The International Conference on Economic and Social Development (ESD) - Porto 2025, with the theme ‘Global Challenges: Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability’, will be held on 27 and 28 June 2025 at ISLA - Polytechnic Institute of Management and Technology, in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Organised by the Varazdin Development and Entrepreneurship Agency, in partnership with Universidade Lusófona, ISLA Gaia, BioRG, and other international academic institutions, this conference aims to promote academic and scientific debate around the economic and social transformations driven by digitalisation, with a special focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Sustainability.
The event aims to encourage the sharing of interdisciplinary knowledge, stimulate collaborations between researchers, professionals and policy-makers, and explore innovative solutions for more balanced, responsible and resilient economic development. ESD Porto 2025 is aimed at researchers, academics, postgraduate students, business professionals, public decision-makers and representatives of civil society organisations, bringing together a diverse audience interested in the impacts of technology and sustainability on global social and economic progress.
Keynote Speakers
"Artificial Intelligence and Robotics: Catalysts for Economic and Social Transformation"
Luis Paulo Reis
Associate Professor at FEUP - Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto
Director of LIACC - Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science Lab
Co-Director of LIACD - First Degree on Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (FCUP/FEUP)
"The dark side of Artificial Intelligence"
Susana Paixao
Full Professor at the Scientific Pedagogical Unit of Environmental Health
President of the Portuguese Society of Environmental Health
"The Economic Impact on Social Development and Democracy"
Francisca Guedes de Oliveira (orcid)
Administrator of Portugal Central Bank
