The Sonae Educação Prize conference will take place on September 10 at the Serralves Foundation in Porto, bringing together about 2,000 participants both in-person and online. The event will debate the theme "Smart Education: the future of learning in the AI era" and will include the announcement of the winners of the 2026 edition. The main speaker will be Arnold Pears, professor and director of the Department of Engineering Learning Sciences at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden.
The 2026 edition of the prize recorded a record 1,031 eligible applications from across the country, more than double the 437 received in the previous year. The applications are divided between the General Category, with 672 projects, and the new Public Schools Category, with 359 projects. In total, 150 thousand euros will be distributed for innovative and inclusive projects, bringing the total of grants awarded since the initiative's launch in 2023 to 550 thousand euros.
Miguel Mota Freitas, Chief Representative for Culture & Education at Sonae, highlighted that artificial intelligence is transforming Education and that the moment is opportune to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of technology for more innovative and inclusive teaching. Among the 10 finalists of the General Category are entities such as the School Grouping of Vila Flor, Aproximar, the No Bully Portugal Association, and ColorADD Social, among others.
The winning projects will become part of the Sonae ecosystem, where they will receive specialized follow-up, mentorship, and support in assessing social impact. The conference program also includes debate panels on the transformations in education and the preservation of critical thinking in the digital age, with the participation of personalities such as Arlindo Oliveira, president of INESC, and Pedro Santa Clara, mentor of the TUMO project in Portugal.
