https://investporto.pt en Based on data from Euromonitor International and official tourism sources, the study compares international visitor numbers with local population figures to assess tourism intensity across global destinations. Porto placed 5th globally, with approximately 7 million international visitors compared to a population of around 250,000 (equivalent to roughly 2,800 tourists per 100 residents). Lisbon also features in the ranking, placing 8th, with around 10.4 million visitors. The results highlight Porto?s growing international visibility and attractiveness, driven by its cultural heritage, gastronomy and overall quality of experience for visitors. While such rankings reflect strong tourism demand, they also underline the importance of sustainable tourism management and balanced urban development, ensuring that growth continues to benefit both residents and the local economy. This recognition reinforces Porto?s position as a globally recognised destination, contributing to its broader [...]]]> TekPrivacy, a spin-off from the Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto and incubated at UPTEC, the Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, has been selected among the top 20 startups worldwide in the latest edition of the Protechting innovation programme.
The programme, developed by Fidelidade in partnership with the Fosun Foundation, Hospital da Luz Learning Health, and La Positiva, received more than 600 applications globally, making this its most competitive and international edition to date. 
TekPrivacy is developing innovative data protection technology aimed at enabling organisations to extract value from data while ensuring compliance with privacy regulations such as the GDPR. Its solution, Tek-Risk, allows companies to accurately assess privacy risks when processing data for secondary uses, such as research, analytics, or product development. 
By joining the Protechting programme, TekPrivacy will now enter a phase focused on developing of pilot [...]]]> Feedzai has launched RiskFM (Risk Foundation Model), a new AI solution designed specifically for financial data and risk decision-making, marking a significant step forward in the detection and prevention of financial crime. With a strong presence in Porto, the company continues to help financial institutions identify and prevent fraud, money laundering and other financial risks with greater speed, reduced manual effort and enhanced adaptability. Unlike traditional approaches based on manually developed rules or client-specific machine learning models, RiskFM introduces a new paradigm by leveraging a global dataset covering onboarding, digital activity, payments, transfers and anti-money laundering (AML) processes. This allows institutions to detect and respond to evolving financial threats with greater accuracy and consistency. According to Pedro Bizarro, financial transactions present unique challenges compared to other AI domains, due to their unpredictability and the adaptive nature of [...]]]> InvestPorto attended the 13th edition of the Careers UPT Job Fair, held on 26 March, which brought together more than 40 companies and institutions.
The event provided a platform for direct interaction between students, recent graduates and employers, enabling participants to explore job and internship opportunities and initiate recruitment processes.
The initiative also highlighted the growing importance of skills development in an increasingly competitive job market, fostering closer alignment between academic training and professional realities.
InvestPorto’s participation reflects its ongoing commitment to connecting highly qualified talent with the city’s business ecosystem, promoting Porto as an attractive destination for career development within both national and international companies.
 ]]> Porto will gain a daily direct flight to New York starting on 22 May, marking a significant milestone in the city’s international connectivity. Operated by Delta Air Lines, the new route will connect Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport, representing the first-ever daily direct service between Porto and New York. According to Porto and Northern Portugal Tourism, this new connection reflects Porto’s increasing international visibility, with the airline highlighting the city as one of Europe’s most promising destinations. This is expected to further support tourism, business travel and foreign investment, strengthening links between Porto and the United States, one of the region’s key strategic markets. The new route underscores Porto’s continued growth as an international hub for business, talent and tourism, improving accessibility and reinforcing its position as an attractive destination for global companies and investors.]]> Axelera AI, based at UPTEC, Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, has raised more than $250 million in a new funding round, bringing its total capital raised since 2021 to over $450 million. The company develops advanced AI acceleration semiconductors designed for computing and data centres, enabling data processing with improved energy efficiency. Its architecture allows data to be processed locally, reducing reliance on centralised cloud infrastructure while improving privacy and operational efficiency. Already deployed across more than 500 clients in sectors such as telecommunications, aerospace and enterprise technology, Axelera AI addresses one of the key challenges in scaling artificial intelligence: energy consumption and cooling constraints. The new investment will support the company?s commercial growth, including scaling production, advancing product development and expanding its team, particularly in customer support functions. Led by Innovation [...]]]> Porto has been ranked among the top 20 best cities in the world in the latest global index published by Time Out, securing the 17th position among 50 urban destinations. The ranking is based on insights from over 24,000 respondents across 150 cities, combined with evaluations from international experts in culture, urbanism and lifestyle. Key criteria include quality of life, cultural offer, gastronomy, urban environment and sense of community. Porto stood out for its strong identity, authenticity and hospitality, as well as the overall experience it offers to both residents and visitors. According to Hugo Beirão, the Councilor for Economy and Entrepreneurship at the Porto City Council, this recognition reflects the city?s growing attractiveness and the result of a consistent strategy focused on sustainable destination development, including better distribution of visitor flows and the creation of authentic urban experiences. This distinction further strengthens Porto?s international [...]]]> Porto continues to strengthen its relationship with the United States, driven by investment flows, tourism growth and expanding air connectivity.

During a visit by Lindsey Zuluaga from the US Embassy to the Porto City Council, Hugo Beirão Rodrigues, the Councilor for Economy and Entrepreneurship, highlighted the growing role of American companies in the city’s economy.

Porto is increasingly positioning itself as a hub for innovation and technology, supported by a dynamic ecosystem of startups, research centres and international companies. Today, around 40 US companies are established in the city, reinforcing its attractiveness as a destination for foreign direct investment.

At the same time, the United States has become a key tourism market for the region. In 2025, the Porto and North region accounted for 21.1% of all overnight stays by American tourists in Portugal, contributing significantly to the international visibility and economic performance of the territory. ]]> MEXT: Mota-Engil Next, a Porto Leading Investor, has invested in Sigma Easy Charge, supporting the development of a wireless charging technology for electric vehicles with the potential to transform urban mobility systems.
Founded in 2024 and incubated at UPTEC, Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, Sigma Easy Charge is developing a proprietary solution that enables high-power wireless charging, supported by advanced algorithms and intelligent control systems. The technology is designed to eliminate the need for cables, offering a more seamless and scalable charging experience.
With this investment, MEXT strengthens its position as an active partner in the evolution of innovative energy and mobility solutions. The collaboration will support the startup in advancing its technology from domestic charging systems to large-scale applications, including wireless charging infrastructure embedded in roads. 
The solution also aims to integrate with smart energy networks, [...]]]> HyCarb, a spin-off from the Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FEUP), is bringing to market a disruptive technology for clean hydrogen production, reinforcing Porto?s position within the global energy innovation landscape.
The company has developed a patented solution based on intermediate-temperature catalytic methane splitting (IT-CMS), a highly efficient process that produces hydrogen without direct CO? emissions, while simultaneously generating high-value graphitic carbon. When applied to biomethane, the technology can even achieve a negative carbon footprint, contributing to carbon removal.
Co-founded by Adélio Mendes, Professor at Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FEUP), and Paula Dias, the company builds on a strong scientific foundation and a track record of European research initiatives, including projects supported by the European Innovation Council. As Adélio Mendes notes, "We felt it was our [...]]]> Porto attended MIPIM, one of the most important international gatherings dedicated to real estate investment and urban development, where it presented strategies and projects aimed at increasing the housing supply and promoting investment in the city and the region.
In Cannes, the Councilor for Economy and Entrepreneurship, Hugo Beirão attended the event accompanied by representatives from Porto Vivo, SRU, and Greater Porto, delivering two presentations focused on urban policies aimed at territorial regeneration and the creation of new housing solutions.
One of the presentations highlighted the "Build to Rent? model, developed under the municipal program Porto com Sentido and managed by Porto Vivo and SRU. The pilot project, Jardins do Oriente, involves the construction of 124 affordable rental units through a public-private partnership model.
This mechanism is based on the municipality [...]]]> Three investment projects located in Porto were officially recognised at the Investment Impact Awards ceremony, organised by fDi Intelligence, part of the Financial Times group, during MIPIM 2026 in Cannes.  Among the recognised projects were the expansions of Porto Leading Investors Natixis in Portugal, Five9 and FinTrU. In the ranking, Natixis placed 2nd in the Mid-Sized Projects category, while Five9 and FinTrU ranked 4th and 5th respectively in the Small-Sized Projects category.  The awards distinguish investment projects across Europe with the strongest potential to generate meaningful economic impact, evaluating factors such as job creation, innovation, productivity and contributions to sustainable regional development.  Hugo Beirão, Councillor at the Porto City Council, and Ricardo Neves, representing InvestPorto, attended the ceremony in Cannes, marking the city?s presence at the moment these recognitions were formally presented. The distinction reinforces Porto?s [...]]]> Alongside several Porto Leading Investors, InvestPorto participated in three major university career events in Porto last week, reinforcing its commitment to connecting top student talent with leading international companies operating in the city.
InvestPorto attended the FEUP Engineering Days 2026, held from 2-5 March at the Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto. Designed for the faculty?s more than 9,000 students, the event featured a programme of talks, workshops and networking sessions connecting engineering students directly with potential employers.
InvestPorto also took part in the FJC Porto de Emprego, which took place on 3-4 March at the Faculdade de Economia da Universidade do Porto. Recognised as the largest job fair organised by students in Portugal, the event also offered a wide range of activities, including company presentations, workshops and the Speed Recruitment programme, where [...]]]> Critical Software has expanded in the United States through the acquisition of IQ Inc., reinforcing its long-term growth strategy in the North American market.  IQ Inc. specialises in engineering services for mission-critical systems and employs a team of more than 40 engineers. The company develops solutions across a range of sectors, including aerospace, defence, energy, healthcare, medical devices, mobility and robotics. Critical Software has been active in the American market for more than two decades and maintains international operations across several countries, including the UK and Germany.  The Portuguese technology company stated that the acquisition will enhance its engineering capabilities and delivery capacity in the U.S., while strengthening its strategic presence in the region. João Carreira, CEO of Critical Software, believes the acquisition will accelerate the company?s expansion and strengthen its engineering expertise in the United States. The [...]]]> ADECI, a start-up incubated at UPTEC (Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto), has been recognised as one of Portugal?s most promising startups by EU-Startups, which recently highlighted 10 innovative Portuguese ventures.
Founded in 2023 by Telmo Taipa and Helder Pereira, ADECI has developed an AI-based forecasting platform tailored for the restaurant sector. The solution analyses historical operational data alongside external variables that influence daily activity to forecast sales, customer flows, product demand, ingredient consumption and staffing needs. By improving demand forecasting, ADECI enables businesses to reduce costs, minimise food waste and make more informed operational decisions. The company has also been gaining traction beyond Portugal. In 2025, ADECI secured €500,000 in funding from Portugal Ventures and expanded its presence into the Spanish market. Looking ahead, the startup plans to broaden its technology into additional sectors such as retail and [...]]]> Critical TechWorks has announced plans to recruit approximately 300 new professionals in 2026, reinforcing its position as a key technology partner of the BMW Group.

Since its foundation in 2018 as a joint venture between BMW Group and Critical Software, the company has grown rapidly into a strategic engineering hub delivering advanced digital solutions for BMW on a global scale. Today, Critical TechWorks employs more than 3,000 people of 60 nationalities across Porto, Lisbon and Braga.

The 2026 recruitment drive will focus on domains that are central to the ongoing transformation of the automotive industry. Priority areas include software and product engineering, artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, digital mobility and autonomous driving. In addition to technical roles, the company is investing in strategic leadership positions, including an AI Mastermind Architect, a role designed to structure and scale AI solutions across core digital platforms and automotive [...]]]> A startup founded by alumni of the Integrated Master?s in MechanicalEngineering at the Faculty of Engineering ofthe University of Porto (FEUP) has launched NATU, asustainable shaving device designed and produced in Portugal.

Developedby Decimal Devotion, a spin-off of the University of Porto and incubated at the Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto (UPTEC), theproduct combines the convenience of disposable razors with the durability andeco-friendly approach of traditional razors.
The project was successfully funded on Kickstarter,raising around €16,000 from more than 250 supporters, surpassing its initialgoal. The brand is now available online and aims to expand into pharmacies andsustainability-focused retail.
NATU?s launch highlights Porto?s growing reputation as a hub [...]]]> InvestPorto has been featured in the Financial Times in a recent analysis examining how leading investment promotion agencies (IPAs) are leveraging digital marketing to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). The article explores how top-performing IPAs are increasingly integrating data-driven digital tools and targeted content strategies into their investment promotion activities. According to the feature, agencies that stand out combine robust data, clear value propositions and investor-focused communication. InvestPorto is highlighted as an example of this digital-first approach, with its WhatsApp chatbot. InvestPorto?s chatbot is noted for providing real-time support to investors, streamlining access to information and facilitating direct engagement. By incorporating interactive tools, InvestPorto enhances responsiveness and simplifies the investment journey in its website. The recognition by the Financial Times reinforces Porto?s positioning as a competitive and innovation-driven [...]]]> Superhuman, a leading productivity software company, has acquired Rows, marking its first operations in Portugal. Founded in 2017 by Humberto Ayres Pereira and Torben Schulz, the Porto Leading Investor offers AI-powered spreadsheet tools used by around 2.2 million users, mainly in the US.
Humberto Ayres Pereira will continue with the company, overseeing the Rows team as they work on data and productivity solutions with AI applications. The existing team of over a dozen employees in Northern Portugal will remain in place, ensuring continuity in expertise and operations.
Superhuman already operates multiple European teams in Ukraine, Poland, and Germany, and the Porto office highlights Portugal?s talent and the growing recognition of the country in the tech sector. The financial details of the deal have not yet been disclosed.
Since its inception, Rows had raised approximately €30 million, including a €9 million [...]]]> Proud Porto Leading Investor Natixis is continuing its strong expansion in Porto, where its centre near Campo 24 de Agosto employs around 3,000 people and hires hundreds more each year. The project represents nearly a decade of investment in talent, innovation, productivity and partnerships, and has recently been recognised by the Financial Times’ fDi Intelligence for its impact and potential. The centre was created from the redevelopment of a former shopping mall and features themed working areas inspired by locations around the world, including the city of Porto and the Star Wars universe, designed to encourage creativity, collaboration and forward-thinking. The space reflects Natixis’ ambition to create an environment where teams can innovate and shape the future. ]]> VisionWare, a Porto cybersecurity company, has announced record financial results for 2025, reaching a total turnover of €5.8 million, a 26% increase compared to the previous year. The milestone coincides with the company?s 20th anniversary and reflects growing market demand for robust cybersecurity solutions amid an increasingly complex threat landscape, including the rapid evolution of AI-driven cyberattacks. The Porto Leading Investor has also expanded its workforce to more than 115 employees, operating from its headquarters in Porto, its Lisbon office, and internationally in Cape Verde. International operations now account for over 22% of total turnover, underlining VisionWare?s successful global growth strategy. A key driver of performance has been the expansion of innovation-led services, particularly in intelligence and Security Operations Centre "as a service? solutions. VisionWare continues to strengthen its multidisciplinary teams across [...]]]> FinTrU's global delivery centre in Porto has been recognised as one of Europe?s most impactful foreign direct investment projects, achieving fifth place in the Small-Sized Projects category of the Financial Times' Investment Impact Awards. The distinction forms part of the broader recognition of Porto as one of Europe?s leading cities of the future for foreign direct investment.
Established in late 2022 and operational since early 2023, the Porto Leading Investor's centre plays a strategic role within the company?s global delivery network, providing specialised regulatory and compliance services to Tier 1 international investment banks. Founded in Belfast, FinTrU is a global financial services provider specialising in regulatory solutions, including Know Your Customer (KYC), compliance, legal support, risk management, and technology services.
The Porto operation delivers high-value services entirely to international markets, reinforcing [...]]]> Natixis in Portugal?s technology centre in Porto has secured second place in the Mid-Sized Projects category of the Financial Times? fDi Intelligence Investment Impact Awards, reinforcing Porto?s position as a leading European destination for foreign direct investment (FDI). The distinction recognises the strategic importance and long-term impact of Natixis? investment in the city, which has become a key operational and innovation hub for the French financial services group.
Part of Group BPCE, Porto Leading Investor Natixis in Portugal established its local Tech Centre to support its global operations through advanced IT, digital platforms, and financial services solutions. The centre plays a critical role in strengthening the group?s activities across Europe and the Americas, contributing to digital transformation and operational efficiency across multiple business lines.
Since its creation, the Porto hub has experienced [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor Five9 was recently distinguished in the Financial Times' inaugural edition of the Investment Impact Awards. The company's engineering hub in Porto was listed as the fourth most impactful small-sized investment project in Europe, a recognition that underlines the strategic importance of Five9?s decision to establish its operations in the city. The US-based cloud contact centre software provider relocated its European technology headquarters to Porto in 2023, selecting the city for its highly skilled engineering talent, strong connectivity, and vibrant technological ecosystem. Since then, the hub has rapidly evolved into a cornerstone of Five9?s international expansion. 
The project has created a highly-specialised team of over 300 professionals, with approximately 90% of the workforce consisting of software engineers and other highly qualified technical profiles. Around 70% of the hub's employees are [...]]]> Following four consecutive years of international recognition, and as the current #1 Large European City for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Strategy, Porto was yet again distinguished by the fDi Intelligence/Financial Times. This time, the publication's annual rankings focused on individual investment projects in Europe, recognising the ones that have the highest potential to deliver significant on-the-ground impact. The inaugural Investment Impact Awards highlighted the companies and regions driving change throughout Europe, looking beyond mere capital expenditure and job creation by considering complex variables such as a project?s potential to drive local productivity and innovation, its alignment with strategic objectives, and its ultimate contribution to sustainability and inclusion. The city of Porto thus saw three local operational [...]]]> UPTEC has launched Matching Founders, a new initiative designed to address one of the main challenges in entrepreneurship: finding the right people to form a solid founding team. The project is developed within the scope of the Open Call 2025, an initiative by Porto City Council, coordinated by Porto Digital with the support of Porto Innovation Hub and ScaleUp Porto.
Through this initiative, UPTEC reinforces its commitment to strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem by creating opportunities for innovative projects to emerge with well-aligned and complementary teams from the very beginning. Matching Founders is aimed at early-stage entrepreneurs seeking to connect with individuals who share the ambition, talent and vision to develop start-ups collaboratively.
The platform combines a digital matching system with regular in-person networking events. Users can create founder or cofounder profiles, publish business ideas, explore available projects and [...]]]> The latest preliminary figures from fDi Markets reveal that global greenfield foreign direct investment reached approximately US$1.29 trillion in 2025, making it the fifth-highest annual total on record. A surge in capital-intensive projects reflected investors? focus on digital infrastructure and the energy transition, with data centres leading this shift. 
Data centres emerged as the top FDI recipient sector for the first time, with a record US$320 billion in announced investments, significantly above the previous year?s total. This rapid growth, largely driven by artificial intelligence and cloud computing demand, accounted for nearly half of all major FDI projects worth US$1 billion or more.
The semiconductor industry also had a strong year as part of the broader digital investment trend, with more than US$138 billion pledged, including significant expansions by Taiwanese firms in the United States. Meanwhile, the renewable energy sector, long a top recipient of FDI, saw capital [...]]]> The Greater Porto project - comprising the municipalities of Porto, Matosinhos, and Vila Nova de Gaia - is preparing itself for another participation in the MIPIM real estate fair, taking place in Cannes during March. With the recent Greater Porto Meet-Up, which took place at Casa do Infante in Porto, the three municipalities kicked-off this process in a cooperative way.
The session was attended by municipal representatives from each of the three territories, including Porto City Councillor Hugo Beirão, Matosinhos City Councillor Marta Pontes, GaiUrb Board Chairman Amorim Pereira, as well as several companies interested in joining the Greater Porto delegation at MIPIM 2026. In a new political context, marked by the arrival of different municipal executives, the representatives highlighted the widespread recognition of the strategic importance of the Greater Porto project, as well as the desire to continue and deepen the legacy of inter-municipal cooperation and dialogue that the project built [...]]]> UPWIND Energy was created from long-term research conducted at SYSTEC, the Research Centre for Systems and Technologies of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), focusing on airborne wind energy systems (AWES). This technology uses airborne wind energy vehicles linked to a ground-based generator to capture stronger high-altitude winds, offering a new approach to renewable power in off-grid areas. Unlike conventional wind turbines, AWES eliminate the need for towers and heavy foundations by relying on lightweight airborne systems. This significantly reduces material usage, simplifies deployment and enables energy production in locations where traditional turbines are impractical or impossible to install, such as remote or difficult-to-access regions. In this context, UPWIND Energy is developing a portable generator designed for remote communities, disaster-affected areas and isolated economic activities that currently rely on diesel generators. These generators are [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor VisionWare, a fully Portuguese technology company specialising in Information Security and Cybersecurity, has been awarded Gold in the Privacy and Data Protection category of the Digital Maturity Awards (SMD). This recognition highlights the company?s commitment to delivering high-quality audit and consultancy services in a sector marked by increasing complexity and stringent standards.
The Digital Maturity Awards, part of Portugal?s national Selo Digital initiative, form a key measure of the Digital Transition Action Plan under Portugal Digital. Supported by the Recovery and Resilience Plan, the programme guides organisations through digital transformation while recognising their commitment to adopting robust digital practices. The National Data Protection Commission  and the National Cybersecurity Centre are key partners, reinforcing the certification?s national significance.
Bruno Castro, [...]]]> Portuguese startup and Porto Leading Investor Sword Health, valued at over $4 billion, has acquired German competitor Kaia Health in a $285 million deal, marking its largest acquisition to date. The move strengthens Sword Health's presence in the US and opens access to the German market, as Kaia Health also specialises in technology-driven patient rehabilitation.
CEO Virgílio Bento confirmed that this acquisition is just the beginning of a more aggressive expansion strategy for 2026. He indicated that further acquisitions are expected in the first half of the year, as the company seeks to consolidate its position in key international markets.
In addition to its acquisition strategy, Sword Health is preparing a new funding round of around $500 million in the first quarter, highlighting its ongoing growth ambitions. The company has recently invested in a health-focused AI hub in Porto and signed an agreement with the Greek government to establish the [...]]]> The city of Porto has become the stage for a new initiative targeting the retention of engineering talent in Portugal. The Order of Engineers launched the Talent Attraction and Retention Forum, designed to encourage young people to pursue engineering studies at Portuguese universities and ultimately contribute to the local and national workforce. The forum?s inaugural event at Porto Innovation Hub was attended by key figures, including the Minister of Education, Fernando Alexandre and Porto?s city councillor responsible for talent and knowledge, Matilde Rocha.

Representing the municipality, Vice-President Catarina Araújo highlighted the city?s commitment to attracting qualified professionals and strengthening Porto?s competitive edge. She emphasised the central role of the University of Porto and Porto Polytechnic as anchors for engineering education and innovation, noting that the city?s talent, knowledge, and execution capacity form the backbone of regional expertise.
A significant [...]]]> Didimo, a Porto-based deep tech startup, has built its growth on the gaming industry by developing advanced technology for creating digital humans, but is now preparing to expand into new sectors. According to CEO and founder Verónica Orvalho, the company aims to replicate its successful model in areas such as training and simulation, including healthcare and autonomous driving, where immersive environments are becoming increasingly important.
The company?s technology is the result of more than a decade of research in computer graphics, machine learning and facial animation. Since its foundation in 2016, Didimo has refined a platform that enables the fast and automated creation of high-quality 3D avatars, helping studios overcome one of the biggest bottlenecks in game development: character creation. Its Popul8 platform can generate thousands of unique characters almost instantly, without compromising quality or artistic direction.
Initially focused on [...]]]> The Municipality of Porto has presented the Porto University District, an ambitious initiative aimed at strengthening the city?s position as a recognised university hub that attracts and retains talent. The project seeks to create a common policy and identity for Porto as a university city, bringing together higher education institutions, students and the wider urban community in a shared ecosystem of knowledge and innovation.
Developed in collaboration with the city?s higher education institutions and the Academic Federation of Porto (FAP), the initiative will establish a unified brand and foster closer cooperation between academia and the municipality. According to city officials, the project goes beyond occasional collaboration, aiming instead to build a lasting collective identity that generates shared value and encourages systematic interaction between all stakeholders. Pedro Duarte, President of the Porto City Council, has argued that the collaboration between institutions is key to [...]]]> The Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) has once again been recognised among the leading engineering schools in Europe, securing a place in the top 15% of institutions evaluated in the 2025 edition of the European Ranking of Engineering Programs (EngiRank). This achievement comes in a year marked by a significant expansion of the ranking, which included 55 additional higher education institutions, making the assessment more competitive and comprehensive than ever.
In 2025, FEUP ranked 34th among 239 institutions, with a final score of 74.36. Although this represents a slight drop in absolute position compared to 2024, when it placed 33rd among 184 institutions, the broader evaluation context means FEUP improved its relative standing from the top 17% to the top 15%. This shift highlights a clear strengthening of the Faculty?s competitiveness within a more demanding European landscape.
Performance improved across all scientific areas evaluated. Notable progress [...]]]> Compuworks, an IT infrastructure and cybersecurity company, has announced the opening of a new delegation in Porto. The move is part of a sustained national expansion strategy and reflects the company?s ambition to reinforce its presence in key regional markets across Portugal.
The new office will provide direct coverage of the Northern and Central regions. According to CEO Ricardo Teixeira, proximity to clients and decision-makers remains a critical factor, particularly in a sector where trust and long-term relationships are essential. Compuworks already works with several companies in the North, including Hsols, Cineplace and Maleo.
The Northern operation will be led by Carlos Camelo, appointed Regional Director for the North. With more than 30 years of experience in the IT sector, Camelo has held senior roles at companies such as Decunify and Decsis, where he led enterprise business areas, national operations and international [...]]]> TAP has announced the creation of a new maintenance and engineering hub at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, in Porto, representing an investment of approximately €20 million and the creation of nearly 200 jobs. The announcement was made in the presence of the Minister of Infrastructure, Miguel Pinto Luz, and the Mayor of Porto, Pedro Duarte, highlighting the strategic importance of the project for the region.
Scheduled to be built over the next two years, the new facility will have the capacity to accommodate two Airbus A321 aircraft or similar models. TAP?s Chief Executive Officer, Luís Rodrigues, described the hub as a fundamental asset for the airline, noting that Porto Airport handled 17 million passengers in 2025 and offers ideal conditions to host such an operation.
According to TAP?s Chairman, Carlos Oliveira, the investment reaffirms the airline?s commitment to Northern Portugal, which he described as a strategic priority for the next decade. Alongside the new hub, TAP also [...]]]> Porto Tech Hub has announced the opening of applications for SWitCH Embedded, an advanced specialisation programme focused on the development of Embedded Computational Systems. The initiative aims to address the growing demand for highly skilled professionals in this field by combining solid theoretical foundations with a strong practical component.
The programme is open to professionals with academic backgrounds in Information Technologies, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering or related areas, as well as candidates without a higher education degree who can demonstrate relevant training or professional experience. According to Porto Tech Hub, the course is designed to respond directly to labour market needs, particularly in sectors such as industry, mobility and the Internet of Things.
Eduardo Sousa, Vice-President of Porto Tech Hub, highlights that the increasing adoption of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in embedded systems is [...]]]> EY Portugal, in partnership with EY Germany, has signed an agreement to acquire the assets of Qiado GmbH, a German consultancy specialising in digital transformation and financial process optimisation. As a result of the transaction, Qiado?s team has been integrated into EY, leading to a significant reinforcement of EY?s operations in Portugal.
Portugal plays a central role in this acquisition. Out of Qiado?s 40 employees, 27 joined EY Portugal at the beginning of the year, strengthening EY?s European footprint. According to EY Portugal, the integrated team will provide services to clients based in Germany and other European countries, focusing on high value-added competencies. These include financial transformation projects and contract lease management, a critical area for many organisations.
Miguel Farinha, Country Managing Partner of EY Portugal and other Lusophone markets, highlighted that the integration reflects EY?s ongoing investment in [...]]]> Out of thousands of applicants from the 32 NATO member countries, only 150 companies were selected to join the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA). Among them are two Portuguese startups connected to UPTEC, Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto: Connect Robotics, a UPTEC graduate company, and Neuraspace, currently incubated at UPTEC.

Participation in the DIANA programme provides selected companies with an initial investment of €100,000, access to a network of more than 180 NATO testing centres to validate technologies in real operational environments, and the opportunity to apply later for additional funding of up to €300,000. The accelerator focuses on the development of dual-use technologies with both civilian and defence applications.
Through its integration into DIANA, Neuraspace will work directly with NATO on the development of critical [...]]]> A research team led by the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S) at the University of Porto, in collaboration with institutions from the Universities of Minho and Coimbra, has identified an experimental molecule capable of reducing the severity and delaying the onset of Machado-Joseph disease. Also known as spinocerebellar ataxia type 3, this rare, hereditary and neurodegenerative condition has a significant prevalence in Portugal and currently has no effective treatment or cure.
Machado-Joseph disease is caused by a mutation in the ATXN3 gene, which leads to the production of an abnormal form of the ataxin-3 protein. Instead of remaining evenly distributed within the cell, the altered protein tends to form toxic aggregates that accumulate in neurons, particularly in the brain and spinal cord. These aggregates are associated with progressive symptoms such as loss of motor coordination, muscle spasms, imbalance, [...]]]> Open Cosmos, a satellite design, manufacturing and operations company based at UPTEC, has launched two innovative satellites into orbit aboard SpaceX?s Falcon 9 (Transporter 15) mission. The launch included the 6GStarLab, the first telecommunications laboratory for 6G testing in low Earth orbit, alongside a new satellite integrated into the company?s shared Open Constellation infrastructure.
The 6GStarLab mission represents Europe?s first open and flexible in-orbit platform dedicated to experimentation with 6G non-terrestrial networks. Designed to allow researchers to test new communication technologies in a real space environment, the platform aims to accelerate innovation in areas such as remote communications, telemedicine, distance learning, disaster prevention and mitigation, and autonomous mobility.
The second satellite strengthens the Open Constellation, a shared satellite infrastructure developed by Open Cosmos to [...]]]> AESE Business School, the oldest business school in Portugal, has officially opened a new campus in Porto, marking a strategic step to intensify its activity in the North of the country. Although the institution has been active in the region since the 1990s, the new campus reflects a stronger commitment to proximity with local companies and alumni based in Northern Portugal.
According to AESE?s Dean, Maria de Fátima Carioca, the expansion is driven by the need to bring executive education closer to business leaders who often struggle to prioritise continuous training due to the demands of daily operations. In an economy with structural fragilities, she argues, proximity and relevance are key to encouraging lifelong learning among managers and entrepreneurs.
The Porto campus will offer most of AESE?s general management programmes, excluding the MBA, as well as selected sector-specific courses already identified as relevant for the [...]]]> The University of Porto will open the first phase of applications for the Special Admission and Entry Scheme for International Students 2026/2027 on 2 January 2026. This scheme remains the main gateway for applicants without Portuguese or EU nationality wishing to pursue a full degree at the University.

For the upcoming academic year, U.Porto is making available 712 exclusive places for international students, distributed across 57 undergraduate and integrated master?s programmes, the highest number since the scheme was launched in 2014. Almost all degree programmes are included, with the exception of Drawing and Digital Health and Biomedical Innovation.

Among this year?s highlights is the debut of the Bachelor?s degree in Nursing, following the integration of the former School of Nursing into the University of Porto, with ten places reserved for international applicants. Another key development is the first fully English-taught edition of the Economics and Management degrees at [...]]]> Coreflux, a Portuguese tech company based in Porto, has secured 1.2 million euros in a recent financing round led by the investment funds of Armilar and Portugal Gateway. The company develops advanced, interoperable data solutions for the enterprise IoT market that help improve data connectivity and data processing, having already acquired customers and partners in the manufacturing, energy, financial services, and logistics sectors.
According to Coreflux, the funds will reportedly now be used to support the company's market entry, including international expansion and partnerships, as well as to further develop its infrastructure.
"The problem today isn?t that you lack data; it?s that your data is trapped in complex, silent silos,? said Hugo Vaz, co-founder and CEO of Coreflux. "We are building the tools to break down those walls and finally connect the dots, creating a simple, invisible layer where your intelligence can flow freely,? he added.
Ana Lobo Xavier of Portugal Gateway [...]]]> The University of Porto has been recognised as one of the world?s leading research institutions in the 2025 edition of the ScholarGPS Rankings of Scholars and Institutions. Ranked 122nd globally and first in Portugal, the University stands out for the volume, impact and quality of its scientific output over the past five years, based on internationally recognised indicators such as publications, citations and h-index.
This strong performance places the University of Porto just outside the global top 100 among more than 55,000 institutions assessed worldwide. During the period analysed, its nearly 8,000 researchers produced over 35,000 scientific publications, which together accumulated more than 300,000 citations, reflecting the University?s growing influence on global science.
At disciplinary and subject level, the University achieved exceptional results, ranking second worldwide in Pharmaceutical Sciences and holding leading positions in areas such as [...]]]> The Dutch technology group Conclusion, through its subsidiary Neotalent Conclusion, has inaugurated a new and larger office in the Trinity Porto complex, designed to accommodate its growing team. The new space currently hosts around 115 employees, with plans to expand the workforce to 165 professionals within the next two years.
According to Managing Director Célia Vieira, the opening of the Porto office reflects a strong relationship built over the past decade with local talent and clients in northern Portugal. The move aims to strengthen the company?s proximity to the local technology ecosystem and underlines Porto?s increasing importance in the group?s operations. The Porto office follows Conclusion?s multi-brand ecosystem model, prepared to host teams from other companies within the group as its presence in the region continues to grow.
With a global ambition to reach €2 billion in [...]]]> Flowco is a 100% Portuguese startup dedicated to the circular economy, specialising in transforming industrial waste such as tyres and footwear soles into sustainable materials and products. By combining materials research, product design, digital prototyping, and local production, the company develops visually distinctive solutions for architects, interior designers, brands, and industries seeking environmentally responsible alternatives.
Founded by four architects with a shared vision of turning waste into valuable resources, Flowco began as an idea submitted to a business competition. The project gained momentum eight years ago when the founders joined Porto Design Factory. According to Co-Founder António Vale, this incubation period was essential for transforming the concept into a viable business.
At the end of 2018, with the creation of Startup Porto, Flowco transitioned into this new incubation [...]]]> Cell4Food, a spin-off from the University of Porto, has obtained €1.5 million through the SIID programme under Portugal 2030 to support the development of CELLBLUE, a project focused on creating sustainable, cell-cultured seafood. The funding will accelerate research and technological innovation, particularly in producing octopus cells for hybrid products that replicate the flavour, texture, and nutritional value of traditional octopus.

The startup positions its work as a response to global challenges such as the over-exploitation of marine resources and the resulting environmental degradation. By developing ethical, sustainable protein alternatives, Cell4Food aims to contribute to a more responsible food future aligned with sustainability principles.

Founded in 2022, Cell4Food focuses on sustainability and food security in the marine sector and became an official U.Porto spin-off in 2025. The consortium behind CELLBLUE includes Colab4Food, CATAA, Universidade Católica [...]]]> Airlines have begun outlining their expansion strategies for Porto?s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, with several new routes planned for the 2025-2026 seasons. Delta Air Lines, Smartwings and easyJet are among the carriers investing in greater connectivity from northern Portugal.

Delta Air Lines revealed plans to strengthen transatlantic travel by launching a daily Porto-New York JFK service in May 2026. The route will be operated with a Boeing 767-300 aircraft configured with four cabin classes, and the airline anticipates strong demand for Porto within its global network.

Smartwings, the largest carrier in the Czech Republic, has initiated a new Porto-Prague connection with two weekly flights. The route forms part of the airline?s winter 2025-2026 expansion strategy and reinforces its presence across the [...]]]> Deloitte?s latest "Technology Fast 50 Portugal? ranking highlights the exceptional momentum of Portuguese tech companies, with the top 50 generating more than €424 million in revenue in 2024. On average, these businesses grew 650% since 2021 and collectively contributed around €273 million in exports. The top three positions are Bloq.it, Porto Leading Investor i-charging and Coverflex.

The report underscores the diversity and maturity of Portugal?s tech ecosystem. While six of the ranked companies are young start-ups of four or five years, more than half have been operating for a decade or longer, showing that significant growth is not confined to early-stage businesses. Beyond the main list, Porto Leading Investor Critical Manufacturing secured the "Market Catalyst by [...]]]> Maersk, a proud Porto Leading Investor, was recently recognised as the "Best Carrier Portugal - Latin America" at the Transportes & Negócios (T&N) Cargo Awards 2025. The yearly award ceremony hosted more than 200 people from several segments of transport and logistics.
The trophies were presented by João Neves, president of APDL, Pedro do Ó Ramos, president of APS, António Nabo Martins, executive president of APAT, António Belmar da Costa, executive director of AGEPOR, Daniel Pereira, vice-president of APAT, Helena Fernandes, commercial, marketing and communications director of APDL, Carla Macedo, advisor to the APA Port Coordination Directorate, and Inês Simões Carneiro, APAT's regional manager for the North.
Maersk's award, for "Melhor Armador Portugal-América Latina," underscores the Leading Investor's dedication and commitment to maintaining a robust, reliable, and high-quality service across this vital intercontinental trade lane. "A big thank you to our [...]]]> The Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) will coordinate a €5.4 million project funded by the European Commission, designed to revolutionise Renewable Energy Communities (RECs). Starting in January 2026, the INNO-TREC initiative aims to streamline the entire lifecycle of RECs, from their creation and system design to daily operation, monitoring, and long-term optimisation.   INNO-TREC seeks to enable citizens, companies, and local authorities to produce, consume, and share 100% renewable energy more efficiently. This approach is expected to help overcome complex legal procedures, high implementation costs, and the lack of reliable tools currently hindering the adoption of shared photovoltaic systems. 
By providing intuitive, accessible digital solutions, the project aims to foster more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable energy communities aligned with Europe?s goals for carbon neutrality and energy democratisation. The project brings together 20 [...]]]> The School of Economics and Management of the University of Porto (FEP) and Porto Business School (PBS) have once again secured a place among Europe?s most prestigious business schools, reaching the 38th position in the Financial Times European Business Schools Ranking 2025. This result marks an improvement of one position from the previous year and reflects the combined performance of both schools across multiple ranking categories.
FEP?s contribution comes through its Master?s in Management (MiM), which was placed 62nd in the Masters in Management ranking. The programme continues to be recognised for its academic quality, strong employability outcomes, and close ties to the business sector, reinforcing its international reputation. According to Óscar Afonso, FEP?s Director, the recognition highlights the school?s commitment to excellence, innovation, and the success of its students.
Porto Business School was evaluated across four different Financial Times categories, strengthening its [...]]]> Braining, a startup founded by two young entrepreneurs, one of them an alumnus of the Polytechnic of Porto, officially opened its new incubated office at Startup Porto, located within the Porto Innovation Centre - PORTIC. The ceremony on 21 November marks an important milestone in the company?s trajectory, which has developed and matured entirely within Porto Polytechnic?s innovation ecosystem.
The project originated in the Poliempreende competition, where it stood out for its innovative use of Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality to support stroke-patient rehabilitation. After securing the regional first prize and the national second place, the team gained access to its initial incubation phase at Startup Porto, benefiting from structured support and expert mentoring.
Throughout this development period, Braining refined its concept and built the technological solution, positioning the company as a solid and expanding venture in the health-tech [...]]]> The University of Porto has made a significant leap in the "QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026?, securing the 150th position worldwide and 78th in Europe. This placement follows an impressive rise of 59 spots compared with the previous edition, reflecting the institution?s strengthened commitment to addressing global environmental, social and governance challenges. With a total score of 86.5 out of 100, U.Porto stands out among more than 2,000 universities assessed.
The university?s strongest performance appears in the Social Impact category, where it now ranks 97th globally, entering the exclusive group of the world?s top 100 institutions. This ranking assesses indicators such as Equality, Knowledge Transfer, Educational Impact, Employability and Opportunities, and Health & Wellbeing. U.Porto particularly excels in Knowledge Transfer (48th) and Educational Impact (89th), reinforcing its role as an institution with strong academic influence and societal relevance.
In the [...]]]> Tekever has signed a €30 million contract with the EuropeanMaritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to strengthen surveillance of European watersusing drones. The contract has an initial duration of two years and may beextended for up to four years.
"This agreement reinforces EMSA's confidence in Tekever'sproven technology. Our systems continue to support maritime surveillance,enabling authorities to improve situational awareness and provide real-timeinformation where it is most needed", said Nadia Maaref, head of Tekever'sSecurity Unit.
Under this framework contract, Tekever will supply two AR5unmanned aerial systems (UAS), each consisting of two aircraft, to supportsimultaneous multi-regional operations in European waters. The AR5 - amedium-altitude fixed-wing drone with up to 12 hours of autonomy, maritimeradar and beyond-line-of-sight flight capability via SATCOM technology - hasbeen in use [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor Sword Health has announced a partnership with the Greek government to manage the country?s national health hotline. The collaboration will introduce artificial intelligence into telephone triage, supervised by clinical teams, to guide citizens? healthcare access efficiently. The initiative draws inspiration from Portugal?s SNS 24 service and aims to serve over 10 million people.
Initially, the project will focus on the National Health Information Line. Following the evaluation of initial results, the plan will expand to include the Medical Emergency Line, equivalent to Portugal?s CODU. Both lines are expected to be fully integrated with advanced AI systems by the end of next year.
The AI technology, developed by Sword Intelligence, will assist frontline healthcare staff by automating routine tasks, increasing capacity, reducing response times, and providing resilience against sudden spikes in demand. The Greek government anticipates [...]]]> A UPTEC-incubated startup, Astrolabium, has developed an AI-powered platform, PowerNavigator, designed to help energy-sector companies improve risk management and reduce costs. The AI-driven platform provides users with full-market simulations, identifying optimal moments to buy, sell or hedge energy.

