Not only because it allows us to imagine longer lives, but above all, better, more conscious, and healthier lives. And, contrary to what many think, this future is not only born in the world's major technological centers. It is being born here, in Portugal.

In recent years, our country has been pointed out as an ideal terrain to test, develop, and scale technologies related to well-being, biotechnology, and preventive health. Portugal has exceptional conditions to become a true living laboratory of longevity.

The public health system, so often criticized, becomes a strategic advantage in this context. Unlike countries where health is fragmented, Portugal has the capacity to implement preventive programs in an integrated and efficient way. This feature allows emerging technologies, from devices that monitor biomarkers in real time to digital platforms that track sleep, stress, and physical activity, to be tested quickly, with a direct impact on people's real lives.

Interestingly, the great longevity revolution does not begin in futuristic laboratories or exclusive clinics. It starts with the simplicity of what we already know to be essential to live longer and better. Sleep well. Manage stress. Build strong social relationships. Keep the body moving. These pillars, despite seeming basic, are the ones that prolong life the most with quality.

Physical exercise, for example, does not only benefit the body. It is one of the greatest allies of brain health. It stimulates the creation of new neurons, improves memory, regulates emotions, and significantly reduces the risk of dementia. It is probably one of the most underrated tools of our time.

But the longevity of the future does not depend only on what each person does individually. It depends on our collective ability to innovate. And here Portugal has a rare advantage. We are a country small enough to quickly test new solutions and diverse enough to produce relevant data. We have hospitals and research centers open to experimentation, an expanding technological ecosystem, and a demographic that, despite the challenges, offers a unique opportunity to rethink ageing in a modern and humane way.

In the coming years, we will see solutions that today seem like science fiction. Artificial intelligence supporting preventive consultations, health platforms integrated into the public system, telemedicine focused on longevity, and data systems that allow you to act before clinical problems arise. We will also see technologies designed for the elderly to live with more autonomy and dignity.

Portugal has the right energy. He has curiosity, talent, science, quality of life and openness to experiment. It has an ecosystem capable not only of following trends but of leading the advancement of longevity and biotechnology.

The world is looking for new paths. And many of them may be born here, in a country that combines innovation, humanity and courage to try what has not yet been done. Longevity does not mean living longer. It means living better. And Portugal has everything to show the world how this can be achieved.