Inês Escoval, a PhD student at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of the University of Coimbra (CNC-UC), has been named Ambassador of the Year in the 9th edition of Académica Start UC (ASUC) — an initiative promoted by the University of Coimbra (UC), in partnership with the Coimbra Academic Association (AAC) and supported by Santander Universities.

ASUC is a network of student ambassadors for entrepreneurship and innovation at UC. Each year, around 26 to 27 undergraduate and master's students (nominated by AAC student groups), as well as 5 PhD students, are selected to develop impactful projects throughout the academic year. At the end of the program, the most active and outstanding ambassadors are recognized at a special gala event.

During the academic year, Inês Escoval led the project Empower2Change, aimed at innovating, empowering, equipping, and connecting PhD students. The project included a wide range of initiatives, such as sessions on PhD funding opportunities, the presentation of innovation methodologies like the KTH Innovation Readiness Level, roundtables on transdisciplinary entrepreneurship, career paths beyond academia focused on knowledge valorization and tech transfer, and even the international promotion of ASUC as a case study in student entrepreneurship at the University Industry Innovation Network (UIIN) conference.

The ASUC Final Gala, held on June 13, recognized Inês Escoval as Ambassador of the Year representing UC’s PhD students.

As part of the award, she will take part in an entrepreneurship course in Silicon Valley, California (USA). The experience includes intensive training, networking opportunities with global innovators, and visits to leading organizations such as Google, Apple, IBM, and Stanford University.

More information about the Académica Start UC program here.

News about the start of the 9th edition here.