To the FCCN Conferences They are the main annual meeting point for the various communities of managers and users of advanced collaboration, computing, communication and other digital service platforms provided by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), through FCCN.
In 2026, the city of Porto will host the initiative, which will take place at the Faculty of Economics. University of Porto, counting on the support of this Higher Education Institution as the main partner, between May 5th and 7th.
The organization of this edition is led by João Gomes, area director of FCCN, the digital services unit of FCT, who shares his expectations for the event and some of the key moments.
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What is the importance of the FCCN Conferences?
This event is an excellent forum for knowledge sharing, especially for the Higher Education and Research communities. Over the years, the Conference has grown significantly in audience because FCCN has also broadened its scope of action, and therefore we have increasingly more services in different areas. Before, it was a purely technological event, mainly focused on networks and some advanced services. However, we have advanced a lot in other areas, such as Knowledge or Collaboration, but we have also expanded in Computing, which is like a "return to the origins" of FCCN.
What distinguishes this edition from previous ones?
This is the 17th edition of the FCCN Conference. The genesis of this event also passed through Porto and now, 15 years later, it returns to the Invicta City. We are also returning to an educational institution, something that hasn't happened in 2 years, and which we greatly value in order to be close to the community.
Although we continue to broaden the scope of the event's themes, this year there is one unavoidable topic that the community has been showing interest in: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its evolution, especially generative AI. Therefore, it will be an important point for sharing best use cases. Good practices will be discussed, and our IAedu service will also be presented. The AMALIA project itself will also be highlighted, so that the community can learn how to take advantage of this Portuguese LLM.
Another area that is also undergoing significant evolution and activity is Computing, and in this regard, there will be major new developments during the event. Cybersecurity also remains a key issue, fueled by the ongoing wave of digital transformation.
In the Knowledge theme, we will highlight open access and new features of other services, while in Collaboration, the focus will be on Multimedia. We will also not forget the area of infrastructure, with news on networks and federated authentication.
Many new developments are expected related to the entities that support the event, our sponsors, who this year reach the highest number ever. Finally, we have the return of... Innovation Hub, and also the Zapping from the Community, moments that allow presentations from the community itself and that disseminate ideas and projects that are shaping Higher Education and science.
The Social Dinner at the Palácio da Bolsa is definitely a highlight, especially because of the beauty and symbolism of the space that hosts this event in this edition.
What can it reveal about the Keynote Speakers This year?
In this edition, we will have two Keynote Speakers, which will reflect on different themes, but which are largely related to the FCCN Conferences.
Engineer António Murta will bridge the gap between pure research, innovation, and business value. He will discuss use cases of AI applications in healthcare. A university professor, he is also an entrepreneur who is supporting... startups in its generation of wealth, thus being a person who brings pure and fundamental research closer to the creation of value for the country.
Rui Campos, a professor at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, is the second. Keynote Speaker from the event, which on May 6th will focus its intervention on the theme of networks and how current connectivity can be rethought, going beyond traditional infrastructures.
What is the importance of the University of Porto as a partner?
Having the University of Porto as the main partner for this edition is undoubtedly an opportunity for collaboration and innovation for the event.
In addition to all the contributions from the University teams in the organization, programming, and evolution of the event, this relationship allowed the event to take place this year in a unique space, in a building of singular architecture: the Faculty of Economics, which will allow for a differentiated experience for the participants. Among the various spaces of the Institution, the Lost Steps stand out, a pleasant hall for the exhibitors' area and for meals., which will allow for the sharing of experiences and demonstrations.
Do you think the FCCN Conferences have generated more interest among people?
In recent years, we have felt a growing interest in the event. At the first FCCN Conference, the number of participants did not reach 200, and last year, more than 830 people were present. This year, the numbers will certainly be surpassed once again, so I believe it will be a vibrant Conference in that regard.
On the other hand, we have been receiving many registrations from the north of the country, as well as from many people who are attending the Conference for the first time, which is synonymous with the renewal of the community and the event. It's great to have those who already participate regularly with us, because of the empathy and affinity that is felt, but it is also enriching to see new faces, who bring different ideas and insights to the event. We are also increasingly receiving people from outside higher education – we have some examples from the health field – who are beginning to express their interest in attending.
I believe that all this growth has consolidated the FCCN Conference as one of the most relevant events for Higher Education in Portugal, and we hope to continue evolving in this direction.
What are the opportunities for networking And what about the collaboration that the FCCN Conferences provide?
There are several opportunities to exchange experiences and networking during the three days of the event.
Firstly, the various sessions, both the more general ones and those specialized in a particular theme, allow for the exchange of ideas and direct contact.
The second point is the sponsors' zone, a space for passage, but also for rest and... networking where participants can learn about new solutions from companies and establish partnerships.
Social moments such as Happy Hour And the social dinner also has this objective of exchanging experiences, but in a more relaxed and informal way.
Would you like to leave a message for people who are still undecided about participating in the Journeys?
This year's FCCN Conference will take place in a beautiful city. We have intellectually interesting topics and people who will meet in a beautiful architectural building. We've already surpassed 700 registrations, so you need to hurry before it sells out!
