NITIM Summer School 2026, Porto

A Week of Innovation, Collaboration, and Inspiration in Porto 

The 2026 edition of the NITIM Graduate School took place from June 18th to June 20th, hosted at the HF Tuela Porto in the Boavista quarter, as part of the ICE/IEEE ITMC 2026 Conference in Porto, Portugal. With its unique format, the school brought together 18 PhD candidates and 15 faculty mentors from 6 nationalities, fostering an environment of academic exchange and meaningful collaboration.

Over the days, the participants took part in intensive feedback sessions, sharing insights and providing constructive advice to help refine each other's PhD projects across five thematic groups – from Digital Platforms & Transformation to Corporate Entrepreneurship, Innovation Ecosystems, Digital Technologies & Security, and Infrastructure & Mobility. This dynamic exchange was enriched by the guidance of experienced faculty from various academic disciplines, creating the perfect opportunity to step out of individual "academic bubbles" and embrace fresh perspectives on research challenges and opportunities.

Special thanks go to the coaches of the five thematic groups for their valuable guidance, insightful discussions, and support throughout the workshop:

Group 5 – Infrastructure & Mobility: Prof. Dr. Lechner, Prof. Dr. Pickl, and Prof. Dr. De Kock

Group 1 – Digital Platforms, Transformation & Resilience: Prof. Dr. Heumüller, Prof. Dr. Haines, and Prof. Dr. Baltes

Group 2 – Corporate Entrepreneurship & SME Innovation: Prof. Dr. Dahle, Prof. Dr. Vieru, and Prof. Dr. Haines

Group 3 – Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Ecosystems: Prof. Dr. Reuther, Prof. Dr. DeNoble, and Prof. Dr. Scarlat

Group 4 – Digital Technologies & Security: Prof. Dr. Klein, Prof. Dr. Zincir-Heywood, and Prof. Dr. Ungerer

The program was highlighted by two inspiring keynotes:

• "Research Onions & Methodological Fit" by Prof. N. K. Mark Saunders, Emeritus Professor of Business Research Methods at Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, who shared his expertise on methodological approaches in doctoral research.
• "Self-Regulation as part of the PhD process – how do we learn to learn...?" by Dr. Cornelia Pickl and Prof. Stefan Pickl of the University of the Bundeswehr Munich, an interactive workshop exploring self-regulation strategies for PhD candidates.

Beyond the intensive academic sessions, the school offered opportunities for relaxation and networking. Our local hosts curated an inspiring atmosphere with a welcome dinner, a typical Portuguese dinner, and a city tour along the Douro River, that provided the participants with inspiring conversations and exchanges in a family atmosphere.

We look forward to seeing how these ideas and connections will shape the doctoral theses and further research!