The NOVA Startup Competition took place yesterday, serving as the official qualifying event to select the project that will represent NOVA University Lisbon at StageTwo 2026 – European University Start-up Competition, which will be held in Berlin on 22 and 23 October 2026.
The competition brought together 10 projects from six NOVA schools: NOVA FCT, NOVA FCSH, Nova SBE, NOVA IMS, ENSP NOVA and, for the first time, ESHTE.
The winning project was SPARCS, developed by Rui Guilherme Vaz Gonçalves, António Miguel Teixeira Vicente and Manuel João Mendes, from NOVA FCT. The team, made up of researchers and/or professors, presented an innovative solution in the field of solar energy, designed to address the challenges of energy scarcity and unstable access to power.
SPARCS proposes dividing solar panels into independent mini-modules, which can be connected mechanically and electrically without the need for tools or cables. This approach enables any user, even without technical knowledge, to assemble, reconfigure and expand the system in a simple, flexible and accessible way.
As the winning prize, the team will represent NOVA at StageTwo 2026, one of Europe’s leading university start-up competitions, and will also receive €1,500 to support travel expenses.
The jury for the 2026 edition was composed of Rita Falcão, Director for Innovation, Value Creation and Global Affairs; Professor António Grilo, Full Professor of Industrial Engineering and Management at NOVA School of Science and Technology; Inês de Macedo Santos, Venture Capital Investor at Armilar; and Miguel Garcês Roxo, Investment Manager at Portugal Ventures.
