At the beginning of December, researcher Ana Teresa Maia (RISE-Health@RISE/UAlg) was honoured for her work at the start-up expressTec with the Women in Leadership Award at the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Portugal ceremony and programme, an initiative that recognises and profiles the fastest-growing technology companies in Portugal.

‘This award means a lot — not just to me, but to all founders who are trying to build something with real purpose from scratch. As entrepreneurs, we spend our days balancing vision, science, strategy, people, investors… Moments like this remind us that our work is recognised and that it matters,’ said the specialist from the RISE-Health Research Unit.

The “Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Portugal” ceremony was attended by Helena Canhão, Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, who highlighted, during her speech, the potential of higher education and research institutions in Portugal to boost start-ups and strengthen the national innovation ecosystem.

It should be noted that this is not the first time that Ana Teresa Maia and expressTec have been recognised with national and international awards. In 2023, the RISE-Health researcher, together with Joana Xavier (RISE-Health/RISE@UAlg), saw this startup win the Altice International Innovation Award. Since then, the company based at the University of Algarve has won several awards, including the title of winner in the second edition of Call INNOV-ID and the Santander X Global Challenge.