[ENG-TET]
PRESS RELEASE
TIMOR-LESTE OPENS 4TH EDITION OF THE SCI-TECH EXPO 2026, BRINGING SCIENCE CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE
DILI, 23 August 2026
The 4th Edition of the Science and Technology Expo 2026 officially opened today at the Dili Convention Centre, marking the start of a three-day event dedicated to making science and technology accessible to all Timorese. Held alongside the Science for Development Summit 2026, the programme features interactive exhibits, academic competitions, and cultural performances, all designed to engage the public with science in an inclusive and dynamic way.
The Expo officially opened by the President of the Republic and Nobel Peace Laureate, J. Ramos-Horta, together with the Vice Prime Minister and Interim Minister for MESCC, Engº Mariano Assanami Sabino, alongside Nobel Laureates in the sciences, world-renowned scientists, and distinguished guests.
In his opening address, President Ramos-Horta underscored the importance of making science a lived experience for the nation:
“Excellencies, distinguished Nobel Laureates, and honoured international guests, welcome to Timor-Leste. Your presence honours our nation and affirms our place in the global community of knowledge. Over the past 24 years since the restoration of independence, we have progressively integrated Timor-Leste into the international community, strengthening our participation in the United Nations system, the CPLP, the g7+ group of countries, the Pacific Islands Forum, the WTO, and ASEAN, among other forums. But political freedom alone is not enough—true sovereignty also demands knowledge and innovation. To our young people: do not merely observe—ask questions, dream boldly, and never think that because Timor-Leste is small, our ideas must be small. The future belongs to those who dare to imagine it and have the knowledge to build it. My wish for this Expo is that it sparks lasting change—a new vocation, a partnership, and a solution to a national challenge. May this be the door through which our youth become protagonists of Timor-Leste’s transformation.”
This year’s Expo is structured around five key pillars: a Higher Education Fair, Academic Competitions, an Innovation & Youth Space, Cultural Activities, a comprehensive Science and Technology Exhibition. More than 70 exhibitors are taking part, representing schools, universities, government institutions, private sector partners and development organisations.
Highlights from the exhibition include:
- Student projects from schools across all municipalities, including EBC St. Antonio Teulale-Baucau, ESGP Nino Konis Santana Lospalos, and Colégio de Santo Inasio de Loiola Kasait.
- University research from the National University of Timor-Lorosa’e (UNTL), the Timorese Catholic University (UCT), and the Dili Institute of Technology (DIT), featuring demonstrations in agricultural engineering, health sciences, and teacher training.
- Government initiatives from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MPRM), and the National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT), showcasing science in policy and public services.
- Contributions from development partners, including UNICEF, UNDP, the World Food Programme (WFP), WHO, and the National Commission for UNESCO, supporting Timor-Leste’s long-term scientific capacity.
- Innovation showcases from the Dili Science Community, Gilsia E-Tech, and independent student innovators, presenting practical solutions in sustainability, soil testing, and technology.
In his remarks, the Vice Prime Minister and Interim Minister for MESCC, Engº Mariano Assanami Sabino, highlighted the contribution of science and technology to everyday development in Timor-Leste:
“For Timor-Leste, science and technology cannot remain distant from our daily development. They must help us address the practical challenges our country faces, improving education and health, strengthening agriculture and food security, protecting our environment, creating economic opportunities, and preparing our young people for a rapidly changing world. This Expo is a vital platform for bringing global researchers together with our own universities, students, and young people, showcasing that innovation already has a place here. Let the conversations begun today spark lasting partnerships and a culture of inquiry that endures long after this Summit concludes.”
The Sci-Tech Expo 2026 runs concurrently with the Science for Development Summit 2026, which has brought a distinguished international speaker to Dili, including Nobel Prize and Turing Award winners, along with other renowned scientists and distinguished guests.
The opening ceremony featured evening performances by Timor Furak, the Presidency Library’s Children’s Group, and a cultural performance from the Doulos Hope Boat Crew, representing South Korea, Argentina, and the Philippines. The programme concluded with a performance by Timorese Artist Ego Lemos and his band.
