the impact of AI on business management, focusing on the automation of tasks such as invoicing, stock management and customer relations. Through the integration of CRM systems and predictive analysis tools, he demonstrated how AI can optimise productivity and support strategic decision-making.

The event also featured contributions from Andreina Cardoso and Alberto Moreira, from Sismem, who discussed industrial automation; Daniel Leal, from Atlanthia – Premium Pools, with an innovative project in the wellness sector; Jorge Tomás, who shared his entrepreneurial journey; and Diogo Dias, a student of the Master’s in Management, who presented his research on the impact of AI on entrepreneurship in Portugal.

The main objective of the Young Summit was to provide students with a practical, critical and inspiring perspective on the role of AI in the development of new businesses, encouraging direct contact with experts and promoting the development of entrepreneurial skills geared towards the challenges of the digital economy.

The initiative emerged within the curricular unit of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the previous academic year, with the aim of offering 3rd-year students an experience that would bring them closer to the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

This event was designed to stimulate reflection on the role of future professionals in value creation, strengthen their confidence to face the market, and encourage the exploration of new opportunities for innovation.

The event concluded with a note of thanks to all participants and a reaffirmation of the institution’s commitment to promoting responsible, ethical and future-oriented innovation.

See photos of the event on ULusófona's Facebook page

Photography
Sofia Pereira

Coverage
Sofia Pereira e Mariana Devezas

News
Sofia Pereira