The inauguration of the new leadership of the Center for Territory, Environment and Construction (CTAC), one of the nine research centers of the School of Engineering of the University of Minho, took place on December 11, 2025, at the Azurém Campus. The leadership of the center is now ensured by José Luís Silva Pinho, who assumes the role of Director, accompanied by the Deputy Directors Aires Fernando Fernandes Leite Camões Azevedo, Daniel Souto Rodrigues and Paulo Jorge Ramisio Pernagorda.
During the session, José Luís Silva Pinho began his speech by thanking the previous director, acknowledging the work carried out in recent years, in a particularly demanding context. He highlighted the courage shown “two terms ago” in taking over CTAC at a challenging time and the decisive contribution to its evolution, including improving the center’s ranking and attracting significant funding. He also stressed the importance of maintaining the legacy left behind and pursuing a path that allows CTAC to continue to assert itself in the national and international scientific landscape.
The new director also expressed his gratitude to the team that now accompanies him in leading the center, reinforcing the importance of teamwork and continuity. In his speech, he highlighted CTAC’s essential mission: to develop excellent research, welcome doctoral students and researchers, and ensure the efficient management of daily activities. He also emphasized the current challenges of research, which is increasingly oriented towards applied results, and the need to strengthen the center’s competitive capacity.
José Luís Silva Pinho also highlighted the four fundamental areas of CTAC — Civil Engineering, Territory, Hydraulics and Environment — reinforcing that each plays a crucial role in the face of contemporary challenges. He also addressed concerns regarding competitiveness, technical support and the need to ensure better working conditions for the entire research community, stressing that “no organization can thrive without providing good conditions for its members”.
In a final note, he used a personal metaphor, comparing the functioning of a management team to that of a sports team or orchestra, where success depends on the harmonious contribution of all members. He guaranteed that he will do his best in this term and thanked those present for their presence and support.
