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PRESS RELEASE
SCIENCE FOR DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT 2026: DAY TWO FOCUSES ON YOUTH, INNOVATION, AND PARTNERSHIPS
DILI, 25 August 2026
The second day of the Science for Development Summit 2026 at the Dili Convention Centre highlighted the critical roles of youth, innovation, and institutional partnerships in driving sustainable development.
The Summit, an initiative of President J. Ramos-Horta and held under the joint patronage of the President and Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, is fully funded by the Government of Timor-Leste. The day’s program explored how science can fuel economic transformation, health, agriculture, and artificial intelligence through collaboration, featuring keynote addresses, an interactive Youth Dialogue, and practical workshops.
In his opening remarks, Vice Prime Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay emphasized that the Summit’s true value lies in transforming knowledge into action.
“The real value of the summit will come from what we learn, the relationships we build, and what we are able to do differently after today. Knowledge only becomes valuable for development when we transform it into action. The IX Constitutional Government, through the Human Capital Development Fund, has established programmes providing opportunities for Timorese citizens, particularly our young people, to pursue higher education at qualified universities across ASEAN and other countries. However, investment in education and human capital must be matched by our capacity to transform knowledge into practical solutions for the challenges facing our nation. I particularly welcome the strong involvement of our universities and students throughout this Summit. I wish you all a productive and inspiring second day of the Science for Development Summit.”
The day commenced with a keynote address by Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, on Science for Peace: Why Human Fraternity Must Underpin Innovation.
Following are the High-Level Panel Discussions:
- Panel 5: Security, Trust, and the Digital World
Moderated by Dr. Abel P. da Silva, this panel featured cryptography pioneers Whitfield Diffie, Turing Award Laureate 2015 and Gilles Brassard, Turing Award Laureate 2025. They discussed building digital trust in Timor-Leste, focusing on encrypti They discussed building digital trust in Timor-Leste, focusing on encryption, authentication, and cybersecurity governance to ensure safe digital infrastructure as the nation expands its e-services.
- Panel 6: Computing, AI, and Development
Moderated by Dr. Gabriel De Jesus, the panel included computing pioneers Richard S. Sutton, Jack Dongarra, and Torsten Hoefler. They addressed practical AI applications for resource-constrained settings, with specific attention to Tetun as a low-resource language. advocating for open-source infrastructure and efficiency-focused AI models.
- Panel 7: Teaching Science in Developing Countries
Moderated by Dr. Samuel Freitas, this panel featured Sara Seager. 2024 Kavli Prize recipient in Astrophysics. She shared her vision for inquiry-based science education, encouraging the use of big questions and low-cost experiments to engage young scientists in resource-limited settings.
Youth Dialogue Session: Science Careers Around the World
Moderated by Guteriano Neves, this interactive session allowed students to engage with Nobel Laureates Benjamin List (Chemistry) and Sir Konstantin Novoselov (Physics), alongside former ACM President Yannis Ioannidis. They shared insights on scientific careers and encouraged young Timorese to pursue global opportunities while contributing to local development.
Concurrent Workshops and Programmes
- Workshop 2: Agricultural Transformation in Fragile Settings
Moderated by Dr. Edmundo S.S. Viegas, the workshop featured plant Led by plant scientist Howard-Yana Shapiro, the session discussed strategies for agricultural resilience, emphasizing agroforestry, crop diversification, and locally adapted solutions to strengthen food security.
- Workshop 3: Health Research Translation
Moderated by Dr. João Soares Martins, the workshop featured Nobel Laureate Frederick J. Ramsdell, explored translating immunological research into new therapies and discussed building research capacity to address local health priorities in Timor-Leste.
- Parallel Session A: Social Protection and Community Programmes
moderated by Prof. Shannon Mahatma Dias Viegas. the parallel session at the Universidade Católica Timorense, featured Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, who spoke on child rights, education, and community-led protection systems.