The Expo continues on Monday, 24 August, and Tuesday, 25 August, with a full schedule of outdoor performances, academic competitions, and interactive demonstrations. Lunch breaks will feature acoustic music by Run Batar (MTA). Monday’s programme includes performances by Ofélia, Sanggar Cota Cora Group, Manumata Group, Red Bull Dance Group, Balide Choir Group, Black Jesus, and Baba Haha Music Band. Tuesday’s programme features poetry, choir, and dance by Projeto CAFE Díli, music by Jesy Lopes and Band, Orlanda Rosalia, Alcatraz Band, and a dance performance by the Doulos Hope Boat Group.
For more information about the Science and Technology Expo 2026, please visit:
https://www.sciencefordevelopment26-tl.com
END
KOMUNIKADU IMPRENSA
TIMOR-LESTE ABERTURA EDISAUN BA DALA HAAT EXPO SCI-TECH 2026, HODI LORI SIÉNSIA BESIK LIU BA POVU
DILI, 23 Agostu 2026
Edisaun ba dala Haat husi Expo Siénsia no Teknolojia 2026 abertura ofisialmente iha Sentru Konvensaun Dili, hodi marka inísiu ba eventu loron tolu nian ne’ebé dedika ba halo siénsia no teknolojia asesivel ba Timoro-oan hotu. Hala’o hamutuk ho Simeira Siénsia ba Dezenvolvimentu 2026, programa ne’e iha espozisaun interativu, kompetisaun akadémika, no atuasaun kulturál sira, hotu-hotu dezeña atu envolve públiku ho siénsia iha maneira inkluzivu no dinámika.
Expo ne’e ofisialmente Abertura husi Prezidente Repúblika no Laureadu Nobel ba Pás, J. Ramos-Horta, hamutuk ho Vise Primeiru Ministru no Ministru Interinu ba MESCC, Engº Mariano Assanami Sabino, hamutuk ho Laureadu Nobel sira iha siénsia, sientista sira ne’ebé koñesidu iha mundu, no konvidadu distintu sira.
Iha ninia diskursu abertura, Prezidente Ramos-Horta subliña importánsia hodi halo siénsia sai esperiénsia moris ba nasaun:
“Exelénsia sira, distintu Laureadu Nobel, no konvidadu internasionál onradu sira, benvindu mai Timor-Leste. Ita-boot sira-nia prezensa fó onra ba ami-nia nasaun no afirma ami-nia fatin iha komunidade globál ba koñesimentu nian. Iha tinan 24 nia laran, hahú husi restaurasaun independénsia, ami progresivamente integra Timor-Leste iha komunidade internasionál, hodi hametin ami-nia partisipasaun iha sistema Nasoens Unidas, CPLP, nasaun sira grupu g+7, Fórum Illa Pasífiku, WTO, no ASEAN, no mós fórum sira seluk. Maibé liberdade polítika de’it la sufisiente—soberania loloos mós ezije koñesimentu no inovasaun. Ba ita-nia joven sira: labele de’it observa—husu pergunta, mehi ho aten-brani, no nunka hanoin katak tanba Timor-Leste ki’ik, ita-nia ideia sira tenke kiik. Futuru pertense ba sira ne’ebé hakarak atu imajina no iha koñesimentu atu harii future ne’e. Ha’u-nia deseju ba Expo ida ne’e mak atu hamosu mudansa ne’ebé dura—vokasaun foun, parseria, no solusaun ida ba dezafiu nasionál. Hein katak Expo ida-ne’e bele sai odamatan iha ne’ebé ita-nia foin-sa’e sira sai nu’udar protagonista ba transformasaun Timor-Leste nian.”
Expo iha tinan ida-ne’e estruturadu iha pilár prinsipál lima: Feira Ensinu Superiór nian, Kompetisaun Akadémika, Espasu Inovasaun & Juventude, Atividade Kulturál, Espozisaun Siénsia no Teknolojia ne’ebé komprensivu. Espozitór liu 70 maka hola parte, reprezenta eskola, universidade, instituisaun governu, parseiru setór privadu no organizasaun dezenvolvimentu sira.