PowerNavigator responds to the significant price volatility in the Iberian energy market, enabling SMEs to make smarter buying and hedging decisions without needing a dedicated risk team. Drawing on weather forecasts and over a decade of market data, the platform runs 10,000 possible price scenarios to deliver a detailed probability distribution of future market conditions. This enables companies to anticipate risks more effectively and make informed decisions that safeguard their margins.
The startup argues that such sophisticated quantitative tools, traditionally accessible only to large financial institutions, [...]]]> Airbus and Critical Software have formalised a new joint venture, Critical FlyTech, dedicated to developing high-assurance aerospace software for aviation, space, and defence applications. Scheduled to begin operations early next year with a team of 120 employees, aiming to reach 300 specialists by 2028. According to CEO Ricardo Armas, the project will bring together the strengths of both organisations to deliver technology that meets the strictest standards of safety, reliability, and innovation.
This initiative further reinforces Airbus and Critical Software agreement with Critical FlyTech now representing the concrete next step, strengthening Portugal?s role within the global aerospace value chain. Airbus already employs over one thousand people in Portugal across its production facilities in Santo Tirso and its Global Business Services hubs, and continues to seek [...]]]> The Porto-founded technology company i-charging, a Porto Leading Investor, has been awarded the 21st edition of the COTEC-BPI SME Innovation Prize, standing out among a record 311 applicants. The award, delivered by the President of Portugal, recognises companies that transform knowledge into sustained growth and international competitiveness. 
Founded in 2019 and led by Pedro Moreira da Silva, i-charging specialises in intelligent electric vehicle charging solutions that are reshaping the fast-charging landscape. The company?s differentiation lies in its modular architecture, seamless integration of hardware and software, and a user-centred approach that redefines the role of the EV charger. 
This innovation-driven model, combined with a fabless, capital-light strategy, has enabled i-charging to rapidly scale across demanding global markets. Today, the company operates in more than 40 countries, with over 90% of its sales generated [...]]]> Portugal has secured sixth place in the 2025 Education First English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), a global ranking that assessed English language abilities across 123 countries. With a score of 612 out of 800, the Portuguese significantly surpassed the global average of 488 points. Both students and teachers from Portugal stood out in the evaluation.
The test measured reading, listening, speaking and writing skills. Portugal ranked just behind the Netherlands, Croatia, Austria, Germany and Norway, with the Netherlands taking the top spot at 624 points. Among the different skills assessed, reading emerged as the strongest area for Portuguese participants, earning an impressive 632 points. However, the study highlights that spoken English continues to be the biggest challenge worldwide. The report also shows that gender differences in English proficiency are becoming increasingly minimal.
The northern and central regions of Portugal were particularly noteworthy for their strong results, [...]]]> Körber Campus Porto, a strategic hub of the international technology group Körber, a Porto Leading Investor, is set to host a blood donation initiative on 20 November, in partnership with the São João Hospital Blood Bank and in collaboration with vaibe, Infraspeak, and Tonic App. The event, taking place at the Campus headquarters from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm, aims to raise awareness of the ongoing need for regular blood donations.
According to Paula Gomes da Costa, General Manager at Körber Campus Porto, the initiative reflects a broader commitment to community impact. She emphasised how collective action among businesses can bring meaningful benefits to society and reinforce shared human values, highlightin the positive role companies can play in fostering social responsibility within their communities.
The campaign also showcases the strong sense [...]]]> Virgílio Bento, the founder and president of Sword Health, has been named Entrepreneur of the Year at the prestigious EY Portugal gala. The award acknowledges the company’s rapid expansion and its increasing investment in artificial intelligence to transform patient care.
Held at the Porto de Leixões Cruise Terminal, the ceremony’s main highlight was the announcement of this top honour. The recognition positions Sword Health, a Porto Leading Investor, as one of Portugal’s most dynamic and technologically advanced companies within the global health sector.
These awards collectively showcase the strength and diversity of Portuguese entrepreneurship. Sword Health’s achievement, in particular, highlights Portugal’s growing contribution to the global health-tech and AI landscape. ]]> Nearly twenty startups linked to the institution showcased their projects at Europe?s largest technology event at Web Summit, reflecting UPTEC?s growing influence in the innovation ecosystem.
The spotlight this year fell on Granter, which emerged as the winner of the prestigious Startup Pitch Competition. The company topped a field of more than a hundred startups, earning the clear preference of both the audience with an impressive 80% of the votes and the expert jury. Their decision highlighted not only the clarity and conviction of the presentation but also the robustness of Granter?s business model and its ambitions for international expansion.
Founded in 2023 by Bernardo Seixas and Bernardo Tavares, Granter has developed what it describes as the world?s first "AI Grant Consultant?. The platform helps companies identify suitable public funding opportunities, assess eligibility, draft applications, and manage [...]]]> Born from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), Medtiles is a multidisciplinary spin-off combining artificial intelligence, technology, and medicine to improve the way healthcare professionals are trained. The company?s flagship product, Medtiles Tutor, uses generative AI to create realistic and adaptive clinical simulations where users can make critical decisions in a safe, repeatable environment with immediate feedback. The platform adapts to the user?s experience level, allowing educators to customise cases, define complexity, and adjust language or parameters. Medtiles has already demonstrated impact, with over 80% of professionals using the Tutor platform in collaboration with Neurotalks reporting better knowledge retention. Partnerships with Hospital da Luz and the Catholic University of Porto have validated its use in both clinical and academic contexts. The project has also earned recognition from Portugal?s National Innovation [...]]]> UZU has officially inaugurated its new headquarters in Porto, marking a key milestone in the company?s international expansion. Located on Avenida do Brasil in Foz do Douro, the space gathered investors, partners, and leading figures from the property sector for an exclusive opening event that highlighted UZU?s commitment to innovation and proximity within the Portuguese market.
The American startup selected Portugal as the base for its pilot project, focused on developing and consolidating a pioneering model of structured usufruct. This solution enables homeowners to sell their properties while continuing to live in them safely and legally, offering a blend of liquidity, financial stability, and quality of life. According to Casemiro Ramos, UZU?s Executive Director in Portugal, the opening represents "more than the launch of an office?, it marks the beginning of a new phase built on credibility, purpose, and closeness to clients.
The newly opened headquarters was conceived as both an [...]]]> The Spanish supermarket chain Mercadona has signed an agreement to open a new store within the Heart of Porto, a landmark €70 million project transforming the former La Vie shopping centre into a premium mixed-use hub. The development, led by Tikehau Capital and Quest Capital, marks a major step in the revitalisation of Porto?s central business district. The project benefited from the support of InvestPorto through its aftercare programme. This initiative is set to redefine the concept of workspace and urban integration in Porto. It will feature approximately 30,000 square metres of offices, retail and leisure areas, including rooftop facilities, a bar, a multi-purpose hall, and over 400 parking spaces equipped with electric charging points. Once completed, it is expected to accommodate around 2,000 workplaces, further strengthening the city?s position as a dynamic economic hub. For Mercadona, this new location reinforces its expansion strategy in [...]]]> Dils has officially opened its new store and office in Porto, strengthening its presence in one of Portugal?s most strategic and fast-growing regions. The new space, located at Avenida da Boavista 4143, will play a central role in promoting the real estate market across the country?s central and northern areas, encompassing residential, office, retail, industrial, logistics, and hospitality sectors.
With a team of 28 professionals based in Porto, all bringing extensive expertise in the property market, this expansion will allow Dils to deepen its local engagement and build closer relationships with both residents and investors interested in the region. The project has benefited from the support of InvestPorto through its aftercare programme, which has supported the brand in establishing its new northern base. According to Patrícia Barão, Partner Residential at Dils Portugal, the Porto opening aligns with the company?s growth strategy and commitment to staying [...]]]> Seedsight, a Portuguese deeptech spin-off from INESC TEC and incubated at UPTEC, has secured €1.78 million in new funding to expand the commercial and operational development of its technology aimed at reducing food waste in the agri-food industry. This latest round, led by 3xP Global with participation from Techstars, HBG Ventures GmbH, and new investor Generation-Re Syndicate, brings the company?s total funding to €2.78 million.
The startup focuses on digitising grain quality assessment through a platform that combines optical sensors and artificial intelligence. By creating a digital library of cereal and seed "signatures? validated via low-cost biomolecular and biophysical analyses, Seedsight enables farmers, cooperatives, and mills to identify the best grain varieties and suppliers more efficiently and at competitive prices. This innovation aims to reduce waste and allow quality verification at only 10% of traditional [...]]]> EY Portugal has expanded its presence in Porto with the opening of a new office in Icon Tower, a landmark building that symbolises innovation and sustainability. The move marks another step in the firm?s growth strategy, offering a state-of-the-art workspace that triples the size of its previous facilities to accommodate over 400 professionals in 3,500 square metres of flexible, technology-enhanced space.
The new office benefits from excellent access to transport and city amenities, reinforcing EY?s role as a hub for talent and innovation in Northern Portugal. The building?s design reflects EY?s commitment to wellbeing and sustainability, combining acoustic, lighting, and connectivity technologies to create a serene, efficient, and collaborative environment.
Inspired by Porto?s identity, the interior design pays tribute to the city?s most emblematic areas - from Ribeira to Boavista - through textures, colours, and materials that evoke the Douro [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor NTT Data, a global leader in AI, digital business and technology services, has acquired Alchemy Technology Services, a Northern Ireland-based consultancy specialising in insurance technology. The move aims to accelerate digital transformation across the insurance industry, a sector increasingly focused on agility, scalability, and modernisation.
The acquisition underscores NTT Data's commitment to reshaping the global insurance ecosystem by addressing both current and emerging technological challenges. The Leading Investor intends to leverage Alchemy?s expertise to deliver more intelligent, connected, and data-driven insurance solutions, particularly in key international markets.
Bruno Abril, Global Lead for the Insurance Industry at NTT Data, described the acquisition as a strategic step that enhances the company?s ability to support insurers through large-scale IT modernization. He also [...]]]> Portuguese unicorn and Porto Leading Investor Sword Health has announced a €250 million investment to create a global hub for artificial intelligence in healthcare based in the city of Porto. The project reinforces the company?s commitment to nurturing national talent and advancing innovation in medical technology. The investment, to be completed by 2028, marks a significant step in consolidating Portugal?s role as a leader in AI development.
The initiative will be divided into three strategic pillars, with €60 million dedicated to human resources. In this regard, the Leading Investor plans to expand its Portuguese workforce from 500 to more than 930 qualified professionals, more than doubling the number of engineers to over 700. The company will also finance over 60 master?s and doctoral scholarships to support research and the integration of young professionals into the tech and health sectors.
A strong emphasis will be placed on research [...]]]> The Municipality of Porto, through InvestPorto, recently organised a series of thematic sessions with several Porto Leading Investors. Aimed at discussing views on the challenges and opportunities offered by the city, the "urbanaMente" sessions set the stage for a direct dialogue between local decision-makers in a private roundtable format, addressing areas of fundamental importance to the city such as Innovation, the local Business & Services Environment, and Porto's Quality of Life and Sustainability.
Each session focused on a particular theme, allowing for a rich dialogue and reflection among the various groups of participants. The sessions therefore had a distinct focus between themselves that helped contribute towards a greater variety of perspectives and a cross-cutting collection of information about Porto's current economic, business, and social dynamics. ]]> A new milestone for Dachser in Portugal:

Dachser officially inaugurated its new Corporate IT Hub facilities at the ICON Douro building in Porto. The space, located on the 2nd floor and covering around 750 sqm., now accommodates the company's 67 current employees, from 8 different nationalities. By the end of 2025, this number is expected to reach 90, consolidating Porto as the company?s second largest digital hub worldwide, right after its headquarters in Kempten, Germany. The event, which took place on October 20th, was attended by Stefan Hohm, Chief Development Officer (CDO) at Dachser, and Ralf Morawietz, CIO at Dachser. Susana Pinto, Head of the Porto City Council's Economics Department and representing InvestPorto, also took part in the opening event.

The importance of Corporate IT Hub Portugal:

Operational since the last quarter of 2024, the Corporate IT Hub in Porto strengthens Dachser?s global capacity for innovation and digitalization. Alongside the [...]]]> The Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Porto (FFUP) has taken a decisive step in expanding its scientific activity with the approval and launch of nine new research projects under the COMPETE2030 programme, representing a total investment of over €11 million. These initiatives bring together academia, research centres and industry partners, both national and international, consolidating FFUP?s position as a hub of scientific excellence in Portugal.
Among the featured projects are NANOBIOESCUDO, focused on bio-inspired technologies to prevent marine biofouling, and XtremeGourmet 2.0, which explores halophyte plants for healthy and innovative gastronomy. Shrimp4NanoCosmetics seeks to harness shrimp-derived compounds for cosmetic applications, while MedAIVeritas integrates artificial intelligence into medical contexts, bridging data science and healthcare.
Other projects such as INTECH+, PREMIUMALGAE, GrapeUP, Novolac and BioBeauty [...]]]> Hines, a global real estate investment and management company, is developing its first student residence in Portugal, located in the Asprela academic hub of Porto. The project, awarded to Portuguese construction firm Garcia Garcia, is scheduled to open before the 2026/2027 academic year and will provide 573 beds across a variety of accommodation types.
Covering a total area of 19,259 square metres, the residence will feature a wide range of amenities, including a gym, study and meeting rooms, social lounge, cinema, laundry facilities, sports court, parking, and landscaped gardens. It will also boast the largest outdoor recreational area among student residences in Porto, conveniently located near several faculties and public transport links.
Designed with sustainability in mind, the development aims to achieve BREEAM Excellent and WELL Gold certifications, underscoring Hines?s environmental commitment. This project [...]]]> Universidade Católica Portuguesa Porto and Porto Tech Hub have signed a strategic cooperation protocol designed to strengthen technological training and promote the sustainable development of the region?s innovation ecosystem. The agreement outlines a series of initiatives ranging from internship and scholarship programmes to the creation of new employment and joint research opportunities.
This collaboration seeks to bring academia and industry closer together, fostering a stronger connection between scientific knowledge and the needs of the technology market. Both institutions are also committed to establishing knowledge transfer centres and developing new activities that stimulate the growth of Porto?s tech sector.
Through this partnership, Católica and Porto Tech Hub aim not only to increase youth employability but also to consolidate Porto?s position as an international technology hub. Luís Silva, President of [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor Kuehne+Nagel Portugal has once again been certified as a Great Place to Work, marking the third consecutive year the company receives this prestigious global recognition for employee experience and organisational trust. The certification reflects Kuehne+Nagel?s continuous commitment to fostering a collaborative, people-centred, and innovative workplace.
According to Gonçalo Sá, Head of the Porto IT Centre, this milestone showcases the strong culture that has been built within the organisation: "This remarkable achievement reflects the strong culture we?ve built together ? one that places people at the heart of everything we do.? The company remains dedicated to supporting professional growth, sustainability, and continuous improvement across all areas of its business.
A proud Porto Leading Investor, Kuehne+Nagel has contributed to Porto?s dynamic economic and technological ecosystem, reinforcing the city?s position [...]]]> The University of Porto has reaffirmed its prominence in the global higher education landscape by once again ranking among the world?s top 401?500 universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, continuing to lead the national performance.
This international recognition reflects the University?s quality of teaching, research excellence, and strong ties with industry. U.Porto recorded notable improvements in the Research Environment and Industry indicators, standing out as the second-best Portuguese institution in both Teaching and Research Quality. For the first time, it is also listed among the top 300 universities worldwide in scientific output, marking an important milestone in its scientific reputation.
At the European level, the University of Porto ranks among the top 190?220 institutions and within the 126?151 range in the European Union, underlining its growing influence within the academic community. In the Ibero-American context, U.Porto is placed in the [...]]]> The University of Porto, through U.Porto Inovação, has secured €164,000 in funding from Portugal 2030, Compete 2030, and Norte 2030 programmes to support four energy innovation projects developed at its Faculty of Engineering (FEUP). This investment covers 85% of the university?s costs to protect and develop these technologies over the next three years.
Among the funded projects is GENESIS, led by Alexandra Pinto, which produces hydrogen and electricity for small vessels with zero emissions using rechargeable cartridges and reusable by-products. GENESIS, already with patent applications in Portugal, Europe, and the US, aims to accelerate commercialisation in the maritime sector and has already been recognised in multiple innovation competitions, securing second place at the first edition of BIP Acceleration and was one of those selected to receive funding in the most recent edition of BIP PROOF.
The UPWIND project, led by Fernando Fontes, focuses [...]]]> Portuguese pet tech startups Maven and Purrmi have joined forces to create the first "Pet Hub? in Portugal, a 250-square-metre collaborative space located in downtown Porto. The Pet Hub is designed to accommodate around 80 people and already hosts both companies? teams ? roughly 20 professionals working side by side. The space includes meeting rooms, a multipurpose area for demonstrations, and facilities for workshops, talks, and co-working, encouraging interaction between startups, researchers, and entrepreneurs in the pet tech sector. Maven, co-founded by Guilherme Coelho and Virgílio Bento (also co-founder and CEO of Porto Leading Investor Sword Health), is known for developing AI-Vet, a smart collar sensor that monitors pets? health and detects early signs of illness. The company has raised a total of $9 million since its creation in 2021, recently reinforcing its AI capabilities and expanding [...]]]> Spark, a €35 million investment by Castro Group, has officially opened in Matosinhos setting a new benchmark for innovation, sustainability and quality of life in the Greater Porto area. Designed by Paulo Merlini Architects, this forward-thinking development brings together over 11,500 square metres of flexible office space, 1,800 square metres of retail and service areas, and more than 4,000 square metres of landscaped green and leisure zones. At the heart of Spark lies a strong commitment to environmental responsibility and technological intelligence. The building aims to achieve the prestigious LEED and WELL sustainability certifications and is the first in Portugal to pursue WiredScore and SmartScore accreditations, recognising excellence in digital connectivity and smart infrastructure. Among its advanced features are real-time monitoring of air [...]]]> Feedzai, one of Portugal?s leading technology unicorns, has reached a valuation exceeding $2 billion following a fresh funding round worth around $75 million (€64 million). The round attracted new institutional investors including Lince Capital, Iberis Capital, and Explorer Investments, joining existing backers Oxy Capital and Buenavista Equity Partners. Founded by Nuno Sebastião, Pedro Bizarro, and Paulo Marques, with offices in Porto and a global presence, Feedzai has become a reference in artificial intelligence for financial risk management and fraud prevention. The announcement coincided with a major milestone for the company: the European Central Bank?s decision to appoint Feedzai as the main technology provider for the digital euro?s risk management and fraud prevention system. The four-year contract, valued at up to €237 million, positions the Portuguese fintech at the heart of Europe?s efforts to ensure the security and reliability of [...]]]> BrightGroup, a Portuguese technology company and member of Porto Tech Hub, has introduced a groundbreaking platform designed to bring empathy into digital business communication. Founded in 2024 by Tiago Coelho, Jorge Teixeira and Luís Silva, the company combines artificial intelligence with emotional intelligence to redefine how brands engage with customers online.
The platform creates AI-powered virtual avatars that represent different business sectors while displaying recognisably human traits. These avatars can interpret users? emotions, adapt their tone of voice, language, and even express feelings through facial gestures such as smiles or hesitation. BrightGroup operates on a B2B2C model, selling its platform to specialised business units that interact directly with consumers. These include BrightPlay for gaming and gambling, BrightStore for e-commerce, and Bright FS for banking and financial [...]]]> Pepco, one of Europe?s fastest-growing low-cost retail chains, has strengthened its presence in Portugal with the opening of a new Digital IT Hub in Porto. The facility, launched earlier this month, is designed to support the company?s technological and digital evolution across 18 European markets. According to Chief Information Officer Pablo De Ayala, Pepco?s new project highlights Porto?s potential as a strategic hub for attracting technological talent and accelerates digital transformation within the group. The company describes the project as both "significant and strategic?, aiming to develop new capabilities in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and enterprise resource planning systems. The hub will focus on improving customer engagement technologies and modernising back-office operations to create a more seamless and innovative retail experience. Initially employing around 60 professionals, the Porto centre is expected to expand gradually as [...]]]> Fujifilm Portugal is investing about €500,000 to open the country?s first House of Photography, set to launch on the 7th of November in the heart of Porto. Located on Rua Sá da Bandeira, the venue is designed to be much more than a store, positioning itself as a cultural and experiential hub devoted to photography. 
Covering two floors and 220 square metres, the new space will host exhibitions by both Portuguese and international artists, offer workshops, events and product experience areas, and serve as a meeting point for professionals, students and photography enthusiasts alike. This investment builds on Fujifilm Portugal?s strong presence in the country, where the company generates 55 million euros in annual revenue and employs 170 people. Beyond its economic footprint, the project strengthens Porto?s status as a hub of cultural and technological innovation as a creative reference on the European stage, boosting cultural tourism and [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor Euronext has opened a new headquarters in the centre of Porto, a historic and fully renovated building that once housed the Faculty of Pharmacy. The investment, described by the group?s CEO, Stéphane Boujnah, as "the most expensive project? ever made in real estate by Euronext, will allow the company to expand its Porto team to between 600 and 700 people. In just over eight years, Euronext?s technology and services centre in Porto has grown from fewer than 100 employees to nearly 500, making Portugal the group?s third-largest location in terms of workforce. Local authorities and company executives alike have hailed the move as a testament to Porto?s ability to attract multinational investment, particularly in high-tech and knowledge-driven sectors.

Stéphane Boujnah underlined that Portugal offers a favourable environment for Euronext?s European expansion, citing local talent as a key factor. The Porto centre is now home to [...]]]> The University of Porto shines globally with 205 researchers among 2024?s most cited and 138 honoured for career-long impact. The list of the most cited researchers at U. Porto (with the highest C-Score) in 2024 is led by João Gama from the Faculty of Economics (FEP) and INESC TEC. Following him is a trio of academics and researchers - João Catalão, António Joaquim Mendes Ferreira, and Manuel Simões - all from the Faculty of Engineering (FEUP).
The 2025 edition of the "World?s Top 2% Scientists list?, published by the prestigious Elsevier and compiled by researchers from Stanford University, highlighted 205 scientists from the University of Porto among the world?s most cited in 2024 - 23 more than in the previous year.
The list also features 138 U. Porto researchers with the highest career-long impact, reinforcing the university?s position as the most represented Portuguese institution.
These researchers stand out in fields such as Clinical Medicine, Chemistry, Engineering, [...]]]> TUMO, a creative technology centre already present in two Portuguese cities, is opening this year in Porto with a seven-million-euro investment.
The centre allows students aged 12 to 18 to choose their own projects in areas such as animation, programming, robotics, and music, fostering STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, maths) skills in an innovative, self-paced learning environment without traditional assessments.
Funded by both public and private entities and led by project mentor Pedro Santa Clara, TUMO will initially host 1,000 teenagers per week, including young people from vulnerable backgrounds, promoting inclusion, creativity, and personal development while complementing formal education.
Founded in Armenia and now operating in over 20 cities worldwide, TUMO has become a global model for creative and technological education. Its centres are designed to empower teenagers by combining technology, the arts, and project-based learning, giving them practical skills [...]]]> An American startup, UZU has established its headquarters in Porto as part of its international expansion strategy. The company introduces a structured usufruct model to Portugal, enabling senior citizens to sell the bare ownership of their homes while retaining lifelong residency rights. This innovative approach offers older adults enhanced financial flexibility to support retirement income, healthcare needs, or personal projects, all without leaving their homes or communities.
According to CEO Ellos Campos, Portugal was selected due to its demographic profile and the increasing demand for financial solutions tailored to seniors. The model also provides investors with discounted access to real estate outside the conventional market, presenting an opportunity for returns while contributing to positive social impact.
The company’s mission is to transform property into prosperity through simple, transparent, and mutually beneficial solutions for both families and investors. ]]> The 2025 CaixaImpulse Health Innovation programme, launched by the "la Caixa? Foundation in partnership with the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), has awarded €50,000 to seven biomedical research projects in Portugal. These include groundbreaking projects from i3S (University of Porto) and INEGI, both based at U.Porto.
One notable project, led by Joana Caldeira from i3S, aims to develop an innovative, injectable therapy for chronic lumbar pain, inspired by fetal regenerative environments. This therapy hopes to replace invasive surgeries, offering a long-term, safe solution for millions of sufferers.
Another promising project, led by Elisabete Silva from INEGI, focuses on creating a biodegradable implant for treating pelvic organ prolapse (POP), a condition affecting many women. The implant will incorporate drug release systems to prevent infections and improve recovery, providing a safer [...]]]> The junior company from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Porto (FEUP) has created an innovative platform that streamlines shift scheduling, saving the Porto Fire Brigade an estimated 10,000 hours each year.
Developed pro bono by FEUP students, the platform has already earned recognition as the Project of the Year at the 2025 jeniAL Awards, celebrating the best initiatives within Portugal's Junior Enterprises.
The Porto Fire Brigade, who face daily challenges of combatting fires and saving lives, also carry the administrative responsibility of managing team shifts ? a task that was both time-consuming and error-prone. This is where the JuniFEUP's solution steps in, automating the scheduling process and reducing what used to take several people hours of manual effort to mere seconds.
The result is not just efficiency, but also a fairer and more transparent distribution of tasks. This pioneering tool has already had a direct positive impact on over 250,000 people.
Techem, a pioneer in smart energy solutions, operates one of Europe?slargest IoT infrastructures, with over 62million digital metering devices across 13 million dwellings. The company enables large-scaleconsumption metering and equipment monitoring, helping the property sector andprivate landlords reduce energy consumption, costs, and CO2 emissions in a low-investment,non-invasive manner. This initiative plays a key role in the long-termdecarbonization of the real estate industry, which accounts for nearly 40% of global CO2 emissions.

At the heart of Techem?s ecosystem is its digital platform, which deliversservices in 18 countries andacts as the backbone of the industry. This platform is integral to Techem?sstrategy of becoming a unified business platform, catering to over 440,000 customers worldwide.

The company's newsoftware development hub in Porto, resulting from a partnership with xelerate.tech, will promote the development of thisplatform, focusing [...]]]> TEKEVER, a Portuguese unicorn specialising in aerospace technology, has announced the opening of its fourth drone factory in the UK, scheduled for 2026.

Located in Swindon, this will be the company's largest facility in the country, covering 254,000 square metres, and is expected to create around 1,000 skilled jobs. The new factory will have the capacity to support the entire drone production cycle, from prototyping to scale production, as well as research and development activities.
According to the British Government, the facility will bring core production of the AR5 model to the UK, as well as strengthen the existing scale of work on the AR3 platform.
This announcement follows the acquisition in July of West Wales Airport, which Tekever has transformed into a testing and evaluation centre for unmanned systems. In May, the company had already revealed plans to invest €470 million over five years in [...]]]> Powerdot, a leader in electric car charging solutions, has just strengthened its presence in Porto with a new innovation centre. Powerlab, a hub dedicated to the development and testing of state-of-the-art charging technologies, received an investment of around €500,000.
With an extensive network of charging points across the country, the company is now opening this new space in Porto, which will not only serve as a base for innovative solutions but also play a strategic role in collecting data on user behaviour and equipment performance. From this centre, Powerdot intends to accelerate its expansion into the rest of Europe.
José Sacadura, General Manager of Powerdot in Portugal, points out that Powerlab "is where we test solutions that not only increase efficiency but also provide a premium experience for electric vehicle drivers." The hub is thus an essential [...]]]> Amazon has selected 11 new start-ups and scale-ups to join the ClimateTech group of the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator, a programme created to drive the development of innovative solutions in the climate field. Lasting four weeks, the programme combines workshops with experts, mentoring sessions and leadership panels. Some participating companies will also have the opportunity to test their solutions in pilot projects integrated into Amazon's European operations.
There were over 550 applications, but only 11 companies were chosen. All of them are working on three critical environmental challenges: energy efficiency, waste reduction and water management.

Among those selected is Porto-based start-up Omniflow, which has developed urban lighting poles powered by wind and solar energy, capable of reducing energy consumption by 90% compared to conventional models. These smart [...]]]> Recently, Aviludo announced the development of a new logistics centre in Maia, located in the Porto Metropolitan Area. With a total area of 10,500 sqm. and a completion deadline of 12 months, the project is part of the growth strategy of the food distribution specialist.
This investment will strengthen Aviludo's response capacity in Northern Portugal, allowing it to benefit from a proximity to the main road networks of Greater Porto. The new unit is also designed to reduce transport times, optimise costs, and ensure faster and more reliable deliveries.
The logistics centre has been designed in accordance with the highest standards of food safety and operational efficiency, including 2,400 sqm. of frozen food storage, 2,000 sqm. of cold storage, 1,800 sqm. of ambient temperature warehouse, and a space of 1,200 sqm. for administrative and social areas. The building will also have independent thermal management by zone, 6 loading bays for lorries, 11 bays for vans, and parking for 140 [...]]]> Porto is once again featured in the Financial Times' Masters in Management 2025 ranking, with two management schools among the 100 best in the world. The Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto (FEP) reached 62nd place worldwide, climbing eight places from the previous year, reinforcing the international reputation of its Master's in Management, while Católica Porto Business School (CPBS) entered the prestigious ranking for the first time, occupying 95th place.

FEP's programme stands out above all for the rapid professional progression of its graduates, combining solid training in management with innovative and practical methodologies that respond to the demands of a global market. "This recognition reinforces our confidence that we are offering our students a [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor Blip, part of the Flutter group, is accelerating its growth trajectory with plans to recruit an additional 250 professionals by the end of 2025, following the successful hiring of 300 new employees earlier this year.
This revised target represents an upward revision of Blip?s initial projections, which had already been met ahead of schedule. The company now aims to exceed 1,450 employees by 2026, reinforcing its long-term commitment to building a global centre of technology excellence from Porto.
"Revising our 2025 projections upwards reflects the strength of our strategic vision and the confidence we have in the path we are building,? explains Ana Gonçalves, Head of Talent Acquisition at Blip. "Adding 250 new hires by the end of the year is not just a quantitative milestone ? it?s a statement of the national impact we are generating from Porto, with local and diverse talent, global reach, and an ongoing commitment to innovation.?
The company is seeking [...]]]> Talents, an agencyspecialising in influencer marketing and digital talent management, iscelebrating its second anniversary. The company opened a new office in Porto, strengthening its national presence and consolidating its position as one ofthe emerging players in the sector.

Talents was, until now, exclusively based inLisbon, with this latest expansion being considered a strategic move for the agency. Led by Miguel Raposo, Talents is betting on Porto as a market with a presence of strong brands, up-and-coming creators, and a dynamicof its own that is still largely unexplored by agencies.

The agency expects the new Porto hub to represent around €2 million in annual turnover by 2026,complementing the Lisbon operations.

40% of Talent's projects are international, with the agency's strategyinvolving not only geographical expansion but also a strengthening of its consultingand brand management area, combined with continuous investment in [...]]]> In just seven years, Porto Leading Investor Natixis has grown from a three-digit team to more than 2,500 employees, establishing itself as a true Centre of Excellence in the banking and technology sector.

The company's establishment in Porto in 2017 was strategic, based on the quality of the local workforce, foreign language skills, proximity to France, and a multicultural environment conducive to innovation.
Natixis' growth exceeded all initial expectations: the target of 600 employees in three years was quickly surpassed. Today, it employs professionals from 40 different nationalities, representing 20% of its workforce, which reinforces its role as an international talent hub within Groupe BPCE, one of the largest French banking groups.
Natixis' Human Resources policy has been decisive in this journey. Continuous training, a culture of feedback, innovation, and flexible benefits are [...]]]> Recently, Forbes Portugal dedicated an article to Porto Leading Investor Smartex.ai. The magazine highlighted Smartex's stand-out role as a pioneering force in the digital transformation of the global textile industry.

Leveraging advanced artificial intelligence and high-performance camera systems installed directly on looms, Smartex enables real-time detection and correction of fabric defects, significantly reducing waste and improving production efficiency. The result: a direct environmental and financial impact in one of the world?s most polluting sectors. "We believe that sustainability must be accompanied by financial incentives. Our solution delivers both environmental benefits and considerable cost savings,? states Gilberto Loureiro, CEO of Smartex. Founded by three University of Porto alumni, the company has grown from a university flat-share project to an internationally backed operation, thanks in part to strategic investment from Tony Fadell - co-creator of the iPod [...]]]> The University of Porto (U.Porto) has secured a leading position in the 2025/26 National Access Competition (CNAES), once again achieving the highest entry scores and leading the list of Portugal?s most competitive degree programmes.
According to data released by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, 4,929 students were placed across U.Porto?s 59 undergraduate and integrated master?s programmes, out of 5,041 available places. The institution leads nationally in terms of highest average entry score and number of programmes chosen as first option by top-ranked applicants.
A standout performer is the BSc in Aerospace Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering (FEUP), which for the second consecutive year recorded the highest national entry mark: the last of the 30 admitted students entered with a score of 194.3 out of 200. Two other U.Porto programmes ? Industrial Engineering and Management (186.5) and the Integrated Master?s in Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine (185.3) ? also [...]]]> The Portuguese government has announced a €931 million investment in the Port of Leixões by 2035, as part of its national Portos 5+ strategy to modernise and expand the country?s maritime infrastructure. Central to the plan is the construction of a new North Container Terminal, expected to significantly increase the port?s cargo capacity. By 2035, Leixões is projected to handle 20 million tonnes of cargo annually ? a 35% increase ? and one million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), representing a 40% growth in container traffic. Of the total investment, €219 million will come from the port authority and European funds, with the remaining €712 million contributed by private investors. The strategy also foresees new concessions for container, general cargo, and roll-on/roll-off terminals, with respective investments of €430M, €85M, and €50M. Beyond cargo infrastructure, the plan includes sustainability and urban integration measures: the installation of [...]]]> Porto's Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport was recently rated by users as Europe?s second-best in 2025.
The conclusion comes from Holidu, a holiday home booking platform. The ranking, based on the opinions of users of European airports, shows that Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport is considered the second-best in Europe, only surpassed by Istanbul Airport.
According to Holidu, Porto Airport received an average rating of 4.4 stars. The evaluation, based on over 30,000 user reviews left on Google Maps, highlights the airport?s well-organised spaces and short waiting times. "Multiple check-in counters and a fast-track security queue help reduce waiting times and ensure a good experience," according to Holidu.
The ranking, with a total of 25 international airports, also placed Helsinki Airport (Finland) in third place, followed by Athens International Airport (Greece) and Zurich Airport (Switzerland) in [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor FairJourney Biologics will organise The Antibody Series (TAS), an international forum that will bring together global leaders to foster innovation and advances in antibody therapies.
Between September 9th and 12th, TAS will celebrate its 5th anniversary at Alfândega do Porto, bringing together more than 200 senior leaders from biotechnology, the biopharmaceutical industry, academia, and investment. The exclusive event will feature 6 thematic sessions and more than 15 presentations led by experts, reinforcing Portugal's and Porto's role as venues for world-class scientific meetings.
Since its inception, TAS has welcomed more than 2,000 participants globally and maintains its mission to foster interdisciplinary collaboration to accelerate the development of new therapies. The 2025 edition will be chaired by Dr. Janine Schuurman, President of the Antibody Society and a pioneer in the field, responsible for several FDA-approved therapies and innovative antibody [...]]]> Portuguese tech company and proud Porto Leading Investor i-charging has been chosen by US company EVerged, which specialises in sustainable energy solutions, as a partner for the supply of direct current fast chargers (DCFC). The agreement will allow for the delivery of approximately 1,000 charging systems to the US market, consolidating the international expansion of i-charging.
The equipment has power ratings ranging from 50 kW to 400 kW per outlet, allowing for a significant reduction in electric vehicle charging time. The partnership aims to leverage the reputation that i-charging has already consolidated in Europe to strengthen EVerged's offering in the US market.
According to an official statement, the selection of i-charging was based on rigorous technical criteria. "We chose i-charging due to their unmatched technology, reliability, and cybersecurity standards," said Jefferson W. Smith, CEO of EVerged. According to the CEO, i-charging's "fast-charging solutions are among the [...]]]> Portugal continues to stand out as a competitive destination for international investment. fDi Intelligence's latest Greenfield Foreign Direct Investment Performance Index ranked the country second in Western Europe and 16th globally, with Portugal thus outperforming its economic weight in attracting new projects. Based on data collected from fDi Markets and the IMF, the report attributed an index score of 4 to Portugal, only lagging behind Monaco in Western Europe and ahead of countries like Spain, Ireland, or the UK.
 In this regard, Porto is strengthening its prominent role in the country's overall figures and keeps establishing itself as one of the main hubs for international projects in Portugal. Since the beginning of 2024, according to fDi Markets, the Porto Metropolitan Area has been able to attract a total of 56 greenfield FDI projects, totaling approximately €1.5 billion and [...]]]> Portuguese startup Eliot has developed the ET15, a fully electric, autonomous drone designed to ensure urgent medical response, save lives, and support humanitarian missions in extreme contexts such as disaster zones, conflict areas, or regions without access to basic infrastructure.
Capable of carrying up to 15 kg of critical materials ? including blood, organs for transplant, medicines, and biological samples ? the ET15 can travel up to 100 km and operate with precision in challenging environments. Its configuration combines fixed-wing flight autonomy with VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) capability, allowing it to operate effectively even in places with limited access.
Developed in partnership with Rangel and CEiiA, the drone is positioned as a strategic solution for emergency logistics, defence and healthcare, representing a significant advance in air mobility applied to humanitarian response.
This [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor Critical Manufacturing has announced the acquisition of Convanit, a German company specialising in artificial intelligence (AI) focused on visual analysis for highly complex industrial environments.

The acquisition aims to strengthen Critical Manufacturing?s data platform capabilities by integrating visual AI technologies that enable significant gains in precision, automation and operational intelligence for the manufacturing sector.

With its flagship solution ? c-Alice ? Convanit has developed a powerful image classification engine adapted to demanding industrial environments. This technology allows manufacturers to quickly create and implement customised AI models for visual inspection, without the need for advanced programming or data science skills. What once required time-consuming manual inspections can now be carried out with greater speed, precision and integrated quality control.

"We created c-Alice to make visual AI simple, flexible and [...]]]> U.Porto once again stands out on the global scientific scene, with 155 researchers included in Research.com's World's Best Scientists 2025 ranking.This figure represents more than 20% of the 792 scientists from Portuguese institutions on the list.
U.Porto researchers, recognised for their excellence in areas such as Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, Medicine, Psychology, among others, have more than 42,000 publications and almost 1.9 million citations, demonstrating the significant impact of their work on the international scientific community.
Chemistry, Biology and Ecology stand out
Chemistry is the most represented area, with 41 U.Porto scientists recognised. This is followed by Biology and Biochemistry (20), Ecology and Evolution (19), Engineering and Technology (16), Environmental Sciences (9) and Materials Science (9).
The remaining areas include Computer Science (7), Medicine (7), Electrical and Electronic Engineering (6), Animal and Veterinary Science (5), Mechanical [...]]]> Tonic Easy Medical, a spin-off from the University of Porto formerly known as TonicApp, has become one of the first European companies to obtain ISO/IEC 42001 certification ? the new international standard that defines best practices for the ethical and safe management of artificial intelligence (AI).
This certification reinforces the company's position as a benchmark for responsible and reliable clinical AI in Europe.
In a rapidly evolving sector, this certification confirms that Tonic meets strict requirements in terms of quality, safety, traceability, transparency and reliability in its AI systems. For Daniela Seixas, the company's CEO, this is an essential step in keeping pace with the growing sophistication of medical users, who are increasingly demanding and experienced in the use of AI-based technologies.
Tonic has invested in developing models that prevent excessive reliance on AI, promote result verification, and integrate validation mechanisms, such as links to support [...]]]> Fidelidade has opened a new office in Porto, located at Avenida da Boavista no. 253, in the iconic Brasília shopping centre ? the oldest shopping centre in the city.

The space, which is already operational, now brings together 170 employees who were previously spread across other buildings belonging to the insurance company in the city.
Spread over three completely renovated floors, the new office stands out for its glass façade and spacious, bright environments, designed to stimulate collaboration, concentration and well-being. According to Fidelidade, the investment aims to strengthen the proximity between teams and create a more modern, flexible and welcoming work environment.
"The opening of this new office in Porto is more than just a change of space: it is a concrete expression of how we want to work in the future - with greater proximity, more flexibility and better conditions for our people," says Joana Queiroz Ribeiro, Director of People and Organisation at Fidelidade.
ACE development & engineering, an engineering company with roots in the Netherlands and almost 50 years of experience, has officially launched its operations in Portugal with the opening of a new office in Porto. The decision to establish ACE Portugal in the city was motivated by a combination of strategic, academic, and cultural factors, all of which align with the company's vision of sustainable growth and innovation.
"Porto was a natural choice,? explains Simão Carvalho, head of ACE?s Porto office. "The city offers a unique combination of technical talent, academic excellence and a vibrant innovation ecosystem. With institutions such as FEUP, INEGI and UPTEC, we saw an opportunity to integrate ourselves into a community that values engineering, research and collaboration.?
The new office is located at UPTEC, placing ACE at the centre of a dynamic network of start-ups, research centres, and global companies. This location allows ACE [...]]]> 42, a local programming school, was named the 3rd most innovative university in the world in the WURI (World University Rankings for Innovation) 2025 ranking, ahead of prestigious institutions such as MIT, Stanford, Harvard, or Cambridge.
Established in Porto since 2022, 42 offers free programming training and has established itself as a disruptive and inclusive educational model, centered on autonomy, collaboration, and practical problem-solving.