- Parallel Session A: INCT Policy Analysis
moderated by Dr. Helder Lopes. The session held at the China Hall, Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace, featured Yannis Ioannidis, former ACM President, and Leander Heldring, Associate Professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management,discuss on using data and institutional frameworks for evidence-based policymaking.
- Parallel Session B: Deglobalisation and Global Conflict
moderated by Dr. Pedro Barreto Ximenes. The Institute of Business hosted a session with Nobel Laureates on Economic Sciences, James A. Robinson (2024) and Robert C. Merton (1997), along with Nikolaus Turner, Vice President of the Council of the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, discuss challenges to the global economy and the role of international scientific exchange.
Parallel Session B: Contribution of Physics to Sustainable Development
moderated by Sr. José Paulo Matias, The National University of Timor-Lorosa’e hosted a session with Nobel Laureates in physics, Sir Konstantin Novoselov (2010) and Brian P. Schmidt (2011), focusing on how physics can contribute to sustainable development through low-cost innovations and international collaborations.
- Parallel Session C: WHO Session
moderated by Dr. Aravind Mathur, The World Health Organisation convened a session at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace, with Turing Award recipient 2024, Richard S. Sutton, to explore the use of AI and reinforcement learning in strengthening health service delivery in low-resource settings.
- Parallel Session C: Similie Session
Hosted by Similie, the session featured Torsten Hoefler, who shared expertise on scalable computing and how Timorese startups and institutions can leverage efficient AI for local challenges.
From dialogues on digital trust and AI to workshops on agriculture, health, and education, the second day of the Summit translated world-class expertise into actionable pathways for Timor-Leste. The active engagement of universities, students, government, and international partners underscored a shared commitment: that science, rooted in human fraternity and local context, is a powerful engine for inclusive and sustainable development.
For more information about the Science for Development Summit 2026, please visit:
https://www.sciencefordevelopment26-tl.com
END
KOMUNIKADU IMPRENSA
SIMEIRA SIÉNSIA BA DEZENVOLVIMENTU 2026: LORON DARUAK FOKA BA JUVENTUDE, INOVASAUN, NO PARSERIA
DILI, 25 Agostu 2026
Loron daruak husi Simeira Siénsia ba Dezenvolvimentu 2026 iha Sentru Konvensaun Dili nian destaka papél krítiku sira husi foin-sa’e sira, inovasaun, no parseria institusionál sira iha promosaun dezenvolvimentu sustentável.
Simeira ne’e, inisiativa ida husi Prezidente J. Ramos-Horta no realiza ho patrosíniu konjuntu husi Prezidente no Primeiru-Ministru Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, finansia tomak hosi Governu Timor-Leste. Programa loron ohin nian esplora oinsá siénsia bele alimenta transformasaun ekonómika, saúde, agrikultura, no intelijénsia artifisiál liuhusi kolaborasaun, aprezenta diskursu prinsipál, Diálogu interativu ba Foin-sa’e sira, no workshop prátiku sira.
Iha ninia diskursu abertura, Vise-Primeiru Ministru Francisco Kalbuadi Lay subliña katak Simeira nia valór loloos maka iha transformasaun koñesimentu ba asaun.
“Simeira nia valór loloos sei mai husi buat ne’ebé ita aprende, relasaun ne’ebé ita harii, no buat ne’ebé ita bele halo ho diferensa depois ohin. Koñesimentu só sai folin-boot ba dezenvolvimentu bainhira ita transforma ba asaun. IX Governu Konstitusionál, liuhusi Fundu Dezenvolvimentu Kapitál Umanu, estabelese ona programa sira ne’ebé fó oportunidade ba sidadaun Timor-oan sira, liuliu ba ita-nia joven sira, atu hetan edukasaun sira iha ensinu superiór iha universidade sira ne’ebé kualifikadu iha ASEAN no nasaun sira seluk. Maibé, investimentu iha edukasaun no kapitál umanu tenke koresponde ho ita-nia kapasidade atu transforma koñesimentu ba solusaun prátika sira ba dezafiu sira ne’ebé ita-nia nasaun hasoru.”
