Graduated in Food Engineering from the Faculty of Biotechnology (ESB), Maria de Fátima Magalhães de Carvalho Franco is the Managing Director of BioConnection – Consultoria e Formação, Lda. With extensive experience in the food sector, she combines strong technical expertise with a strategic vision in her daily life.
What role did your education at the Faculty of Biotechnology play in your professional career?
The education I received at the Faculty of Biotechnology was fundamental to my personal and professional development, particularly in shaping who I am today. It allowed me to develop critical thinking and rigour, and provided me with solid scientific foundations, always supported by outstanding professors in each field.
What had the greatest impact on you?
The novelty of the Food Engineering degree, at the time, the first and only programme in this field in Portugal, the high level of academic demand, and, on the other hand, the close, almost family-like environment among students and professors, which still exists at ESB today. I would also highlight the opportunity to undertake an internship abroad, in my case in the Netherlands. This was a crucial period for my personal and professional development that I would not have experienced otherwise.
How did the company/project come about?
Having my own company was always a dream, and professional circumstances around 2010 encouraged me to take that step. This led to the creation of BioConnection, with the support of SpinLogic, which at the time was the entrepreneurship project of Universidade Católica Portuguesa.
What are the company’s main areas of expertise?
BioConnection, Lda is a consultancy and training company focused on the agri-food sector, with 14 years of activity and strong growth in the market over the years. Its main areas of expertise include consultancy services and audits of Quality Management and Food Safety Systems, in accordance with international standards.
What message would you like to share with the Faculty’s students?
I would encourage them to make the most of this period of training, particularly the technical and scientific rigour and the innovative teaching approach at ESB, the networking opportunities it provides, and the excellence of its academic staff.