Destake sira husi espozisaun ne’e inklui:
- Projetu estudante sira husi eskola iha munisípiu sira, inklui EBC St. Antonio Teulale-Baucau, ESGP Nino Konis Santana Lospalos, no Colégio de Santo Inasio de Loiola Kasait.
- Peskiza universitáriu husi Universidade Nasionál Timor-Lorosa’e (UNTL), Universidade Katólika Timorense (UCT), no Institutu Teknolojia Dili (DIT), ne’ebé hatudu demonstrasaun iha enjeñaria agríkola, siénsia saúde, no formasaun ba profesór sira.
- Inisiativa Governu nian husi Ministériu Edukasaun, Ministériu Petróleu no Rekursu Minerais (MPRM), no Institutu Nasionál Siénsia no Teknolojia (INCT), ne’ebé hatudu siénsia iha polítika no servisu públiku.
- Kontribuisaun husi parseiru dezenvolvimentu sira, inklui UNICEF, UNDP, Programa Ai-han Mundiál (WFP), OMS, no Komisaun Nasionál ba UNESCO, ne’ebé apoia Timor-Leste nia kapasidade sientífika ba tempu naruk.
- Espozisaun inovasaun husi Komunidade Siénsia Dili, Gilsia E-Tech, no inovadór estudante independente sira, aprezenta solusaun prátika iha sustentabilidade, teste rai, no teknolojia.
Iha ninia diskursu, Vise Primeiru-Ministru no Ministru Interinu ba MESCC, Engº Mariano Assanami Sabino, destaka kontribuisaun siénsia no teknolojia ba dezenvolvimentu lor-loron iha Timor-Leste:
“Ba Timor-Leste, siénsia no teknolojia labele dook husi ita-nia dezenvolvimentu lor-loron nian. Sira tenke ajuda ita hasoru dezafiu prátiku sira ne’ebé ita-nia nasaun hasoru, mellora edukasaun no saúde, hametin agrikultura no seguransa ai-han, proteje ita-nia ambiente, kria oportunidade ekonómika, no prepara ita-nia joven sira ba mundu ne’ebé muda lalais. Expo ida-ne’e hanesan plataforma vital ida hodi halibur peskizador globál sira hamutuk ho ita-nia universidade, estudante no foin-sa’e sira, hodi hatudu katak inovasaun iha ona fatin iha ne’e. Hein katak konversa sira ne’ebé hahú ohin hamosu parseria sira ne’ebé dura no kultura investigasaun ne’ebé dura hafoin Simeira ida-ne’e remata.”
Sci-Tech Expo 2026 realiza hamutuk ho Simeira Siénsia ba Dezenvolvimentu 2026, ne’ebé lori ona oradór internasionál distintu sira mai Dili, inklui manan-na’in sira Prémiu Nobel no Prémiu Turing nian, hamutuk ho sientista renomadu sira seluk no konvidadu distintu sira.
Serimónia abertura hatudu atuasaun kalan nian husi Timor Furak, Grupu Biblioteka Infantil Prezidénsia nian, no atuasaun kulturál husi Ekipa Ro Doulos Hope,ne’ebé reprezenta Koreia-Súl, Arjentina, no Filipina. Programa ne’e konklui ho aprezentasaun husi artista Timor-oan Ego Lemos ho nia banda.
Expo kontinua iha Segunda-feira, 24 Agostu, no Tersa-feira, 25 Agostu, ho agenda kompletu ida ba animasaun sira iha área aberta, kompetisaun akadémika, no demonstrasaun interativu sira. Durante pausa almosu sei iha múzika akústika husi Run Batar (MTA). Programa segunda-feira nian inklui animasaun husi Ofélia, Grupu Sanggar Cota Cora, Grupu Manumata, Grupu Dansa Red Bull, Grupu Koru Balide, Black Jesus, no Banda Múzika Baba Haha. Programa Tersa-feira nian hatudu lee poezia, koru, no dansa husi Projeto CAFE Díli, múzika husi Jesy Lopes no Banda, Orlanda Rosalia, Banda Alcatraz, no atuasaun dansa husi Ro Doulos Hope.
Atu hetan informasaun liután kona-ba Expo Siensia no Teknolojia 2026, bele vizita:
https://www.sciencefordevelopment26-tl.com
REMATA//