Loron ne’e hahú ho diskursu prinsipal husi Juís Mohamed Abdelsalam, Sekretáriu-Jerál Konsellu Musulmanu ba Anciãos, kona-ba Siénsia ba Pás: Tanbasá maka Fraternidade Umana Tenke Suporta Inovasaun.
Tuir mai mak diskusaun Painél Nivel Aas sira:
- Painél 5: Seguransa, Konfiansa, no Mundu Dijitál
Moderadu husi Dr. Abel P. da Silva, painél ida-ne’e aprezenta pioneiru kriptografia nian Whitfield Diffie, Laureadu Prémiu Turing iha tinan 2015 no Gilles Brassard, Laureadu Prémiu Turing iha tinan 2025. Sira diskute kona-ba harii konfiansa dijitál iha Timor-Leste, foka ba enkripsaun, autentikasaun, no governasaun siberseguransa hodi asegura infraestrutura dijitál ne’ebé seguru bainhira nasaun habelar ninia servisu eletróniku sira.
- Painél 6: Komputasaun, AI, no Dezenvolvimentu
Moderadu husi Dr. Gabriel De Jesus, painel ne’e hatudu pioneiru sira iha área komputasaun na’in-tolu: Richard S. Sutton (Laureadu Prémiu Turing 2024, aprendizajen ho reforsu), Jack Dongarra (Laureadu Prémiu Turing 2021, biblioteka kómputasaun numeriku), no Torsten Hoefler (Laureadu Prémiu Turing 2024 iha Komputasaun). Sira ko’alia kona-ba aplikasaun AI prátika ba kontestu ho rekursu limitadu, ho atensaun espesífiku ba Tetun hanesan lian ida ho rekursu ki’ik, advokasia ba infraestrutura open-source no modelu AI ne’ebé fokus ba efisiénsia.
- Painél 7: Hanorin Siénsia iha Nasaun sira iha Dezenvolvimentu
Moderadu husi Dr. Samuel Freitas, painél ida-ne’e aprezenta Sara Seager, Prémiadu Kavli iha Astrofízika, 2024. Nia fahe nia vizaun ba edukasaun siénsia bazeia ba investigasaun, enkoraja uza pergunta boot sira no esperimentu sira ho kustu ki’ik hodi envolve sientista foin-sa’e sira iha ambiente sira ho rekursu limitadu.
Sesaun Diálogu Foin-sa’e sira-nian: Kareira Siénsia iha Mundu Tomak
Moderadu husi Guteriano Neves, sesaun interativu ida-ne’e permite estudante sira atu envolve ho Laureadu Nobel iha Kímika, 2021, Benjamin List no Laureadu Nobel iha Fízika, 2010, hamutuk ho eis-Prezidente ACM Yannis Ioannidis. Sira fahe koñesimentu kona-ba karreira sientífika no enkoraja joven Timoroan atu buka oportunidade global bainhira kontribui ba dezenvolvimentu lokál.
Workshop no Programa Simultânaus sira
- Workshop 2: Transformasaun Agríkola iha Ambiente Frájil sira
Moderadu husi Dr. Edmundo S.S. Viegas, workshop ne’e aprezenta sientista vegetal Howard-Yana Shapiro. sesaun ne’e diskute estratéjia sira ba reziliénsia agríkola, hodi fó énfaze ba agrofloresta, diversifikasaun ai-horis, no solusaun sira ne’ebé adapta lokalmente hodi hametin seguransa ai-han.
- Workshop 3: Tradusaun Peskiza Saúde nian
Moderadu husi Dr. João Soares Martins, workshop ne’e aprezenta Laureadu Nobel Frederick J. Ramsdell, hodi esplora kona-ba tradusaun peskiza imunolójika ba terapia foun sira no diskute kona-ba harii kapasidade peskiza hodi responde ba prioridade saúde lokál sira iha Timor-Leste.
