The 6th Doctoral Congress in Engineering (DCE25) took place from June 30 to July 1, 2025, at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP). This event was successfully organized by a dedicated team of researchers from LSRE-LCM/ALiCE, together with researchers from LEPABE/ALiCE and CEFT/ALiCE, playing a key role in bringing together the engineering research community.

The Organizing Committee was chaired by Vítor Vilar and co-chaired by Rita Lado, Principal Researchers at LSRE-LCM/ALiCE, as well as by Tânia Lopes, Assistant Researcher at LEPABE/ALiCE. The organizing team also included Ana Gorito, Catarina Cruzeiro, Cátia Graça, Maria Francisca Moreira, Maria José Sampaio, Marta Barbosa, Raquel Rocha, and Tânia Silva (LSRE-LCM/ALiCE); Ana Alexandra Pereira, Cátia Azenha, Leonardo Rodrigues (LEPABE/ALiCE), and Daniela Falcão (CEFT/ALiCE).

Vítor Vilar was also Chair of the Symposia on Environmental Engineering, held as part of the DCE25.

DCE25 served as a vital platform for doctoral students across multiple engineering fields to present and discuss their research with peers, academic mentors, and professionals. The event fostered engagement between young researchers and representatives from industry, collaborative laboratories (CoLABs), technology and innovation centers (CTIs) and public institutions, highlighting the role of engineering in addressing complex societal and technological challenges.

The DCE25 motto, “From University to Society: Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders”, reflects the importance of this initiative for doctoral students, who find themselves at the intersection between advanced academic knowledge and the ability to promote transformative innovation.

The congress featured 16 dedicated symposia, each focused on a different area of engineering and offering awards to recognize excellence. With over 900 participants, including Master and PhD students, professors, and professionals, DCE25 provided an inclusive and vibrant environment for knowledge exchange.

An exhibition hall with 34 stands showcased the work of research institutions, CoLABs, CTIs, and industry partners, further strengthening ties between academia, industry and global networks.

DCE25 stood out as a remarkable success, reinforcing FEUP’s and LSRE-LCM's commitment to research excellence, innovation, and scientific collaboration.

Joana Lopes, Junior Researcher at LSRE-LCM/ALiCE, received the Best Paper Award at the Applications of Chemistry in Nanosciences and Biomaterials Engineering – NanoBioMat 2025 conference, held from June 25 to 27, 2025. The event brought together leading researchers and professionals to explore the latest advances at the intersection of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and materials science.Joana

Joana Lopes' award-winning paper, titled “Efficient Photocatalytic HMF Oxidation Using Perovskites”, was co-authored with LSRE-LCM researchers Joaquim Faria and Cláudia Silva. The work focused on the sustainable route for biomass valorization to key chemical building blocks using visible-light photocatalysis, a step toward greener chemical processes.