This year, the Municipality of Porto has stepped up its support for the project with a new contract signed with Associação 101010 Portugal - the entity responsible for running the school - worth €250,000.
With more than 1,200 students enrolled in 2024 and an employability rate of 100%, 42 is preparing to launch four new editions of the "Piscine: Introduction to Programming? intensive course. These courses, which are free of charge and aimed at [...]]]> TEKEVER, the Portuguese tech unicorn specialising in the development of drones with artificial intelligence technology, has acquired West Wales Airport with the aim of creating an international hub for testing and evaluating unmanned aerial systems.
The infrastructure, located in Aberporth, had already been used by TEKEVER for two years for technical tests, particularly of the AR3 model, and for operations with clients such as the British Home Office and the Royal Navy. The acquisition gives the company permanent access to 6,300 square kilometres of restricted airspace, considered ideal for drone testing.
This investment is part of a wider growth strategy in the UK, where TEKEVER has been gaining weight in the defence sector. Over the next five years, the company plans to invest around 470 million euros in the region and create around 1,000 jobs under the Overmatch programme.
CEO Ricardo Mendes stresses that the aim is to accelerate innovation in autonomous defence systems and strengthen [...]]]> Deloitte will set up its new headquarters in the city of Porto in Ageas' former building, located in the Boavista area. With an area of 10,300 square metres, MUTUAL will centralize more than 600 employees of the consulting and auditing firm, who until now were spread across different facilities around the same area.
Located at 39 Rua Gonçalo Sampaio, just a few metres from the Boavista roundabout, the property that for several years was the headquarters of the insurance company Ageas will be Deloitte's new home. The building was subject to extensive renovation works, with an investment of over €35 million, resulting from a partnership between London-based developer and investor Osborne+Co and Porto-based developer Adriparte. The renovation works themselves were carried out by MAP Engineering, turning MUTUAL into a reborn landmark building in Porto.
With approximately 1,400 square metres of outdoor areas, 144 parking spaces, green spaces, and a rooftop with panoramic views of the [...]]]> Five years after opening its doors in the city centre, Körber Campus Porto is celebrating a journey marked by innovation, sustained growth, and a continuous commitment to talent. Today, this centre of excellence is a global benchmark, continuing to set ambitious plans for the future.
Launched in 2020 under the motto "From Porto to the world", the Campus was created with the aim of being a strategic hub for innovation and knowledge. It is currently the only Körber centre in the world to integrate all of the group's business areas - Supply Chain, Pharma and Technologies - and brings together more than 250 highly qualified professionals.
"Körber Campus Porto was identified early on as one of the group's priority campuses,? says Paula Gomes da Costa, the Campus' Executive Managing Director. "Its growth, the integration of new skills and the continuous investment in technology and talent reflect its importance in our global strategy.?
The growth of the Campus has been remarkable. [...]]]> UPTEC-based Portuguese startup Bandora is gaining prominence in the demanding North American market with an artificial intelligence technology that promises to transform the energy efficiency of buildings.
In just a few months, the company has managed to achieve energy consumption reductions of up to 70% in restaurant chains such as Dunkin' Donuts and Dave's Hot Chicken, making it an emerging benchmark in the area of intelligent climate control.
Bandora's solution is based on software that analyses data in real time, automatically adjusting air conditioning systems to maximise savings and thermal comfort. "In one of the spaces, we achieved a 50% reduction in energy bills in the second month - in the middle of winter in New Jersey. And we're now reaching 70% efficiency, which means we've managed to cut two-thirds of the waste," explains Márcia Pereira, the company's Founder and CEO.
The city of Porto reached a resident population of more than 252,000 in 2024, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), published in the Porto 2024 Economic Bulletin. This population growth is accompanied by a solid economic performance and an increasingly attractive urban environment for residents, workers, and investors.

The Porto Economic Bulletin is a periodic publication in infographic format that highlights the main indicators of the city's economic and social dynamics in an accessible way. The 2024 edition offers a comprehensive reading on demographic trends, employment, investment, tourism, housing, and regional income, acting as a decision-support tool for all the stakeholders in Porto's economic ecosystem.
In regards to its population, the city has seen a sustained increase [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor VisionWare, a 100% Portuguese technology company specialising in Information Security and Cybersecurity, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this July, marking two decades of activity with the launch of a new image and a reinforcement of its strategic positioning in both the national and international markets.
The only company in the Cybersecurity sector with 100% Portuguese capital, VisionWare remains a benchmark. The Leading Investor marked its anniversary with a complete rebranding, visible on its institutional website, promotional materials, and digital channels. 
The new corporate identity consists of a revamped logo, which emphasises fine diagonal lines, a new sophisticated and modern typeface, and a subtle blue gradient that conveys trust, agility and innovation, all of them key attributes of the brand. This rebranding process was developed in-house by the company's Design team, as part of the Brand Strategy & Corporate Affairs area, reflecting [...]]]> International rating agency Fitch recently confirmed that the city of Porto's credit rating has been maintained at an "A-" level, with a positive outlook. This decision reflects the robustness of the Municipality's financial management, with balanced accounts, controlled debt, and an administration capable of guaranteeing stability and confidence.
Besides maintaining the rating, Fitch also upgraded Porto's risk profile to "High Midrange", signalling that the city is in an even safer position to face any economic challenges. Another highlight is the rise in the so-called SCP (Stand-Alone Credit Profile) to "aaa" level, a recognition that highlights the robustness of municipal finances and the almost zero risk of default, placing Porto among the best financially managed cities in Europe.
Fitch emphasises the prudence of Porto's budget management. Unlike other administrations, which resort to debt to finance investments, Porto has opted for responsible management, with a gradual [...]]]> UPTEC recently announced a free initiative aimed at supporting startups at all stages of the investment cycle, featuring six structured sessions scheduled between June and September 2025 to guide them through the fundraising process.
Targeted at founders and teams of startups with the potential to raise investment, ?School of Startups: Get Funded? will include workshops led by experts in key areas such as preparing financial documentation, negotiating term sheets, and strategies for pre-seed, seed, and series A investment rounds. This practical approach will also extend to a successful exit preparation.
In addition to the training sessions, participants will have access to roundtables with investors, founders, and business developers with direct experience in raising capital.
The programme will feature leading speakers such as Ricardo Luz (Invicta Angels), Hugo Ramos (Beta Capital) and Maria Morais (Circklo), and will close in September with a workshop dedicated to the mentality and [...]]]> With more than 20 years' experience working in the space sector, Portuguese tech company and proud Porto Leading Investor Critical Software is developing a growing focus on the more commercial side of this field: New Space.
In a recent interview to Diário de Notícias, João Brito, the company's Division Director of Smart & Reliable Systems, said that Critical's space programme is in good state and is also highly recommended.
With New Space, Critical Software is adapting its space operations to an agile commercial environment. "We don't typically operate satellites, but we start working with manufacturers, who will be concerned with solving things faster and being more dynamic," highlighted João Brito. Critical Software's core competence lies in "developing and verifying software for both scientific and New Space missions," Brito added.
The company established strategic partnerships with innovative projects such as ClearSpace, a European Space Agency mission focused [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor Sword Health, the digital health technology company founded in Porto by Virgílio Bento, has just announced a new round of investment worth 40 million dollars (around 34.6 million euros), bringing its valuation to a total of four billion dollars.

The company - one of seven Portuguese unicorns - thus reinforces the link between Porto's innovation ecosystem and the global transformation of healthcare.
The investment round was led by General Catalyst, one of the most influential venture capital funds in the healthcare sector, with the participation of international and national investors such as Lince Capital, Oxy Capital, Armilar, Indico Capital, and Shilling. Sword Health will use this investment to support its global growth strategy, accelerating mergers and acquisitions, as well as the development of advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) models for various clinical areas.
Highlights include the launch of the new Mind solution, an AI-based mental [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor Critical Software recently announced a new chapter in the company's collaboration with Airbus, the French aeronautical giant, reflecting a shared ambition to shape the future of aerospace software.
"By combining our expertise in embedded and critical systems with Airbus?s leadership, we aim to drive innovation where safety and reliability are paramount. Together, we reaffirm our commitment to building a safer, more advanced and sustainable world," said João Carreira, CEO of Critical Software.
The Leading Investor has maintained a connection with Airbus for 15 years. Under this new agreement, it will provide its know-how in developing software and systems for aerospace projects, such as cabin management applications.

"This partnership aims to combine the competencies of both companies in the architecture and supply of critical and certified [...]]]> According to Startup Genome?s Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER), Porto now ranks among the top 10 in Europe for cost-effectiveness, within the top 20 for accessible talent, and sits between 71st and 80th among emerging ecosystems. According to Mayor Rui Moreira, Porto's inclusion in the Startup Genome ranking is the result of a strategy focused on both economic development and opportunity creation. The Mayor adds that this international recognition mirrors the ecosystem's transformation, making it more innovative, global, and tech-driven. The president of Startup Genome notes that Porto's rising Ecosystem Value and growing startup funding - achieved during a global contraction - significantly enhance its international competitiveness. Marc Penzel adds that the city?s thriving concentration of startups is creating a vibrant, founder-friendly environment, crediting Porto City Council for its [...]]]> Recently, the Municipality of Porto, hosted a group of MBA students from various nationalities (Colombia, Mexico, Taiwan, United States) from the prestigious IÉSEG grand école, as part of an immersive academic visit focused on sustainability, innovation, and public-private cooperation.

The visit, organised in close collaboration with Porto Business School (PBS), began with a dynamic roundtable discussion titled "Sustainable Innovation and Public Policy: Bridging Strategy?, held at PBS. The session brought together key municipal and innovation ecosystem stakeholders including Porto Ambiente, Biopolis, and UPTEC, offering students a unique perspective on how cities can act as active agents of sustainable transformation through collaborative governance and science-based entrepreneurship.
Following the roundtable, the delegation was welcomed at the Porto City Hall. During the visit, students attended a series of presentations coordinated by the Municipality?s Department [...]]]> Recently, Dealroom placed the city of Porto among the Top 100 Emerging Ecosystems in its Global Tech Ecosystem Index 2025, an international ranking that highlighted the city's growth and overall vitality in regards to the global tech scene.
This achievement results from a combination of different factors in the city, all of which have aligned in recent years:The presence of innovative startups with cutting-edge technological solutions and global ambition;The increasing influence of attentive investors who recognise the region's potential and invest in scalable projects;The impact of local universities and research centres, which feed the ecosystem with highly qualified talent;The role of local technological leadership, with companies that act as anchors and drive the entire innovation chain.
Porto's place among Dealroom's ranking puts the city on the radar of entrepreneurs, investors, and [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor Körber  has started building a new factory in the Porto district, in the Ermida Industrial Park in Santo Tirso. With a total area of 11,400 sqm., this new infrastructure - dedicated to the development and production of technological solutions for the logistics sector - is due to start operating in the second half of 2026.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held on June 2nd, was attended by the group's CEO, Stephan Seifert, as well as other members of the German company's leadership team and strategic partners.

According to the management team, this investment represents a significant milestone in strengthening Körber's presence in Portugal, with a direct impact on the creation of skilled jobs and the consolidation of the region as a leading industrial and technological centre.
With global headquarters and a presence in more than 100 locations around the world, [...]]]> Recently, Porto's Mayor, Rui Moreira, was interviewed by the British magazine Real FDI about the city's participation in MIPIM 2025, which took place in March.
"We produce highly skilled and qualified labour force, which we are not able to retain. It?s a double loss: we have been paying for their education, and then we don´t reap the profit of the fruit that has been on our trees" regretted Rui Moreira, highlighting the emigration of young graduates from local schools and universities in pursuit of better career prospects.
The Mayor emphasized that the primary strategy involves persuading foreign companies to establish job opportunities in Porto, ensuring that local talent remains within the city.
"Why hire Portuguese engineers to work in Germany, why don´t you start your offices in Porto instead?" the mayor pointed out, referring to the many companies that have set up operations in the city in recent years.
Acknowledging the challenge of competing with salaries offered in [...]]]> The Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto (FEP) will now have access to the Bloomberg Finance Lab, a space with 12 terminals from the financial information company that will bring students closer to the reality of global financial markets.
According to FEP, these systems will allow students to access economic and financial data in real time, while also providing them with practical skills that complement the theoretical training given in class.
In the Bloomberg Finance Lab, funded by Porto Leading Investor Natixis in Portugal - now FEP's premium sponsor - students can "simulate investment operations and test portfolio management and risk assessment strategies, using technology that has been widely adopted by the sector," FEP said in a statement.
Caio Gattai, Bloomberg's manager for Southern Europe, said that "this new space will give students access to the same cutting-edge financial tools and data used by the world's leading industry professionals, enriching the [...]]]> Porto recently hosted the second edition of Employer Pitch. Throughout a full day, 30 companies stepped onto the stage at the Alfândega Congress Centre, delivering five-minute presentations to showcase their job opportunities to a crowd of potential employees.
At the same time, pre-arranged interviews were held, connecting candidates in search of professional opportunities with companies actively seeking skilled talent.
The aim of Employer Pitch is to shake up pre-established formal structures, paving the way for more expansive and innovative outcomes in the attraction and retention of local talent.
In recent years, the city of Porto has established itself as a magnet for both national and international companies. Among the main factors of its attractiveness is the city's superior educational ecosystem, which contributes to the existence of a highly qualified and attractive talent pool.
Data gathered from participants in last year?s inaugural edition of Employer [...]]]> Concentrix Corporation (NASDAQ: CNXC) recently launched a new service in Portugal, as part of the global ?Harmony? project. This initiative will provide support to employees who carry out Trust & Safety functions for some of the best-known brands in social media and other areas of activity.
The increase in the volume of human-moderated content and its growing complexity has led to greater psychological pressure on those who carry out this work. As such, Concentrix has created a hub that offers a personalised clinical service around the clock, based on innovative technologies, wellbeing algorithms, and mental health programmes.
In total, 150 psychologists, fluent in several languages and supported by advanced technology, will support 20 countries, with 15 of these professionals in the company's Porto hub. Apart from Porto, only the Manila hub was chosen by Concentrix for this latest investment.
"Trust [...]]]> Operating in Denmark and the Nordics, Breakawai  delivers advanced process mining, task mining, and data science expertise across multiple sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, insurance, banking, retail and aviation.

The company opened a new Tech Hub in Porto that will focus on developing cutting-edge solutions in process intelligence, AI-driven analytics, and enterprise process improvement, thereby supporting Breakawai?s international growth and innovation strategy. The Hub is expected to create high-skilled jobs for data scientists, engineers, and digital transformation consultants over the coming months.

"Porto is a strategic location in the north of Portugal, with a strong academic presence, a proactive economy, and a pragmatic approach to doing business," said Henrique Duarte, Country Manager of Breakawai in Portugal. "These factors shape a culture of innovation and generate exceptional talent across universities, [...]]]> Reading Room, a UK digital agency with operations in Porto, was recently granted a Royal Warrant by His Majesty The King as Suppliers of Website Development and Management Services.
In the UK, Royal Warrants are marks of recognition to companies who have supplied goods or services for at least five years to the Royal Household and who have an ongoing trading arrangement. As such, the granting of this distinction reflects Reading Room?s commitment to maintaining digital services with the highest standards of quality, security, service, and reliability.
Speaking about the recognition, Polly Lygoe, Managing Director of Reading Room, said: "We are honoured to receive this Royal Warrant for our digital and website services. It represents a testament to the skill, dedication, and professionalism of our team. We are proud to continue supporting our clients with the same high standards that have earned us this recognition."
Reading Room [...]]]> Former shopping centre La Vie, located in Porto's city centre, has a new name: Heart of Porto (HOP). More importantly, it also has a new purpose: a business hub capable of accomodating two thousand people. The project's developers, French asset manager Tikehau Capital and the Portuguese-Spanish company Quest Capital, estimate that the 70 million euro project will be completed in the second half of 2026.
Rui Moreira, Mayor of Porto, together with the Councillor for Urbanism and Public Space, Pedro Baganha, recently visited the site and witnessed the laying of the project's foundation stone. The Mayor highlighted that it was not up to the Municipality to "complicate things?, but rather to regulate and facilitate. "What we have to do is make life easier for all the people who work with us,? he added.
As a result of Porto's increasing attractiveness, the last several years have seen an increasing demand for quality offices in the city centre. In this regard, the Mayor [...]]]> The Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA), which has teams at the Astrophysics Centre of the University of Porto (CAUP), the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP), and the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, was awarded with the only honourable mention in the Innovation in Space Sciences and Technologies Award 2025, promoted by the Portuguese Space Agency.
This award recognises the involvement of IA teams - and IA/.Porto in particular - in the ESPRESSO project (Echelle SPectrograph for Rocky Exoplanet and Stable Spectroscopic Observations), a high-resolution spectrograph installed at the Paranal Observatory of the European Southern Observatory in Chile.
This state-of-the-art instrument is powered by the four 8.2 metre telescopes that compose the Very Large Telescope (VLT), and Portugal contributed to the construction of the Coudé Train, the infrastructure that connects the telescopes to the spectrograph.

First prize went to [...]]]> ManpowerGroup has officially opened its new European Global Business Services (GBS) campus, thus reinforcing the group's strategic presence in Portugal and its commitment to operational excellence.

The investment will create 300 new jobs locally and will be dedicated to optimising the delivery of financial services throughout Europe.
The new local facility, located in Lionesa - already home to leading companies such as FedEx, Vestas and Oracle - has been designed to meet the demands of the future of work, integrating cutting-edge technology, collaborative environments, and data-driven solutions. The facility is now in full operation, positioning itself as a key infrastructure in support of the group's digital and financial transformation.
"I am delighted that we have taken the next step in our journey to building a best-in-class global finance function with the opening of our new shared service location in Porto," says Jack McGinnis, Executive Vice President and Chief [...]]]> Cell4Food, a spin-off from the University of Porto dedicated to cellular agriculture applied to the food sector, has been selected to join the EIT Food Accelerator Network (EIT FAN), a prestigious European accelerator programme that supports innovative startups in developing solutions for a more sustainable and safe food system.
Participation in this programme represents a strategic step for the Portuguese company, as it provides access to a vast network of industrial partners, research centres, and European investors. Over the next 2 to 3 months, Cell4Food will benefit from specialised mentoring, support for technological validation, definition of the business model, and preparation for market entry. Startups will also have the opportunity to present their projects at a pitch event and may receive up to €50.000 in funding.
Cell4Food will be part of the Paris hub dedicated to New Ingredients and Bioprocessing, a core area of the company's research and development. This [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor Intellias has launched "The Ultimate Guide to Data Warehousing: Building a Future-Ready Data Strategy?, in which company experts outline how to build a secure, high-performing data warehouse architecture that meets modern demands for advanced analytics, AI integration, and digital transformation.
The guide challenges the limitations of traditional solutions like data lakes and siloed data hubs, arguing that they no longer meet today?s business requirements. Instead, the future lies in flexible, scalable, and integrated data platforms that consolidate sources, support real-time analytics, and are built to work seamlessly with AI-driven technologies.
With years of hands-on experience and over 100 consulting projects, Intellias combines industry expertise, proven frameworks, and accelerators to assist organizations in designing customized data strategies.
"The Ultimate [...]]]> After its most recent funding round, UPTEC-based company TEKEVER has turned into the latest Portuguese unicorn, surpassing one billion dollars in valuation.
"This milestone is the result of the exceptional talent, integrity, and spirit of the entire TEKEVER team, which is now almost 1000 strong. Across every site and every function, we?ve worked with a sense of mission and purpose that has allowed us to succeed where few can. Our very strong culture, based on principles like empathy, problem solving, speed and agility brought us here, and it will continue propelling us into the future," said Ricardo Mendes, the company's co-founder and CEO.
Founded in 2001, TEKEVER develops innovative technologies for the aerospace, defence, and security markets, with engineering centres in the UK, Portugal, and France, along with production facilities in various European markets and operational support teams throughout Europe.
The [...]]]> In a recent 2025 global ranking published by travel platform Holidu, Porto was ranked among the top 10 safest cities worldwide for female digital nomads. The ranking evaluated several key indicators, including perceived safety while walking alone at night, friendliness towards women and foreigners, local legislation supporting women's rights, and overall infrastructure for remote work.
One standout statistic: 87% of women report feeling safe walking alone in Porto, reflecting a city environment that values public safety, social inclusivity, and gender-sensitive urban planning.

Porto's growing appeal for digital professionals
Beyond safety, Porto continues to position itself as a magnet for international talent and digital professionals. While Portugal's national framework offers tax incentives for digital nomads and specific visa programmes, Porto goes further by cultivating a city ecosystem tailored to the realities of modern remote work.
From ultra-fast internet [...]]]> On 8 and 9 May 2025, the city of Porto will host the second edition of SIM Conference (Startups & Investment Matching) at the Alfândega do Porto Congress Centre. The event will bring together startups, investors, and leaders of the entrepreneurial ecosystem from all over the world, reinforcing Portugal's role as one of Europe's most vibrant technology and innovation hubs.
For this year's edition, the organisation expects significant growth compared to last year: +80% in the number of investors present; +25% in the number of startups; +90% in the number of speakers; and +50% in the number of incubators and accelerators.
SIM Conference 2025 will feature an extensive and diverse programme, with more than 30 sessions spread over two stages. The SIM Stage will host keynotes and debates on the major trends that are shaping the global ecosystem, while the Startup Stage will be dedicated to practical stories from founders, sharing experiences of scaleups, and masterclasses aimed at [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor Readiness IT, a digital accelerator, recently joined forces with four other Portuguese tech companies in order to create Conkord.
The new tech group was born from the strategic union and consolidation of Ritain.io, Latitudde, Red IT, and Readiness IT. With Conkord, the four tech specialists created a new identity that is more robust, innovative, and prepared to face future technological challenges.
Consolidating more than 550 employees globally, Conkord thinks global and acts local, close to its customers.
This move represents a significant milestone for the national technology sector, bringing together the experience, talent, and innovation of four Portuguese companies with successful track-records. The new entity is born with the mission of driving digital transformation, based on innovation and Artificial Intelligence, offering globally competitive technological [...]]]> Between 2020 and 2024, the city of Porto attracted 2.4 billion euros in foreign direct investment (FDI). Technology and innovation, logistics and infrastructure, and tourism are among the sectors with the greatest weight. Spain, France, and the United Kingdom lead the way among investor countries.
"Over the last few decades, the city has established itself as a destination of excellence for global companies, resulting from a combination of factors such as innovation, economic competitiveness, and talent. Today, due to local universities and research centres, Porto has a highly specialised and internationally recognised workforce," said Rui Moreira, the Mayor of Porto.
The Mayor highlighted a "significant evolution" that reflects the "growing interest on the part of international companies in establishing their operations in the city."
Since 2020, the FDI figures in Porto rose to 302 million euros in 2021 and to 583 million euros in 2022, reaching record numbers of one billion euros in [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor msg life Iberia, a leader in technological solutions for the insurance sector, has been officially certified as a Great Place to Work, joining the group of the best companies to work for in Portugal and thus underlining its commitment to excellence.
This recognition is based on direct feedback provided by the company's employees, who highlight the quality of the internal environment and the closeness that defines msg's organizational culture. Flexibility in managing working time is one of the most valued aspects, allowing the company to balance between the personal and professional lives of its employees.
The inclusive and respectful environment is also emphasised, in a space where diversity is valued and collaboration is natural.
The open relationship with leadership, based on active listening and transparent communication, is another pillar of msg's [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor VisionWare, specialized in Information Security and Cybersecurity, recently announced a joint international project with Cape Verde's University of Mindelo: the launch of a new Master's Degree in Cybersecurity.
According to VisionWare, "the accreditation of this new Master's Degree in Cybersecurity is a remarkable milestone that recognizes the commitment, excellence, and innovative vision that all the entities involved have dedicated to this project?. VisionWare was "directly responsible for the management of this process, covering the preparation of the reference curricula and the inclusion of various training strands to be developed in the context of this Master's Degree, in direct collaboration with teachers and researchers from the University of Mindelo, the Cape Verde Ministry of Education, and other institutions and elements belonging to the local Government [...]]]> Last week, Porto Leading Investor Natixis in Portugal inaugurated the "Natixis Solar System", a collaborative workspace that is an original and unparalleled concept in the world of offices, both nationally and internationally. Under the theme of space exploration, the project combines creativity, functionality, and a strong educational component in an environment that invites discovery, stimulates curiosity, and transforms everyday work into an inspiring and unusual experience.
The official opening included a guided tour and a live interview with Ana Pires, the first Portuguese scientist-astronaut, who shared her vision of the importance of innovation, diversity, and exploration in scientific and business contexts.
With around 3,500 sqm., the ?Solar System? has a capacity for 354 employees, with nine meeting rooms. The space is divided into themed zones inspired by the planets and stars of our solar [...]]]> Over the next six months, BEAT Therapeutics, a spin-off company from the University of Porto currently incubated at UPTEC, will embark on a journey with nine other tech startups in the Ready2Scale Acceleration Programme. Funded by the European Union, this programme aims to promote collaboration between innovation ecosystems.
The six-month initiative is designed to support digital and deep tech startups in their international expansion.  Participating companies will have access to €60,000 in funding, as well as international experts and mentors, external missions to explore the market, along with many other advantages.
"We were looking for programmes that could contribute to our growth strategy and we applied to Ready2Scale because it is clearly aligned with our current stage of development," says Ângela Carvalho, CEO of BEAT Therapeutics.
Founded by researchers from various faculties and research [...]]]> TEDxPorto recently took place and Blip, a proud Porto Leading Investor, was in the spotlight as one of the event's official sponsors.

The internationally-renowned Portuguese IT company, specialized in the development of software engineering solutions for sports betting and gaming, provided an immersive experience for participants during the event, through an interactive studio and four inspiring talks that explored how technology can shape a better future.
The Blip studio hosted a dynamic space where visitors had the chance to try out the technologies of tomorrow. Through practical demonstrations and direct interactions, the public was challenged to reflect on the impact of technology and its potential to answer today's big questions.
The four talks organized by the company, on the other hand, brought new perspectives and stimulated debate on the role technology will have in the future. Led by several experts, each talk explored "The Big (Tech) Question? in a unique and [...]]]> An innovative process developed at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), which makes it possible to provide sun protection to cork, was recently licensed to TMG Automotive, a Portuguese manufacturer of interiors for the automotive industry and a supplier of major OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers).
The project, which relies on the cork's pigmentation, was born out of Rita Almeida's PhD thesis in Chemical Engineering at FEUP and caught the attention of TMG, where the thesis was carried out. "We want to move forward with the industrial scale-up of this technology, ensuring that the process is optimized for large-scale production,? say the representatives of the company, which is also the co-holder of the patent application since 2024.
According to the contract signed between U.Porto and TMG Automotive, the latter will undertake to pay royalties to the University for the commercial use of the technology.
This solution coats cork with hematite [...]]]> Kuehne+Nagel, a proud Porto Leading Investor, has recently been recognized as one of the Top 10 Best Workplaces in Portugal by Great Place to Work, an extraordinary milestone that reflects the commitment, dedication, and team spirit of the company?s employees.
The recognition is a direct result of the collective effort and the organizational culture Kuehne+Nagel has been building over the past four years. Through trust, collaboration, and continuous growth, each team member plays a fundamental role in the company?s success. "We are extremely proud of this achievement, which belongs to each and every one of our employees. This recognition reinforces our commitment to providing an excellent work environment where people feel valued, motivated, and inspired to reach new heights,? stated Gonçalo Sá, Head of Kuehne+Nagel Porto Tech Hub.
In January, the global leader in logistics and supply chain management [...]]]> Recently, Vertical Coworking announced the opening of Vertical Dom Henrique, its latest and most ambitious flexible workspace, located in a prime location in the heart of Porto. With a modern and sophisticated infrastructure, Vertical Dom Henrique is designed to offer a premium coworking experience, adapted to the needs of professionals, startups, and innovative companies.
Located in one of the city's most emblematic buildings, Vertical Dom Henrique stands out for its contemporary design, large spaces, and impressive views over Porto. The space combines elegance and functionality, providing an inspiring environment for those seeking productivity and well-being in the workplace.
The new space is Vertical Coworking's third unit in the city of Porto, along with [...]]]> Porto Business School's Global Online MBA is among the world's 10 best in this year's edition of the Online MBA ranking, coming in at 8th place worldwide and 4th place in Europe. Each year, the exclusive Financial Times ranking highlights the best online MBA programmes worldwide, this being the first time that Porto Business School's MBA is distinguished in it.
Launched in 2020, the 17-month Global Online MBA course is a pioneer in integrating AI into the curriculum, while also being the first 100% online MBA programme offered by a Portuguese business school.
Each application for the ranking was evaluated according to various indicators. In the Online Interaction Rank indicator, which assesses the quality of the interaction and digital experience of students, Porto Business School's course is considered the best in the world, standing out for its excellence in online delivery. [...]]]> IMMUNETHEP, a spin-off company from the University of Porto, recently raised 2 million dollars in funding from CARB-X, a consortium of investors (including governments and private foundations) that aims to accelerate the discovery of new innovative anti-infective products. The funding will support the development of a vaccine against invasive E.coli infections.
E.coli is one of the main causes of bloodstream infections, such as sepsis, meningitis, and other life-threatening conditions, especially in vulnerable populations. At the same time, the increase in resistance to antibiotics makes the development of effective preventive solutions even more urgent, and this is one of IMMUNETHEP's missions, through the creation of vaccines.
The work of the U.Porto spin-off, based on research carried out at the With space becoming increasingly congested with debris and defunct end-of-mission satellites, Porto-based startup SPACEO found room for developing solutions to keep space clean and removing satellites after the end of their operational life. Incubated at UPTEC Mar, SPACEO leads the international consortium that recently won the European Space Agency (ESA) contract to develop technology for collecting end-of-mission satellites and space debris.
The consortium will use the three million euros budget to implement SWIFT (Spacecraft With Inflatable Termination), a project that will test an inflatable drag sail in space by 2028, designed to swiftly deorbit its host satellite after its mission is complete. In an official statement, SPACEO said that this technology will be developed in order "to become the standard equipment on board all satellites to be launched in the future."
"Currently, satellites complete their mission and remain in the Earth's orbit for decades, aggravating the [...]]]> For the third consecutive year, Portugal was in the spotlight at MWC for the quality of its 5G networks.
The podium for the category of best quality of experience is shared by Portugal and Sweden, with the cities of Porto and Stockholm in first and second place respectively. "This distinction undoubtedly reflects the commitment of the operators who have invested in the sector, ensuring its dynamism and development. I would also highlight the role of the regulator in creating a regulatory context that takes into account not only the supply side but also the demand side,? said Sandra Maximiano, President of ANACOM.
Portugal stands out in the reliability of 5G networks and, along with Denmark, the country also leads the way in the 5G network availability category, with the cities of Porto and Copenhagen having technology registration rates of around 87%.
Porto, Lisbon, and Stockholm were also deemed to have the most consistent [...]]]> Porto stands out at MIPIM 2025 as a hub for attracting global investment
The Porto City Council, along with the neighbouring municipalities of Matosinhos and Vila Nova de Gaia, attended MIPIM 2025, the world's largest real estate event, which took place in Cannes, France. As part of the Greater Porto project, Porto joined a delegation made up of 18 companies, along with political and technical representatives, with the aim of promoting the Atlantic Front as a strategic hub for investment in housing, urban regeneration, and sustainable projects.


A successful and internationally renowned strategy
During the event, Porto received the prestigious fDi Intelligence award from the Financial Times, which recognizes it as the #1 European City of the Future (among large cities) for its foreign direct investment (FDI) strategy. This distinction is a reflection of the successful municipal strategy in [...]]]> Porto's foreign direct investment (FDI) strategy, led by InvestPorto, was recently distinguished as the best in Europe by fDi Intelligence, a Financial Times publication. This annual ranking honors the FDI strategy of European cities, with its official award cerimony being held at MIPIM, one of Europe's largest real estate investment fairs.
Attending the event alongside the municipalities of Matosinhos and Vila Nova de Gaia, under the Greater Porto initiative, Mayor of Porto Rui Moreira received the award directly from fDi Intelligence. "Porto is proud to accept an award that proves and carries on its historic status as a hub for initiative and development", said the Mayor.
Having been on the podium for four consecutive years - third place in 2022, first place in 2023, third place in 2024, and first place this year -, the city sees its strategy for attracting investment once again placed at the very top of Europe, [...]]]> As part of its European-wide expansion, The Social Hub recently opened its first four-star hotel in Portugal, in the city of Porto. With an innovative hybrid approach to hospitality, The Social Hub Porto aims to foster the local community of digital nomads and young professionals, while also providing a haven for locals, students, and overall visitors to meet and relax.

With a privileged location in Bonjardim, right in the heart of Porto's dynamic cultural life, The Social Hub arrives in the city with a project designed to generate value for the local community. The space includes 310 rooms (271 four-star hotel rooms and 39 residential apartments with a maximum of 2 bedrooms), a rooftop, a courtyard and garden open to the public, a rooftop swimming pool and cocktail bar with panoramic views, a restaurant, a full service gym and more. These spaces were designed to integrate the different members of the Hub's community, [...]]]> Recognized as a "Great Place to Work? in Portugal for the second consecutive year, Porto Leading Investor Foundever has been operating in the city of Porto since 2015. With almost 900 people in its local office, from dozens of nationalities, the tech and global remote assistance specialist operates in various languages and time zones.
The company has in place a permanent work system prepared to deal with these different time zones, depending on the nationality of the clients, covering more than 20 different languages. "We provide remote customer service, technical support, content moderation, retention and acquisition, as well as back-office services and, for example, transaction processing,? said Pedro Santos, Foundever's manager in Portugal. Financial services are also provided in areas ranging from health to retail and e-commerce.
Born as Sitel Group, a name it has kept since its foundation in 1985 until 2023, Foundever is headquartered in Luxembourg and currently has a total of [...]]]> Porto-based startup PfxBiotech, founded in 2022 and incubated at UPTEC, recently received funding of 9.5 million euros through the European Innovation Council's (EIC) Accelerator programme. The company intends to use this funding to scale up the production of human milk proteins through precision fermentation, in order to eliminate the risk of allergies.
Through this process of precision fermentation, Pfx can produce highly bioactive alternative human milk proteins, creating a new category of ingredients that will support and boost the immune system. The company brings a wealth of experience in dairy proteins, fermentation, molecular biology, scale up, and open innovation, seeking to create products that are environmentally friendly, sustainable, and socially responsible.
The European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator programme has supported more than 71 companies out of a total of 1,211 applicants (16 of which are Portuguese), [...]]]> DeHouse, a Portuguese startup that manages several coworking spaces, has just opened its latest workspace in the city of Porto: DeHouse Península. Located in Praça do Bom Sucesso, with a capacity for 300 people, DeHouse Península will give a new use to the entire top floor of the Península Boutique Centre, while also contributing to the latter's revitalisation.
For Tiago Carvalho Araújo, CEO and Co-founder of DeHouse, "this space follows the same philosophy as the other spaces we manage, which today encompass 1,400 users spread over 5 locations: revitalising existing spaces by giving them a new lease of life."
He added: "DeHouse stands out for anticipating market needs, integrating adaptable design, advanced technology, and personalised services to create environments that balance collaboration and productivity. We see ourselves as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and growth, capable of attracting both local and international talent, but also as an engine for urban regeneration in [...]]]> Last week, Rui Moreira, Mayor of Porto, visited FinTrU's local premises on Rua de Santa Catarina. The Mayor underlined the contribution that FinTrU has made to the city in terms of creating local highly-qualified jobs.
Founded in 2013 in Belfast, the Porto Leading Investor set up its local delivery centre over two years ago, with a focus on the development of technological solutions that help investment banks comply with different legal and regulatory obligations around the world. Having already hired over 220 people, FinTrU plans on reaching a local headcount of 500 in 2028.

Rui Moreira had the opportunity to learn about the company's future projects, signaling the active and continuous role played by the City Council in monitoring several businesses established in the city, with a view towards their local expansion. "The involvement and collaboration of the City Council was decisive for the success of FinTrU's set-up in Porto. The support provided has allowed FinTrU [...]]]> Two years ago, Porto made history by achieving first place in the ranking of European cities of the future, in the FDI Strategy category. Awarded annually by fDi Intelligence, a Financial Times publication, this distinction honors the foreign direct investment (FDI) strategy of European cities, assessing their results over the previous year and the policies in place to achieve them.
Two years later, Porto not only makes history, but repeats it, being once again deemed the Best European City of the Future for FDI, in the category of large cities.
"It is with a profound sense of sustained accomplishment that Porto once again receives this renowned distinction, which further highlights the city?s ability to deliver an investment promotion strategy that consistently remains one of the [...]]]> Founded by Kelwin Fernandes, a FEUP PhD alumnus in Computer Science, NILG.AI wasselected by Microsoft to join the company's ?Learn with Creators? global educationprogramme.

This initiative connects ten international online content creators to a community that aims to expand access to education in Artificial Intelligence, with the aim of sharing knowledge on the subject.

NILG.AI helps companies improve decision-making and efficiency through AI,offering resources like a podcast, blog, courses, and even a YouTube channel withover 100,000 subscribers. Founded in 2018 and incubated at UPTEC, the company was recently awarded Data Changemaker of the Year at DSPA Insights 2024 for an AI project optimizingurban waste management in the Algarve.

The Computer Science DoctoralProgramme was launched in 2007 by several universities innorthern Portugal, aiming to train [...]]]> Having expanded in April 2024 to the Netherlands, Portuguese tech company InnoTech has recently opened an office in Porto.

With more than 40 employees already working from the city, the company aims to ?double this presence in the next 12 months?, according to CEO José Padre Eterno. InnoTech is currently hiring in different areas, looking for project managers, quality control professionals, testers, software developers, among others. The goal is to recruit 100 more people over the course of this year, reaching 250 employees.
InnoTech's aim is also to expand its business to the Nordic countries, with the company estimating a turnover of 11 million euros in 2025.
InnoTech was founded in April 2020, adopting a business model that ensures agility and flexibility in adapting to customer needs. It offers services such as NearShore, Cybersecurity, IT Consulting, and [...]]]> The University of Porto is the best-ranked Portuguese institution in six of the eleven rankings that make up Times Higher Education's "THE World University Rankings 2025 by subject", an annual initiative that highlights the best higher education institutions in the world across various scientific areas.
With a firm place in the ranking since its 2017 edition, this year U. Porto consolidated the historic performance achieved in last year's edition, when it appeared for the first time in all the eleven rankings of the initiative.
U. Porto registered its best position in Education, between 101st and 125th in the world. Compared to last year's edition, the University also recorded increases in Law (now among the 176-200 best) and in Social Sciences (among the 251-300 best). As far as the other fields were concerned, U. Porto registered a place between the 251st and 300th positions in Arts and Humanities and in Medicine & Health, being also in the top positions in Computer Science, [...]]]> In the latest Teamlyzer ranking of the most searched for tech companies by IT professionals, covering the last quarter of 2024, seven different Porto Leading Investors were included.
Critical Techworks, Blip, Critical Software, Sword Health, Natixis, Farfetch, and NTT Data were among the companies that aroused the most curiosity among the community of IT professionals in Portugal.
Teamlyzer is a community of IT professionals who share information about companies where they have worked before. Through it, users can find more information about tech companies in Portugal, such as their interview processes or even what their work environment is like, making Teamlyzer a sort of "Portuguese style" Glassdoor.
In total, more than 4,200 companies are available on Teamlyzer's database. ]]> Portuguese unicorn Sword Health, creator of a technology for digital physiotherapy at home, has acquired British company Surgery Hero.

As part of this acquisition, Sword Health will collaborate with 18 entities of the UK's National Health Service (NHS), which provide care to around 10 million people, and install its Artificial Intelligence platform (AI Care) so that it may be used by these patients. The company, who is also a member of the Porto Leading Investors programme, believes that it will contribute to faster recoveries and promising results, relieving the pressure on the British health system.
The digital prehabilitation programme created by Surgery Hero will become part of the Sword Health platform. "By integrating prehabilitation services, Sword is positioned to offer comprehensive support in the UK, from pre-surgery through recovery, expanding its already large global [...]]]> Portuguese startup DocBay recently won Consumer's Choice's (Escolha do Consumidor) Best tech experience category.
The company won the award for its innovative platform and app DocBox, that connects healthcare professionals and patients in a faster, more practical, and more personal way. By subscribing to a DocBox pack with a healthcare professional, users have access to a chat and minutes of video calls with that professional, such as a pediatrician, a general practitioner, a psychologist, a nutritionist, or a nurse.
With this platform, DocBay believes that it can bring about a change in the way people reach out to health professionals, avoiding unnecessary trips to the hospital, by looking at healthcare in a preventive way. ]]> For the second year in a row, Porto Leading Investor Kuehne+Nagel was distinguished as a Great Place to Work, an annual ranking that recently published its results for 2025.
Gonçalo Sá, Head of Kuehne+Nagel's IT Centre in Porto, underlined this award as a reflection of the outstanding culture the company has been building collectively over the past years, founded on trust, collaboration, and innovation. "Together, we will continue to deliver excellence, champion sustainability, and solidify our position as the most trusted supply chain partner," added Gonçalo Sá.
A world-renowned leader in logistics and supply chain management, Kuehne+Nagel recently expanded its footprint in the city of Porto, with plans to ramp-up its activity in 2025 [...]]]> The Campanhã Intermodal Terminal (TIC), a strategic mobility infrastructure inaugurated in 2022, has steadily strengthened its commitment to improving mobility in Porto, facilitating the connection between the city and more than 100 national and international destinations.
Since 2022, around 20 million users and 400,000 buses have arrived or departed from Campanhã, with a record of 10 million people in 2024.
As Portugal's largest mobility hub, TIC has reorganized Porto's transport system through an intermodal approach that combines metro, train, and bus routes. With an investment of more than 13 million euros and a green area of more than 4.6 acres, TIC is aimed at assuring an efficient and sustainable public transport network for passenger transportation in northern Portugal, improving connectivity between different modes of transportation and thereby making it easier for people to travel to and from Porto.