- Sesaun Paralelu A: Protesaun Sosiál no Programa Komunitáriu
Moderadu husi Shannon Mahatma Dias Viegas, sesaun paralelu realiza iha Universidade Katólika Timorense (UCT), aprezenta Laureadu Nobel ba Pás Kailash Satyarthi, ne’ebé ko’alia kona-ba direitu labarik, edukasaun, no sistema protesaun ne’ebé lidera husi komunidade.
- Sesaun Paralelu A: Análize Polítika INCT
Moderadu husi Dr. Helder Lopes, sesaun paralelu realiza iha Salaun China, Palasiu prezidensiál Nicolau Lobato, aprezenta ho eis-Prezidente ACM, Yannis Ioannidis no Leander Heldring, Profesór Asosiadu iha Eskola Jestaun Kellogg, Universidade Northwestern, kona-ba uza dadus no enkuadramentu institusionál sira ba elaborasaun polítika bazeia ba evidénsia.
- Sesaun Paralelu B: Desglobalizasaun no Konflitu Globál
Moderadu husi Dr. Pedro Barreto Ximenes. Institute of Business (IOB), realiza sesaun ho Laureadu Nobel sira iha Siénsia Ekonómika, James A. Robinson (2024) no Robert C. Merton (1997), hamutuk ho Nikolaus Turner, Vise-Prezidente ba Konsellu Lindau ba Sorumutu Laureadu Nobel sira, diskute dezafiu sira ba ekonomia globál no papél husi interkámbiu sientífiku internasionál.
- Sesaun Paralelu B: Kontribuisaun Fízika nian ba Dezenvolvimentu Sustentável
Moderadu husi José Paulo Matias, Universidade Nasionál Timor-Lorosa’e realiza sesaun hamutuk ho Laureadu ba Fízika, Sir Konstantin Novoselov (2010) no Brian P. Schmidt (2011), ne’ebé foka kona-ba oinsá fízika bele kontribui ba dezenvolvimentu sustentável liuhusi inovasaun sira ho kustu ki’ik no kolaborasaun internasionál sira.
- Sesaun Paralelu C: Sesaun OMS
Moderadu husi Dr. Aravind Mathur, Organizasaun Mundiál Saúde nian konvoka sesaun ida iha Salaun Xina iha Palasiu Prezidensial Nicolau Lobato, ho Laureadu Premiu Turing 2024, Richard S. Sutton, hodi esplora utilizasaun IA no aprendizajen reforsu hodi hametin prestasaun servisu saúde nian iha ambiente ho rekursu ki’ik sira.
- Sesaun Paralelu C: Sesaun Similie
Moderadu husi Sr. Luzerio Donzilio J. da C. Temé, Similie realiza sesaun ho Premiadu ACM iha iha Komputasaun, 2024, Torsten Hoefler, ne’ebé fahe perísia kona-ba komputasaun eskalável no oinsá startup no instituisaun Timor-oan sira bele aproveita AI efisiente ba dezafiu lokál sira.
Husi diálogu sira kona-ba konfiansa dijitál no AI ba workshop sira kona-ba agrikultura, saúde, no edukasaun, loron daruak Simeira nian tradús perísia ho klase mundiál ba dalan asaun ba Timor-Leste. Envolvimentu ativu husi universidade, estudante, governu, no parseiru internasionál sira subliña kompromisu konjuntu katak siénsia, ne’ebé iha abut iha fraternidade umana no kontestu lokál, maka motór ida ne’ebé forte ba dezenvolvimentu inkluzivu no sustentável.
Atu hetan informasaun liután kona-ba Simeira Siénsia ba Dezenvolvimentu 2026, bele vizita:
https://www.sciencefordevelopment26-tl.com
REMATA//