THE 2026 edition of FCCN Conferences it takes place in University of Porto, between May 5th and 7th, with the stage being Faculty of Economics, University of Porto.
As the main partner of the event, the University of Porto assumes a central role in driving this initiative., which brings together the academic and scientific community around digital services and technological transformation in higher education.
In an interview, the Vice-Rector Ana Maria Camanho highlights the significance of this partnership, the institution's contributions, and the relevance of the FCCN Conference. in the current context.
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What does it mean for the University of Porto to host the FCCN Conference?
Hosting the FCCN 2026 Conference represents, for the University of Porto, a recognition of the role the institution has been playing in the digital transformation of higher education and science in Portugal, as well as an opportunity to strengthen the link between academia and national digital infrastructures.
For our community — students, teachers, researchers and technicians — the FCCN Conference constitutes a privileged space for learning and sharing best practices in the field of digital services, based on FCCN's experience and the fruitful collaboration it has maintained with U.Porto over the years. It also allows us to identify new opportunities for collaboration, both nationally and internationally, with other entities within the FCCN universe.
The diverse program of the FCCN 2026 Conference, which covers topics such as advanced computing, open science, and artificial intelligence, among many others, provides direct contact with strategic projects in these areas, enhancing participation in networks and initiatives that go beyond the institutional context.
Which strategic areas of the University of Porto are aligned with this edition?
The 2026 edition of the FCCN Conference is strongly aligned with several strategic priorities of the University of Porto. I would highlight, in particular, the digital transformation in support of teaching and research, artificial intelligence, the management and valorization of research data, cybersecurity, and the interoperability of systems. These areas constitute central pillars of the institutional strategy, also reflected in the University's activity plan for 2026, which focuses on a more integrated, secure, and user-oriented digital ecosystem.
The prominent presence of themes such as connectivity, advanced computing, artificial intelligence, digital identity, open science, and cybersecurity in the conference program highlights challenges that the University is already addressing through the modernization of information systems and technological infrastructures and the adoption of emerging technologies.
What concrete contributions from the University of Porto will be present at the Conference?
The University of Porto actively participates in the conference program, both institutionally and technically and scientifically.
At the institutional level, the hosting of the Conference at the Faculty of Economics stands out, as does the support for its realization from the various management bodies of the University, reinforcing U.Porto's commitment to initiatives for sharing and collectively building advanced digital services for higher education and research.
From a technical and operational standpoint, the contributions of the various U.Porto services will be highlighted, and will be presented in the “Community Zapping” session and the Innovation Lab, reflecting the different areas in which the University has been developing consistent work recognized by its peers. These developments can also be seen and discussed at the U.Porto stand.
At the FCCN 2026 Conference, UPdigital will showcase its accumulated experience in strategic areas such as academic information systems, cybersecurity, implementation of advanced library and archive management systems, research data management, and monitoring of technological infrastructures.
These contributions highlight the active role of U.Porto in the development and sharing of innovative solutions in the field of digital services, simultaneously helping to establish the FCCN Conference as a privileged space for the dissemination of knowledge and collaboration between institutions.
What challenges make events like the FCCN Conference particularly relevant?
Higher education currently faces a set of structural challenges that require coordinated and collaborative responses. Among these, the following stand out: the increasing complexity of managing scientific data, the need to ensure interoperability between systems, the security of digital infrastructures, and the responsible integration of technologies such as artificial intelligence in teaching, research, and organizational management.
These challenges are compounded by pressure to increase administrative efficiency, improve the digital user experience, and strengthen the transparency of decision-making processes.
Events such as the FCCN Conference are particularly relevant because they create a space for dialogue and collaboration where these issues can be discussed openly, allowing for the alignment of strategies, the sharing of solutions, and the acceleration of the adoption of best practices throughout the academic system.
What message do you leave for the academic and scientific community?
The FCCN Conference is much more than a technical event — it's a meeting point for the academic community to discuss the major themes of digital transformation.
To those who have never participated, I would extend an invitation to take advantage of this opportunity for direct contact with projects, infrastructure, and people who are shaping the future of science and higher education in Portugal.
This year, the experience is further enriched by the context of the city of Porto. One of the highlights will be the Conference dinner, which will take place at the Palácio da Bolsa, providing a unique atmosphere for interaction among participants.
Participation is a way to learn, contribute, and integrate into a community that shares the same goal: to enhance knowledge through technology and collaboration.