The [...]]]> Porto is once again among the best cities in the world, having achieved 8th place in a list of 50 destinations published by Time Out magazine.
Time Out highlighted the hospitality of the locals, the well-kept gardens, the cultural habits, the gastronomy, as well as the typical tiles ("azulejos") as some of the factors that continue to make the city a place of interest for both visitors and locals alike.
The list also names Porto as the fourth most beautiful city among all of the destinations presented, with 78% of its residents describing it as such.
Along destinations such as Cape Town, Bangkok, New York, Melbourne, London, New Orleans, Mexico City, Shanghai, or Copenhagen, this year's ranking also featured another Portuguese city, Lisbon, that achieved 12th place.]]> Last November, tech start-up Seedsight was the winner of the Altice International Innovation Award 2024, the "Born from Knowledge Award? from the National Innovation Agency (ANI), and the Social Responsibility Award from Exame Informática.
Currently incubated at UPTEC - Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, Seedsight aims to create an online data library containing the digital signatures of various types of seeds and grains, validated through low-cost, large-scale biomolecular and biophysical analysis. The platform optimizes the identification of the best species, origins, and suppliers of seeds and grains at the most competitive prices, avoiding agri-food waste.
"These awards highlight the purpose of our mission: to promote innovation and generate value in agri-food systems, with a special focus on the cereal value chain,? said Gonçalo Ramos, Seedsight's Chief Commercial Officer (CCO).
Since being founded in 2023, Seedsight already received several awards and [...]]]> After opening its Lagoas Park offices in Lisbon in 2023, AUTODOC is expanding its operations to LACS Porto with the support of Savills Portugal. This is the first office in Porto for the German online retailer of vehicle parts and accessories.
According to Dmitry Zadorozhny, CEO of AUTODOC SE, the vibrant new workspace at LACS Porto aligns perfectly with the company's vision of a professional and inspiring environment that promotes productivity. The expansion also marks the next step in growing AUTODOC's pool of tech talent in Portugal.
"The arrival of AUTODOC at LACS Porto is a significant milestone that highlights the versatility and dynamism of our spaces. Welcoming a multinational and leading company like AUTODOC, which is expanding into the largest flex office in the country, reinforces LACS' commitment to providing innovative and inspiring environments for visionary companies that choose Portugal as their centre of growth.", says Martim Botton, CEO of LACS.
"The new [...]]]> ETHIACK, a startup incubated at UPTEC - Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, recently completed a seed capital round of €4 million that will allow the company to launch the next generation of Automatic Continuous Pentesting technology, through AI-Powered Hackbots.
Founded in 2022 by André Baptista, Jorge Monteiro, and Vítor Pinho, ETHIACK has launched an innovative platform for continuous cybersecurity testing on the world market, allowing companies to identify vulnerabilities in real time in their digital assets.
Through the use of highly effective AI-Powered Hackbots to detect and report critical vulnerabilities, the next generation of Automatic Continuous Pentesting technology will, in practice, simulate the approach of an Ethical Hacker who will test digital assets, capable of protecting the Internet at scale. The AI-Powered Hackbots are the result of intense R&D work and development by ETHIACK.
With this investment round, ETHIACK will also [...]]]> In early 2025, the University of Porto (U. Porto) will launch the tender for the development of a laboratory on the site of Galp's former refinery in Leça da Palmeira, Matosinhos. The lab, named JUST3I, will be the first development made by the University in its new campus facilities, with an expected cost of 36 million euros.
U. Porto expects to create 300 new jobs with JUST3I. The lab will be focused on research, innovation, and incubation in communications, wireless technologies, networks and applications, computer vision, detection technologies, computing, and machine learning. It will later be connected to the buildings being designed for the site's future campus, which will be dedicated to aerospace engineering.
In addition to teaching and research in the field of space, JUST3I will also be geared towards the provision of services and partnerships with national and regional companies operating in the sector. "The stimulus to technological development and the industrialization of [...]]]> An old garage turned into a cutting-edge multifunctional open space, the 6,572 square metre Santa Catarina 1232 building has recently been fully leased.

Located in the centre of Porto, in one of the city's busiest commercial areas, the office had software developer PHC Software as its most recent placement. The company invested €1.4 million in its new 1,000 square metre premises, that include an auditorium prepared for remote collaboration and live streaming, as well as relaxation and games areas.
Catarina 1232's other two tenants are proud Porto Leading Investors that have set up their operations in Porto over the last few years. FinTrU, with an area of 2,819 square metres, has been running its delivery centre from these offices since late 2022, with its focus on developing technological solutions that help [...]]]> The Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS Research Centre (FhP-AICOS) was founded in Porto in 2009, following a partnership between the German Fraunhofer Society, the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), and the University of Porto. The Centre currently employs around 100 people - 80 of whom are highly qualified researchers -, possessing a portfolio of clients in areas such as health, agriculture, retail, and energy.
Earlier this month, FhP-AICOS officially launched ACHILLES, deemed by the centre as an "innovative project dedicated to transforming the future of artificial intelligence, making it lighter, more transparent and safer.? Borrowing its name from the Greek warrior Achilles, the project wants to overcome AI's weaknesses, namely efficiency and reliability, with a modern approach.
"As AI becomes more and more integrated into our daily lives, concerns about transparency, ethics and energy consumption are growing. ACHILLES addresses these challenges by [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor i-charging has recently been considered the most promising startup in the 8th edition of the Scaleup Portugal Report, standing out among 334 tech companies.

The selection for the Scaleup Portugal Report was based on criteria such as total capital raised, total revenue, capital-to-revenue ratio, number of jobs created, and time-to-market. In a statement on its website, i-charging expressed pride in its recognition as Portugal's most promising startup by the Report: "We are proud to be part of Portugal's thriving ecosystem and look forward to continuing our mission of transforming electric mobility by delivering cutting-edge technology to meet the evolving needs of our industry."
The Scaleup Portugal Report provides an in-depth analysis of the country's digital startup and scaleup ecosystem, aiming to guide stakeholders, foster global collaboration, and spotlight innovation in Portugal. It [...]]]> Aiming towards its continued growth in Porto, Kuehne+Nagel IT Services - a world-renowned provider of innovative digital solutions for global logistics and a proud Porto Leading Investor - is expanding its footprint in the city, in order to accommodate next years? ramp-up plans.
"This step reflects the company?s continued growth and commitment to delivering innovative logistics solutions while embracing the full potential of new technologies and AI,? said Martin Kolbe, Chief Information Officer at Kuehne+Nagel. "One of the key cornerstones of our Roadmap 2026 strategy is to offer state-of-the-art customer experience. Our Porto IT centre is of key importance to build those experiences.?
To take the next steps in Kuehne+Nagel?s digital journey, the Porto office is now growing by yet another floor to accommodate the strategic growth plan in the city. Within the next years, Kuehne+Nagel is looking to [...]]]> Having recently joined the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), the city of Porto - through InvestPorto - made its debut in the association's main annual event: the World Investment Conference (WIC).
The 28th WIC, held from November 25 to 27 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, brought together over 2,000 participants, including more than 30 ministers, policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs from approximately 60 countries. Under the theme "Harnessing Digital Transformation and Sustainable Growth: Scaling Investment Opportunities", the event aimed at exploring strategies for overcoming global investment challenges and discovering opportunities for collaboration and partnerships among WAIPA members.
Over three days, the WIC hosted conferences, masterclasses, and matchmaking sessions that discussed trends, opportunities, and innovative solutions, focusing particularly on digitalization, sustainability, and territorial resilience. The importance of fostering vibrant ecosystems [...]]]> The Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto (FEP) and Porto Business School (PBS) recorded the fourth highest rise in the "European Business School Rankings 2024?, climbing 14 places to the 39th position in this year's edition of the Financial Times ranking.
In the Executive Education categories, PBS ranked 33rd in Custom programmes and 28th in Open, becoming the only school in Portugal with improved results in the latter category. In the Executive MBA category, PBS remains in the 56th position, standing out as the second best national school, while its International MBA climbed four places to 39th, making PBS the only Portuguese institution to record growth in the Full-time MBA category.
FEP's Master in Management ranks 57th in the Masters in Management (MiM) category, standing out as the best course [...]]]> Porto continues to lead the way in scientific innovation and will be at the forefront of ocean research in the coming years. The new INESCTEC.OCEAN (I.OCEAN) centre will be Portugal's first national centre of excellence in ocean research and engineering.
Led by INESC TEC - an R&D institution based on the Faculty of Engineering campus at the University of Porto -, this new centre represents an investment exceeding €30 million and will remain incubated at INESC TEC for the next four years.
I.OCEAN will focus on the development of emerging maritime sectors, such as offshore renewable energy, deep-sea monitoring, environmental impact assessments of human activities at sea, and offshore aquaculture.
In addition to R&D in these areas, the centre aims to create a network of onshore and offshore technological infrastructures to develop and test new technologies. Advanced training for human resources and bridging science with the business world to foster innovation are also among [...]]]> The 2025 edition of the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings ranks the University of Porto as the best Portuguese higher education institution in the categories of Teaching and Research Quality, further confirming the institution's international prestige.
In this ranking, the University of Porto is placed in the group of the top 401-500 universities worldwide. The evaluation for THE World University Rankings 2025 covered over 2,000 higher education institutions globally, based on 18 indicators and five pillars: Industry, International Outlook, Teaching, Research Environment, and Research Quality.
The University of Porto is the national leader in the categories of Teaching and of Research Quality (measured by the excellence and impact of produced research), with scores of 31.3 and 69.8 points, respectively.
The University's overall best performance in the ranking was [...]]]> Porto's real estate market is soaring, with decade-high values that, by the end of 2024, should guarantee for the city a 19% representation in the total volume of Portugal's real estate investment market. In 2014, Porto's figures represented only 2% of this national volume.
The estimate is from CBRE, which explains that this accelerated growth reflects Porto's attractiveness for investors, driven by its strategic location, modern infrastructure, and public policies favourable to investment. The city has established itself as one of Portugal's main economic drivers, being considered a stable and predictable market.
The office segment has been one of the main drivers of this growth, with a 20% increase in take-up forecast for 2024 and a vacancy rate that has fallen by 35% in recent years, currently standing at 5%. CBRE points out that Porto has considerable growth potential in this segment, when compared to other cities such as Lisbon and Barcelona.
The tourism sector [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor Euronext, a stock exchange manager, will continue to expand its operations and headcount in Porto, where it currently employs a total of 350 people. The company will also relocate to the city centre in order to accommodate the planned expansion, with the aim of hiring another two hundred employees over the next three years.
"The decision to move to a new building is due to the significant growth of the teams in Porto, which currently exceed 350 employees and are expected to expand in the coming years,? an official Euronext source told ECO. With the new building still being remodelled, Euronext expects to be able to move into the new premises during the second half of 2025.
The bulk of the two hundred new hires will be for Euronext's technology centre - Euronext Technologies -, a strategic facility for the company and [...]]]> Aiming to show Porto is 'the place to be' and promote an increasingly strong and structured talent attraction strategy, the Municipality, through InvestPorto, created digital nomads Porto, a project that features a welcoming platform for professionals who choose to work from the city.
This new project was presented first-hand during Web Summit 2024, and aims to attract digital nomads who can bring economic value and wealth to Porto's local economy.
"Currently, besides being a very important destination from the point of view of start-ups, Porto is also becoming a digital nomad ecosystem", says Ricardo Valente, City Councillor for Economy, Employment, and Entrepreneurship.
In an interview with the ECO newspaper, Ricardo Valente emphasised how these professionals "mobilise lots of diversity from [...]]]> Dachser, one of the world's leading logistics companies, will strengthen its presence in Portugal with the opening of a Corporate IT Hub in Porto, as part of the company's global digital innovation strategy.
The DACHSER Corporate IT Hub Portugal began operating this November in temporary premises in Porto. The recruitment process, which is already underway, foresees the creation of more than 100 highly qualified jobs by the end of 2026. The move to the new, permanent premises, with an area of more than 750 square meters, is scheduled for the second quarter of 2025.
This hub will be Dachser's second largest IT centre globally, complementing the company's existing IT locations in Germany, France, Spain, Hong Kong, and the US. Closely incorporated into the company?s IT structure, Porto's new Corporate IT hub will play a key role in the development of innovative digital solutions to optimize Dachser?s logistics services.
Stefan Hohm, Dachser's Chief Development [...]]]> PHC, a software development company, recently opened a 1,000 square meter office space in Santa Catarina, reflecting the company's vision of the future of work. 50% of this area is dedicated to culture and collaboration, while the other half is reserved for focused work environments.
In a context in which several technology companies are demanding a full return to the office, PHC is betting on a model that combines remote work with a strong corporate office culture. The €1.4 million investment in the new premises includes an auditorium prepared for remote collaboration and live streaming, as well as relaxation and games areas.

The concept of the new space, titled "Garden of Digital Business?, is inspired by a garden, with carefully crafted internal decoration and themed areas that reflect PHC?s culture.

"This office reinforces our commitment to providing the best work experience in Portugal, but goes even further in strengthening the connection between in-person [...]]]> Last September, Porto Leading Investor ISS celebrated the first anniversary of its Future of Work Innovation Lab, named "The Place?, with the goal of bringing the company closer to achieving its objective of becoming the Technology Leader in the Facility Management Industry.
Over the past year, ISS's technology team has been developing various innovative digital solutions to enhance the workplace experience, from launching applications, such as Convenie, to installing new sensors, making "The Place? a space to showcase their various technological products developed for both clients and placemakers. Additionally, this year was crucial for increasing brand recognition, in which the company's partners played a fundamental role.
"This milestone is a result of the hard work and passion of our tech team. We are one step closer to achieving our goal of becoming the tech leader in the facility management industry by building solutions that solve the problems and meet the needs of our [...]]]> Corium Biotech, incubated at UPTEC ? Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, received funding to accelerate the development of lab-grown exotic leather, in what was a significant step towards revolutionizing luxury fashion by making it more sustainable. The startup closed a pre-seed funding round of €500,000, with participation from Biotope by VIB and Portugal Ventures.
"The funding will be used to solidify our scaleup strategy, enhance the development of new variants of lab-grown exotic leather, and expand the team with top talent in biotechnology and materials science,? the company stated in a press release. Another objective is to create partnerships with leading fashion brands and designers seeking to incorporate sustainable materials into their collections.
"We are thrilled to have the support of such key investors as we take the next big step in advancing our technology,? said Maria João Maia, CEO and co-founder of Corium Biotech. "This funding will be crucial in [...]]]> JLL, a multinational specialized in investment management and commercial real estate, is reinforcing its presence in one of the most dynamic regions of the national market, as a response to the growing importance of Porto and the North of Portugal in the national real estate market. Along with its new headquarters in one of Porto's most modern buildings, the company has created the role of Head of Porto to strengthen and expand its operations.
JLL's new headquarters are located in ICON Tower, a strategically positioned building in the Boavista area and one of the most modern office developments in Porto. The company occupies two floors: one dedicated to the client experience and the other to the employees. The goal in terms of the office's design and execution was to provide all stakeholders with a sustainable, collaborative, functional, comfortable, and contemporary space.
"Porto has excellent conditions to position itself among the leading European destinations for real estate [...]]]> Connected and NIUM stood out at the 2024 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition for Brazilian and Portuguese Technology Companies, winning two of the seven awards. The initiative, promoted by the Macau Government, received 64 applications from startups in Portugal and Brazil, with 17 finalists being selected in areas such as Biomedicine, Medical Devices, New Energy, and Agricultural Technology.
Connected won the innovation and entrepreneurship competition, while NIUM took home the award for greatest potential for transfer of technological value. Both companies are incubated at UPTEC ? Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto.
Founded in 2023, Connected is a space industry startup dedicated to developing IoT (Internet of Things) connectivity solutions in remote areas or regions with weak terrestrial cellular coverage. Although primarily focused on the European market, the company has been working to establish partnerships in other regions, and this award could play a [...]]]> The city of Porto, which had been losing population for several years, is reversing this trend, largely thanks to migratory flows over the past decade.
Between 2013 and 2023, Porto's population grew by 6.1%, according to a report presented last month at the Municipal Economic Council, based on data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) and Eurostat. According to this data, Porto had 234,453 residents in 2013. Ten years later, this number increased to 248,769 residents, representing a 6.11% growth.
In 2023, over 62% of Porto?s residents were between 14 and 65 years old, 26% were above 65, and 12% were under 14. These figures align with data analyzing the city?s foreign population, which shows a 210.8% increase between 2012 and 2022.
In 2022, Porto had 23,312 foreign residents, a 23.1% increase compared to 2021. During this period, the largest growth came from Mozambican residents (53.1%), followed by citizens from India (42.5%), Angola (32.5%), Brazil (27.3%), and Italy [...]]]> Porto Leading Investor Kuehne+Nagel, a global logistics leader, is excited to announce the upcoming AWS Open Day at their facilities on October 22nd and 23rd, 2024. The event, co-hosted with Amazon Web Services (AWS), will feature a dynamic agenda of cloud technology sessions, expert led discussions, and hands-on labs designed to engage cloud enthusiasts of all levels.
The event aims to bring together IT professionals, cloud engineers, and AWS beginners to explore cutting edge cloud computing tools, strategies, and innovations. With a focus on AWS solutions, the event will cater to various skill levels, providing training and insights on a range of important topics.
The event will be open to the external community only on October 22 starting at 5pm at Rua Latino Coelho 142. Registration link here.
The AWS Open Day offers a unique opportunity for both cloud beginners and experts to learn, network, and explore the latest [...]]]> The Alfândega Congress Centre in Porto will host, on October 31st, the 17th edition of Speed Recruitment, organized by the Porto City Council through TERA. The event will once again foster direct contacts between candidates and new professional opportunities with companies.
There are two ways to participate in Speed Recruitment: through the closed circuit or the open circuit.
In the first option, 60 pre-selected candidates, trained by the Porto City Council team, will be interviewed for 5 minutes by the 10 companies participating in the circuit. Six rounds of interviews will be conducted, and the companies will interview all selected candidates, regardless of their educational background.
The open circuit option functions like a traditional job fair, where candidates can visit the stands of around 80 [...]]]> As an honoured guest city, Porto was present at the second Green Growth Show (GRECO 2024) in Ho Chi Minh City, featuring an exhibition space offered by the Vietnamese city's Trade and Investment Promotion Agency.
Focusing on industrial transformation as a new engine for sustainable development, the event served as a platform for promoting and showcasing green and sustainable products and services.
During the event, public and private initiatives aimed at reaching carbon neutrality in the city by 2030 were promoted, as well as activities related to attracting investment and supporting businesses through InvestPorto. In addition, VisitPorto  highlighted its projects, reinforcing Porto's position as a leading international destination. Ricardo Valente, Porto's City Councillor for Economy, Employment, and Entrepreneurship, was [...]]]> Last July, Porto's Municipal Assembly unanimously approved Porto's admission to the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), a non-governmental organization founded in 1995 by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. This membership is now officialized, making InvestPorto and the city of Porto the first in Portugal to join WAIPA.
WAIPA acts as a global forum for investment promotion agencies, providing networking possibilities and promoting best practices in regards to investment promotion. WAIPA's objectives include promoting understanding and cooperation between investment promotion agencies, promoting the efficient use of information, facilitating access to data sources, and sharing regional/national experiences in attracting and increasing foreign direct investment. ]]> Between the 2nd and 6th of September, Porto Summer Academy allowed 94 higher education students and secondary school graduates to have direct contact with the city's business community, in an initiative promoted by the Municipality through TERA.
The initiative allowed them to benefit from an immersive experience that included multiple activities, such as Meeting Points, in which the students visited different [...]]]> Porto didn't want to miss the call and went to Happiness Camp, in order to show that it also cares about the concept of "corporate happiness". At the Municipality's stand, participants had the opportunity to learn about some action strategies used to attract and retain talent, as well as enhance adaptation, through projects such as Porto Leading Investors, TERA, or ScaleUp.
In addition to the Municipality's stand, the event included other spaces where participants had the opportunity to understand which strategies are used in the corporate world to guarantee the well-being of workers.
Over the course of one day, Happiness Camp [...]]]> The Master's in Management (MiM) from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Porto (FEP) has climbed to 70th place in the Financial Times Masters in Management 2024 Ranking.

The programme offered by FEP is the best in Portugal in terms of academic return on investment, meaning graduates quickly recover the cost of their education. This assessment considers current salaries, course duration, and tuition fees. The MiM also ranks 1st in Portugal and 8th globally in terms of career progression, meaning that after completing their degree, students secure higher-responsibility positions in large organizations.
Another notable achievement is the programme's 12th place globally in terms of salary progression, with graduates experiencing an average salary increase of 66% after completing the programme.
"This recognition underlines the academic excellence of our institution and [...]]]> This year´s edition of Forbes Portugal's Most Powerful Women in Business highlights 55 women in 11 different categories, from managers, shareholders and executives, to entrepreneurs and scientists, all with a high level of academic training and very successful international careers.

We are proud to share that Sara Sousa, Blip's General Manager, was recognized as one of the most powerful Portuguese women in business in the ranking’s Entertainment category, among other well-known names from Galp, Sonae, L’Oréal Paris, or the World Bank.

Blip, a proud Porto Leading Investor, is currently listed on the New York Stock Exchange and ]]> Rui Moreira, Mayor of Porto, and Ricardo Valente, the City Councillor for Economy, Employment, and Entrepreneurship, recently visited 42, a programming school that arrived to Porto in 2022 and that already welcomed more than 1,300 students. What Rui Moreira and Ricardo Valente witnessed were not classes, but an innovative and gamified method that promotes learning without classrooms, without schedules, and without teachers. A 2023 impact study showed that students who completed the school’s training programme were likely to increase their current salary threefold, with 100% employability rates six months following completion of the training. ]]> According to the Academic Ranking of World Universities, also known as the Shanghai Ranking, which evaluates more than 2,500 universities around the world, the University of Porto 'has educational solutions for everyone', with the area of Food Technology and Science once again proving to be the benchmark offer (29th place). The Civil Engineering subject also places the institution among the top 100 in the world.
Also noteworthy were the subjects of Ecology, Agricultural Sciences, Veterinary Sciences, Public Health, and Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, all ranging between 101st and 150th place.
In this Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, the education institution also places six subjects among the top 200 offers: Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Clinical Medicine, Law, and Mechanical Engineering.
The Shanghai Ranking places the University of Porto ex aequo with the [...]]]> Porto is preparing itself for another edition of Porto Tech Happiness Camp will allow thousands of participants to be reminded of the importance of joy and well-being in the workplace, having been designed for professionals looking to increase their happiness and success at work.
Participants will have the opportunity to be in direct contact with speakers from large international companies, and will be able to acquire new tools that will help them explore the power of positivity in the workplace.
In this year?s edition, which will once again be promoted by Lionesa Business Hub, more than 50 speakers have been confirmed, from around 40 countries, and the event is expected to receive close to ten thousand participants. More than 120 companies will also be present at the event.
Among the speakers who will explore happiness, leadership, organizational culture, diversity, equity, and inclusion, one can find names [...]]]> Sword Health, currently employing over 350 people in Portugal, is recruiting for roles in Artificial Intelligence, Engineering, Product, Data, Finance, and Marketing.
The Portuguese company specialized in Artificial Intelligence for healthcare is actively expanding its team. Since February, the company has already added over 100 new professionals, but there are still 100 more vacancies available for its offices in Porto and Lisbon, with an additional 50 positions open in Brazil.
"When a company?s growth and innovation trajectory is as fast-paced as Sword Health?s, the talent strategy must keep up. We continue to reinforce our global team, with a strong focus on national talent, which has been?and continues to be?key to our success,? said Jorge Meireles, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Sword Health, in an official statement.
Sword Health?s rapid growth is further highlighted by a recent $30 million funding round, boosting its valuation to over $3 billion. Porto Leading Investor Rows  has successfully completed an extension of its latest funding round. The startup, incubated at UPTEC - Science and Technology Park of University of Porto, aims to accelerate its expansion in key global markets.
Last May, Rows had already announced the first portion of this investment, valued at around 8 million euros. The latest round, closed over the summer, secured an additional 1.4 million euros and brought Explorer into the group of shareholders of the spreadsheet software company.
The purpose of these rounds is to accelerate the company's expansion in markets like the United States, the United Kingdom, and other European countries, while improving the user experience by integrating services such as Notion and Google.
The Porto-based startup is also working on launching a new version of its AI system. In a statement to the Porto continues to be a magnet for talent, as evidenced right from the start of the higher education admissions process. In the first application phase for the 2024/25 academic year, the University of Porto stood out with the highest entrance scores in the country, dominating the list of courses with the top entry marks.
The Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering registered the highest average all of the courses available in the country, with the lowest entry score being 19.45.
The University of Porto has six courses in the top 10 highest entrance scores. In addition to Aerospace Engineering, standout programmes include the Bachelor's degrees in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (18.75 points), Industrial Engineering and Management (18.63), and the integrated master's degrees in Architecture (18.60), Medicine at the Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences (18.55), and Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine [...]]]> The Península Boutique Centre shopping mall in Porto will come to life in October. Coworking operation and management startup DeHouse  has signed a partnership with Sonae Sierra to use a space in the mall and open an office area for companies, intending to create a new local business ecosystem.
The initial outline of the project predicts a capacity for 260 jobs, Tomás Pitta, one of DeHouse's co-founders, told Jornal Económico (JE).

Founded in 2021 by Tiago Carvalho Araújo and Tomás Pitta, DeHouse has three coworking spaces in Porto and two in Braga. It houses around 800 clients, 95% of which are companies, including firms such as Volkswagen Digital Solutions, Visma, Siemens, Web Summit, consultants PwC and NTT Data, and startups such as Exclusible, Chainlink, Lympid, Realfevr and Utrust.
"The typical coworking space has digital nomads and then rooms with X number of seats. With us it's the opposite, because we have a [...]]]> Over the six-month period, nearly 7.5 millionpassengers passed through the airport serving the Northern region, representing22.8% of the national total, further reinforcing the growth trend observed inrecent years.

In general, the number of passengers handled atnational airports during this period increased by 5.2% compared to the sameperiod in 2023, exceeding 32.8 million passengers.It is worth noting thatlast year, Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport reached a milestone of 15 millionpassengers over 365 days, the highest number ever recorded. ]]> Data from the Porto Economic Bulletin, compiled by the Municipality, covering demographics, talent, health, macroeconomics, transactions, businesses, tourism, infrastructure, real estate, and sustainable development, also show a 2.4% increase in the population in 2023 due to immigration.
The population now stands at 248,769 residents, with nearly 23,000 attracted by the city's appeal to foreign populations. Based on tourist overnight stays, commuter flows, and resident population estimates, around 400,000 people are expected to circulate in Porto daily. Tourism records show 2.8 million guests, 15.2 million passengers at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, and 434.7 million euros in tourist accommodation revenues.
In terms of consumption, transactions with Portuguese cards in the ATM network surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2022 and 2023, increasing by 7.1% year-on-year and totaling [...]]]> The Councilor for Economy, Employment, and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente, representing the Municipality of Porto, and Startup Portugal signed a protocol establishing the SIM Conference ? an event that brings together startups, investors, and leaders of the entrepreneurial ecosystem ? in the city for the next three years (2025, 2026, and 2027).

The goal is to continue promoting the community of entrepreneurs and investors, both national and international, with an interest in Portugal, creating opportunities for networking, investment, promotion, and learning.

By hosting this international event, the Municipality aims to position the city as a national and international reference for entrepreneurship, aligning with the economic development strategy defined by the city council.

The second edition of the SIM Conference will take place on May 8 and 9 at the Alfândega Congress Center in Porto, with the first speakers [...]]]> The initiative includes the following categories:
? EMEA Technology Fast 500  companies applying this year may also be partof the international ranking covering the Europe, Middle East, and Africaregions.

In addition to the general ranking, companies that donot meet the minimum criteria for years of operation or revenue can still applyfor additional categories:

? Rising Stars willbe awarded to a selected group of companies that lead through innovation withproven results. The winner of this award will be chosen in partnership with Startup Portugal.? Market Catalyst this new category will distinguish a company thatexceptionally contributes to economic growth and development, creatingsignificant value beyond its products or services.? Venture Champion Award recognizes theventure capital company [...]]]> Bandora has closed a €1.5 million funding round to energize its expansion project, which helps digitally transform buildings, making them 100% autonomous. In two years, they aim to have 600 buildings optimized with their solution and enter "new markets in Europe and Latin America." The Dominican Republic and Colombia are new targets. This year, the ambition is to "multiply revenue tenfold."
"The capital raised now will significantly scale all our operations without compromising the quality of our innovative HVAC management and control optimization service, which is Bandora's biggest differentiator. Until now, our focus was on researching and developing the solution. We have gathered at Bandora the top specialists in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Building Energy Simulation, and Automation and Control, whose intellectual property is protected," says Márcia Pereira, CEO of Bandora, to ECO.
Led by BlueCrow Capital, with participation from Portugal Ventures, this round brings the total [...]]]> Described as a "strategic partnership? that "ushers in a new era of growth and innovation for EZ4U and the Portuguese market,? the spin-off from the University of Porto recently announced its acquisition by LINK Mobility, the European leader in mobile communication and messaging services.

Founded in 2010 by Duarte Magalhães and Vasco Vinhas, former students of the Faculty of Economics (FEP) and the Faculty of Engineering (FEUP), respectively, EZ4U specializes in developing enterprise messaging solutions, including SMS, Whatsapp, email, IVR, chatbots, and more recently, RCS.

Through its cloud platform and provision of API and high-throughput channels, the company?which was incubated at UPTEC ? Science and Technology Park of U.Porto until May of this year?enhances communications between businesses and their clients, with more than 3,500 active accounts across various sectors.

By joining LINK Mobility, the "range of [...]]]> Technology Office, an engineering team of the global IT company Intellias, has developed an AI Engineering Productivity CookBook. It is designed to help companies and engineers effectively integrate artificial intelligence tools into development processes in order to optimize them and drive innovation. 
The guideline is based on the results of a detailed study of the capabilities of popular AI tools for improving software development efficiency, such as GitHub Copilot Business, Tabnine, and Amazon CodeWhisperer. In addition, Intellias engineers have been able to rely on the results of their own multi-month pilot project to implement GitHub AI Copilot.   
"AI Engineering Productivity CookBook will help engineers to apply the full potential of AI tools in their work. It is an integral part of our implementation project, which has achieved excellent results and [...]]]> The Social Hub is a unique concept that combines a hotel, coworking space, and student accommodation under one roof, creating vibrant communities where people can learn, stay, work, and play. TSH has locations across Europe, including cities like Amsterdam, Berlin, Madrid, and Vienna, each offering a dynamic and inclusive environment for travelers, students, and professionals. They are currently hiring for the following positions:Front Office SupervisorF&B SupervisorCommunity Host / Front Office 
Community Host / F&BHead Chef  Apply if you want to be part of this team and this project that's going to make a difference. Identify someone who would like to be part of this [...]]]> With the aim of attracting national and international investment to promote development and job creation in the municipality of Porto, a chapter dedicated to Support for Business Investment has been added to the Municipal Tax Exemption Regulations.
The Municipality of Porto intends for this support, in the form of exemption from Municipal Property Tax (IMI), Municipal Tax on Onerous Property Transfers (IMT), and in some cases from the Municipal Surcharge (Derrama Municipal), to be an instrument for professional training and qualification, and for the creation of local employment, aiming to serve as an important driver of innovation, competitiveness, and economic growth.
To benefit from IMI exemption, companies must hold investment projects in the city with relevant applications of at least three million euros, or ensure the creation of at least 30 jobs, half of which are qualified or [...]]]> Under the theme"Internationalization", Ricardo Valente highlighted, in the openingsession, that "the City Council does not have a steering role, it will notcommand what the economy wants". In this sense, he said, "the great achievement was the enormous re-transformation that the city underwent, from an economic point of view?.The City Councilor recalled that Porto iscurrently the city in the country with the highest number of patents and startups. "Today, wehave companies that already export 20% of what they produce. In 2013, theirexport value was less than 4%. We multiplied the level of exports byfive," he said.Exports in thisregion represent 3 billion euros in turnover. Close to 2800 companies areexporters, "50% of which have a weight of exports in their turnovergreater than 70%". "We have a business fabric in the city that isalready imminently exporting", he added."Today we have a thriving economy,we create wealth. The country has to stop being [...]]]> Natixis' annual trainee recruitment program is aimed at recent graduates with training in the areas of Engineering and Information Technology, Administration, Economics, Accounting, Finance, International Relations, Law, among others. In this year's edition, the program continues to serve as the entry point to several areas, such as software development, IT systems administration, cybersecurity, risk management in the context of Capital Markets and commercial law in the context of Banking and Finance.
As an integral part of Natixis' WE WANT YOU program, the Tech & Banking Skills Accelerator programs will be held between September and December this year, offering around 100 recent graduates a unique growth and learning experience. This initiative aims to prepare candidates for the most complex projects and challenges in some areas and, at the same time, facilitate their learning curve, before starting their internship.
Natixis in Portugal is part of the Global Financial [...]]]> Porto didn't miss the opportunity to be present at such a significant event showcasing diverse projects and world-class thinkers. Ricardo Valente, the City Councillor for Economy, Employment, and Entrepreneurship, emphasized the importance of the municipality's presence at the QSP Summit, held at Exponor from July 2nd to 4th.
The city was represented at a stand promoting InvestPorto?s key investment attraction and development tools such as the B2B Marketplace, the Business Explorer and the companies that are part of the Porto Leading Investors programme

Additionally, other municipal projects such as Under the theme "Internationalization", theopening of the conference will be given by the councilor for Economy,Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente. Two panels will follow:"Global Horizons", with the presence of archaeologist and historian Joel Cleto,and "Expanding Frontiers: Internationalization of Economy andExportation", with the participation of Helena Lampreia, Head ofInternational Desk at Santander, Matilde Vasconcelos, CEO of Trot& Trotinete, Paulo Vaz, executive vice-president of AEP, andRui Fazenda, CEO of Gislótica. The debates will be moderated by aCMTV journalist. 

Portugal Inspirador aims to recognize and givevisibility to companies that operate in the national territory andthat stand out for their ability to create jobs, boost the market, innovate,boost economic development and that contribute most globally to the growth ofthe national economy. 
Complete [...]]]> ReadinessIT is pleased to announce its adherence to the Portuguese Charter forDiversity, an initiative promoted by the European Commission that supports theimplementation of diversity and equality policies in workplaces.
Signingthis letter guides the adoption of concrete measures to foster an environmentof mutual respect and equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of theirpersonal characteristics."Thesigning of the Portuguese Charter for Diversity is a crucial step in ourongoing journey of ensuring that all voices are heard and valued at ReadinessIT", says Adérito Ferreira, CEO.
"Thiscommitment reflects our determination to develop a work environment that notonly respects, but also celebrates differences. We consider diversity andinclusion not just as goals to be achieved, but as essential foundations of ourorganizational culture. We are committed to [...]]]> "Starting in September, Volkswagen Digital Solutions welcomes young graduates to join the teams at the Volkswagen Group's technology hub in Lisbon," announced the technology center.The young people selected will first spend a month training in areas aligned with the role they will perform. They will then have access to a mentoring plan focused on "personal and professional training to support their learning and maximize their potential". In the next phase, they will be integrated into the teams.

Volkswagen Digital Solutions is looking for recent graduates or masters in technological areas and its main areas of activity are software and vehicle operations, online mobile services, IT security, fleet management, sales and after-sales, purchasing and logistics, and product portfolio management.
For those selected, this hub offers "a competitive salary", as well as a range of benefits, such as health insurance, access to online training platforms, performance bonuses, discounts on [...]]]> Among thevarious commitments set out in the memorandum is the possibility of exemptionfrom the municipal surcharge for companies recognized as startups and scaleupsbased in the Municipality of Porto. Other complementary tax benefits forstartups and scaleups are also planned.

"The opening of an office in Porto byStartup Portugal recognizes the importance of the entrepreneurial ecosystem inthe city and in the entire Northern Region, demonstrating our continuedcommitment to supporting the capacity for transformation and re-transformationof the country's economic base," said Ricardo Valente, City Councillor forthe Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship.
Followingthe signing of the memorandum, Porto becomes the seventh Portuguesemunicipality to commit to applying a municipal tax exemption to companiesrecognized by Startup Portugal. ]]> Aimed atyoung people between the ages of 18 and 21, the program aims to bring theseyoung people, who live or study in the city of Porto, closer to the businessreality, promoting the identification of talent by employers.
With 59trainees and 38 companies, this third edition is 21% and 36% up on the previousyear. Support from the municipality also grew (84%), to over 79.6 thousandeuros. It's worthremembering that the municipality is responsible for 95% of the total value ofthe internship grants, with the employers paying the rest, as well as the foodallowance and work accident insurance premium.
This year,most of the vacancies (42%) come from the hotel and restaurant sector. Youngpeople will also be able to immerse themselves in work experience in the areasof management support, technology, logistics, commerce or human resources,among others. ]]> The threenew hubs - NextGen Core Banking, Data Engineering, and Microsoft BizApps - jointhree existing ones in Porto, indicating a renewed drive for the consultancy todevelop and grow specialized teams with sector-specific or technologicalexpertise," Paulo Silva, partner and head of emerging business areas anddelivery models at NTT DATA Portugal, told ECO.
"We are very proud to be expanding our presence inPorto, doubling the number of hubs, but also because this news signals areinforcement of our commitment to talent in the north, where we know there aredistinguished professionals capable of supporting us in the development ofinnovation and technology-based projects in the areas of management andengineering. This is also a way for us to help retain highly qualified talentin Portugal," he added.
Despite being independent structures, [...]]]> SWitCHDev is a specialised course in the field of programming created by Porto TechHub in partnership with Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto. Designedfor those who aspire to a professional future in the field or those seeking achange in their career path, the programme has already requalified over 350specialists. No prior training or experience in the sector is required toenrol, only a completed bachelor's degree in any field of study and B2 levelEnglish proficiency.

Upon completion of the programme, students with a positiveevaluation have the opportunity to enter a paid internship with one of PortoTech Hub's partner companies. Additionally, these professionals are qualifiedto intern at any company in the sector, so entities interested in integratingnew interns and assisting in their transition to the technology market cancontact Porto Tech Hub.

The professionals [...]]]> Greater Porto?s presence at an event discussing the challenges and changes needed to build the future of cities was almost obligatory, given the region?s dynamic nature on both national and international levels.
Urban Future, which took place in Rotterdam this year, brought together thousands of CityChangers to exchange ideas on how they are transforming cities. This event featured a sharing of successes and addressed mistakes made, aiming to accelerate change and successfully shape the future of cities.
Activists, influencers, and leaders representing fields such as urban planning, architecture, mobility, energy, real estate, housing, technology, and public administration gathered in a collaborative and change-driven atmosphere.
The Urban Future also hosts the Young Leaders programme, aimed at individuals under 30 who aspire to positively change the future of cities.
Greater Porto is a [...]]]> The Run Challenge, an annual event byDevexperts, encourages employees to engage in running activities. This year, 90participants from all company locations joined the initiative, aiming andreaching the goal of covering a distance of 12,000 kilometers collectively.
"Devexperts recognizes the importanceof promoting a healthy lifestyle and supporting our employees in theirwell-being journey," said Maria Silva, Internal Communications Specialistat Devexperts. "By aligning the launch of the Run Challenge with InternationalHealth Day, we aimed to emphasize the significance of physical activity inmaintaining overall health and happiness."
The company provided resources and supportto participants, including guidance on safe running practices and nutritionaladvice. Employees tracked their progress using apps and gadgets to communicate,inspire each other, and share their progress.
"We believe that investing in thehealth and well-being of our colleagues is essential for [...]]]> The study,carried out by ISAG-EBS and CICET-FCVC, calculated expenditure onaccommodation, meals, culture/leisure, travel and trips in the city, amongother expenses.
Accommodationwas the most significant expense (117.74 euros per day), with 29.8% of respondentschoosing a hotel to stay in Porto, 27% opting for friends' or family homes, 21%staying in local accommodation and the hostel being the option of 11.1% ofvisitors. The average stay in the city was three nights. Restaurants, with anaverage of 51.53 euros spent daily, and culture/leisure, with 39.64 euros, alsocontributed to the economic impact.
Accordingto the data, 14.1% of the Primavera Sound Porto audience were foreigners,especially Spaniards (18.7%), Brits (14%), Brazilians (12.3%), Germans (4.7%)and Italians (4.7%).Includingthose living outside the Porto Metropolitan Area, 91.8% of participants fromoutside Porto came to the city on purpose to attend the festival. In responseto the survey, [...]]]> The figuresnow revealed represent an annual growth of 53% in the value of Porto'stechnological ecosystem, compared to the period from July 1, 2019 to December31, 2021. In view of the significant growth in this measure of economic impact(calculated through the value of exits and startup valuations), the city ofPorto has climbed more than 30 places and has earned a place in the Top 100Emerging Ecosystems for the first time. This rise "highlights Porto'sremarkable progress over the last year?, underlines the press release fromStartup Genome, which involved the Global Entrepreneurship Network in theranking.
For theCouncillor for the Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente,the evaluation supports the work carried out by the Municipality in this area."Porto is establishing itself as one of Europe's main entrepreneurshiphubs, with a booming startup ecosystem. This success is the result of thecity's commitment to creating a favorable [...]]]> Sword Health, Addvolt and knok are three of the 16 fastest-growingnational technology companies in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)region, according to Deloitte's "Fast 500 EMEA? ranking. In three years, thesestartups have grown by an average of 810%. Sword Health, Addvolt and knok arethree of the 16 fastest-growing national technology companies in the Europe,Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, according to Deloitte's "Fast 500 EMEA?ranking. In three years, these startups have grown by an average of 810%.
"It's encouraging to see Portuguese companies achievingthese results in the ?Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA 2023?. We have 32% ofthe winning companies from the first edition of the Technology Fast 50 Portugalamong the 500 technologies in this international ranking. The 810% average growthof these companies is a testament to the results that can be achieved withinnovation, scalable business models and entrepreneurial capacity,? says PedroBrás da [...]]]> Xelerate.tech plans to hire 60 more software engineers for its operations in Porto by the end of the year. These professionals will be integrated into two joint ventures: Xelerate Markant Portugal, specializing in the development of B2B digital cloud platforms, and Advanced Xelerate Tech, which develops SAP products.
The growth of this accelerator, which in February partnered with Markant Service to create Xelerate Markant Services International Portugal, will also necessitate a change of premises.
Besides Markant Services, the accelerator has already helped companies like AVL Software and Functions, Advanced Application, and ISS World Services establish themselves in Porto. The investment by these companies amounted to around three million euros in 2023, but the goal is [...]]]> Seven Principles, a German company specializing in innovation in the IT sector, is one of the latest newcomers to Porto's technology ecosystem. With offices in the city center and an initial team of 20 people, the company aims to grow to 120 employees, taking advantage of the availability and quality of local human resources.
The city of Porto continues to attract international companies in the technology sector. The location, quality of life, and high qualifications of local specialists are just a few reasons for this interest.
With the opening of its office on Rua de Sá da Bandeira, Seven Principles joins this list. According to the company's national director, Marco Lizardo, "future projects originating from Germany will mostly be developed and supported by talents based in Portugal, promoting a union of professionals with many years of experience and promising young graduates."
The general manager of Seven Principles, Reiner Moser, explained that the choice of Portugal took [...]]]> In its 11thedition, one of the main attractions of Primavera Sound Porto will once againbe the Bolhão Market, which will be represented in a replica. The space, whichwill allow for a more interactive experience, welcomes visitors with a passportthat invites them to explore the different city projects present there. Among theprojects that visitors will be able to interact with are TERA (Talent. Evolve.Retain. Attract), Scale Up Porto and Invest Porto, under the Economy,Employment and Entrepreneurship portfolio, as well as Visit Porto, under theTourism and Internationalisation portfolio. In thespace dedicated to TERA (Attract, Retain, Develop), participants will be put tothe test in an interactive quiz, which will communicate the range of talentsand job opportunities that exist in Porto. At the The SWitCH courses are promoted by Porto Tech Hub, in partnership with the Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP), and are classified as postgraduate courses. Santander will help with the funding, contributing 50% of the programs? tuition fees (total cost of 2,000 euros). As a result, the SWitCH IoT and SWitTCH Cyber courses will have 60 more students in the 2024/25 academic year and 120 more students in the 2025/26 academic year.

