Policy without the usual politics. That’s what the Nova SBE Public Policy Institute promises to deliver at the first edition of Policy Fest, on April 10. An all-day festival open to the public, where topics such as housing, social inequality, and the impact of Artificial Intelligence will be debated – without formalities or unnecessary detours.

Among other highlights, the festival will include live recordings of two podcasts – 45 Graus by José Maria Pimentel (Expresso) and Geração V (Observador) – a talk on public policy communication with José Pacheco Pereira, and presentations of applied research by Nova SBE professors, each condensed into 8-minute summaries.

In the afternoon, the final round of the first national debate competition organized by the Institute will take place, awarding a total of € 10.000 in prizes. This first edition has already brought together more than 60 students, from over 10 nationalities, representing universities from across the country.

“Policy Fest 2025 is our response to the need for public policy to be informed and accessible to everyone. It’s a clear way of saying that public policy is not a space reserved for politics – it’s a space for all,” explains Luís Cabral, Academic Director of the Nova SBE Public Policy Institute. “More than a day of conversations, it’s a commitment to innovation and action. A space where ideas come to life, where the next generation finds its voice, and where public debate becomes, at last, truly public,” he adds.

Filipe Alfaiate, Executive Director of the Nova SBE Public Policy Institute, hopes the event will help clarify the Institute’s core message. “Public policy doesn’t have to be distant, dull, or reserved for the usual players. That’s what we aim to show through all our initiatives.” That’s also why, he continues, “Policy Fest is not just an event. It’s a space for in-depth discussion, where we learn from concrete scientific data and give a platform to the generation that will have to face the consequences of the decisions we keep postponing.”.