The VdAcademia Award ceremony took place on the 27th April, at 10 a.m, in Anfiteatro 4 of the University of Lisbon Law School. This was the first time that VdAcademia  handed its award.  VdA's founding partner, Vasco Vieira de Almeida delivered the opening speech. The ceremony also counted with a debate on "Arbitration: an Alternative to Court" with the presence of António Menezes Cordeiro, PhD., Pedro Romano Martinez, PhD., from the University of Lisbon as well as with VdA's partners Mário Esteves de Oliveira and Frederico Gonçalves Pereira. The aim of this prize is to promote knowledge and to reward merit at Portuguese universities.