Inês Rocha de Gouveia, Director of Santander Universidades, points out: "The partnership between local authorities, academia and companies to promote talent is the solution for increasing productivity and differentiating our economy. It is a great privilege for Santander to boost and increase the impact of Porto Tech Hub. Professional development initiatives such as [...]]]> With the motto "Inclusive Innovation", the event will take place in two different venues - on the first day (Friday) it will be held at the Crowne Porto Plaza Hotel, and on Saturday it will end at the Almeida Garrett Library Auditorium -, and it has once again chosen Invicta as the expansion point for the Women in Tech community in Portugal.

On the last day, the event will be attended by the Councillor for the Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente, who will join the more than 50 national and international speakers who will enrich the debate with their knowledge. The meeting will also be marked by networking moments.

Also confirmed is the presence of British Leanne Elliot Ypung, co-founder and CEO of the Institute of Digital Fashion, who has won several international awards and has been recognized as one of the Leading Women in WEB3 by publications such as Vogue and Forbes.

Activities for children:

On June 1, to celebrate Children's [...]]]> TelecomsWorld Middle East: Dubai, May 28-29, 2024
Followingits recent presence at the Salesforce World Tour Essentials 2024 on May 16,Readiness IT is set to make a strong impact at the Telecoms World Middle Eastevent. This event is renowned for gathering the brightest and most innovativeminds in the telecommunications sector to discuss the latest impactful trendsin technology.

ReadinessIT will take center stage in Dubai, participating in a panel discussion on therole of 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT). The panel will explore how thesetechnologies enable telecom operators to generate new business opportunities.This participation underscores Readiness IT's position as a leading digitalintegrator, with a growing influence among operators and clients in the MiddleEast.

SalesforceWorld Tour [...]]]> In terms ofopen programs, this higher education institution has slipped to 44th place,which means it has dropped two places compared to the last edition of thisranking.

Even so,the school points out that, in this category, it has established itself as thebest Portuguese business school in the ranking in several key indicators,"namely in 'teaching methods and materials' (39th), in 'quality ofteaching staff' (40th), in 'percentage of female participation' (47th), interms of 'partner schools' (8th) and in 'general satisfaction' with anoutstanding score of 9.26 out of 10".

Despiteworsening in both tables, the school remains in the world's top 50. The dean ofPorto Business School, José Esteves, stresses that this is "testimony toour commitment to excellence". He adds: "Porto Business School's openand custom programs share a common denominator: a focus on essential skills fortoday's leaders. [...]]]> The "Porto on the International Stage? event, taking place on May 22 (3:30 PM) in the Grand Auditorium of Porto Business School, will showcase the latest real estate market trends in the city.
The presentation of the "Porto Market Update? is one of the key items on the agenda of this meeting, which brings together C&W clients and representatives of the region's real estate ecosystem. In addition to a debate on the future of real estate in Porto, this edition features Sally Bruer ? Head of EMEA Logistics & Industrial and Retail Research, who will present the latest trends in the luxury retail and nearshoring markets.
The consultancy had already organized the "Porto Is What WE Make It? event in 2023 at the same place, gathering hundreds of participants. Porto thus once again takes a central role in this discussion, establishing itself as a prime location for international real estate investment.
Participation is by invitation only. For more information and to view the full [...]]]> The encounter between projects seeking funding and investors seeking new ideas with potential is not always easy. However, it is crucial for some ideas to grow and establish themselves in Portugal and international markets.
The aim of "Join the game: how to connect funding & talent?" was to foster this connection and bring talent and investment together in one place. This event was a joint partnership between the Leading Investors Program of the Porto City Council, the company DeHouse, and Universidade Lusíada ? Norte.
The event featured two panel discussions and the "Connect" game, in which companies and investors participated. The aim was to forge positive connections that could potentially materialize into mutually beneficial partnerships.
The panel "Connections between funding and talent" featured the presence of Councilor Ricardo Valente, the Senior Talent Development Manager of Blip (a company participating in the Leading Investors Program), and the Vice President of the Minho [...]]]> "Thearrival of a company the size of the Volkswagen Group in an office space in thecity center clearly demonstrates the result of the city's regeneration strategyinduced by attracting investment, retaining talent and focusing on the opennessto innovation that we have been developing in Porto's economy," said theCity Council.
]]> The SIMConference seeks to foster connections between startups, entrepreneurs andinvestors, providing a space for sharing knowledge and networking. Focused ongenerating connection opportunities through carefully selected content, theinitiative showcases the best of the Portuguese ecosystem, discussing the mostpertinent topics for international founders and investors.

"A conference designed to connect entrepreneurs,startups and national and international investors," said the City Councilfor Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship at the opening session]]> The first edition of the COBOL Academy, held in November 2023, saw over a dozen participants eager to learn this essential programming language tailored for business use. Impressively, more than 90% of the participants from the inaugural session were successfully integrated into the Natixis team, highlighting the program's effectiveness in bridging skills gaps and facilitating career transitions.

Participants in the COBOL Academy not only gain valuable expertise in this critical language used in many vital systems but also have the opportunity to work on real projects, immersing themselves in the role of a true COBOL Developer. This hands-on experience is crucial for maintaining legacy systems, ensuring interoperability with new technologies, and processing large volumes of data.

Maurício Marques, Director of Human Resources at Natixis in Portugal, emphasized the unique opportunity the COBOL Academy presents for individuals looking to enhance their programming knowledge. He [...]]]> The SIM Conference aims to showcase the best of the Portuguese entrepreneurship ecosystem and discuss the most relevant topics for founders and investors of startups in Europe.
Organized by Startup Portugal, with the support of Porto City Council, the conference will bring together startups, investors, and leaders from the entrepreneurial industry (both national and foreign), fostering knowledge sharing and creating connections among participants.

For startups, this is an opportunity to interact with investors and network with other entrepreneurs. Investors, on the other hand, will have the chance to meet founders, incubators, and talent based in Portugal with potential to integrate their portfolio.

The SIM Conference will have three distinct spaces:

SIM ? Connect is dedicated to networking;SIM ? Learn consists of lectures and workshops with the participation of influencers in this sector. Health Tech & Wellness, Fintech, Smart Manufacturing, Sustainability, AI [...]]]> In March, the Porto Leading Investor IT Sector launched the IT Squad ambassador program simultaneously in its development centers in Porto and Braga. Tailored for university students majoring in Computer Engineering or related fields, who embody proactivity, responsibility, and dynamism, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between the company and Academia.
These young ambassadors will forge a unique connection with the company, renowned for its specialization in the digital transformation of financial institutions. In addition to promoting IT Sector's opportunities and initiatives, they will actively collaborate with professional teams, participate in challenges, and acquire experiences crucial for their post-university journey.
For these ambassadors, IT Squad offers exclusive event access, networking opportunities, and recognition from peers and professors. It's also an opportunity to spotlight their program, shed light on key challenges, and navigate potential obstacles they may [...]]]> "Weknow the factors that determine the success of FDI attraction policies and it'sessential that we are all clearly aligned so that they have the capacity to besustained and leveraged as a strategy for economic and social development inthe country," stressed Ricardo Valente, at the presentation of the PortoLeading Investors impact study on Thursday morning at the Soares dos ReisNational Museum.
Assumingthe political, economic, legal, technological, but also social and culturalfactors that characterize Porto and the region, the councillor sees the resultsof the study as "significant in terms of added value creation, investmentin research and development, a reduced ecological footprint, a strong exportorientation and the creation of qualified jobs".
However, headds, "it is essential to recognize that there are challenges to befaced".
In RicardoValente's words, the economic, social and environmental impact of Porto LeadingInvestors can be amplified in [...]]]> Thecalculations are the result of the Economic, Social and Environmental Impact Study of Porto Leading Investors, commissioned by the municipality of Portofrom EY Parthenon, presented this Thursday at the Soares dos Reis Museum andrelating to 2022, considering the operational and investment activity of thesecompanies in the city. Created by InvestPorto, this is an investment projectmanagement program aimed at investors and companies with a high strategicinterest and economic impact in the city.
All beingsaid, between 2019 and 2022 these companies invested 222 million euros in Portoand generated 2,301 million euros in production in the city. They alsogenerated 715 million euros in household income (54% direct) and 209 millioneuros in tax revenue.

Among the43 companies in this program, 65% of which are national and the rest from 12countries, are Blip, Critical Software, Five9, Natixis, Euronext, Farfetch,Maersk and Critical Techworks. During this period, [...]]]> In additionto the presentation of the study, the session will include a round table withthe participation of Pedro Sousa Rodrigues, advisor to the Board of Directorsof AICEP (Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade of Portugal), the generaldirector of APICCAPS (Portuguese Association of Footwear, Components, LeatherGoods and Related Industries), João Maia, and the director of UPTEC (Scienceand Technology Park of the University of Porto), Maria Moura Oliveira.

Created byInvestPorto, Porto Leading Investors is an investment project managementprogram dedicated to investors and companies with a high strategic interest andimpact on Porto's economy.

It iscurrently made up of 43 companies, from Critical Techworks to Maersk, fromNatixis to Euronext.

It's worthremembering that Porto's strategy for attracting foreign direct investment hasbeen recognized for three consecutive years by the Financial Times' fDiIntelligence magazine, which [...]]]> The group, which has 17 offices in ten countries, started in Porto with less than 20 people in February 2021, and in the space of three years has already created around 90 jobs. It was "accelerated growth", recognizes Mariana Salvaterra, CEO of Zühlke in Portugal, "but conscious". The Swiss group's satisfaction with the performance of the Portuguese team led to increased investment. Last year, it opened a new office, with an innovative and inclusive design, and opened its doors to more hires, offering a range of benefits to ensure the attraction of talent. This opening "has allowed Zühlke to consolidate its position as a leading employer in the city and as a hub for projects of excellence for international clients," says the manager. Four million euros were spent, also looking to the future.
One of the focuses of this investment was to create a workplace accessible to all. As Mariana Salvaterra explains, the new office was designed with care to mitigate obstacles to mobility. "All the [...]]]> For theCity Council for Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente,"the arrival of a company such as Volkswagen Digital Solutions in Portoand in an office space in the city center is a demonstration of the results ofan investment attraction strategy that not only adds economic value to thecity, but also induces occupational multifunctionality even in the citycenter."

Thetechnology center, which develops innovative solutions for the Volkswagenautomobile group, invested in expanding to Porto "recognizing thequalified talent in Porto, especially in Porto and the surrounding areas",the German group stresses.

It startedwith 20 workers, who were already working in a hybrid regime from the north ofthe country, and who "were able to choose to move to the new location andkick off in the city of Porto". But recruitment is continuing.

In astatement, the managing director of Volkswagen Digital Solutions, JürgenReimann, said that "the [...]]]> Critical Software and Critical Techworks are hosting the "Neurodiversity Open Days" at the beginning of April. This initiative, held in offices located in Porto, Lisbon, Coimbra, and Viseu, is designed to introduce the recruitment program tailored for neurodivergent youth.
This is the 4th edition of the initiative, open to young people and their families. The Neurodiversity Program was established in 2021 with the goal of challenging the idea that careers in tech are not accessible to everyone. Critical Software and Critical Techworks joined in 2022.
Through this Program, the companies recruit, train, and integrate young people with autism spectrum disorders into their software engineering teams. The goal is to enrich Critical Software's and Critical Techworks' teams with individuals from diverse backgrounds, life experiences, and skills, attracting talent motivated to work in the tech sector. Under the Neurodiversity Program, 22 people have already been hired by the two companies.
The Geek Girls Portugal Conference serves as a gathering point for women working in tech or aspiring to pursue a career in this sector. Beyond addressing IT-related topics, it aims to inspire and facilitate networking, fostering the exchange of experiences and providing access to job opportunities and mentorship.
Taking place on April 13th, from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm at Porto Business School, the event will feature discussions covering cybersecurity, social networks, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and management strategies to enhance team autonomy.
The panel of speakers, consisting of both Portuguese and international professionals, will bring together women with diverse career paths from technology companies and universities.
The event's presence in Porto, a city that has welcomed several international tech companies in recent years, attracting both national and international talent, is yet another testament to the vibrancy of the local tech sector.
The full program is available on [...]]]> Gonçalo Sá, the head of the Porto IT Centre, expressed profound gratitude towards the workforce, emphasizing their pivotal role in the company's success. "At Kuehne+Nagel Portugal, we firmly believe that our team members are the cornerstone of our success. Their dedication, passion, and hard work have propelled us to this remarkable recognition," stated Sá. He further added, "It is their collective effort that has made this achievement possible. To our amazing people and dedicated teams: thank you!"

The recognition extends beyond the Porto IT Centre, encompassing various departments within the company, from logistics teams to IT Hubs. This accolade reinforces the notion that when employees feel valued, respected, and motivated, they are capable of achieving greatness.

The company's commitment to pushing boundaries, fostering innovation, and cultivating a workplace where success knows no limits is evident in its ongoing endeavors. This recognition serves as a catalyst for [...]]]> Since establishing its Center of Excellence in Porto, Natixis has maintained a steady pace of hiring, reinforcing its teams in Information Technology, banking support activities, and compliance. The company currently has around 2,000 employees in Porto, but this number is about to increase.
Jean-Marc Le Toux, the Head of the Technology Business area (BPCE-IT), revealed plans to hire an additional 300 people for his department this year.
Highlighting the quality of talent in Porto and its environs, he praises qualities such as curiosity and a desire to acquire new skills. "Portugal is fantastic. People here are energetic, passionate, capable of learning quickly, and rigorous in their decisions," he emphasized in an interview.
Natixis is a Porto Leading Investor company. This program highlights the importance of key investors in the city, aiming not only to attract more investment to Porto but also to consistently provide excellent service throughout the entire journey. ]]> The Greater Porto's participation at MIPIM 2024 is a key component of its strategy to draw foreign investment to a region already recognized as a center of economic vitality and opportunity, with untapped potential.
As part of this strategy, the return to MIPIM aimed to strengthen the positive impact, estimated at approximately 100 million euros, generated by the presence in MIPIM in 2022. The three municipalities comprising the Greater Porto were joined by companies operating in the real estate sector.
Participants were introduced to some of the most emblematic real estate projects in the region. For Ricardo Valente, Porto's Councilor for Economy, Employment, and Entrepreneurship, "MIPIM showcases a territory with the ability to consistently be on a global stage for attracting investment."
MIPIM welcomed delegates from approximately 90 countries, comprising 22,500 representatives and over 6,500 investors. This significantly enhanced Porto's visibility as a potential [...]]]> For fDiIntelligence, Porto's economic development strategy remains solid when it comesto attracting foreign direct investment. "Being in the 'top 3' for thethird year running demonstrates the sustainability of the strategy and thecity's competitive capacity," said Ricardo Valente at the time, recallingthat "the work carried out by InvestPorto is reflected in the 1.8 billioneuros of investment and the more than 22,000 jobs created."

"Inshort, this award plays a crucial role in promoting the city and recognizes thevision of a Porto with a future," said the City Council for Economy,Employment and Entrepreneurship.

Attracting foreign investment at MIPIM]]> Consideringthe reduction in FDI to be normal, Ricardo Valente points out, however, thatPorto alone accounted for half - 483 million euros - of the investment in theMetropolitan Area. In addition, "it's important to realize that Europe hasseen a drop of twice as much". Therefore, he stresses, "Portocompares well and I think the trend is set to continue".

This is because, says Ricardo Valente, the outlook for thefirst quarter of 2024 is already better than the same period last year and thecity is taking advantage of the crisis in countries like Germany, which"is causing a large number of companies to have to reposition theirbusiness centers to locations that are capable of responding to the needs froma talent point of view".

Thecouncillor, who was speaking at a round table alongside the managing directorof Geo Investimentos, Carlos Gois, the architect of Morais Soares Arquitetos,Duarte Morais Soares, and the manager of Mercan Properties, Miguel [...]]]> This is amoment of enormous commitment for the three municipalities to expand theirterritory, strengthening the capacity of their offer, in a high-levelpresentation of the areas to international investors, to generate newopportunities for employment, investment and attracting international companiesto the region. The municipalities that make up "Greater Porto"will be accompanied by companies active in the sector and in their respectivemunicipalities.
"ThisMIPIM shows a territory with the capacity to consistently be a world showcasefor attracting investment," acknowledges the City Council for Economy,Employment and Entrepreneurship. "Greater Porto, in its second yearof presence, seeks to give visibility to a dynamic economy with investmentopportunities on an international level," adds Ricardo Valente.
Showcases,conferences and live experiences are just some of the many items on offer atthis year's MIPIM, which will be attended by around 90 countries, [...]]]> "Lookingback on the progress we've made, and looking ahead to the promising future thatawaits our city, we can be truly proud of what we've achieved together,"said Ricardo Valente, at the closing moment of a full day dedicated todebating, sharing and building Porto's economic dynamism.

Among thesignificant milestones, the Councillor considers that "the increase inforeign direct investment, the monitoring of projects by InvestPorto and theinternational recognition of Porto as a welcoming city for investors aretestimony to our success".
[Theinvestment figures] are not just statistics. They represent livestransformed, businesses flourishing and communities growing".

For RicardoValente, the figures for the projects, the amounts invested and the jobscreated "are not just statistics. They represent lives transformed,businesses flourishing and communities growing". ]]> At the opening of the event, the Mayor of Porto shared three "concerns": the persistent "phobia of merit", the "need to create wealth", before thinking about redistribution, and the commitment to adapt to the "transitions of Artificial Intelligence", instead of "fighting windmills". Drawing attention to the "time of decisions" that the country is experiencing, Rui Moreira believes that "we need policies aimed at creating wealth and this is not done through rentier models", but through exporting companies with high added value. "We don't need to reinvent the wheel. It's just a matter of letting the wheel go and not constantly trying to put the brakes on," he stressed Giving the example of Porto, Rui Moreira listed achievements such as the "excellent universities and polytechnics, with the capacity to train human capital in scientific and technological areas of great potential", "the ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship that has grown consistently in recent years" or the [...]]]> Founded in 2010, it began with just over a dozen employees and now has more than 150. To train its gamers ? this is what the company's employees are called ? this software house has invested more than 100,000 euros.
Fabamaq will invest more than 100,000 euros in training benefits for its gamers throughout 2024, as part of the FMQ Graduation program. This program aims to provide employees with career advancement opportunities and promote the development of interpersonal and technical skills.
The Porto tech company is committed to offering its gamers resources both individually and collectively, which means that the FMQ Graduation program is divided into two distinct sectors: individual investment and team investment.
The individual budget includes digital courses up to certification programs, while the team budget can cover a wide range of products, such as game art, data science, marketing, programming, and project management.
In addition to this formal learning, this Porto [...]]]> The debate begins by addressing "the challenges of attracting, retaining and developing talent in cities", with the following speakers: Ana Côrte-Real, director of the Executive MBA and Head of Faculty at Porto Business School, Joana Resende, vice-dean of Entrepreneurship, Knowledge Enhancement and Planning at the University of Porto, Pedro Santa Clara, director of Shaken not Stirred, and Vera Rodrigues, Head of People at Sonae MC. Vitor Alves, director of GKN Automotive, and Mariana Salvaterra, managing director Portugal of Zülkhe Engineering Group will talk about "Porto as a hub for attracting investment and international talent", a panel that will also be attended by Ricardo Valente, City Councillor for Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship. To address the topic "From research to the market: transforming talent into business", the Porto Economic Forum invited André Fernandes, director of U.Porto Inovação, André Albergaria, coordinator of transnational research and [...]]]> According to the City Councillor for Economy, Employmentand Entrepreneurship, "this result consolidates the city's top position interms of economic development strategy, particularly in the area of attractinginvestment".
"Being in the top 3 for the third year runningdemonstrates the sustainability of the strategy and the city's ability tocompete," stresses Ricardo Valente, recalling that "the work carriedout by InvestPorto is reflected in the 1.8 billion euros of investment and themore than 22,000 jobs created."
"In short, this award plays a crucial role in promotingthe city and recognizes the vision of a Porto with a future," said thecouncillor.
The fDi Intelligence jury compared the foreign directinvestment promotion strategies of 64 European cities, taking into accountcriteria such as the profile and number [...]]]> The launch event occurred at the Porto's Regional Center of the Universidade Católica and was attended by Ricardo Valente, the Councillor for the Economy, Employment, and Entrepreneurship.  The support of Porto, through InvestPorto, enabled these two entities to create the conditions for establishing this partnership, a fact highlighted by the director of UCP's Center for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF), Manuela Pintado, during the ceremony. Ricardo Valente emphasized the project's significance for Porto's investment attraction strategy, stressing that through InvestPorto, around 500 investment projects have already been accompanied in Porto, with an investment of around 1.8 billion euros and more than 20,000 qualified jobs. "This project demonstrates the city's ability to attract projects on a competitive basis, emphasizing the crucial link between companies and academia. This partnership and UCP's commitment to their research center of [...]]]> Devexperts, a Porto Leading Investor that provides software services to companies in the financial sector, has recently reached a milestone of 200 employees in Portugal, a market where it has been present since 2018. This year, the company, headquartered in Porto, maintains an ambitious recruitment plan aiming to reach 250 employees by the end of the year.

"The reasons behind our decision to establish a research and development center in Porto were the growing technological ecosystem in Portugal and the opportunity to attract highly qualified professionals, both nationally and internationally. The country offers a dynamic technological environment, a robust educational system, and a culture that fosters creativity," explained Paulo Pina Pires, CEO of Devexperts Portugal. "In Portugal, the culture and people have allowed the company to drive innovation and attract the best talent in the industry. Devexperts' presence in Portugal aligns with our goals of being leaders in the field of [...]]]> On January 25, managers, entrepreneurs, businessleaders, and public figures from Europe and the USA spent more than 10 hoursdiscussing challenges that women face in IT and sharing personal successstories. Here is a brief recap of She Is Tech, plus conference recordings.  Recordings of all conversations and thematicdiscussions are available here. "It was a great experience ofexchanging thoughts with female leaders of tech companies, listening to theirstories about challenges, victories, and achievements they had in aprofessional field. I?m looking forward to encouraging more women to starttheir career in tech. I hope that we will have more diverse workplaces by thetime my daughter starts her professional journey.? ? Nashira Spencer, moderator. She Is Tech in numbers · Over 2,500 professionals from Portugal,Spain, Poland, Ukraine, Italy, France, the [...]]]> In a debate alongside the Head of Human Resources at NORS, Ana Peneda, the Director of Human Capital at the Petrotec group, Filipe Ferreira, the Director of Tridonic's Global Software Competence Centre, João Granjo, and the Director of Hays Portugal, Carlos Maia, the City Councillor for the Economy, Employment, and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente, stressed the importance of "countries and cities being partners with business organizations"."People like it here. The city has an intangible side that makes people like being here," believes Ricardo Valente.Ricardo Valente also adds that "the real capital of companies is know-how, patents, research, and development". The Councillor said that "the real power is now in the people". That's why he stresses, "if territories can?t create the conditions for people to be there, people will continue to emigrate"."We have to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and start having a competitive logic and create the conditions so that, in Portugal, there is a future [...]]]> The recent tech hub of Swiss company Markant and the new headquarters of Portuguese tech company VisionWare are now based in Porto. This fact further cements the city's prominent position in the Portuguese business landscape.
The company Markant is going to collaborate with the Portuguese-German tech company xelerate.tech, which has already established high-performing software engineering divisions in various technological areas in Porto.
Markant's CEO, Mark Michaelis, acknowledged that the decision to select Porto as the location for the new tech hub was due to the city's "vibrant atmosphere?, as well as its "recent success in a range of technological areas?, and the fact that "it is surrounded by several renowned universities that train highly qualified young people?.
According to Mark Michaelis, the Porto hub will focus on "developing innovative software products?, since Markant is a retail and industrial services company.
From this new tech hub, the group's [...]]]> Business executives, management teams, entrepreneurs, and MBA students looking to acquire skills in the latest AI tools can do so with the new bootcamp from Porto Business School.
The AI Revolution Bootcamp for Executives is back for three days with an intensive program, delivered in Portuguese and in-person.
With the option of remote attendance in synchronous mode, the bootcamp is designed for business executives or MBA students interested in deepening their knowledge of the latest AI tools to enhance business growth.
Among the target audience for this bootcamp from Porto Business School are CEOs, CIOs, CTOs, CMOs, department directors, marketing professionals, and technology consultants.
The "AI Revolution Bootcamp for Executives? lasts for three days and follows the first edition promoted by Porto Business School, which took place in November last year [...]]]> Another edition of IPOready will be launched in Portugal,bringing together this year the largest group of companies since its launch in2015, with more than 160 companies from 15 European countries seeking tools andknowledge from a range of experts to carry out an IPO in the future.
For this year, IPOready has seven national companies"that generate an average of 21 million euros in annual revenue and employan average of 144 people," Euronext said in a statement.
Among these companies is Doutor Finanças, a creditintermediation company that closed 2022 with revenues of over nine millioneuros as a result of an average annual turnover growth of 38% since 2020, andwhich last year began a growth strategy based on a franchising model of openingstores across the country.
"Our medium-term growth plan foresees theinternationalization of Doutor Finanças. In this context, entering the capitalmarket is an excellent alternative in terms of financial leverage for [...]]]> Bouygues Telecom is a subsidiary of the Bouygues group, amultinational known for its leading role in the construction industry. Almostsix years ago, the telecommunications company opened its customer servicecenter in Porto, where it now employs 560 people. All of them are French-speaking.
Being certified as a Top Employer is proof of the dedication and commitment of organizations to implement excellent HR policies and people management practices to improve the world of work.

In line with the strong values shared by the group, thecompany in Porto has been developing and improving its personnel managementpractices, making it increasingly attractive to candidates. Obtaining andrenewing several awards, such as Great Place to Work, Best Workplaces, and nowTop Employers, show its growth as an employer committed to the well-beingand development of its employees.
The Top Employers Institute certification program is basedon participation in and the results of [...]]]> The degree, focused on Digital Health and Biomedical Innovation, has already received unanimous approval from the Higher Education Assessment and Accreditation Agency (A3ES) and will open for applications this summer. With the assumption that the future of health will include a rising role for telemedicine, apps that help patients manage chronic diseases, artificial intelligence methods that support diagnosis and the personalization of therapy, electronic medical records or bioinformatics approaches that help identify mutations involved in disease, the new degree prepares professionals for these challenges. "To meet these needs, professionals capable of bridging the gap between technology and health and with a new training profile are essential. Only in this way will they be able to carry out research, programming, consultancy, project management, and implement innovation," explained Altamiro da Costa Pereira, FMUP?s director. The new course aims to provide students with practical skills [...]]]> This achievement emphasizes the association's crucial role as an organization that drives the growth and recognition of the entrepreneurial scene. The organization has been committed to creating initiatives to bring technology companies together, value talent, promote innovation, and stimulate the debate of ideas. Throughout 2023, Porto Tech Hub was joined by companies in the areas of information technology outsourcing, IT engineer outsourcing, application software development, and workplace experience management, such as Decskill, ITDS, Wunderman Thompson, ISS, Novalogica, IWG, and Mobiweb. Growth of the local technological ecosystem "The constant expansion [of Porto Tech Hub] reinforces the association's fundamental role in the growth of the local tech ecosystem. The addition of seven new organizations for the year is not only indicative of the industry's expansion but also validates our position as a place of excellence for national and international technology companies [...]]]> On January 10, 2024, "33N (33N Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Software Fund, F.C.R.E.), the European venture capital fund specialized in cybersecurity and infrastructure software, announces that it has completed the raising of 50 million euros, with significant contributions from Caixa Capital, Golden Wealth Management and founders of companies included in the team's previous portfolios," the company said in a statement. "The investment capacity includes an initial commitment of 20 million euros from Alantra and the Mutua Madrilena insurance company," notes 33N, named after the parallel at 33 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane that crosses the United States, Portugal (the island of Porto Santo) and Israel. The Porto-based venture capital firm points out that Caixa Capital, the private equity company of Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD), has joined as a "strategic investor", contributing "not only with a significant financial commitment but also by appointing a member to [...]]]> RISE-Health is the result of a merger process that brought together FMUP's two research units - CINTESIS (Center for Research in Health Technologies and Services) and UnIC (Cardiovascular Research and Development Unit) - MedInUP - Center for Pharmacological Research and Medicinal Innovation (based at the Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute - ICBAS) and CICS-UBI - Center for Research in Health Sciences of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Beira Interior (UBI).
This merger will encourage "a natural increase in critical mass, as well as providing greater multi and interdisciplinary synergies, resulting in a broad scientific scope and an increase in territorial cohesion between the coast and the interior of the country", reads the statement signed by the coordinators of the research units that make up RISE-Health (Altamiro da Costa Pereira, Adelino Leite Moreira, Patrício Soares da Silva, and Luís Taborda Barata) and by its future coordinator (Fernando Schmitt).
The [...]]]> Portuguese startup Inductiva Research Labs, which has created a computational platform to help scientific laboratories and company engineers simulate, predict, and optimize processes, has closed an investment worth 2.25 million euros, led by Iberis Capital. Among the investors in this round were the Portuguese venture capital company Shilling, which invests in early-stage companies, and six business angels (Maria João Souto, João Penedones, Terry Huang, Ryan MacDonald, Ralf Herbrich and João Barros). "This round of funding highlights the commitment of our entire team to address what we believe is a key problem that has been forgotten: the need for a modern and agile infrastructure to carry out large-scale physical simulations in combination with Artificial Intelligence techniques for various scientific and industrial domains," commented Inductiva's CEO. According to Luís Sarmento, Inductiva has an API (Application Programming Interface) in Python that allows it to carry out [...]]]> At the traditional and emblematic bell ringing ceremony that marks the start of stock trading on Wall Street, there will be a Portuguese woman, Sara Sousa. The Blip General Manager will be traveling to the United States to represent the company, based in Porto, the "main technological hub" of the Irish group Flutter Entertainment, which specializes in sports betting, gaming, and online entertainment. The group will debut on the New York Stock Exchange on January 29. With "high expectations", the general manager of the Porto Leading Investor, which specializes in developing tailor-made software for web and mobile in the sports betting area, anticipates a day that will be "special and unforgettable" as a representative of more than 700 workers who, she says, "contribute so much to the success of Blip, not only as a technological hub of excellence in Portugal but also of the Flutter group". "It's all of us who will be at the famous counter when the bell rings. I hope it will be a beautiful [...]]]> The Porto Leading Investor, Critical Software plans to hire300 workers in 2024. The aim is to reinforce teams in important areas such ascybersecurity and artificial intelligence, and applications must be madeonline.
"Critical Software wants to strengthen its teams andplans to recruit around 300 employees for its offices by 2024, to reinforce the teams in the technology company's core areas, such ascybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence and machine learning," thecompany announced.
Critical Software is a multinational "specialized indeveloping software solutions and providing engineering services to supportcritical and reliable systems, oriented to the security, mission and businessof companies."
It currently has more than 1,000 employees in offices inPortugal, the UK and Germany. After having hired more than 250 people in 2023.
This year, the company wants to recruit another 300employees, with the intention of "reinforcing and boosting" [...]]]> According to the Experis Tech Talent Outlook, Portugal is the third country in the world to hire the most IT professionals in the first quarter of 2024. As a result, there is a growing demand for professionals involved in creating programs and applications, as well as those dedicated to testing them to ensure the quality of these technological products. With this in mind, Porto Tech Hub, in partnership with the Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, is announcing the second edition of SWitCH QA, a postgraduate course aimed at training Quality Assurance Testers. The course has 30 vacancies available and the application deadline is February 4, 2024. The postgraduate course is aimed at everyone who wants to make a career transition and enter the technology sector and it offers many progression opportunities. The course is also beneficial for professionals currently working with manual software testing, as it enables them to update their skills to carry out automated testing. There are no [...]]]> The company has been present in Porto since 2019, but at the end of 2023, it decided to expand its infrastructure by opening a new office in the city. The rapid growth of VITEC, the world's leading provider of IPTV, Video Streaming, and Digital Signage solutions, has prompted the technology company to look for a new location to host its services, in the city of Porto. The company's history in Portugal began in 2019 with the opening of a workspace at UPTEC ? the Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, a place renowned for offering coworking offices and a networking center adapted to technology experts. Due to its growth, VITEC decided to look for a larger site to set up its team. According to the statement released by the company, the new office is located close to Porto's technological universities, so it will allow students to work with VITEC while they study, "enhancing their skills? and "providing the opportunity to gain first-hand industry [...]]]> In addition to being a national leading player in wind energy services, Endiprev has gained international prominence, namely in the United Kingdom and the United States of America (USA). This highlights its relevance to international wind power players. Endiprev was created by a group of electrical engineers in 2019. Due to its on-the-ground experience in the energy sector, particularly in the installation, commissioning, and maintenance of wind farms, the company's recognition for its work has extended across borders.
Recently, Endiprev was selected by GE Renewable Energy, a subsidiary of US company General Electric (GE), to assist two projects in the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
"After the commissioning of the Saint-Nazaire wind farm, the first large-scale project in France, we once again see the trust General Electric has placed in us for two more very important projects,? said Tiago Ornelas, head of Business Development at the Endiprev Group.

