The new President of the Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade of Portugal (AICEP) has a direct connection to the Faculty of Biotechnology (ESB) from Universidade Católica Portuguesa.
Ana Casaca, who holds a degree in Microbiology, has been appointed to lead the agency responsible for promoting the internationalisation of Portuguese companies and attracting foreign investment to Portugal.
The appointment was approved by the government after Ana Casaca received a positive assessment from the Commission for Recruitment and Selection for Public Administration (CReSAP).
She will succeed Madalena Oliveira e Silva, taking the helm of one of Portugal’s key public institutions supporting the internationalisation of the Portuguese economy.
For the Faculty of Biotechnology, the appointment also represents recognition of a professional journey that began in science and, over more than two decades, has encompassed research, technology transfer, corporate innovation and the development of innovation ecosystems.
It is a career that clearly illustrates the diverse professional paths that can emerge from a scientific education.
From Microbiology to the leadership of AICEP
Ana Casaca graduated in Microbiology from the Faculty of Biotechnology. After completing her studies, she began her career as a researcher in San Francisco, United States, supported by AICEP and Fulbright scholarships.
Her professional career subsequently moved towards corporate innovation, including roles at organisations such as Grupo José de Mello, Worten and Sonae, before she took on leadership positions in innovation at Galp.
Since 2021, she served as Galp’s Director of Innovation, where she has worked on the creation of new technology-driven businesses and solutions, as well as on startup engagement, corporate collaboration and the development of innovation ecosystems.
The experience she has accumulated throughout this career now places Ana Casaca at the helm of an organisation whose central mission is to support the internationalisation of Portuguese companies, promote exports and contribute to attracting productive investment to Portugal.
AICEP has an international network spanning around 50 markets and supports thousands of Portuguese companies in their internationalisation processes.
