Manuel Dias to Become Portugal’s First ‘State CTO’

Portugal is preparing to appoint Manuel Dias, former Microsoft National Technology Director, as the country’s first “CTO of the State.” He will lead the newly created State Technological Reform Agency (ARTE), driving digital transformation, interoperability, and innovation across public administration.

With over 20 years of experience at EFACEC, OutSystems, and Microsoft, Dias has worked closely with government bodies, including the Ministry of Justice.

His mission: modernize state systems, simplify services, and bring public administration closer to citizens. After 15 years at Microsoft, he left a message on LinkedIn: “This chapter ends, but the mission continues. I remain deeply committed to ensuring that AI serves humanity responsibly and helping Portugal seize the extraordinary opportunities it has ahead.”