At the [...]]]> In total, 11 awards were given to startups from various business areas that are part of the Portugal Ventures (PV) portfolio: an initiative that honors various companies for their positive performance throughout the year.
Addvolt, Didimo, By Foods, Noocity, and LUGGit have gained prominence in Porto's business landscape. These startups, which are part of the portfolio of the venture capital company of the Banco Português de Fomento Group, were some of the winners of the PV Awards. The Porto Leading Investor, Addvolt, a spin-off from the University of Porto (UP) created by former students from the UP Faculty of Engineering (FEUP) and which develops clean energy solutions for transportation, won the 2023 Startup Industry & Technology award. This distinction acknowledges that the company has shown "superior execution rates in the critical areas for its development?. The Startup Digital & Technology 2023 award went to Didimo. This accolade acknowledges the company's "superior [...]]]> It is not the first time that Porto has been the top choice for renowned international branches. This time, Emergia, Nagarro, and TSBetc have opened their new offices in Porto.
Shortly before the year 2023 came to an end, international companies Emergia, Nagarro, and TSBetc opened their new offices in Porto, highlighting the growing interest of renowned multinationals in the Portuguese city. 
Following the opening of offices in Barcelona and Malambo (Colombia), Emergia – a Spanish multinational company specializing in comprehensive customer experience management and process outsourcing – has also entered the Portuguese market with the opening of its first contact center.
Located on the third floor of the Lake Towers office complex in Vila Nova de Gaia, this recent office has 450 square meters of open and transformable space to meet the needs of its teams.
]]> Among the 1,000 bestbusiness schools in the world, the School of Economics and Management of theUniversity of Porto (FEP) and Porto Business School (PBS) have been honoured inthe 2023 Eduniversal Best Business Schools Ranking.
TheUniversity of Porto continues to rank second among the 14 higher educationinstitutions recognised by the international agency, the Eduniversal EvaluationAgency, surpassed only by the Universidade Nova de Lisboa ? Nova School ofBusiness and Economics.
It was in 2019 thatFEP and Porto Business School were recognised with "4 Palmes of Excellence? forthe first time, as a result of the upward trajectory seen by both institutionsas regards their reputation and influence, both nationally and internationally.
Through theEduniversal Best Business Schools Ranking, the prestigious EduniversalEvaluation Agency initiative honours the best educational institutions in eachcountry, based on multiple qualitative and quantitative criteria. Some [...]]]> As this year draws to a close, we proudly look back and reflect on the milestones achieved by InvestPorto. This year was filled with innovative events, strategic partnerships and significant advancements.
Each of these events played a crucial role in solidifying InvestPorto's position as a leader in innovative investments and sustainable development, establishing the company as a significant influence in the global business landscape.
We thank everyone who has been with us on this incredible journey. We are excited to forge ahead, leading the way towards more groundbreaking innovations and greater achievements in 2024!
Watch our 2023 events recap here.
]]> Sword Health is recruiting for various areas of technology.It has more than 100 vacancies, half of them in Portugal, said Jorge Meireles,chief technology officer. With around 750 people, the Porto Leading Investor hasmore than 300 people working in the country.
"We are recruiting more than 100 professionals fordifferent areas of the company, from Artificial Intelligence and engineering tomarketing and sales, as well as for the clinical area and operations. We areregularly publishing new vacancies on Sword's website, on the careers page, aswell as on our LinkedIn page," said Jorge Meireles.
The "vast majority of openings are for Portugal and theUnited States of America. There are also some vacancies for the Brazilian, UKand Canadian markets," said the company's CTO. The national market absorbs"more than 50 [...]]]> FishInSight, a project developed by professors andresearchers Sónia Gomes, Marta Monteiro and Mariana Ferreira, from the AbelSalazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS) and the InterdisciplinaryCenter for Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), at the University ofPorto, were one of the winners of the 4th edition of the Blue Bio ValueIdeation Program, an initiative of the Oceano Azul Foundation and the CalousteGulbenkian Foundation, in partnership with the Nova School of Business Economicsand Porto Business School.
The award-winning project focuses on the development of anin vitro intestinal model on a chip. This chip replicates the intestinalbehavior of a fish, providing an ethical alternative to testing new ingredientsfor aquaculture, eliminating the need to sacrifice animals. In other words, itcontributes to the 3R's policy - "refine, reduce, replace" - byreducing the number of animals used in experimentation, allowing a firstselection of functional [...]]]> The seventh "Scaleup Portugal? report, released by BGI ?Building Global Innovators, positioned Critical TechWorks at the top of the2023 ranking. This subsidiary of the multinational automotive company BMW wasresponsible for raising 275 million euros in the local economy along with 24other companies, an increase of 41% compared to the previous year.
According to the disclosed data, in addition to the positiveeconomic impact, Critical TechWorks is part of the list of corporate startupsresponsible for creating 45% of the jobs that contribute to boosting theindustrial landscape and shaping the economic future.
Of the total revenues from the sample, which comprises over700 million euros, the Top 25 companies were responsible for generating almost530 million euros between the years 2018 and 2022. A significant portion of theraised capital (about 90%) came from venture capital funds and approximately 9%from individual investors. France stood out as the economic [...]]]> Sword Health, Addvolt and Knok are the technology companieson the podium of the first edition of the Technology Fast 50 Portugal ranking,announced this Wednesday by Deloitte.
The first edition of the program in Portugal is alreadyrecognized in international markets. The Portuguese technology companies thatrecorded the highest annual growth between 2019 and 2022 were selected.According to Deloitte's analysis, the winning companies achieved an overallturnover of more than 550 million euros, 265% more than in 2019, while exportsamounted to 250 million, 179% more than four years ago.
The ranking is made up of 50 technology companies, which hadan average growth of 400% in the period analyzed, explains Deloitte.
The Porto Leading Investor, Sword Health, occupies firstplace on the list, followed by Addvolt and the health technology company Knokin third place. ]]> The fourth edition of MIPIM an annual event shaping the future of the global housing market, returns to the city of Cannes from March 12th to 15th. The festival's mission remains the same: to inspire the international real estate community to create more sustainable, livable, and prosperous housing alternatives for all.
By positioning itself as a catalyst for concrete solutions in the real estate sector, MIPIM helps create a fertile ground so that development opportunities and global capital can drive change.
Through exhibitions, networking events, and in-person discussions among leaders, investors, property consultants, construction companies, and influential local and regional authorities, this festival serves as a conducive platform for the exchange of innovative and tangible perspectives capable of boosting significant transformations.
Recognizing the importance of this event, Greater Porto invites the local real estate [...]]]> Elementis, a company operating in the chemical sector, willinvest three million euros in the country's first global center of excellenceand research and development (R&D) laboratory, which will open in the firsthalf of 2024 in Porto. The company will create 100 jobs by the end of 2024 in thisspace which will serve as a showcase for clients from all over Europe. They also have plans to invest six million euros a year in people,facilities and laboratories.
The UK-based company, with operations all over the world,has already opened 40 vacancies in Porto in the areas of human resources,finance, information technology, legal, commercial, purchasing and research anddevelopment. "The employees based in Porto will collaborate with Elementisteams located in Europe and on the American continent, but some of thefunctions will have a global scope," the company said in a statement.
The new centre in Porto will support both Elementis' businesssegments - personal care [...]]]> Strategies for economicdevelopment, attracting investment, attracting, and retaining talent,competitiveness, knowledge and innovation networks, entrepreneurship, andeconomic diplomacy are examples of areas that contribute to and impact dailyactivities of the city and those who live, study, work and invest here.
The goal of the Porto EconomicAward is to promote research on the local and regional economy, fostering freshperspectives. Through this initiative, students and researchers can presenttheir insights into Porto's economy, providing the community and localauthorities from a new perspective.
In the 2023 edition, the first prizewill have a value of €3,000.00 (three thousand euros), the second prize will be€1,500.00 (one thousand five hundred euros), and the third prize will be€1,000.00 (one thousand euros). In this edition, eligible application can besubmitted in Portuguese or English, published within the last three years, fromNovember 30th [...]]]> Created to be "a milestone" in the sector, the event is considered, in the words of the Councillor for Economy, Employment, and Entrepreneurship, a moment of "exchanging experiences and for learning". "Today, more than ever, the creation of dynamic and attractive public spaces involves promoting sustainability and quality in the commercial ecosystem of cities," said Ricardo Valente at the opening session. In the company of the Councillor for Tourism and Internationalization, Catarina Santos Cunha, the President of the Municipal Assembly, Sebastião Feyo de Azevedo, and the President of the Union of Parishes of the Historic Centre, Nuno Cruz, among other individuals, Ricardo Valente made one thing clear: "Together we can build a more dynamic, innovative and sustainable future for local commerce". "Porto is the city of commerce and commerce is Porto's," concluded Ricardo Valente. ]]> The University of Porto is the university with the most entrepreneurs throughout the country in 2023, having overtaken University Nova from Lisbon, which fell to third place in Startup Portugal's "Portugal's Entrepreneurial University Ranking 2023", which presents the Portuguese universities with the most entrepreneurs among their alumni. The Portuguese Catholic University moves is the second with the most entrepreneurs.
According to the Startup Portugal study, there are at least 1,650 alumni founders in Portugal's top 10 universities, an increase of 21.15% compared to a year ago. "Last year we launched this ranking with the aim of spreading the word about university entrepreneurship and encouraging a growing adoption of innovative project development themes in their curriculum," explains António Dias Martins, executive director of Startup Portugal, quoted in a statement. "We are pleased to see the University of Porto making a positive evolution in the number of founders it is [...]]]> Hitachi Solutions Europe has invested more than two millioneuros in its new facilities in Matosinhos, which will employ around 100people, confirmed the human resources director.
In this first phase, the Japanese company specialized indigital transformation will employ 100 people, but the goal is to double thisnumber over the next five years, said Ana Vale. The goal is to attract young graduates in the fields ofmanagement, economics, finance, computer engineering, data science andartificial intelligence, she specified.
According to Ana Vale, retaining and attracting young talent inPortugal, particularly in the north of the country, was one of the factors thatled Hitachi to set up in Matosinhos, in Porto.
Portugal "has some of the best and brightest youngpeople", playing a key role "in numerous projects across Europe andaround the world", said CEO Steven French, in a statement.
"It's fantastic to see people who joined us a few yearsago already [...]]]> As well as having direct contact with the companiesattending, the jobseekers also had the opportunity to take part in workshops about things which are highly valued by the job market.
There were two different types of participation in SpeedRecruitment. In the five-minute "interview circuit", 10 companieshad the opportunity to interview 60 candidates, previously selected and trainedby the local authority team, for five minutes. The ten companies present wereForvia, Grupo Salvador Caetano, InterContinental Porto-Palácio das Cardosas,Job Impulse Portugal, Kelly Services, MC Sonae, Mecwide, Prozis, SodexoBusiness-Matosinhos and Synergie.
]]> The company is preparing for 2024, and to meet the needs of its expansion plans and cope with new projects, it is hiring 24 Junior Developers to join the System Ninjas training program, an innovative technological training concept that aims to integrate new employees into the company's staff. Readiness IT is accepting applications from young people with academic or professional knowledge of various object-oriented programming languages, such as Java, C#, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, SQL, and Angular, among others. The company offers many benefits to its employees, including flexible working hours, a teleworking policy, certified training, and the opportunity to develop a career in an innovative company and take part in international projects. To apply, candidates must do so through the company's website. These new joiners will be [...]]]> Biorbis is an international company, that is majority-owned by Guatemala's leading sugar cane producer and Latin America's top 5 sugar producers - IMSA - Ingenio Magdalena.
"This 5-year collaboration will begin with the integration of 40 researchers to develop a private research project - CIRCULAS - which will be integrated into the facilities of the Center for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry of the Faculty of Biotechnology," says Manuela Pintado, director of the CBQF Research Center - Center for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry.
"Biorbis will market new sustainable molecules from Portugal resulting from this partnership, where 40 researchers will actively seek out new sources and processes to develop sustainable, high-value molecules," says Jorge Leal, co-founder and co-director of Biorbis. "Through this partnership, which is based on the principles of the circular economy and is aligned with the Green Deal, we intend to transform Portugal into a hub for the development of new [...]]]> One of the projects developed by Porto was the TERA project (an acronym for "Talent, Evolve, Retain and Attract"), renamed in 2023 as the "Porto. for Talent" platform. In terms of attracting talent, almost 250,000 visitors consulted the "Porto. for Talent" platform, and around 108,000 applications were submitted. The City Councillor for the Economy, Employment, and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente, explains what constitutes the platform and what has been done for young talent attraction. When was the TERA project born and why? What made you want to carry out this project? "The TERA project was reborn with a new name and designation in 2023. It was essentially a renaming of a talent strategy that already existed in the municipality". "The data we collected was, in fact, extremely relevant to what followed. At that first moment, we discovered that Porto's outreach region was [...]]]> José Esteves, dean of PortoBusiness School, revealed that the school is going to launch a knowledge unitcomprising five impact centers, specialized in the key areas of sustainability,tourism, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence (AI) and Africandevelopment.
The Innovation eXploration Hub(Innovation X Hub - IXH), is made up of the SustainableFutures Center, Tourism Futures Center, Entrepreneurship Center, AI forBusiness Center and Africa Futures Center.
Each center, says José Esteves,will have a management and financing model close to companies, with the aim ofraising a total of one million euros a year.
Rita Marques, former Secretary ofState for Tourism and co-director of the Executive Master in Tourism Managementat Porto Business School, will lead the Tourism center. The other centers willbe led and strategically guided by professors from the business school andprestigious names in their areas of expertise: Cândida Santos (PeopleManagement [...]]]> Following the recent opening of offices in Italy earlierthis year, SÓLIDA has taken a significant step forward in its European expansionby opening its own office in Porto, further consolidating its presence in thePortuguese country, where it has been involved in projects since 2011.
SÓLIDA has decided to strengthen its commitment to thePortuguese market at a time of unprecedented growth. The Portuguese governmentrecently presented an update of its National Energy and Climate Plan 2023-2030(PNEC), pledging to have 20.4 GW of photovoltaic capacity operational by 2030,more than doubling from the 9 GW in the previous plan. This increase ininvestment in renewable energy presents exceptional opportunities for companiesin the sector.
Commenting on the opening of the new office, Andrés Medina,SÓLIDA's Business Development Director, said: "At SÓLIDA, we are aware ofthe importance of local knowledge when it comes to providing engineering andconsultancy services; [...]]]> "These distinctions reflect our daily commitment to promoting an innovative and growth-focused workplace, offering the highest quality standards in our practices, as well as recognizing our ability to adapt, thrive, and set new benchmarks in this constantly evolving sector," says Patrícia Carneiro, Blip's People Director, adding that this "remarkable recognition was achieved thanks to the effort and commitment of all employees and with the passion which they work every day." In this year's edition of the competition promoted by Exame magazine, Blip also received the Skills Revolution - Learnability award, which distinguishes how evolution and learning are essential conditions for ensuring the adaptability of people in organizations. Blip, which is one of the main technological hubs of the Flutter Group - the world's largest online sports betting group - offers its almost 700 employees a wide range of benefits to promote a culture of well-being in which everyone feels involved and [...]]]> Among the technology companies interested in opening offices in Porto, those in the areas of video games, insurance and banking stand out, due to the new trends in cryptocurrencies and blockchain.
"The city of Porto is now recognized as an important technological center in Europe. Its ability to attract companies directly or indirectly and to grow those that are already here is unquestionable.? Ricardo Valente added the city's capabilities in attracting both new and established companies is undeniable and shared that discussions are underway with at least three technology companies regarding investment projects in the city. Some are making their initial venture into Porto, while others are boosting their existing investments.
The city councillor notes that the arrival of these companies in Porto is done in a context of "competition with other cities" and that, on average, ten new firms arrive in the city every year. The volume of job creation is such that "two of them are in the top 10 [...]]]> Porto Tech Hub was a transformative event, that brought together industry leaders, innovators, and technology enthusiasts for a meaningful exchange of ideas and opportunities. The event was attended by different speakers, such as Patrycja Wegrzynowicz, from Yon Labs and recently considered one of the Top 10 Women in Tech in Poland, Josh Long, from Pivotal, Stephen Chin, from JFrog, Mete Atamel, from Google, or Nicolai Parlog, from Oracle. The city Councillor for the Economy, Employment, and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente, attended the opening session, stressing the importance and role of technology in the city's growth and development. In pursuit, of promoting and developing Porto as a global technological hub, the technology sector has already created over 22,000 qualified jobs in the city. The 22,000 new qualified jobs since 2015 coincide with the creation of InvestPorto by the municipality. ]]> Annually, Inc. Business Media honors leading B2B organizations worldwide with proven track records supporting entrepreneurs and helping other firms grow. These partners support companies across various facets of the business, including infrastructure development, IT services, cloud migration, hiring, etc. 
Being a trusted B2B partner, Intellias has been included in this year?s list of reputable associates, receiving top marks from clients for helping navigate the dynamic business environment by developing innovative software solutions tailored to the client?s needs.   "Our mission is to breathe life into great ideas with the power of digital technology, and we are honored to have our services recognized by the Inc. Power Partner Award. We are proud to prove our unwavering commitment to guide and support our clients on every stage of their digital journey. Intellias is committed to continuously delivering high-value services to our valued partners, currently outnumbering 130+ clients [...]]]> The Dean of CPBS, Rui Soucasaux Sousa, explains the importance of the distinction, "in these rankings, only schools with EQUIS (EFMD Quality Improvement System, of the European Foundation for Management Development), AMBA (Association of MBAs) or AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accreditation can be evaluated, as is the case with CPBS." In this sense, the Dean adds, "We are very proud of this recognition since only a limited number of excellent business schools around the world can include their master's degrees in these rankings." "Entering the QS rankings is a validation of the investment we have made in strengthening the School's teaching staff and also demonstrates the quality of the students who complete their master's degrees here," says Gonçalo Faria, Associate Dean for Graduate & Executive Education and Engagement. Gonçalo Faria adds, "it will make our programs even more attractive to our future students". This is the first [...]]]> ThedxTechTalk event, titled "Frontend Day" served as a platform forexperts and enthusiasts to gather and discuss the vital role of webaccessibility in today's digital landscape. The event emphasized thesignificance of making digital platforms and content accessible to all users,regardless of their abilities or disabilities.
Webaccessibility has become a fundamental concern in web development, ensuringthat websites and web applications can be used effectively by people withdisabilities. The event highlighted best practices, tools, and techniques thatcan be employed to make web content and applications accessible to a wideraudience.
Key highlights of the event included:
? In-Depth Talks:Renowned speakers and experts in the field of web accessibility deliveredinformative talks on various aspects of JavaScript signals and webaccessibility. These presentations provided valuable insights into theimportance of creating inclusive digital experiences.
Dozens ofcompanies and more than a thousand professionals from the sector are expectedto attend to share knowledge about the main trends and technological innovationsof the present and the future.
Thevice-president of Porto Tech Hub, Samuel Santos, guarantees that this edition"will be an unforgettable event" and will "offer technologyprofessionals the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a variety ofprominent topics in this industry, which will mark its present and future"
"Thisevent promises to be a real journey of learning and discovery, encouragingparticipants to boost their careers in the constantly evolving technologicaluniverse," adds Samuel Santos.
In pursuitof its goal of promoting and developing the city of Porto as a globaltechnological center, Porto Tech Hub has confirmed the presence of speakerssuch as Patrycja Wegrzynowicz, from Yon Labs and recently considered one of theTop 10 Women in Tech in Poland; Josh Long, from Pivotal; Stephen [...]]]> In a statement, the Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC) explained that the ‘biosampler’ technology was tested in the Arctic. After validating the technology, also developed by the Interdisciplinary Center for Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), the researchers coupled it to a robot created by the INESC TEC team. Compared to other sampling systems, the technology "has several advantages", says Alfredo Martins, from INESC TEC, namely that it operates autonomously, at depth and low water temperatures. Also quoted in the press release, Catarina Magalhães, a researcher at CIIMAR, stresses the technology’s importance in understanding climate change's impact on biological communities in the Arctic. "This technology will revolutionize the current capacity for biological monitoring in marine ecosystems, with particular relevance in the Arctic Ocean where it is urgent to understand the impact of climate change," the statement said. ]]> The aim is to promote a meeting between participants - peers and mentors - but anyone who isn't going to attend Hackacity is also welcome. Registration for the preparation sessions for the sixth edition of the event, which will take place at UPTEC, is free and ends on November 1st.
The best performances by participants who take part in the two stages of the "Road to Hackacity" will be rewarded with vouchers worth up to 150 euros (however, it is possible to take part in just one meeting).
These meetings will serve to prepare the theme of the sixth edition of Hackacity, creating moments of networking, knowledge sharing, and learning with the team of mentors.

The Estádio do Dragão is once again the venue chosen to host the initiative organized by the Municipality of Porto through Porto Digital. The hackathon, which uses Porto's urban platform and data to respond to the major challenges facing the city of Porto, is scheduled for November 24.
The technology, innovation, and [...]]]> The PRO_MOV program will be presented on October 25 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Porto Vocational Training Service (Rua Peso da Régua, 4300-409 Porto).
Europe and Portugal face a skills gap with impacts on social cohesion, competitiveness and the ability to accelerate the climate and digital transition.  PRO_MOV aims to help Portugal respond to the challenges of reskilling for the 21st century. PRO_MOV is a national program that is part of the European Reskilling 4 Employment (R4E) initiative conceived by the European Round Table for Industry (ERT), a European forum of executives whose mission is to promote competitiveness and prosperity in Europe. The aim of R4E is to retrain 1 million Europeans by 2025.
In Portugal, PRO_MOV began in December 2021, driven by a group of companies from a wide range of sectors, alongside the public sector, through the IEFP, and in close cooperation with the Ministry of Labor, Solidarity, and Social Security.
This project is [...]]]> "The Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto stands out in the QS world ranking with its master's degree in Marketing (91-100th), its master's degree in Management (101-110th), its master's degree in Modeling, Data Analysis, and Decision Support Systems (101st) and its master's degree in Finance (111-120th)," the school announced. It's important to explain that the rankings in this table are based on five main criteria: employability, positions held by alumni, diversity of students and teaching staff, thought leadership (academic reputation, scientific productivity, among others), value for money (cost of the master's degree, salary of graduates, among others). Each year, this global ranking is developed by the British consultancy Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), based on the perspectives of more than 61,000 employers and 48,000 academics. In view of the results obtained in this year's edition, the director of the Faculty of Economics at the University of [...]]]> Fabamaq, a technology company based in Porto that developsgames for casinos, entered the North American market. With this achievement,the software-house, which employs 230 people, is hiring essentially in theareas of game development and software testing. Those interested can apply viathe company's website.
"Entering the United States of America was one of thehighlights of the roadmap defined by Fabamaq for 2023 and continues its effortsto take the best of what is being done in the Portuguese technologicalecosystem to the other side of the world," the company explained in astatement.
"The expansion of the casino games produced by Fabamaqto the United States is an achievement that fills us with pride. Over the last13 years we have achieved many things, following extremely high standards andstriving to bring innovation, excellence and quality to the products wedevelop. Entering this market is a special moment that will forever mark thecompany's legacy, [...]]]> Critical Software has acquired a stake in Two Impulse, acompany operating in the artificial intelligence (AI) and cognitive computingmarket. The aim is to "continue to invest in artificial intelligence andbring innovation to various industries and sectors", says the company in a statement.
With the dependence of various industries on AI increasing,Critical presents this acquisition as "a significant milestone" forthe company, as it allows it to "integrate Two Impulse's experience andresources into its operations. The aim is now to "accelerate the abilityto rapidly accumulate know-how and experience in this transformativedomain" and "explore a diverse range of strategic domains," saysCritical.
João Carreira, CEO of Critical Software, says that thepartnership with Two Impulse "will leverage engineering excellence,reliable technology, quality, agility, and AI expertise to maximize the benefitsof AI while mitigating the risks".
On Two Impulse's [...]]]> To promote the city of Porto as a leading technological hub in Portugal, Porto has just launched "Porto Tech". Associated with this initiative, the city will be the stage for different activities, from workshops to conferences and hackathons, which will bring together players from the local and international technological and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Around four thousand people are expected for two weeks - between October 16 and 31 - at more than 10 events associated with Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Deeptech, and Startups.
Porto Tech is a way of celebrating the technological communities that reside in the city. For Ricardo Valente, Councillor for the Economy, Employment, and Entrepreneurship, "Porto is increasingly recognized as a technological hub, which attracts the development of activities by national and international entities. Through Porto Tech we want to boost these communities, promoting networking and the development of practical skills."
The different Porto [...]]]> Portugal shows advantages such as tax incentives for R&D, a robust skills environment, living costs, high scores in the "Future prospects" and "Inclusiveness" dimensions, and startup visa programs as part of the migration policy landscape.
According to OECD's "Migration and Policy Debates" published in March, OECD countries have seen a growing interest in attracting foreign entrepreneurs. This interest promotes innovation, job creation, and increased competitiveness in the globalised knowledge economy.  Despite being disadvantaged in the quality of opportunities dimensions with a limited number of billion-dollar companies, Portugal's position in this rank is boosted by the country's tax incentives for Research and Development (R&D), low living costs, and a strong skills environment. Additionally, startup visa programs, now part of the migration policy, boost the country's ranking. The top-ten ranking includes smaller European economies, such as Ireland, [...]]]> The participation at the conference, held on 26-28 September, marked a significant milestone in reinforcing Porto's position as a thriving hub for investment, innovation, and economic growth. Porto's presence at Deloitte’s Shared Services Conference allowed InvestPorto to spotlight the region as a strategic destination for investment in the shared services sector. It also allowed to showcase Porto’s shared business centers, including 10 Porto Leading Investors case studies, showing why they chose Porto and their results in the region. ]]> The annual PMO GlobalAwards honor the world?s best PMOs across major regions, including Africa,Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Americas. This year, the evaluation processinvolved an assessment by the Judging Committee, consisting of 398 seasoned PMOleaders and experts from 123 countries. Criteria included the PMO?s journey,client service, best practices, innovation, community engagement, and valuegeneration. The Intellias PMO was recognized as a standout nominee in twocategories: Agility & Hybrid Strategies and Competencies Development.
The Intellias PMO isat the core of the company?s project management strategy, driving projectorchestration and standardization. Evolving significantly since its inceptionin 2018, it has transformed into a strategic PMO and a company-wide Center ofExcellence. 
The PMO?s impact onIntellias as an organization and its commitment to continuous improvement areevident through numerous initiatives and the adoption of top frameworks [...]]]> TUI's CEO, Sebastian Ebel, personally welcomed the TUI teamsto the Porto office. The "Digital Hub Porto" is part of a network oflocations offering tech talent an opportunity to work on the future of tourism,with hubs in Poland and India previously established by TUI. The "DigitalHub" teams join the more than 2,400 technology team members working at thecompany today.
"We have a long-standing and successful partnershipwith Portugal as a popular travel destination for our customers. Hotels,flights, cruises, tours and activities - TUI is here with its completeportfolio. Now we are expanding our presence in Portugal with the opening ofthe "Digital Hub Porto", with teams that bring a wealth oftechnological experience and creativity to TUI, strengthening our owntechnological capabilities. Providing new digital products and services to ourcustomers while guaranteeing high quality standards is fundamental to our transformation.Portugal is proving that it is not only a [...]]]> The design center MPS, a leading global company in high-performance power solutions, will support MPS's continued growth of cutting-edge power solutions for data centers, EVs, solar power, battery power storage, robotics, telecom infrastructures, cloud computing, automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics.
MPS's recruiting efforts are underway, with plans to add highly qualified jobs in the Porto area from entry-level to seasoned engineering professionals. In addition, MPS was a Diamond Sponsor for the ESSCIRC/ESSDERC Conference that took place from September 11 to 14, 2023, in Lisbon. 
To support the company's expansion, MPS retained Professor José Epifânio da Franca as its special advisor to engage with local industry and top universities in Portugal. His wealth of experience in growing successful semiconductor businesses in Portugal will be invaluable to MPS in its mission to establish its design centers in the region. Professor Franca is the honorary chair of [...]]]> Planet Payment is a financial technology (FinTech) company that provides payment processing and multi-currency solutions for businesses, particularly in the global e-commerce and travel industries. The company simplifies cross-border transactions with services like dynamic currency conversion, benefiting international travelers and businesses, and provides this with secure payment processing services.
The renovation work on the historic Trindade Domus building, a real estate complex with 21,000 square meters of office and retail space located next to the Porto City Hall, has already been completed following an investment of five million euros. This new phase, which includes the change of name to Trinity Porto, marks the entry of Planet Payment.
The payment company, which already had an office in Porto on Avenida da Boavista, will move into this new space in downtown Invicta with a capacity for 130 employees, as part of an expansion plan in which "the city of Porto will be one of the [...]]]> The councillor for Economy, Employment, and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente, participated in the "CEO 100 Tea Connect? conference, where he stated that the green economy was not only an ethical choice but a "strategic imperative that can boost profit and long-term success term?. In the initiative, which brings together big companies and organizations from around the world to share advice and encourage cooperation and investment, the councilor said he believes that "an approach focused on employment, entrepreneurship, and in the economy can lead to a more sustainable and resilient urban environment while promoting economic growth?. The focus on training and educational programs, as well as urban agriculture, support for entrepreneurship linked to the circular economy, but also intervention in tax policies are, for Ricardo Valente, key points to promote this growth. At the welcoming session, the president of Ho Chi Minh People?s Committee, Phan Van Mai, assured that the city is [...]]]> Zühlke's new office has been designed to foster the working models of the future, based on agility, interaction, and adaptability, while also creating more access conditions for all technology specialists. The new Global Engineering Center, next to the Palácio de Cristal gardens, includes flexible workspaces in line with the company's hybrid work regime, which also includes a 4-day week, individual conference booths, and accessible circulation areas for people with reduced mobility, as well as an Innovation Lab for Devices.
From Portugal, the technology consultancy designs end-to-end software solutions for clients in various sectors, such as insurance, telecommunications, retail, or consumer goods.
"The diversity and quality of talent in Porto was one of the reasons why the group chose the city to open the Engineering Center two years ago. Now, the opening of this new office is a reinforcement of our commitment to our employees and customers, opening up the opportunity to welcome more [...]]]> Supporting social innovations that boost the circularity of value chains and reduce the industry's carbon footprint is the project's main objective. In that sense, the competition seeks to support 25 European social entrepreneurs (including researchers, SMEs, and startups) who come up with innovative technology-oriented ideas as a response to circular challenges aligned with the project's mission, particularly with regard to textile, plastic, packaging, food, water, and nutrient value chains. In an initial phase, each of the 25 selected will receive 15,000 euros to support the development of innovative products and services with a social impact. Of this group, 15 will have the opportunity to participate in a pre-market technology demonstration, which includes additional support of 85,000 euros. In addition to funding, the social innovators will benefit from mentoring, and training sessions with scientific input for the implementation of their solutions and the design of business [...]]]> After a year of operating from Porto, ISS Tech Portugal opened its new technology center in downtown Porto. The new office, known within the company as 'The Place', will feature a gym, an outdoor terrace, and an events bar.

The company valued Porto as an "international and vibrant technology hub", noting that "both startups and large companies on a global scale value their highly qualified technology professionals", adds the statement, highlighting the existence "in the city and surrounding areas" of "several renowned universities that feed the job market with highly qualified young people."
 
]]> From 2021 to 2022, the city saw a 67.9% increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), representing around 600 million euros. Last year, these projects were responsible for the creation of 2,690 new jobs in the city. The number of companies created grew by almost 20%.
These figures are part of the annual Economic Report, which shows "a growing Porto in areas such as education, transportation, and investment". This document comes as part of the process of creating the Office of Information and Strategic Studies. Ricardo Valente, the councilor responsible for the Economy, Employment, and Entrepreneurship, wants this report to be "a basis for analysis and decision-making by all those who have a relationship with the city of Porto: those who live, work, invest and have companies and businesses here". Thus, FDI in the city of Porto was around 597.9 million euros in 2022, up from 356.1 million euros in 2021 and more than double the foreign investment made in 2020 (258.8 million euros). These projects [...]]]> Over 5.5 million national and foreign visitors toured the Bolhão Market in the first year after its reopening on September 15, 2022, with a daily average of 20,000 visitors. 365 days later, on its first anniversary, the outcome is overwhelmingly positive, with a total of 7 national and international awards won for the market's restoration and modernization work. Regarding attendance, Saturday is the day with the most people in the market, registering an average of 25,000 visitors, higher than the daily weekday average of 19,000 visitors. August was the best month in terms of attendance, with August 14th being the day with the most visitors inside the market: 31,000 (excluding the reopening day, which registered 35,000 in 2022). As for the occupancy rate, 98% of the spaces are occupied, meaning, of the 127 available spaces, only two are free. All the stalls are assigned, with 76 of the existing 79 in operation. Currently, seven out of the available ten restaurants are open, all of which [...]]]> Software & IT Services, Business Services, Sales & Marketing attract the most investment, according to the EY Attractiveness Survey Portugal, which assesses foreign investors' perception of the country's attractiveness as an FDI destination.
In the EY European Attractiveness Survey 2023, which annually assesses foreign investors' perceptions of Europe's attractiveness, Portugal climbed two places in the European ranking as an FDI destination, reaching 6th position. Attractiveness is defined in this survey as a combination of image, investor confidence, and the perception of a country or region's ability to offer the most competitive benefits for FDI.

Attracting FDI: talent, innovation and sustainability

Portugal attracted 248 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects, a record number for the country, placing it among the 10 European countries with the highest growth rate of FDI projects, mainly from Germany, the USA, France, the UK Spain, and [...]]]> msg insur:it inaugurated the new office in Porto this Thursday. Based in Porto since 2012, the technology company celebrated the opening of its new office on the 7th of September this Thursday. With a flexible concept, the new space opens its doors to welcome the company's talented team as well as the local community. With a space designed to adapt to the different needs of the team, msg insur:it employees will be able to continue developing innovative solutions for insurers. According to Jorge Miranda, Regional Manager of msg insur:it in Iberia, the company is excited about the opening of the new office, "which represents the strengthening of the msg group's commitment to the Iberian market, and is a significant milestone in our development." "The excellent results we have achieved over the last decade in our competence center in Porto fill us with confidence, reinforcing our conviction that we can continue to grow and serve clients all over the world, relying on the [...]]]> Developed by researchers at Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS (FhP-AICOS), a prominent research center headquartered in Porto with offices in Lisbon, this pioneering technology has just been awarded a European patent. The patented solution includes a portable optical device, seamlessly integrated with a smartphone, alongside a sophisticated methodology based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) components.
According to ECO, this technology was designed to assist non-specialists in acquiring good-quality retinal images. FhP-AICOS explains "the system works with infrared light that guides the user through simple instructions, such as moving the camera closer or further away or slightly rotating the equipment. This is to ensure that the retina is correctly aligned?.
The patent that has now been approved was submitted in 2020 and involved several departments from FhP-AICOS. The research center, established in 2009 through a collaboration between the Fraunhofer Society (Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft), the [...]]]> Under the theme "The Future of Digital Health Systems in Europe," the World Health Organization (WHO) is organizing a symposium in Porto today dedicated to technological advances in artificial intelligence and their impact on health systems. The meeting will also be marked by the WHO's announcement of the opening of its first office in Portugal dedicated to Technology, Robotics, and Entrepreneurship in Health. It will be located in Porto, in the future premises of the executive directorate of the National Health Service (SNS), allowing for strengthened synergies between the institutions. It will have at least 15 Portuguese and foreign researchers and is expected to start operating later this year. This project was the result of a working group composed of the Councillor of the Economy, Employment, and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente, and members of the executive board of the SNS, the Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organization's regional office for Europe. The 2nd World [...]]]> Some 14 years after founding Critical Manufacturing, together with three other former directors of the bankrupt Qimonda, creating a company that today has a turnover of 45 million euros and employs around 600 people, Francisco Almada Lobo is still at the helm of the technology company from Maia, which is promoting an innovative event worldwide this week. This is the "MES & Industry 4.0 International Summit", which Critical Manufacturing guarantees "is the first international event dedicated to the theme of digital transformation in the production industries, taking place in Porto", with the aim of "inspiring industrial companies to connect for a smarter future". Scheduled for September 7 and 8, at Alfândega in Porto, the "MES & Industry 4.0 International Summit" has "confirmed the presence of the world's largest industrial companies in the semiconductor, medical device, electronics, industrial equipment, and other high-tech industrial areas", says Critical Manufacturing in a [...]]]> A realm ofknowledge, warm hospitality, and innovation, Porto, the Invicta city, stands asa resilient and hopeful urban centre, embracing forthcoming challenges.

TheMunicipality's economic strategy aims not only to enhance the city's economicallure and that of the broader region, but also to foster social cohesion andthe well-being of those who live, work, and visit Porto. This is the key tosecuring Porto's sustainable development, where the harmony of happiness andeconomy thrives. 

The city of talent

Porto's beencatching the eye of companies near and far, turning into a real hotspot forsuccess and growth. And hey, it's not just about the spot-on location. Porto'sgot top-of-the-line infrastructure, cost-friendly vibes, and an awesome qualityof life. Plus, it's got some seriously top-tier schools, universities, andpolytechnics known worldwide. No wonder students and businesses looking fortop-notch [...]]]> Sword Health, which created a digital solution for the treatment of musculoskeletal pathologies, was one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States between 2019 and 2022, according to the USA publication INC. 
The startup, founded by Virgílio Bento, was considered the 26th fastest-growing company in the USA, with growth of 10.96%. It is now third only among companies in the health sector.
The INC magazine list, which is published every year, includes a total of 5,000 companies and its criteria are the increase in revenue over the last three years (around 11,000%) and the growth in the number of employees (from 75 to 788), the company reveals. 
"These distinctions fill us with pride and make us look back on our journey with satisfaction, but what really matters is the daily impact of our work on the lives of our patients and the number of people we've managed to free from pain. In this respect, I'm also proud to say that our results are equally impressive," [...]]]> Meta and Microsoft have made the Llama 2 language model available in an open-access format, so that everyone can benefit from and use artificial intelligence technology. Mark Zuckerberg's company believes in the potential of generative AI to help people, opening up a new era of economic and social opportunities and with Llama 2 it wants to give creators and companies new forms of expression. The aim is for companies, entrepreneurs and researchers alike to have access to tools that would otherwise be difficult to build on their own.
Open access is considered by Meta to be the safest way forward, since communities of researchers and developers can test and identify problems with technologies more quickly. And seeing how these tools are used by others ends up benefiting Meta itself, allowing its teams to learn, improve and fix vulnerabilities, the company says.
Defined.ai was one of the first companies to announce its support for Llama 2 technology, signing the declaration of support for [...]]]> German content systems provider CoreMedia has acquired Portuguese technology companies Byside and Smarkio. The value of the deal was not disclosed.
According to a note sent to the newsroom, BySide is dedicated to the development of "omnichannel solutions for the intelligent management of the entire customer journey, from the delivery of personalised experiences in digital to the management of multiple channels". It has more than 70 employees and, at the end of 2022, reported a turnover of around €4.5 million. BySide works for more than 80 brands in the Iberian market and Latin America, with telecoms Altice, NOS and Vodafone and TAP among its client portfolio.
CoreMedia acquires BySide at a time when the technology company from Porto was closing the acquisition of Smarkio, another technology company from the city of Invicta. Therefore, in the process of acquiring CoreMedia "Smarkio was also incorporated", according to the same note.
Smarkio is dedicated to the development of chatbots [...]]]> Costa Rica, North Macedonia and the UAE were the world?s best foreign direct investment (FDI) performers relative to the size of their economies in 2022. 

In the eighth edition of fDi Intelligence?s Greenfield FDI Performance Index, Costa Rica retained its position as the country that attracts the most FDI relative to its gross domestic product (GDP), thus fortifying the attractiveness of its investment proposition in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. North Macedonia and the UAE switched places from 2021, ranking second and third in 2022 respectively. 
Four other countries, Serbia, Lithuania, Malta and Singapore, retained their spots in the top 10. 
The top 10 features four countries, North Macedonia, Georgia, Armenia and Malta, with a 2022 (GDP) under $25bn, illustrating the growing ability of emerging economies to target and attract FDI projects and compete with larger economies. 
The UAE and Singapore remain the two major business [...]]]> The Government published in the Diário da República the regulation that creates and regulates the Avançar Programme, with a view to creating new support for companies to hire unemployed young people registered with the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP).
The aim of this programme is to cover 25,000 young people aged 35 or under, with a higher education qualification, and to provide them with a permanent employment contract and a basic salary equal to or greater than €1,330 per month. In addition, these young people are also awarded a monthly grant of €150 paid by the IEFP for 12 months.
On the company side, all those who choose to hire young workers on an open-ended basis may receive support up to a maximum of around 14 thousand euros.
"The Avançar Programme consists of an incentive to hire qualified young people without a fixed term, based on the combination of financial support for hiring and financial support for the payment of social security [...]]]> Ford Motor Company has chosen Azitek, a startup incubated at the University of Porto's Science and Technology Park (UPTEC), to implement an asset tracking system at the American car manufacturer's largest European plant.
The Portuguese startup won the challenge launched by Ford in the BoostUp! Bridge 2022 Grand Final, an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Manufacturing. Azitek received €30,000 to develop an Internet of Things (IoT) solution that is now being implemented at Ford's Valencia plant.
Azitek's solution is currently tracking around six of the 20,000 plastic KLT containers - small load carriers - responsible for transporting materials and goods between the various sites of the Spanish-based plant.
The radio frequency technology enables the automatic detection of the boxes in real time, their location, instant inventory, warnings of shortages, performance indicators - such as the speed at which boxes with components are [...]]]> After thefirst edition that gathered 6 000 participants, the Lionesa BusinessHub, a multicultural and entrepreneurial business centre that hosts more than120 companies, is once again organising the largest conference dedicated tocorporate happiness in Europe, the Happiness Camp.

"HappinessCamp was designed with the aim of making our country one of the happiest tolive and work in. Through this event, we want people to be equipped with thebest practices to create happier and healthier work environments," according to AntónioPedro Pinto, co-founder and CEO of Happiness Camp. The list ofspeakers includes two dozen national and international speakers, divided intotwo main stages. Those who pass through The Happy Stage will explore happinessfrom a holistic perspective, addressing issues such as leadership,organisational culture and diversity, equity and inclusion.
On TheJoyful Stage, conversations will revolve around niche topics such as [...]]]> Founded 15 years ago, UPTEC - Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto has already supported 700 projects from the most diverse areas and does not exclude the creation of an additional centre, revealed this Tuesday the executive director.
Speaking to the Lusa agency, the executive director of UPTEC, Maria Oliveira, admitted that the creation of a new centre "is not out of the plans" of the institution, created in 2007, with the purpose of contributing and supporting the development of projects.
"This whole strategy has to be properly articulated with the university itself, but proposals have been analysed, even to understand whether it will make sense in economic terms, sustainability and development, to have an additional pole," he said.
The result of a project that "had been maturing" by the University of Porto, UPTEC initially went through "prefabricated structures" that the university acquired from Metro do Porto for an "experimental and testing phase".
"This [...]]]> The Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City Festival in Porto, that took place in Alfândega until last Sunday, served as the pretext for the arrival of a Vietnamese committee to the city. At Paços do Concelho, the mayor of Porto City Hall and the vice-president of the People?s Committee of Ho Chi Minh signed a memorandum of understanding, and these numerous moments were highlighted in about two dozen of media outlets in the South Asian country.
"Many activities for cultural exchange, promotion of commercial investments and tourism marked a new development in the relationship of friendship and cooperation between the two cities?, Nhân Dân points out, describing the festival as "the biggest event for commerce-investment-tourism and cultural promotion for the city of Ho Chi Minh in Europe in 2023?.
The newspaper mentions the statement of Rui Moreira when the mayor of Porto City Hall confirmed the interest of Porto in the event "because Vietnam is a country with my historical bonds, culture and affection from [...]]]> A team of researchers from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP) is working on nanomaterials for the production of green hydrogen, generated from solar energy. The H2Flexi-PEC's project, funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), proposes a cheaper, more efficient and scalable alternative for industry to produce this fuel of the future. 
Hydrogen, which we see for example already being used in public transport, is only "green" if its industrial production uses renewable energy electricity. This is the case with photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells that run on solar energy. They have a set of components that, when illuminated and immersed in (sea) water, generate charge carriers and decompose them into oxygen and hydrogen, in a process called electrolysis. 
In the laboratories of the Institute of Physics of Advanced Materials, Nanotechnology and Photonics (IFIMUP), the aim is to achieve a new generation of these cells, through the construction of a [...]]]> Infraspeak has secured a €7.5 million investment in a new round of capital led by BrightPixel, Sonae's venture capital unit. The investment is an extension of a first Series A round, realised last year, which had already allowed the company to raise €10 million in investment, and which also counts with the participation of current investors Caixa Capital and 500 Global.
Infraspeak's intelligent Maintenance Management platform allows for centralised and personalised maintenance management in companies of different sizes, with more than 20 million automations available and a facility manager that, according to the company, can save up to 7 hours of administrative work per week.
The solution allows teams to "connect their assets, IoT devices, hardware and software and turn data into real actions, instantly", as a press release also explains. Recently, the company also launched a solution that enhances collaboration between facility managers and service providers in the [...]]]> The investment round in Subdron, which was participated by Portugal's Faber, aims to improve autonomous underwater vehicles with AI for autonomous inspections of underwater infrastructure.
Subdron, an Austrian startup specialising in autonomous underwater navigation and data processing for advanced inspections, today announced it has raised €1.3 million in a Pre-Seed round.
The investment round was led by xista science ventures, a venture capital fund focused on scientific breakthroughs, and Lisbon-based venture capital Faber through its ocean-related climate technology fund, and also included participation from investor Saber GmbH.
Autonomous underwater vehicles
The solution developed by Subdron enables autonomous underwater vehicles with state-of-the-art technology and artificial intelligence to perform autonomous inspections of underwater infrastructure, such as harbour facilities and ship hulls.
This technology has the potential to significantly decarbonise the [...]]]> Hollow turns complex subjects into 10-minute lessons for university students. College subjects such as statistics, accounting and microeconomics are condensed into recorded videos and personalised study plans can be created. The idea born in Porto two years ago, in the middle of a pandemic, is reaching some of the main Portuguese universities, wants to enter training for companies and, for 2024, already has Spain in its sights.
"Our goal is to transform the way people learn, providing a personalised, collaborative and student-centred learning experience," Guilherme Calassi (chief technology officer) and Victor Souza (executive chairman), the two Brazilians who founded Hollow, told ECO. "With the pandemic and remote learning, we realised the importance of promoting a more inclusive, flexible and adapted education to the current context. Realising the need to offer support to students, we started creating a website with videos and content that could help them", they recall. The idea is to support [...]]]> The Portuguese Eptune Engineering, a startup incubated at UPTEC - Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto -, has developed a technology for cleaning space debris, which will allow satellites to be collected after the end of their mission in Earth orbit.
It is an inflatable solution that uses a device similar to a space parachute, which differs by becoming rigid after inflation and reducing fuel use during the re-entry manoeuvre into orbit. By using the thin atmosphere as a source of friction, the inflatable can remove end-of-life satellites between five and ten times faster.
The project is currently focusing on developing the technological basis of the product, namely the inflatable structure that supports the aerodynamic loads, the heat shield that protects the device from the high temperatures it will be subjected to during manoeuvres, the manufacturing processes and the testing of materials and components.
Complementary orbital analysis activities were also required, [...]]]> Since 1995, diconium has been helping industry leaders such as Volkswagen, Stihl, Kodak Alaris or Sick to leverage the potential of digital transformation and deliver exceptional experiences to millions of clients. 

