SIRESP, S.A. held two preparatory meetings in Lisbon on 24 September 2026 to advance planning for the 4th SIRESP Bootcamp – North Region, scheduled to take place from 23 to 27 November 2026. Hosted at the Order of Engineers – Southern Region, the meetings brought together key stakeholders from Portugal’s critical communications ecosystem. SIRESP, S.A. also expressed its appreciation to the Order of Engineers for providing the venue.

The morning began with a meeting involving amateur radio associations, focusing on the objectives of the upcoming Bootcamp and opportunities for community participation, including contributions to the final exercise.

At 11:00 a.m., the Initial Planning Conference (IPC) brought together representatives from operational entities, municipalities, industry, network operators, technology companies and higher education institutions. During the session, Lieutenant-General Paulo Viegas Nunes, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SIRESP, S.A., outlined the strategic guidelines and priorities for the fourth edition.

SIRESP Innovation Challenge 2026 Connects Academia with Critical Communications

The IPC also featured the presentation of the SIRESP Innovation Challenge 2026, delivered by Professor Luís Correia of Instituto Superior Técnico.

Targeting higher education students, the initiative aims to connect academic expertise with real-world challenges in mission-critical communications. Participants are invited to develop innovative ideas and practical solutions to enhance network resilience, interoperability and emergency response capabilities.

By encouraging collaboration between academia and the critical communications sector, the challenge seeks to translate research and technical knowledge into practical proposals that can contribute to the development of next-generation emergency communications.

Six Cities to Host North Region Bootcamp Activities

The 4th SIRESP Bootcamp – North Region will span six Portuguese cities: Braga, Guimarães, Bragança, Chaves, Viana do Castelo and Vila Real.

The programme will engage stakeholders across the local, regional and national SIRESP ecosystem, combining training, knowledge sharing, technology demonstrations and operational exercises throughout the five-day event.

A key component will be the “Digital Blackout 26” scenario, which will provide a framework for exploring critical communications challenges and strengthening preparedness, coordination and operational resilience in emergency situations.

Registration Announcement to Follow

SIRESP, S.A. invites students, operational entities, companies and other interested partners to participate in this collaborative initiative and contribute to the future of Portugal’s critical communications capabilities.

Further details, including the opening of registrations, will be announced in due course.