As a strong partner, diconium accompanies companies through the entire process of digitalization: from Innovation & Strategy, UX, Data & AI, Commerce and Technology to building digital entities.  
Since 2017, diconium in Portugal has reached 200 employees and more than 2,000 colleagues serve clients from offices in Germany, Asia and the USA. diconium has been a 100 percent subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group and contributes its know-how to CARIAD, since 2020. 
Porto: An important and strategic step
"diconium Portugal in 6 years was able to position itself in the center of the most IT attractive companies and create an amazing culture for our people. We are not just also providing great employment conditions, but also collaborating with [...]]]> Coverflex, Fraudio and Holywally are the three Portuguese selected to join the 2023 edition of the Visa Innovation Programme Europe (VIPE), between Portugal and Spain. In all, eight fintechs were selected to participate in the programme that provides the fintech ecosystem with access to Visa's infrastructure, including one-on-one mentoring sessions, advice, technological tools and access to customers to validate their value proposition. Dedomena AI, Dogood people, Goscore, Reveni and Toqio are the selected Spanish startups.
"We are very proud to have the Visa Innovation Programme Europe 2023 in Portugal and Spain and thus extend this successful trajectory internationally. With this project, Visa aims to continue connecting the fintech ecosystem, acting as an open and available network, providing them with the visibility they need to scale their businesses. In short, with this programme we want to continue to contribute to the development of payments of the future", comments Gonçalo Santos, [...]]]> A film about the city's economy where there is no talk of companies or trade. A film about the city's economy where the protagonists are not the numbers. They are the people. Presented on Thursday night at the Rivoli Theatre, "Future is Now" is about the future that the community - Porto residents of always and "new Porto residents" - builds in the present time.
"We are a territory that has been able to give a positive side to the country, due to the history of economic regeneration, heritage regeneration that we have been able to implement in recent years in the city. And that is what the film seeks to mirror", says the Councillor for Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship.
Recognising how "there were moments in history when Porto weakened", Ricardo Valente believes that the city is proud of "the victories, but above all, the ability to learn from defeats and gain a future, which is fundamental for a city", combined with the resilience to "not give up, to continue to do, to rebuild [...]]]> The new joint innovation project between Bosch and the University of Porto, which also involves the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) from Braga, is called "Sensitive Industry" and aims to develop new artificial intelligence solutions and technologies for application in industrial manufacturing, with the aim of improving efficiency, quality and production cost.
The project will be presented this Thursday, 20 July, at the University of Porto, during the contract signing ceremony for the project by AICEP - Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade of Portugal.
"Representing an investment of around 10 million euros, supported by funds from Compete and Portugal 2020, to be applied until 2025, this new project will integrate a team of 70 engineers and researchers from Bosch, the University of Porto and the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory", says the University of Porto, in a statement.
Present since 1911 in Portugal, where it has factories in Braga, Ovar and [...]]]> The subsidiary of French telecommunications company Bouygues Telecom Services has been recognised as a Top Employer in Portugal.  Being certified as a Top Employer is a proof of the dedication and commitment of organisations to implement excellent HR policies and people management practices in order to improve the world of work. 
Bouygues Telecom Services is a subsidiary of the Bouygues group, a multinational company known for its leading role in the construction industry. In 2018, the telecommunications company opened its customer service centre in Porto, where it now employs around 500 people. All of them are French-speaking and answer the requests of their customers in France by telephone from the company's facilities in Campo 24 de Agosto. ]]> "The need for professionals with this type of technology skills is growing and increasingly transversal to all industries", begins by telling ECO/Local Online the director of the 42 programming school in Portugal, Pedro Santa Clara, a year after the official opening of this campus in Porto. And it involves an annual investment of one million euros to put this innovative learning model into practice, with "significant impact on the region by contributing more talent, and generating more jobs and wealth".
In this first year, 300 students studied at 42 Porto, 31% of them of foreign nationality - from ten countries -, aged around 28.
Considered "one of the best and most innovative in the world in the area of programming and with 46 campuses around the world", this school, which started in Paris, is installed in a space [...]]]> In today's hyper-connected digital world, the relationship between paid media, brand recognition and consumer loyalty has undergone a significant transformation. The days when brands relied solely on traditional advertising channels to establish their presence and build loyalty among consumers are behind us, now encompassing various forms of advertising such as search ads, display, sponsored content and social media promotions. With the advent of digital platforms, new opportunities have emerged that bring both benefits and challenges.
Brand recognition acts as a crucial foundation for nurturing consumer loyalty, since when familiarised with a brand, they are more likely to consider it when making purchasing decisions. The trust and credibility installed by brand recognition creates a sense of familiarity and security, offering consumers a perceived value that goes beyond the simple product or service. These aspects are the basis for increasing sales and it is imperative to communicate with [...]]]> After launching in January the first integration with OpenAI - ahead of tech giants Google and Microsoft - Portuguese startup Rows presents AI Analyst, a tool that allows you to automatically extract relevant conclusions from spreadsheets, taking data analysis to another level.
AI Analyst uses OpenAI technology, one of the most advanced Artificial Intelligence models in the world, to remove the complexity associated with the use of spreadsheets, taking out of the equation the need for advanced knowledge of code or spreadsheets.
The solution aims to be simpler and faster and does not require the input of any formulas or commands, nor the creation of an OpenAI account, unlike similar tools offered by competitors.
Going forward, the use of spreadsheets for data analysis becomes simpler, and users can summarise and present the main conclusions drawn from a dataset, analyse trends, uncover relevant issues and produce reports based on more in-depth analysis.
In the end, AI Analyst is a [...]]]> The Portuguese-German business accelerator Xelerate.tech will invest around 40 million euros through its software development team over the next five years in Porto. The company aims to work with foreign tech companies establishing in the region, such as the German Advanced Apllication that, within half a year, will create 35 jobs in the city, says Pedro Rocha, CTO of Xelerate.tech.
Xelerate.tech is thus supporting the installation of the German Advanced Apllications, which "develops software products for various industries" and "aims to create 25 software engineering jobs in the next six months", Pedro Rocha tells ECO / Local Online. "We create software teams that work with our clients who are all foreign companies. We leverage the digital transformation process of these companies", he summarises. In this sense, he plans to hire 100 people in 2024.

Since 2021, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Xelerate.tech has been helping companies to settle in the city of Porto, "to create tech [...]]]> Farfetch has launched a new edition of its Plug-In Graduates paid internship programme, scheduled to start in September. The unicorn has more than 30 vacancies for candidates in the areas of technology, product and data. Applications are open until the end of August.
"The paid internship programme lasts six months, in a real project development context, with very close monitoring by specialists from different areas of Farfetch, and is scheduled to start in September, at the offices in Lisbon and Porto", informs the company in a press release. Running since 2016, Plug-In has already received more than 200 trainees and has a retention rate of over 90%, according to the technology company.
]]> Natixis in Portugal intends to fill 70 positions in its Center of Expertise, in Porto, by the end of the year, for profiles with a background in Engineering and Information Technology, of all seniority levels. The professionals will develop functions for BPCE Infogérance & Technologies (BPCE-IT), a subsidiary that integrates the Groupe BPCE and is dedicated to the areas of infrastructure and networks, end-user environment, IT security and production. The company intends to integrate 320 new employees, as part of the expansion of the BPCE-IT unit, in its Center of Expertise in Porto, by 2025.
"This is about reinforcing our centre of excellence with skills that are critical for Groupe BPCE. At a time when banking is increasingly digital, being the chosen destination will allow us to extend and concentrate in our centre of excellence functions of high complexity, diversity and responsibility, in order to accelerate Groupe BPCE's IT area globally," comments Maurício Marques, [...]]]> Porto Business Schoolsuccessfully hosted the Career Summit: Boost Your Future on June 21. The eventprovided participating companies with the unique opportunity to connect withoutstanding professionals from various management fields, showcase theircompany culture and values to a diverse audience of potential candidates, anddiscuss career opportunities.

The Career Summit addressed the increasing demand from companies seeking highly qualified senior professionals from a range of programs offered by the School, including MBAs, Postgraduate courses, and the General Management Course, as well as their respective Alumni. This initiative was designed to meet the growing need for top-tier talent within organizations and promote the reskilling and upskilling of executive training students
]]> The main technological incubator in the city of Porto created nearly 1,600 jobs during the pandemic. The incubated companies at the Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto contributed €324 million to the national economy. These findings come from a study conducted by two professors from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto (FEP), which was released on Tuesday.
By the end of 2021, the companies in UPTEC had a total of 8,600 employees, an increase of 1,596 compared to the end of 2019, representing a growth rate of 22.8%. The increase in salaries during the same period was even more significant, rising from €166 million to €219 million, an increase of 31.9%. The substantial growth in wages resulted in an increase in tax payments to the state from €35.2 million to €48.4 million (37.5%).
During the analyzed period, UPTEC had a total of 182 companies with physical offices. The accumulated investment amounted to €37 million, and over [...]]]> The Portuguese economy climbed three places, to 39th, in the IMD world competitiveness ranking, led by Denmark, Ireland and Switzerland, but fiscal policy and the labour market emerge as the country's worst rankings.
"Climbing three places compared to 2022, Portugal appears in 39th place in the study published by IMD's World Competitiveness Centre (WCC) [...]. Recovering from a fall of six places last year, the country is still three places below the result obtained in 2021 (36th)," the IMD said in a statement.
This assessment, which covers 64 global economies, is now led by Denmark, Ireland and Switzerland, with Singapore and the Netherlands rounding out the top five.
Portugal improved in two of the four key indicators. In the case of economic performance it moved from 46th to 42nd place, while in business efficiency it is now in 41st position, compared to 42nd last year.
However, in terms of government efficiency, it remains in 43rd place. In the score for infrastructure, [...]]]> QSP Summit 2023 brought together over 3 000 people, 120 exhibitors and 70 expert speakers in the areas of management and marketing. Once again, the Municipality of Porto was at the event to show what differentiates the city and makes it dynamic in several areas.
Certain that the event is "very important from the point of view of the region's capacity to lead a conference that, in a certain way, brings back transforming ideas and brings a lot to the area of management and marketing", the Councillor for Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente confirms that "what we bring the Porto connected to the economy, to entrepreneurship, to talent and, this year, also the Porto connected to wines", the differentiating factor for the location of companies in the region.
Ricardo Valente, believes that the QSP Summit is "the demonstration of what the city wants to be: multifunctional, multipolar, open to discussion and with the capacity to project disruptive ideas".
The first internships of Summer OpPORTOnities start in July. In the second edition, the Municipal Labour Market Immersion Programme will boost the first contact of 49 young people with companies operating in the city. The municipal contribution exceeds 63 thousand euros and the support was approved by the Municipal Executive in last Monday's meeting, with the abstention of Bloco de Esquerda.
The number of trainees has increased, as well as the number of companies that will receive them. Between July and August, 28 companies in the areas of Hospitality/Tourism, Human Resources/Marketing, Training/Education, Management Consulting, Information Technology/Engineering and Logistics/Services "will have the possibility of early identification of talent in their respective areas of activity".
The 49 young people - aged between 18 and 21 - are students or residents in the city and were selected from a universe of more than 200 applications received. Coming from areas such as Economics, Law, [...]]]> Features such as internet speed, cybersecurity, availability and cost of accommodation or tourist attractiveness make Porto the best city in the world to work remotely. The study is by the travel platform Culture Trip, which evaluated a total of 60 cities.
The British Culture Trip also assessed the distance to London as a key driver together with the number of hours of sun, the existence of green spaces or the price of a cappuccino and public transport.
In the end, Porto reached a score of 3,975, appearing as the best city for remote workers, ahead of Valencia, Barcelona, Lyon, Lisbon, Naples, Marseille, Paris, Milan and Madrid.
"Any country's second-fastest internet speed and a solid assessment of cybersecurity make it a suitable city for remote work.? In addition, "the city has immense green space and an extensive selection of accommodations.?
And, Culture Trip adds, [...]]]> The investment in Research and Development and the level of qualification are the key factors that distinguish Porto's economy from the rest of the country. The data from the Novobanco study refer to 2021 and were presented in the debate promoted by the ECO newspaper, which was attended by the councillor for Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente.
Porto registers a growing and expressive trend in innovation, with the greatest weight - 371 million euros - led by higher education, followed by companies and the public investment. The Invicta has the highest number of researchers per thousand inhabitants: 32% exceeds the country's average of 5.4%.
Still in the field of innovation and competitiveness, the survey refers to the 4,474 Porto projects approved under Portugal 2020, funded at around 963 million euros. The same amount was allocated by the Recovery and Resilience Plan to another 2,441 projects, mostly in the areas of Transport, such as the metro network, and [...]]]> The EY organization is calling on European institutions and national governments to take six steps to help retain business confidence and attract more foreign direct investment (FDI), with the publication of the second installment of its Europe Attractiveness Survey 2023. 
The survey found that despite strong competition from China and the US, investors are generally positive about European prospects, with 67%, up from 53% in 2022 ? saying they have plans to establish or expand operations in Europe in 2023. The same proportion also said they believe Europe?s attractiveness will increase over the next three years.
However, there is no room for complacency as investors voiced serious concerns regarding threats to political stability, rising costs, regulatory burdens and the availability of people with the right skills. The first installment of the Europe Attractiveness Survey 2023, published last month, found that FDI into Europe stalled in 2022, rising only 1% compared with 2021, and [...]]]> In 2021, the 249 companies based at UPTEC contributed 324 million euros of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Being responsible for the creation of 8,600 jobs, reaching 219 million euros in remuneration, the activity generated 48.4 million euros in tax revenues. Results were presented on Tuesday, at the ceremony of the 15th anniversary of the Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto.
"UPTEC is driving the transition from the business fabric of Porto and the North region to the knowledge economy?, said the vice-mayor of the Porto City Council, referring to the "growth of business activities linked to value-added sectors, innovation-intensive and with a technological profile".
Filipe Araújo stressed how, in 15 years, UPTEC has "positioned itself among the most dynamic innovation and technology hubs in the country, assuming a central role in the Portuguese entrepreneurial ecosystem.?
Recognizing the "remarkable work? in the "incubation of startups and the training of [...]]]> The founder and CEO of Sword Health, Virgílio Bento, was elected one of the top 50 CEOs of technologies operating in the health area in 2023. The list, drawn up annually by The Healthcare Technology Report, places the Portuguese manager in 18th place worldwide, distinguishing his leadership and recognising the impact of the Portuguese unicorn, which provides digital physiotherapy services, on society. He is the only Portuguese on the list.
"Virgílio Bento has dedicated his career to bringing positive change to healthcare, using technology to improve patient experience as well as outcomes and value," the entity responsible for the list highlights.
"From the first launch of Digital Physiotherapist to the most recent unveilings - Predict and Bloom - Sword's solutions [...]]]> The city of Porto, Europe's leading large city for FDI strategy, proudly took the spotlight in the esteemed fDi Intelligence magazine's April/May 2023 edition.
Read the full article here:
"Porto has grown into a global FDI hub of the future, being ranked for the first time as Europe?s best large city for FDI strategy in fDi?s European Cities and Regions of the Future 2023 awards.
Located in northern Portugal, Porto is the center of the so called Porto Metropolitan Area where 1.7 million people live. It is an economically competitive and industry-driven region, representing 16% of Portugal?s GDP in 2021. In recent years, Porto has become a hotspot for foreign direct investment (FDI) in Southern Europe, attracting over 2.7 billion euros in FDI projects and and been able to create 17,400 jobs over the last 3 years.
The volume of investment by foreign companies remained strong during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching a record level of 1.1 billion euros in 2022.
The Ageas Group organizes, every year, a worldwide meeting with all the partners with whom it works. This year, the initiative took place at the Cruise Terminal of the Port of Leixões, bringing together more than a hundred partners, with special emphasis on the presence of an Asian delegation.
The CEO of the Ageas Portugal Group, Steven Braekeveldt, welcomed the participants and briefly explained the purpose of this meeting. Remember that the group inaugurated, in 2022, a new building in Porto (located between VCI and Avenida AEP), an investment of about 30 million euros.
Also present at the opening of the works was the Mayor of Porto, who highlighted some of the aspects of municipal policies for this area. "The municipality of Porto has a broad strategy in place to attract foreign investment to the city, develop its innovation hub, internationalise its economy and attract [...]]]> Smartwatt, a company from Porto with more than 15 years of experience in energy services, decided to split the business area dedicated to Artificial Intelligence into a new company, Enlitia, which already has a portfolio of clients in 11 countries, including EDP Renewables, Galp, Ventient Energy and the Italian ERG. Focused on intelligent systems for large renewables, Enlitia is focused on international markets, since there is little room for growth in Portugal. Smartwatt will be exclusively dedicated to the processes of decarbonisation and energy transition for industry and large buildings, areas where "there is still a long way to go in the national market".
With more than 10,000 assets under monitoring, from around 15 partners on three continents, Enlitia guarantees that the application of its algorithms enables 54 hours of extra annual production for each wind tower, in addition to the 2700 hours that a wind turbine operates at full capacity on average, thus ensuring an annual saving of more [...]]]> The tenth edition of Primavera Sound Porto, which took place between 7 and 10 June, generated an economic impact of 48.5 million euros in the city. The economic study was conducted by ISAG-European Business School (ISAG-EBS) and the Consuelo Vieira da Costa Foundation's Research Centre for Business Sciences and Tourism (CICET-FCVC).
According to the study, cited by Lusa news agency, the festival, held in the City Park, attracted "a record number of 140,000 visitors, who generated an overall economic impact on the city of 48.5 million euros, calculated on the basis of spending on accommodation, travel or trips, meals, among others." "The average daily spend per person in the city was over 350 euros and in the festival grounds about 41 euros per day," he adds.
"Almost half of the visitors had foreign nationality or resided outside the Metropolitan Area of Porto [AMP]," the study also points out, which also reveals that "accommodation was once again the most significant expense (136.32 euros [...]]]> Considered by many as the best in the country, Primavera Sound Porto returns to fill Parque da Cidade with music and animation from June 7th to 10th. Blur, Kendrick Lamar, Rosalía, Pet Shop Boys are some of the biggest names that make up the tenth edition of the music festival. Mercado do Bolhão (Bolhão Market) takes on a prominent role in promoting the city at the venue. Bolhão acts as the heart of Porto, valuing the market's memory while showcasing a Porto in motion, envisioning its future and symbolizing the vibrant rhythm of a city between expression (culture) and trade (economy).Mercado do BolhãoMercado do Bolhão is the centerpiece of the area. The structure was designed using containers characterized with the image of the market's main facade. On the ground floor, facing the outside, there are three stalls that combine three distinct areas of activity: Economy, Porto Ponto Brand, and Tourism and Internationalization.Historical Stall of Mercado do BolhãoOutside the main area, a [...]]]> Porto Leading Investors programme is taking center stage at Primavera Sound 2023, showcasing its commitment to attracting strategic investments and fostering economic growth in the city of Porto. Developed by InvestPorto, this program recognizes companies that stand out for their talent, competitiveness, and innovation, strengthening Porto's position as an internationally renowned hub for valuable investments.

The 36 companies participating in the Porto Leading Investors project have been selected based on their location, business focus, investment size, growth potential in Porto, value creation, job opportunities, and international scope. Together, these companies have contributed to an impressive €540 million investment into the city's economy and have generated over 8,100 employment opportunities. Hailing from 10 different countries, including Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Ukraine, France, Norway, the United States, Sweden, and Switzerland, these companies [...]]]> Regarding the distinction of Porto as a leader among the most attractive cities for foreign investment by the Financial Times, Cushman & Wakefield organized an event to discuss the real estate sector in the region. The "Porto Market Update" study was presented as part of the "Porto is what we make it" event and from there, promote the exchange of ideas and experiences among key players in the field.At the Porto Business School, the event featured the panel "We make it work - together," with the participation of the City Councilor for Economy, Employment, and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente, alongside with Carlos Góis, the CEO of Geo Investimentos, João Madeira, the real estate manager of Sonae Capital, and Luís Torres, the administrator of [...]]]> At the official inauguration of what will be the European headquarters of the Californian company, the City Councilor for Economy, Employment, and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente emphasized the importance of support from entities such as InvestPorto and the Portuguese Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade (AICEP) for the establishment of multinational companies in the country.Ricardo Valente emphasizes the arrival of Five9 in the city of Porto marks the beginning of the city's journey with North American companies listed on Nasdaq. This investment in the city of Porto demonstrates the city's ability to be recognised as a centre of excellence for companies with global business scope and in highly competitive markets, where human capital is a key factor for business sustainability.On the other hand, the CEO of the technology company, Mike Burkland, stated that the choice of the new location was due not only to Porto's growing potential as a sustainable investment destination in the [...]]]> To discuss trends and the interconnection of Information and Communication Technologies with management and production methods, the 10th edition of the international conference CIOmove brought together, in Porto, the heads of several multinational companies.
The opening session, at Palácio da Bolsa, was attended by the Councillor for Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship.
Ricardo Valente kicked off the conversation between the founder and general director of xelerate.tech, Klaus Straub and Martin Zierheim, respectively, the IT directors of ISS World Services, Markus Sontheimer, Kuehne + Nagel, Martin Kolbe, and Saint-Gobain, Ursula Soritsch-Renier, and the chief technology officer of eDreams ODIGEO, Carsten Bernhard, about "Three ways to start nearshoring in Portugal".
The aim was to promote discussion and experience sharing among representatives of foreign companies that are already established in Portugal, allowing them to [...]]]> In a visit to present the new director, those responsible admitted that it was the trust and speed in solving issues that made them choose the city to install its technological services centre.
"Happy" with the choice of Porto, the mayor emphazises that the municipality "looks hard for companies like Kuehne+Nagel, which want to develop new forms of business". "With industry leaving the city, we lost a lot of population and our mission has been to bring it back," says Rui Moreira, underlining how, in recent years, Porto has become a city that is "open and attracts talent".
Assuming the role of "facilitators, in the best sense", the president ensures that the municipality seeks to "make life easier for companies that want to join us, to this ecosystem", where the production of talent is inserted.
For his part, the responsible for information technology underlined how "from the beginning, there has always been a relationship of trust with the City Council", something "essential". "It makes [...]]]> Cushman & Wakefield, a leading global real estate services consultancy, announces that on May 24th it will host the event "Porto is what WE make it" in the large auditorium of Porto Business School, from 16:30.
With an office open in Porto since 2016, Cushman & Wakefield has strengthened its presence and team in the Invicta city and is now promoting an event to present the study "Porto Market Update", followed by a debate in which Councillor Ricardo Valente, about the future of real estate in the city that was recently awarded as the most attractive city for foreign investment by the Financial Times. The event ends with a networking session and cocktail.
Eric van Leuven, Head of Portugal at Cushman & Wakefield, said: "We are very pleased to be able to organise events in the Northern region of Portugal once again, and more precisely in Porto. We will take this opportunity to present the latest market data for the region, but also to promote a debate with a luxury panel that will [...]]]> The Portuguese Women in Tech (PWIT) community has joined Natixis in Portugal to organise the "Women & Wealth" conference, a day entirely dedicated to women and featuring around eight hours of various activities, such as financial literacy sessions, panel discussions and interactive workshops. The conference takes place on June 3, from 10am to 6pm. Registration is open until May 30, and is limited.
"As a community that has promoted, since 2016, actions towards achieving gender equality in a wide range of fields, we are aware about the challenges women face, but also the opportunities that lie in their path. Financial independence is an important milestone for everyone and, unfortunately, it presents itself as more difficult to achieve for women, due to a diversity of factors, such as historical or contextual," begins by saying Inês Santos Silva, co-founder of Portuguese Women in Tech.
"We hope that this initiative can be another important [...]]]> The fourth edition of the recruitment campaign for paid internships, We Want Your Brain, runs between May and October. It seeks profiles from Engineering and Information Technology, Management, Economics, Accounting, Finance, International Relations, Law, among other areas.

"Young talent has been a relevant bet for the Natixis project in Portugal and with the fourth edition of this trainee programme we reaffirm this conviction. In 2022, we welcome 240 young people, and in the last two years 85% of the trainees have stayed in the company with a permanent contract after their internship," begins by referring Maurício Marques, Natixis' Human Resources director in Portugal, quoted in a statement.

"It is an excellent opportunity to start professional life and a career and it is also a door to other opportunities within the company. This programme is the ideal choice for [...]]]> Critical Software, a Portuguese technology company, recently announced that it is recruiting professionals with autism. The company opened 14 vacancies for this initiative, which is intended to be inclusive and diverse, and the recruitment process is already underway, with an expected conclusion in May of this year.
Critical Software starts on May 1st the third edition of the Neurodiversity programme, in conjunction with Critical Techworks and Specialisterne. The technological company has 14 vacancies for professionals with autism/Asperger's to integrate, as of November, the software testing and development teams, in Porto, Lisbon and Coimbra, and the cities of Tomar, Viseu and Vila Real may also be considered.
"Integrating neurodiverse people in technology companies is more than doing the right thing: it is an opportunity to strengthen teams, to promote innovation in complex projects and to boost the competitiveness of an organisation. We move forward into the third edition of the [...]]]> From 4 to 8 September, the Porto. for Talent Summer Academy 2023 will give young talents the opportunity to meet dozens of companies, talk to their professionals and discover the business world more deeply. 
Its purpose is to provide a gradual and differentiating approach between Higher Education students and the business fabric of the Municipality of Porto, in order to develop close relationships, increasingly earlier in the training pathway, in a structured and inter-beneficial way.

This initiative promoted by the Municipal Division of Talent and Promotion of Employability from Porto City Hall, in partnership with FPCEUP - Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences of the University of Porto, will have several moments from Career Workshops, Learning Community, Life talks, Get Together, Meeting Points and Career sunsets that provide opportunities for both students and companies and higher education institutions and student associations to reflect and consolidate experiences, [...]]]> During 2022interest in residential investments in Portugal continued to grow, as wasdemonstrated by the increasing number of transactions, the highest in the last10 years. This was also the case for student and co-living developments.  

In thisarea BigCity delivered its first project on the Asprela campus, Porto?s mainuniversity district 3km north of the city centre and home to 35,000students.  The building, unique in thelandscape of Porto with its original circular shape and innovative design, willhost 241 guests on 12 different storeys and is conveniently situated adjacentto Polo Universitário Metro station allowing for rapid transport downtown.

ESGcompliance has been at the forefront of the wellbeing-led design. They have endeavoured to create an empoweringspace for residents to lead a healthier, more connected and fulfillinglifestyle and the scheme is specified to achieve a Silver LEED certification.

All [...]]]> Greenvolt Group will strengthen its installed solar energy capacity. The company led by João Manso Neto won around 100 megawatts (MW) in the first auction held this year in Germany.
Through MaxSolar, 35 percent owned by the Group, it won a total of 5 percent of the capacity put out to tender for the construction of large-scale solar projects in what is a reference market in renewable energy worldwide, Greenvolt said in a statement.
"In a highly competitive auction, Greenvolt, through its subsidiary in Germany, managed to bid for all the licences sought, further strengthening its pipeline of large-scale solar energy projects," explains the company's CEO.
João Manso Neto also adds that Germany is an "extremely important" market for Greenvolt, "both for the reference it already is in global terms in the renewables segment, and for the ambitious goals set for 2030". At stake is the goal set to increase the installed solar capacity to 300 GW by 2030.
The Bundesnetzagentur, [...]]]> Intellias, a globaltechnology partner to Fortune 500 enterprises and top-tier organizations, has launchedan engineering center in Porto, Portugal. Having begun operations in Portugal in2022, Intellias now held the inauguration ceremony of its first office in Porto,which will also become the Intellias headquarters in the country. Intellias plansto expand the company?s global team of 3200 professionals and to have around 100engineers in Portugal by the end of 2023.

"The arrival of Intelliasin Porto is yet another demonstration of the city's ability to attractcompanies with a focus on global markets and qualified talent. This port oftalent is increasingly present in new centers of excellence in the industriesthat will shape the future of the world.? - Ricardo Valente, CityCouncillor for Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship.

During the ceremony, IntelliasCEO and co-founder, Vitaly Sedler, stated that the company's decision to enterthe [...]]]> In an article in fDi Intelligence, a bimonthly Financial Times magazine specialising in international investment, the Mayor of Porto highlighted the main factors and guidelines that have enabled the city's transformation into an important investment centre in southwestern Europe.
In an introductory note, the journalist who signs the article describes Porto as an example of economic recovery after the financial crisis that devastated the country in 2010 and highlights the record levels of foreign direct investment (FDI) reached, by 2022, by the city.
Asked what Rui Moreira's vision is for the city as an investment destination, the Mayor of Porto recalled that when he took office in 2013, he outlined two concrete goals: "to make the city livable, as well as making it fun".
"Older people, like my mother, would be more interested in the livability of the city, while my children want its fun side. [...]]]> The World Health Organization (WHO) is to set up a centre of excellence for new technologies and entrepreneurship in health in Porto, Portugal’s minister of health announced it, stressing what he said was the "enormous importance” of this decision for the country. Speaking to Lusa, Manuel Pizarro said Portugal has signed an agreement with WHO’s European regional department to set up this centre next to the premises of the executive board of Portugal’s National Health Service (SNS).
It will be the first WHO world office dedicated to Technology, Robotics and Entrepreneurship in Health, and it promises to put the country "at the forefront of technological innovation in health services,” given that "it is absolutely recognised how these technological changes have such an impact on improving health outcomes”, Mr Pizarro added. ]]> GKN Automotive is aworld-leading global automotive technology company that pioneered electricdrive systems and is now the trusted partner for 90% of the world?s automotivecompanies, specialising in developing, building, and supplying market-leadingdriveline systems and advanced ePowertrain technologies. 

The company has established its Global BusinessServices (GBS) and centres of excellence at Hipercentro Business Center, in Porto.These operations, which bring together core GKN Automotive services, includingfinance, procurement, human resources, and information technology, are designedto optimize processes and drive efficiency. 

The Porto operations are a crucial part of GKNAutomotive, with 350 employees working virtually to set up teams and initialprocesses. This accomplishment underscores GKN Automotive's commitment toinnovation and adaptability. 

By consolidating support functions in one location,GKN Automotive [...]]]> Transcom has already created more than 100 jobs in Invicta and expect to grow with more than 300 positions throughout the year.
Transcom, which is dedicated to personalized customer service management, business processes and artificial intelligence for various sectors, has been present in Portugal for 20 years, employing more than 520 employees. It has been investing in a strategy to expand its activity, focusing on Invicta, where it already had a space on Rua de Sá da Bandeira, in addition to another office, located in Vila Nova de Famalicão. It has offices in Europe, North and South America, Asia and North Africa, with about 33 thousand employees in 50 contact centres, located in 21 countries, providing services in 33 languages and international brands.
They are currently suppliers of world-renowned companies such as TechStyleOS, Get Your Guide, CGI, PayPal, Whirlpool. ]]> FEUP EngineeringDays, the engineering and tech fair that seeks to introduce the academiccommunity of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) to thebusiness world, is back for its latest edition. The event, which will takeplace between April 17th and20th of 2023, will offer various activities including workshops, pitchsessions, flash interviews, and face-to-face job fairs.

This year,InvestPorto, will participate with the Porto Leading Investors, a group ofcompanies with diverse projects and job opportunities, seeking to connect withthe students and visitors.This showcase aims to help companies reach  young qualified talent and to promote the employerbranding of this exclusive group of companies. The Porto Stand is a meetingpoint for the recruiters from each company and hundreds of candidates.
Porto Leading Investors at the stand will be Infraspeak, Kuehne+Nagel, Körber Digital, msg insur:it Iberia, Parkside Interactive, ISS [...]]]> The ITDS consultancy has opened a second office in Portugal, in Porto, and wants to increase the number of consultants to 100 this year.
"We open our first space in Lisbon in September 2021 and in Porto in January 2023. Currently, we have more than 40 consultants and we have the ambition to reach 100 people by the end of 2023?, Riadh Chaabouni, CEO of ITDS, tells ECO Pessoas.
The consultancy company, which in Portugal mainly provides IT outsourcing services, implementation of financial software and nearshore solutions, is looking for two main groups of professionals: business consultants (business analyst, project managers, scrum masters, manual testers) and IT engineers (software engineers, IT architects, data engineers, automation testers, DevOps). "In terms of technologies we have many openings for Java Developers, Angular Developers, DevOps, among others."
In terms of recruitment, the consultancy that also operates in the Netherlands and Poland has as its "main focus" the Portuguese [...]]]> On April 13th, Intellias organizes an international online conference Industrial Evolution 2023. The conference is dedicated to exploring the latest trends, technologies, and applications in the Internet of Things (IoT). 
Intellias, a global technology partner of Fortune 500 companies, will gather experts from manufacturing, construction, industrial automation, and software engineering domains for  an international conference, Industrial Evolution 2023. During the conference, the invited speakers will share their experience of working with Industry 4.0 and talk about practical aspects of implementing IoT solutions. 
A list of topics includes:  ? Predictive maintenance as a proactive asset optimization strategy; ? Industrial simulation and digital twins; ? IoT analytics and its role in insights-driven decision-making; ? Edge and cloud computing in industrial environments; ? IoT standardization and interoperability and more.  
One of [...]]]> The event is part of the larger Career Dayinitiative, which aims to connect undergraduate and graduate students withrepresentatives from various industries.

This joint participation has the goal to continue to foster talent, competitiveness, andinnovation in the region, while also giving students the opportunity to get toknow more about the companies and their impact.

The Career DayFair happens today, on 29th of March, where several company andmunicipality representatives will be available for talks, between 1.30pm and6pm, in the lobby and 1st floor of the Américo Amorim Building and in the lobbyof the Paradise Building.

With thispresence, InvestPorto and TERA aim to make the community aware of theimportance of these companies in the region's future and to attract talentedindividuals to these important companies of Porto?s economic ecosystem.

Porto LeadingInvestors are companies that represent the talent, [...]]]> While attending the MIPIM, in Cannes, the Mayor of Porto was one of the guests in an episode of the podcast "The Urbanist", from Monocle Radio 24, where he spoke about the strategy of attracting private investors to meet the housing needs, but also about the importance of the future high-speed railway line for the northern region of Portugal and Galicia.
In an interview with journalist Andrew Tuck, who questioned the balance needed to respond in terms of housing to the growing number of new residents and to those who, being citizens of Porto, seek affordable rents, Rui Moreira said he believed that the city has two options: "either we kill demand or we increase supply".
Assuming that the municipality's policy is the second option, the mayor said he was at MIPIM, the world's largest event dedicated to the real estate market, to "find investors who want to build affordable housing".
"What we are offering [...]]]> The award for Porto City Hall's investment attraction strategy, recognised by fDi Intelligence, of the Financial Times, which placed it at the top of the European Cities of the Future, was delivered to the mayor, Rui Moreira, and the councillor for Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente. The ceremony took place within MIPIM, which brings together this week, in Cannes, over six thousand investors and international financial institutions.
At this moment, the municipal strategy attracts talent, startups and international companies, in a work that has been developed by InvestPorto, the municipal division specialized in attracting and facilitating direct investment projects, born of a political vision that has investment as the cornerstone of the development strategy for the city. In 2022 alone, the municipality was able to attract around 433 million euros in direct investment to the city, more than double the previous year, creating 1380 direct jobs. Hence, in the Financial [...]]]> For four days, the municipalities of Porto, Gaia and Matosinhos are present at MIPIM, which brings together more than six thousand investors and international financial institutions in Cannes. The objective of the joint Greater Porto strategy is to attract investment to the entire Atlantic Front region.
The participation in the world's largest event dedicated to the real estate market, a synergetic cooperation between the territories that takes place for the first time, also seeks to create opportunities to foster and strengthen territorial alliances. The mayors of the three municipalities will therefore take part in initiatives such as the "Building Territories of the Future" conference with the mayors of Malaga and Madrid.
Throughout the event, the "Great Talks, Great Investments" will demonstrate, share and talk with all interested parties about the projects of greatest interest in each Atlantic Front municipality.
Since the [...]]]> ITDS Portugal, a leading global ITsolutions provider, has expanded its presence in Portugal by joining thevibrant office working space in the heart of the city. The company already hasan established office in Lisbon and its decision to expand into Porto reflectsits commitment to growing its operations throughout the whole country, wherethey claim to see great potential.
ITDS is known as an IT outsourcingcompany serving clients across a range of industries including finance,healthcare, ecommerce, fintech and transportation. Having its roots in Warsaw,Poland, the firm joined the Portuguese market in 2021.
Business Manager Paulo Brás expresseshis enthusiasm for the company's expansion into Porto, stating, "Porto isa vibrant and growing business community, and we're excited to be a part of it.This new space will allow us to better serve our clients in the region andprovide a collaborative and innovative environment for our employees.". AtSelina, our Porto [...]]]> Fabamaq, a software-house based in Porto that develops casino games, has made 80,500 euros available for its gamers to invest in professional training in 2023, from the "Fabamaq Graduation" programme. The amount made available gives a budget of 350 euros to each of the employees so that they can improve hard skills and soft skills relevant to their role in the company.
"This is the second year of 'Fabamaq Graduation' and we feel that this benefit is very relevant to reinforce our culture of valuing people individually. The programme complements the annual training plan outlined for the teams and brings each person the opportunity to grow together with the company," begins by explaining João Maia, chief operations officer at Fabamaq.
"The 'Fabamaq Gratuation' works as an extra motivation factor and a tool that also comes to help in the fulfilment of the career plans outlined by each of our people," he adds, quoted in a statement.
The amount - 350 euros for each employee - [...]]]> TERA and Porto Leading Investors, two projects promoted by Porto City Hall's Economics Department, present themselves together for the first time in a new form of participation in job fairs, to be replicated in future events. 
In the scope of the FJC Porto de Emprego, the same portfolio promotes on 8 March, at 15h20, a round table with the theme "Collaborative Cities - the role in attracting, retaining and developing talent", which has in the panel the participation of Ricardo Valente, Councillor for Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship of Porto City Hall, Telmo Fernandes, Site Lead & Executive Director of Fin Tru in Portugal, Gonçalo Sá, Head of Kuehne + Nagel it Hub in Porto, and with the moderation of Carolina Ferreira, head of the Municipal Division of Talent and Employability Promotion. 
A reflection on the ability to retain talent in cities and the consequent impact on investment decisions, open to the general public, with prior registration at this This year, InvestPorto takes to the FJC Porto de Emprego the companies that make part of the "Porto Leading Investors" program to present the opportunities they have for the national talent. 
Bee Engineering ICT, FABAMAQ, FinTrU, ITSector, Kantar, Körber Digital, Kuehne+Nagel, Natixis in Portugal, Foundever (ex-Sitel Group) and Voltalia are some of the more than 60 companies that are present in this year's edition of the initiative promoted by FEP Junior Consulting.
Porto Leading Investors was created to involve and make the community aware of the companies that have most contributed to the development of the city in recent years and that best represent the future of the region, in emerging areas such as ICT, health and life sciences, cultural and creative industries, and mobility, energy and environment.
Developed in collaboration with the Career Development Service of the Faculty of Economics of the University of [...]]]> Sitel Group®, a leading global provider of Customer Experience (CX) products and solutions announced its transition to Foundever?. Following the 2021 acquisition of Sykes Enterprises, Inc. (SYKES), the company has consolidated its position as one of the top three CX providers, globally. The new brand reflects the company's commitment to innovation, dynamism and to providing excellence in CX service.
Laurent Uberti, Foundever's chairman, CEO and co-founder, said, "The CX industry has changed dramatically since we founded this company 30 years ago, moving from manual, local interactions to global, digital-first interactions. However, CX remains rooted in human-to-human interactions and for over three decades, the company has sought to innovate and adapt while remaining strongly human-centric in the solutions it offers." Uberti further stated, "I am proud to say that we have successfully grown from a small startup to a global company that manages over 9 million consumer conversations and [...]]]> Cocus has taken another step in its pet friendly company policy. Not only can the 150 employees take their four-legged companions to the office every day, but the Matosinhos-based technology company is offering employees the possibility to subscribe, "at no extra cost", to a pet protection insurance. The company is also recruiting. It has more than 40 vacancies.
"It is widely recognised that animals make people happier and healthier, consequently more productive, so as pet lovers, Cocus knows that offering the freedom to work remotely in the company of four-legged friends, while allowing them to accompany their employees to the office whenever they wish, is the ideal situation," justifies the company in a statement.

This new benefit joins other policies promoting a balance between work and family life, such as the Flex Office policy, which allows all employees to work from anywhere in Portugal. The Portuguese technology company also offers, "at least 25 holidays with the possibility of [...]]]> There are currently 550 people working at Blip, the Campo 24 de Agosto-based technology company that creates software for online betting group Paddy Power Betfair. But more are needed and the company continues its growth trajectory with the hiring of 150 more developer profiles by the end of the year.
It has already been distinguished by the British government and every year announces the opening of new recruitment processes. It is from Porto that Blip has been asserting itself in the area of Information Technology and is now betting on a growth in the number of employees in the order of 20%.
"This growth and continuous investment increasingly strengthen the strategic positioning we have for the group and reinforce the quality of the work developed by our employees," says, in a statement, the director of talent of the company, Patricia Carneiro.
And [...]]]> Weezie kicked off 2023 with a new recruitment and selection process that aims to double the team, reaching about 40 employees. With the campaign "This Is Not For You", the startup challenges professionals of the most diverse profiles to demonstrate that they have what it takes to be part of the team. The software company that offers fibre-optic network management solutions opens the doors of its office next Friday, February 24, for the first edition of Weezie Open Day.
"The year 2022 has meant a lot of growth for Weezie. However, if we want to be leaders in the global market, we want our team to keep up with this growth, so we are actively recruiting," says João Sousa Guedes, CEO of Weezie.
"The entire Weezie team is very excited to welcome young talent to our office and show what fibre we are made of. There is no better way to explain our team spirit and internal culture, so we decided to open doors and show it. But we warn in advance, this may not be for you," he adds, quoted in a [...]]]> With the increasing availability of data, theimplementation of Data Science technologies has become a key factor ofinnovation and competitive advantage for companies in all sectors. Byleveraging Data Science techniques such as Machine Learning, companies are ableto streamline their operations, improve their consumers' experiences, anddevelop new products and services that meet growing market demands.
Recognizing the relevance of data and with theaim of promoting the digital transition of SMEs, raising awareness and empoweringthem with knowledge, information and tools, DSPA (DataScience Portuguese Association) launched thecontest "DSPA PME Digital Awards 2022?. Co-funded by COMPETE 2020, thisproject's main objective was to publicly recognize entities that, due to theirinnovative attitude and activity, constitute examples of value creation basedon the use of data. In addition, through this initiative, DSPA intended toencourage [...]]]> The announcement of the fDi Intelligence recognition was made this Thursday, during the event "When the change becomes the future", which brought together political and private decision-makers from the city's business ecosystem.
"Today we make history", said Ricardo Valente. However, for the councillor for Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship, "more than the result, what is relevant is the process, which is the guarantee of its future sustainability".
And the process is the work that has been developed by InvestPorto, the municipal division specialized in attracting and facilitating direct investment projects, born from "a political vision that has investment as the cornerstone of the city's development strategy".
In 2022 alone, the municipality was able to attract around 608 million euros in direct investment to the city, more [...]]]> The new platform provides easy access to information about Porto's business ecosystem and investment opportunities, as well as range of new online services designed to support users doing business in Porto.

"Our goal with this new platform is toshowcase the many reasons why Porto is a top destination for business, whilealso providing easy access to relevant information and support," saidRicardo Valente, City Councillor for Economy, Employment, and Entrepreneurship."From our thriving economy and supportive business ecosystem to our richcultural heritage and quality of life, Porto truly has it all. We're confident thatthe new platform will leave a lasting impression on visitors and encourage themto take advantage of the investment opportunities available in our city."
The platform features a new message, "Why Porto",that highlights six of the top reasons to choose Porto as a place to invest anddo [...]]]> The future of aviation is green. And one example of this is the HERA aircraft, with a size of approximately 50 to 100 seats, for short-range travel in the mid-2030s, at distances of less than 500 km (regional intercity connections), and a hybrid-electric propulsion.
ISQ, INEGI and Almadesign are the Portuguese entities participating in this ambitious European Union project in the aviation sector in terms of carbon neutrality, coordinated by the company Leonardo, and which also includes AIRBUS, DLR, Fraunhoffer, Honeywell, ONERA, Rolls Royce, Siemens, Safran, Thales, in a total of 48 partners.
This is the HERA - Hybrid-Electric Regional Architecture project, integrated in the Clean Aviation Programme, of the European Commission, which aims to define the concept and key architecture of a hybrid-electric regional aircraft, as well as the identification and development of the necessary technologies to meet the established target of 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
The HERA [...]]]> Eupago, a technology company specialising in digital payment solutions, wants to internationalise its business in Europe. The company has already gained some experience in markets such as Spain and Poland, but the goal is to open branches in the betting countries. At the moment, efforts are concentrated in the neighbouring country, but France is already in their sights. As Telmo Santos, founding partner of the Porto fintech, stresses, the goal for 2023 "is to take our model abroad, reducing dependence on the domestic market". Entering new geographies is a long, bureaucratic process that requires a lot of patience. Aware of the difficulties along the way, the company continues to innovate and launch new services.
According to Telmo Santos, an application for a payment management licence has already been submitted to the Bank of Spain. The Porto fintech is convinced that to be able to work in the neighbouring country "you have to have a Spanish company". The goal is to replicate the business they [...]]]> Farfetch and Outlier Ventures, Web3's leading global accelerator and investor, have opened applications for the second edition of the Dream Assembly Base Camp accelerator programme. Applications close on March 24.
"After a successful first edition, we are very excited to team up again with Outlier Ventures and welcome another set of diverse startups. The programme will again focus on the future of luxury commerce on Web3 through innovative solutions in the areas of luxury data infrastructure, community tools, digital fashion experience, self-presentation, sustainability, among others, building on the success of the first edition," says Carol Hilsum, senior director of product innovation at Farfetch, quoted in a statement.
Remote 12-week acceleration program for startups that want to develop the future of luxury commerce on Web3, in this second edition Dream Assembly Base Camp "will be dedicated to the data infrastructure of the luxury industry, community tools, digital fashion experience, [...]]]> Congratulating IWG for choosing to settle and for the continuous investment in Porto, the mayor reinforced the "commitment we have to attract companies that invest in our talent". "Today, the keyword for cities is talent," believes Rui Moreira.
"When we see that a city like Porto can attract companies like this, that want to stay here, then we are doing our job, and we should be proud," he said, not forgetting the importance of "fixing population". And this also depends on factors such as attractiveness, comfort and points of interest that the city offers to those who work there.
The Mayor assumed that "we want to be a city of opportunities". "During the pandemic, we felt the need to interact, and that's what cities enhance", with everything that IWG workers find in that area, he concluded.
"It is our home, we are here to stay," the IWG director-general assured. After more than ten years of working with companies in the city of Porto, the multinational has found a home in Batalha. [...]]]> The community, with more than four years of experience, has already accustomed us to intelligent meet ups that focus on current human resources themes, and this time will be no different, with the themes being debated in an informal format, led by reference speakers. Participants are invited to be part of the debate and take home new ideas and skills that can be applied in everyday life!
In March's event, the guests are Pedro Ferreira, university professor in the area of human resources and organizational behaviour, researcher in the areas of Generational, Employer Branding, and Engagement, and Manuel Padilha, Head of Software Development.
For Alexandra Monteiro, part of the meetup organization, this event "brings us the best of both worlds: the scientific and academic study on generations combined with the practical experience and implementation of strategies on a daily basis, under a human format, clearly made by people for people".
The good news doesn't stop there: [...]]]> The new year couldn't start in the best way for Wise Pirates, which has just been included in Business Chiefs Insights' "Top 10 Fastest Growing Companies of the year 2022". This certification recognises the companies that have achieved the fastest growth and the Portuguese digital marketing agency is an example of this, since it has presented a 70% growth for five consecutive years. The focus on innovation and automation has contributed greatly to this evolution.
"Did I ever imagine we'd be here today? No, not so fast. But I know that part of this success is because we managed to gather, throughout the years, a committed, intelligent and curious team", says Pedro Barbosa, CEO of Wise Pirates, visibly proud of this recognition. "Although we believe that our focus should remain on our consolidation as a company, this consolidation should be accompanied by a balanced growth, as it has been happening until now", added the responsible. For this, one of the priorities will continue to be [...]]]> Visma enters the software market in Portugal by investing in Moloni, provider of SaaS solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises.
"It is with great pleasure that I welcome Moloni to the Visma family. We continue to grow our presence in Iberia, with an ambition of being the preferred provider of ERP software for businesses and organisations?, says Merete Hverven, CEO of Visma.
Founded in 2012 by Ruben Costa and Álvaro Saraiva, Moloni provides cloud software solutions for invoicing and point of sale (POS) to more than 30,000 customers in Portugal and Spain.
They will now join forces with Visma, Europe?s number one provider of mission-critical cloud software to small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and the public sector.
"This is the beginning of a new era for Moloni. By joining Visma, we can draw on the collective expertise of one of Europe?s largest software houses, as we continue to grow and develop the company and our products?, says Ruben Costa, co-Founder and co-CEO of [...]]]> The best Portuguese airport is the Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, in Porto. The distinction takes into account punctuality, customer consideration and the quality of the restaurant and shops area. 
This classification is the result of the latest AirHelp Score, a ranking promoted annually by AirHelp, the largest international organisation for the defence of air passengers' rights.
Oporto airport obtained an overall score of 7.67, according to AirHelp. In punctuality it got 7.10, in customer consideration it got 8.52 and in the quality of its restaurants and shops it got 8.53.
In second place came Faro Airport, with an overall score of 7.21. Humberto Delgado Airport, in Lisbon, is the worst airport in Portugal, with a rating of 6.75.
The AirHelp ranking analysed 151 airports throughout the world, with the scores determined by punctual performance (which represents 60% of the score), the quality of service (20%) and the options of meals and shops (the remaining 20%).
Porto Tech Hub, a business association focused on promoting Invicta as a technological centre of excellence, and the Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP) decided to bet on the training of professionals specialised in automated testing of technological programmes and applications, after having detected a lack of these skills in the labour market. The two entities created the SWitCH Quality Assurance post-graduation and opened the door to all graduates, regardless of their area of knowledge. The course starts on February 27th in an after-labor regime and, for now, it has 27 openings.
According to Luís Silva, president of the Porto Tech Hub, "companies really need this type of professional resource", who can perform automatic tests, which are faster and more accurate than manual ones. In fact, the course is also open to people who work in manual testing and want to gain knowledge to perform automated testing and, in this way, evolve in their career. One of the particularities of the [...]]]> Readiness IT is one of the companies that make up the RIT Group and whose CEO is Adérito Ferreira, the main shareholder, together with other shareholders and employees of the company. The company is internationally recognised for its work in the digital acceleration of the Telecoms industry, but also works with other sectors and industries, mostly developing projects with Low-Code technologies. Founded in 2015, the company has delivered over a thousand digital acceleration projects implemented around the world.
Its telco clients include some of the largest and most reputable companies, such as Altice, Entel, Ericsson, Spark, Unitel, T-Mobile, SwissCom, Telefónica, among many others, and last year it further expanded its client portfolio with projects at Vivacom (Bulgaria), Liberty (Central America), Vumatel (South Africa) and DU (United Arab Emirates). The same happened with its Low-code area, with companies like Bepp, La Positiva, Betterfly appearing as new customers.
By the end of [...]]]> Natixis is looking for 100 finalists to join the traineeships available in the company. The internships will take place in the Natixis centre of excellence, in Porto, during the second semester of this academic year. This Monday, at 5pm, the French bank is organising a live Q&A about the "Natixis Purple Scan Finalists Edition 2023" curricular internship programme on its Instagram page.
"Curricular internships are an excellent way to transition to professional life. At Natixis, this programme is also a gateway to other opportunities within the company, namely our one-year professional internships, designed to empower and engage young talent through continuous learning and on-the-job training, which can then lead to a permanent contract," says Maurício Marques, Natixis' human resources director in Portugal.
"This programme is the ideal choice for young people who want to have their first professional experience in a technological banking atmosphere, with a marked spirit of innovation [...]]]> The entrance to the renovated Natixis Centre of Excellence, in the Porto Business Plaza, simulates an airport. From there, it is the workers who choose the destination: Mexico City, Shanghai, Tokyo, London, Bangalore or Brooklyn. This Thursday, the French investment bank put new cities in the passport of "The Villages" project, a revolution in the office world.
The inauguration was attended by the councillor for Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente, the CEO of Natixis in Portugal, Etienne Huret, and Véronique Sani, operations director of Global Financial Services of the BPCE group, of which the bank is part.
Since September, Natixis workers could already work "from" Manaus, Santiago, Dakar, Muscat and, of course from Porto, and today there are 12 cities built in more than 3,800 m2, an immersive concept, which includes sounds and smells and, the company believes, is able to "enhance sharing, creativity, innovation, agility and collaboration".
]]> Five9 provides cloud solutions for call centres and will settle in Porto where, from a new research and development centre, it will create solutions in the areas of artificial intelligence, software engineering and cloud operations. The US technology company plans to have 300 people working in the offices located in the Historic Centre.
In a statement, quoted by ECO newspaper, Five9 says it believes that the installation in Porto, its engineering headquarters in Europe, will "help scale the growing international presence" of the technology that already has more than 2,500 customers around the world.
The company already has around one hundred people working in the Portuguese operation, but it hopes to reach 300 professionals in the medium term. For Porto, it is also planning the installation of a new centre of excellence for professional and customer support.
The "clear" choice of Invicta is explained by Five9's general director, Mike Burkland: "The city is an emerging technology [...]]]> Visma, leading provider of cloud-delivered SaaS in Europe, has established a new technology center in Porto - reinforcing the company?s leadership in innovation and commitment to creating technology for a resilient society.
On January 24th the company will be organizing their Tech Meet-up in Casa da Música, an initiative to build a tech community by bringing tech experts and enthusiasts together during informal networking gatherings to connect, learn, and debate on today's tech solutions, challenges and opportunities. Registration here. 

When we talk about narrative, we?re referring to a shared interpretation of how the world works, that gives meaning to our lives. At Visma Tech Portugal, people have the ability to rethink the narrative of their careers through their personal ambitions, and life contexts.

How do they actually do that?

By [...]]]> Intellias, a global IT company with operations in Portugal, has developed its first Portable Automotive Kit, which is designed to demonstrate the company's capabilities from hardware development, embedded software and middleware to cloud integration and UI design.

This newly launched digital cockpit can be used as a demo version at global events, presentations and customer meetings. The company presented its demo kit at ?ES23 in Las Vegas, USA. 

In addition to a graphic display of the company's expertise in the field, the Portable Automotive Kit serves as a statement of Intellias' dedication to providing the best services. This fully functional prototype is powered by industrial-grade hardware and has all the features of a modern vehicle HMI system. During its development, Intellias followed key industry trends, basing the operating systems on C/C++, Linux and Android. The cockpit also features a full-HD sensor display for IVI, an automotive-grade IC display, a [...]]]> The blueberry allows the energy optimization of the infrastructure where it is installed, the optimization of its investment and brings unique features in the form of use and charging.

Created in 2019, i-charging was born from the will to develop technological products highlighting innovation, differentiation, design and quality, within the most sophisticated segments of the infrastructure for electric mobility. In the company, it is believed that it is possible to do more, in a sustainable way, adopting new tools and technologies, taking advantage of its know-how with a global ambition.
Therefore, i-charging has in its DNA an environmental nature and awareness for a greener and more sustainable future, being one of the fundamental pillars by which those responsible for the organisation are governed, starting with the type of business they have, which in itself contributes to the reduction of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Focused on electric vehicle charging solutions, i-charging's [...]]]> To meet the high demand, HESS will start a new additional plant in Porto (Portugal) in December 2022.
HESS, the Swiss bus manufacturer, has received a strong intake of new orders. The latest example is from VBZ, the public transport operator for the city of Zurich. In the next few years they will be replacing their fleet of trolleybuses. After an international call for tenders, HESS was awarded the contract, which is a worth a total of about 330 million Swiss francs. It was only a few weeks ago that the French cities of Nancy and Clermont-Ferrand plus the Austrian city of Salzburg had ordered e-buses from HESS, while last spring it was the Swiss cities of Neuchâtel and La Chaux-de-Fonds.
The first delivery for VBZ comprises 13 articulated battery-powered trolleybuses and 13 HESS lighTram® bi-articulated battery-powered trolleybuses. The new HESS lighTram® buses will be running on VBZ routes from 2024. In subsequent years there are plans for up to a further 140 vehi-cles, i.e. 85 [...]]]> In the Financial Times ranking, Nova SBE is once again the best ranked Portuguese school, occupying, in this edition, the 24th place, and Católica is now closer, in the 27th place. Porto Business School completes the national podium. ISEG debuts in this ranking in 2022, and ISCTE closes the national presence.
Nova SBE, Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics, Porto Business School, ISEG and ISCTE Business School are the five Portuguese schools that are part of the top 95 of the best business schools in Europe, conducted by the Financial Times (FT). With five schools distinguished, Portugal is now part of the top three European countries best represented in this ranking, only surpassed by France and the United Kingdom. And, besides being the first time that five Portuguese schools are present, all of them have improved their performance.
Porto Business School (PBS) was considered the 59th best European business school, having risen seven places compared to last year. The [...]]]> Xelerate.tech, chose the Invicta city as the base of its operation, has just created DigitalCar, which aims to hire 50 engineers and is developing a partnership with the German company AVL Software and Functions, a world reference in development, simulation and testing in the automotive industry.
It entered Portugal in 2021 through Porto, where it set up its operational base, with the central offices being located in Matosinhos. Currently with a small team of 11 people, the German-Portuguese company Xelerate.tech made itself publicly known last summer, when it helped the Danish multinational ISS World Services to open a technology centre in the city of Porto, with the promise of hiring more than a hundred software engineers by the end of next year.
In addition to "'set up' and management of technological 'hubs' with partners from various business areas, focusing on digital transformation, enhancing and leveraging the sustained growth of the respective 'hubs'", [...]]]> Pioneers in overcoming challenges through inventivesolutions, Matosinhos, Porto and Gaia come together in an unprecedenteddialogue to promote a region that reveals the strengths of each city, add valueand create investment opportunities and open new horizons for the future ofnorthern Portugal.

In order to present its vision and strategy,particularly for participation in MIPIM 2023, Greater Porto brought together 90participants from 68 companies, on 14 December, at the Serralves FoundationLibrary.

The event of presentation of the strategy for MIPIM2023 counted with the presence of Ricardo Valente, Councillor for Economy,Employment and Entrepreneurship of the Municipality of Porto, Marta Pontes,Councillor for Economy, Commerce, Tourism and Internationalization of theMunicipality of Matosinhos, António Castro, President of GAIURB - Urbanismo eHabitação, EM., and Inovagaia of the Municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia andalso, Albert Castro, CEO of [...]]]> The International Organization for Migration presents the project Displaced Talents for Europe in a presentation session, on 22 December, at 15:00, in the Auditorium of the Porto Innovation Hub.
The Displaced Talents for Europe (DT4E) project, implemented in Portugal by the International Organization for Migration and the High Commission for Migration, will enable people in need of international protection in Jordan and Lebanon to connect with employers and sustainably integrate into the labour market in Belgium, Ireland, Portugal and the United Kingdom.
This project aims to support IT talent in need of international protection by matching their skills with the recruitment needs of Portuguese technology companies.
The project will lay the groundwork for mobility schemes for displaced talent by testing complementary migration pathways, documenting best practices, identifying areas for policy [...]]]> The cryptocurrency bank led by Diogo Mónica has around 30 vacancies for Q4 2022 in Portugal and the US.
Anchorage Digital will finally open its office on Rua D. João IV, in Porto. The space was acquired in 2020 by the fintech but was closed for renovations. The office opening of the first crypto unicorn with national DNA will be on December 15, when the new visual identity will also be launched. Currently, the cryptocurrency bank led by Diogo Mónica has about 30 vacancies for the fourth quarter of 2022 in Portugal and the United States, People knows.
The new office will have an open space area, three meeting rooms and an all-hands area, where the company's global meetings should take place. The working model followed by the company remains remote friendly, offering total freedom to employees to decide from where they prefer to work.
Anchorage Digital is committed to a hybrid model offering employees the "flexibility they need to work in the way that is most productive for them and [...]]]> With more than 200 jobs for highly skilled software engineers in Porto, the new hub contributes to Kuehne+Nagel?s goal of accelerating digital technologies for its global customers.

As one of the world's leading logistics companies, Kuehne+Nagel has opened anew IT competence centre in Portugal. Kuehne+Nagel?s Porto IT Hub contributessignificantly to the company's goal of accelerating digital technologies forits global customers. It focuses on the development of new mission-criticalproducts, e-solutions and new digital services. This will advanceKuehne+Nagel?s digital core logistics processes with more efficiency throughstandardisation and automation.Kuehne+Nagel plans to hire more than 200 highly skilled software engineersin Porto by end of 2023. Porto is home to a vibrant international tech scene,new startups and development labs with highly skilled technology professionalsfrom the country and abroad. Internationally recognised events such as theannually held [...]]]> Porto City Hall was represented by Councillor Ricardo Valente at the event that brought together European and Asian specialists.
As an example of a city capable of economically regenerating itself by attracting investment, while maintaining its ambition to be a leader in terms of digital and environmental transition, Porto was invited to be present at the Smart Green ASEAN Cities ? Making Capital Work for Cities conference.
This conference brought together in Bangkok, Thailand, European and Asian experts, in a total of around 100 people, who shared the best practices regarding attracting investment for sustainable projects for cities.
Representing the city of Porto, the councillor for Finance, Economic Activities and Supervision and Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente, gave a presentation on the city?s path towards [...]]]> After the success at Expo Real Munich, in 2023 Greater Portowill consolidate the international recognition of the brand in the largest andmost prestigious international Real Estate event, MIPIM.
This will be a uniqueopportunity to make known to a community of global investors thedifferentiating characteristics and investment opportunities available throughthe synergies possible between the municipalities that compose it.This event will take place in Cannes, France, between 14 and17 March 2023. In 2022 MIPIM had more than 20,000 participants from over 80countries, in an exhibition area of 22,000m2.A pioneer project in Portugal, Greater Porto was born fromthe dialogue and cooperation between the municipalities of Matosinhos, Portoand Vila Nova de Gaia, and aims to develop growth opportunities throughout the"value chain" of territorial promotion activities and attractinginvestment, national and foreign, to the North/Northwest of Portugal.In this context, Greater [...]]]> On the last day of the 10th Urban Rehabilitation Week, the Councillor of Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship took to the Palácio da Bolsa the "Pulsar", the region's economic development strategy, whose definition the Porto City Hall is leading. "More than the result, what counts is the process", emphasises Ricardo Valente.
The councillor recalls that "never in the city has there been a consultation of the desires of entities, not only public, but also private, that have their experiences here in Porto". The aim was, he says, "to measure the pulse of the region" and, from there, "to build a medium and long term plan".
Pulsar, he highlights, addresses "fundamental aspects such as attracting investment and the matter of talent". "What we seek in the challenges of talent, innovation, sustainability, competitiveness and attraction of national and [...]]]> The EIT Health RIS Hub Porto will hold the Hack a Pitch Porto, on Monday 5 December, between 10:00 and 13:30, at UPTEC 1, Parque da Asprela.
EIT Health Hack a Pitch Porto is a unique opportunity for start-ups and investors to meet and create new connections and contacts for potential businesses and new investments. Within the scope of the work done by EIT Health in the areas of innovation and technology for health, this event will bring together relevant start-ups and investment companies from the region in order to promote partnership and investment opportunities.  
START-UPS
In the Hack a Pitch you will have the opportunity to present your projects and solutions to investors through short individual Pitch sessions, as well as creating new contacts with the other participants.
For logistical reasons, please confirm your invitation through this link (start-ups):  The aim is to find solutions that can have an impact on the energy transition, in areas such as renewable energy, smart grids or sustainable mobility. Registration can be submitted until 28 January.
EDP, in partnership with major global energy companies, launched the 7th edition of Free Electrons, a worldwide open innovation programme in the energy sector. The application phase runs until 28 January 2023 and is seeking startups from all countries with innovative solutions and technologies that contribute to accelerating the energy transition and towards a more sustainable planet.
"We recommend Free Electrons to any startup that has solutions ready to be developed for the future of clean energy networks. The utilities put a lot of effort into the programme, which means they are motivated to develop pilots with each company that manages to break even in the selection phase. The different phases of the programme also help to keep everyone on track and reduce the risk of falling foul of [...]]]> The group's shared services centre, installed a decade ago in Invicta, has gained new competencies. And it is recruiting.
Linde, world leader in industrial gases and engineering, and responsible for a consolidated turnover of around 26 billion euros, has invested in the growth of the shared services centre in Porto and, for this, wants to recruit new employees. The focus is on the younger generations, who have a mentality open to the European and international spirit, have entrepreneurial characteristics and are comfortable in multicultural environments such as the multinational's, points out Miguel Núñez, Linde Iberia's human resources director. The group has been offering an average of 10 to 15 vacancies per month.
The shared services centre in Porto, one of the four the group has in Europe, has been in operation since 2012 and since then it has been adding skills. Initially, it started by providing customer support and billing in the medical area for Iberia, but the good [...]]]> Ryanair announced this week that it will have 57 routes at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport this winter, including six new routes to Billund, Bergerac, Maastricht, Madeira, Strasbourg and Breslau.
In a statement, the company said it had invested more than 1 billion euros in three new Boeing "Gamechanger" aircraft, scheduled for March 2023, which have the added value of carrying more passengers, using less fuel and emitting less noise.
The new routes set for winter 2022 are: Billund, Denmark (two weekly flights); Bergerac, France (two weekly flights); Maastricht, Netherlands (two weekly flights); Strasbourg, France (two weekly flights); Breslavia, Poland (two weekly flights) and Madeira (seven weekly flights).
For Elena Cabrera, Ryanair's Manager for Spain and Portugal, the company is delighted to increase its presence at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, stating that "This winter, Ryanair is offering its customers and visitors from Porto lower and more reliable offers for their winter [...]]]> Consulteer is driving innovation with a new technology centre in the city of Porto.
Consulteer is a leading independent professional services company, employing over 200 people in 8 offices across Europe. It provides consulting services and end-to-end engineering solutions. Its clients range from global industry leaders to small and medium-sized organisations.
In its search for the right environment, it was the blend of a historic pioneering spirit and a forward-looking culture of innovation that made the city a perfect setting for its ambitions as a company - "Porto is the perfect choice".
Consulteer justified the choice of location for its new technology centre with the statement that "the Porto region is on track to become one of Europe's next great technology centres, and more and more international companies are locating in the city."
"We are looking forward to bringing our culture, our technical expertise and our software development services to Portugal."
Bridging [...]]]> Portuguese startup expands business with new verticals for pain resolution, debuting now a solution that provides the human experience of personal trainers, combining the areas of physiotherapy and fitness.
After bringing Bloom to market, the unicorn with Portuguese DNA Sword Health now announces the launch of Move, a new movement health solution that combines the areas of physiotherapy and fitness, providing a human experience of personal training.
"Currently, about 50% of musculoskeletal conditions result from a lack of physical activity and 80% of adults do not follow the recommendation of a minimum of 20 to 25 minutes of exercise per day. This is one of the most critical causes of the epidemic of physical pain we are witnessing globally," highlights Virgílio Bento, founder and CEO of the startup, quoted in a statement.
According to the entrepreneur, the reason is due, in part, to the fact that "most fitness solutions are built on the premise that one model fits all people", making it [...]]]> The fifth edition of the awards included new categories and, for the first time, the winners were chosen by an all-female jury. While The Newsroom was considered the best startup in Portugal founded by a woman, Daniela Braga was elected the best founder of 2022.
The winners of the fifth edition of the Portuguese Women in Tech Awards are already known, an award that aims to distinguish the women who stood out throughout the year in the technology sector in Portugal. This year, and for the first time, the initiative counted with an entirely female jury.
The Newsroom, which combats the dissemination of misinformation and hate speech on the Internet, through Artificial Intelligence (AI), was considered "Best Startup in Portugal started by a Woman". Daniela Braga, founder and CEO of Defined.ai, won the "Founder/Co-Founder" award.
The "People, Culture & Talent Acquisition" award went to Mafalda Garcês, country leader & senior people director of Dashlane, while the "Community Lead" [...]]]> The digital payments fintech is expanding its business and wants to invest in hiring in the areas of Technical/Customer Support, Marketing, Compliance, Sales and Development.
Eupago, a Portuguese fintech in the area of digital payments, wants to hire 50 more employees until 2024.
In a statement, the company explains that these hirings are aimed at sustaining its expansion plan, with new projects in the national market (Porto and Lisbon) but also internationally (Madrid).
Eupago is investing in employees with higher education who can meet the needs of the company in areas such as Technical/Customer Support, Marketing, Compliance, Commercial and Development.
Telmo Santos, CEO of the national fintech, says that the goal is for Eupago to position itself in the first position as far as technology is concerned.
"We have already opened 12 of the 50 positions we are aiming for by 2024, as our goal is to remain at the forefront of technology, with personalisation of services and the [...]]]> According to Startup Heatmap Europe 2022, 1out of 5 startups in Porto have female founders, making it one of thetop 5 mid-sized cities in Europe with highest share of female founders.
Porto has distinguished itself as one of the small/medium European cities with the highest percentage of female founders of startups (19%).
The study Startup Heatmap Europe 2022 analysed a sample of more than 20,000 founders of technology startups in Europe, and came to the conclusion that in the city of Porto about 1 in 5 startups are founded by women, the fifth highest record among small/medium cities in Europe.

Vienna is the leader in large ecosystems (19.2%), but small and medium ecosystems display ahigher share of female founders overall.

In the top 5 small/mid-sized cities in Europe for female founders, the remaining 4 places above Porto are occupied by Lisbon (23.2%), Dublin (23.1%), Stockholm (20.2%) and Luxembourg (20.1%).
Some examples of startups founded [...]]]> The Talent Observatory has already been recognised by the European Commission.
Accepting talent management as a priority for the economic and social development of the city, the Municipality of Porto has already available a platform "where talent is found". The Talent Observatory brings together people, companies and educational and training institutions.
More than a digital platform, the new tool intends to be an aggregator structure of the talent ecosystem, dynamised through a collaborative governance model. The Talent Observatory is the visible face of a system of management and dissemination of strategic information on the dynamics of the labour market and skills in the macro-region of Porto and North.
For the councillor in charge of the Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship, "this project will have to be increasingly participative and appropriate, since it was designed for the city, for the companies, for [...]]]> Currently, 60% of the contracts signed by Sitel Portugal are already remote. Before the pandemic the percentage was zero. The company intends to hire 3,000 people by 2023.
More than half of the contracts in Sitel Portugal already foresee remote work, covering a total of 2,400 people. The remaining employees are working in a hybrid model in which only 300, out of a universe of around 4,000 people, go to the office every day. The company plans to hire up to 3,000 new employees in 2023.
"Since the pandemic model we started the work at home contract, because we quickly realised that it started a new reality. At the moment, we have work at home contracts with employees working full remote. 60% of our portfolio is in this modality. And 40% of our employees, although they are also working at home, already have a hybrid model. Of the 4,000, around 300 are face-to-face, which is minimal", Cristina Teófilo, Sitel's regional HR director for Portugal, Spain, Greece and Italy, told People.
Before [...]]]> Around six dozen people work, in a hybrid format, at Pixelmatters in Porto.

For several years now, Pixelmatters, a technology company from Porto, fosters innovation from Avenida dos Aliados, and now it has renovated the building in that artery of the city to accommodate the workers who still choose to work in person. The investment in the space is the result of a partnership with A Lutuosa de Portugal - Associação Mutualista, a centenary institution in Porto and owner of the building.
According to the Oporto-based technology company, which has been in the digital products market for nine years, "remote work as a prime was a natural adaptation" since the company already had both "compatible policies" and the mentality, tools and processes suitable for this scenario" by working, "since its genesis, in a totally remote way with its customers, including in different time zones".
For the founder and CEO of Pixelmatters, and admitting that part of the team has a preference for working [...]]]> Startups and research centres create, under the PRR, the world's largest consortium in Responsible AI. The initiative is led by the Portuguese Unbabel that will create more than 210 jobs.
The Responsive Artificial Intelligence (AI) consortium led by Unbabel, a Portuguese AI-based platform for Language Operations (LangOps), announces today, during Web Summit, that it will invest €78 million under the Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan, with the aim of positioning Portugal as a global leader in technologies, principles and regulation in Responsive AI.
The consortium is expected to have an impact on the Portuguese economy of €250 million in exports by 2030, resulting from the development of 21 new AI products. In addition, it will create more than 210 highly qualified jobs and award 132 advanced academic degrees, namely masters and PhDs.
Who makes up the consortium?
The consortium, which has come together to enforce these objectives, is made up of eleven startups [...]]]> The unicorn with national DNA Anchorage Digital, which created the first federally approved cryptocurrency bank in the US, launches a Programming Interface to connect businesses to the crypto world.
Anchorage Digital, the crypto unicorn with national DNA responsible for creating the first federally approved cryptocurrency bank in the US, launched "Build with Anchorage", an API (Application Programming Interface) aimed at promoting and connecting businesses securely to the crypto world.
Expand crypto services outside the industry itself. That is the main goal of "Build with Anchorage", an infrastructure created by the crypto unicorn with Portuguese DNA, which aims to facilitate the management of crypto payments, financial products and market shares.
The technology, which also features skilled labour from Anchorage's team of engineers in Portugal, comes with the seal of quality and additional security assurance, as it is already being used in the first approved cryptocurrency bank in [...]]]> The company, which has clients such as BP and the BBC, opened an office in Porto and wants to recruit 30 professionals passionate about technology.
Emergn, a global digital business services consultancy whose EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) headquarters are in London, yesterday opened its office in Porto, the second largest of the company, which is present in more than a dozen markets. After two years operating remotely in the Invicta, it has just materialised its investment in the city, which "offers very promising conditions for growth and business evolution", says Margarida Carvalho, responsible for managing the Portuguese team. Access to talent was a determining factor in this choice.
From the very first moment, the employees are working from Porto to the world. The company, which provides training, consultancy and technology services to help multinationals transform their business and create high performance teams, has already worked for British Airways, British Telecom, [...]]]> On the day the Web Summit comes to an end, Porto's presence at the event invites you to taste the wine that bears the city's name, closing with a toast.
Under the theme "Economy & Wine: the millennial relationship between wine and economy", the moment will feature the intervention of the Councillor of Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente.
In an interactive dynamic, with questions and answers, the session will take place on the Web Summit Q&A stage, between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., inviting the audience for a Port wine tasting and toast.
Alongside Ricardo Valente will be the Managing Director of Taylor's Port, Adrian Bridge, to address together the historical and unique connection of the city with Port wine. In addition to reflecting on this symbiosis between Port Wine and the city of Porto, the session also aims to show Porto as a city that [...]]]> From 7 to 21 November, tech lovers will be able to take part in FMQ SUMMIT, a conference organised by Fabamaq and dedicated to the world of casino games. From software development and creativity to software testing, there is plenty to take in during the event.

FMQ SUMMIT: the meeting point for real gamers
November kicks off with inspiration on a high with the FMQ SUMMIT. Aimed at those who are passionate about programming, graphic design or simply the world of video games, the FMQ SUMMIT promises to share a lot of knowledge that could be very useful for the professional future of its participants.
Detailed programme of the FMQ SUMMIT
The event programme is divided into three days of sessions: DEV DAY (7 November), CREATIVE DAY (14 November) and QUALITY DAY (21 November).
The DEV DAY marks the kick-off of the event and will provide technical learning and practical approaches in the area of software development and features two Talks made by Fabamaq experts in the field of [...]]]> Linde, a German company from the industrial, hospital and home care sectors is hiring for its Western European Shared Services Centre located in Porto.
The multinational has open positions for data scientist, pharmaceutical technical director of production, regional operations manager, HR Optimization & Projects lead, among others.
Miguel Núñez, Linde Iberia's Human Resources (HR) director, explains that the demand for professionals for this zone is highly challenging. "We want to attract and retain new professionals for the various vacancies we have available, but we feel that the search for new talent in the Porto area is a real challenge due to the competition in that region."
You can apply for the open positions here. ]]> LinkedIn's Top Startups 2022 list has revealed 10 start-ups in Portugal that are gaining visibility and recruiting top talent. Backed by measurement data, exclusive to LinkedIn, of different elements of growth and demand, the list reveals companies such as Barkyn and Smartex.ai, both based in Porto.
The annual LinkedIn Top Startups list is the resource to find the startups to pay attention to today, featuring 10 companies from Portugal that are managing to overcome current challenges and continue to innovate, gain visibility and attract top talent in 2022.
To compile this list, the LinkedIn data analysed focuses on four areas: employee growth; interest from job seekers; user interaction within the company and with its employees; and whether these startups have managed to recruit talent.
Ultimately, the list is intended to be a resource for job seekers excited about the opportunity to innovate, solve big problems and develop skills.
Barkyn ranked 2nd, based in Porto and [...]]]> The connection between Porto as Great Wine Capital and the Economy, takes the city to the great event Web Summit 2022 held between 1 to 4 November 2022. 
Porto will have a meeting space and/or meetings, where the 4 pillars of Porto's economy meet: Investment, Talent, Entrepreneurship and Tourism. 
By recreating the atmosphere of a city with a bubbling, dynamic environment, with different activity poles, talents and initiatives, Porto will be present in the Wine Summit tent. 
The aim will be to promote Porto as a city where you can find quality of life through networking events and workshops, the relationship between wine, its culture and economy will be represented. 
As investment plays a crucial role in the economy of the city of Porto, InvestPorto will be present at the event promoting Porto as the ideal destination for international investment. 
The municipal division for international investment attraction will promote its services but also [...]]]> Iberis Capital and Semapa Next lead a €7.7 million investment round for the technology company Probely, led by Nuno Loureiro, to triple its team and expand in the US by the end of 2023.
Portuguese technology company Probely, which operates in the cybersecurity sector and has about 200 customers in sectors such as banking, insurance or telecommunications, spread across 32 countries, has just raised a funding of 7.7 million euros to strengthen the team with 40 people, pursue international expansion and "cement the position" in the United States of America (USA).
This Series A investment round - aimed at startups with the product already developed, a customer base and constant revenue stream - was collidered by Iberis Capital and Semapa Next, had the participation of an international investor specialised in cybersecurity (TIIN Capital) and was accompanied by current investors: Bright Pixel Capital (former Sonae IM), Caixa Capital, Portugal Ventures and EDP Ventures.
"This investment is [...]]]> After investing in Spain, in 2019, France and Poland are the next markets where the Portuguese fintech in the area of digital payments, from Porto, wants to expand to.
Eupago will invest five million euros in expanding to European markets such as France and Poland, reinforcing the internationalisation strategy it started in 2019 in Spain, the Portuguese digital payments company announced this Monday.
Quoted in a statement, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Eupago, Telmo Santos, said the company intends to "invest five million euros in the expansion plan for other European markets, with France and Poland as priorities.
In the Iberian Peninsula, where it aims to "lead in the area of digital payments", the Portuguese fintech plans to reinforce the team in Madrid - where it has Carlos Moreno as country manager - and increase the annual volume of digital payments to 10 billion euros in 2027.
Currently, Eupago has 15,000 active accounts in Portugal and 3,500 in Spain, having [...]]]> Since 2020, more than 33 thousand people have applied to the free training courses of the 42 programming school, between Porto and Lisbon. Intensive search for technological talent leads students to enter the job market after six months, lured by above-average salaries.
A bottomless pit. This is how the shortage of technological talent appears in Portugal, considered the second country in the world with more difficulty in hiring qualified workers, according to a report by ManpowerGroup. Even if studies were lacking, the eagerness for specialised professionals in this area would easily be proven by the daily buzz at 42, a free programming school that sees its students receiving a dozen offers per week to embark on the job market. This after only six months, even before they finish their two-year training.
And those who assume that early recruitment will somehow hurt their salary are wrong: net salaries can range from 1,500 to 2,000 euros a month. In the case of those who choose to finish the [...]]]> Wunderman Thompson is for the first time Agency of the Year at the European E-commerce Awards.
Wunderman Thompson's E-commerce Centre of Excellence in Europe is a strategic focus for the agency that continues to seek the best talent in the areas of information systems engineering, data science and business processes - in Lisbon and Porto.
Wunderman Thompson has just been distinguished as Best Agency in the European E-commerce Awards 2022, the most prestigious contest at European level where the best online retail websites, software, campaigns, agencies and teams that develop their work in the eCommerce area are recognized.
According to Filipe Silva, Operations Director at Wunderman Thompson Commerce, "this distinction is for us a reason for enormous pride and reflects the work, collaboration, resilience, determination and innovation that our team has shown over the last year". He adds, "I am certain that our culture, the ability of our people and the creativity to inspire the growth [...]]]> The regulation of the changes to the so-called Foreigners' Law has already been published in the Diário da República and will facilitate the entry into the country of foreign workers working remotely.
The Portuguese visa law for digital nomads comes into force on 30 October and will allow those who want to work remotely from Portugal to stay in the country for one year.
In fact, the regulation of the changes to Law 23/2007, better known as the Foreigners' Law, was published in the Official Gazette on September 30, with the date foreseen to come into force precisely at the end of the month. The law requires, for "temporary stay visa and residence permit for digital nomads", that the applicant proves fiscal residence and monthly average incomes in the last three months of a minimum value equal to four minimum monthly remunerations. It is necessary to present an employment contract or promise of an employment contract and a declaration from the employer proving the employment [...]]]> The business school of the University of Porto is now side by side with other institutions, such as the North American MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and Yale University.
Porto Business School is the only Portuguese educational institution present in the Executive MBA Council. The institution is now side by side with Columbia Business School, Cornell University, Duke University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Yale University in the United States, among others.
The dean of Porto Business School, Ramon O'Callaghan, stresses that "being the first Portuguese business school to join the Executive MBA Council is a source of pride. The purpose is to empower the programmes' participants with holistic knowledge, expanding their horizons for a sustained impact not only on their careers, but also on their organisations and, consequently, on society".
By belonging to the Executive MBA Council, according to the same note, it is possible to access a networking [...]]]> Present in five markets, through 12 operators, the Portuguese start-up wants to enter the United States and double its team.
His training in electrical engineering and extensive experience in telecommunications allowed him to get to know the pains of the sector early on and identify opportunities for improvement. Fibre optic network management was one of them. To speed up this process, which in several geographies is still complex and time-consuming because it is carried out manually, João Sousa Guedes created Weezie, a startup that offers a tool that automates and digitalises, from planning to control, all the logistics associated with the development of a telecommunications network, enabling operators to optimise 60% of working time and reduce 90% of incidences in the implementation of fibre.
Launched in 2018, with financial support from Bynd and Novabase Capital, the solution, which is present in France, the UK, Germany, Austria and Angola, has already enabled its customers to bring [...]]]> At the invitation of the Mayor of Porto, the Vietnamese ambassador to Portugal spent the day visiting the City Hall. After the welcome by Rui Moreira, Dinh Toan Thang also got to know the work developed by InvestPorto.
The meeting between the Mayor and the diplomat took place in order to deepen the relations between Portugal and Vietnam, as well as to promote greater cooperation between Porto and Ho Chi Minh.
The meeting, which was attended by the ambassador's commercial adviser, VU Anh Son, as well as the first secretary, LAI Thi Thanh Mai, responsible for relations between Portugal and Vietnam, and DANG Thi Hong Nhung, representing the Vietnamese community, and José Pedro Busano de Sousa Vieira, ended with the promise of a future visit by a delegation from Porto to that Southeast Asian country.
In the afternoon, Dinh Toan Thang met with the councillor responsible for Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship. Ricardo Valente presented the diplomat with the work being carried [...]]]> FinTrU, atechnologically-enabled Regulatory Solutions company, specialising in the areasof KYC, Compliance, Legal, Risk & Controls and Operations, has announcedthe opening of a new office in Porto, Portugal. FinTrU?s expansion into Portohas been approved as a project of national strategic interest by the IEFP.This newoffice location will be a client delivery centre, working directly with Tier 1Investment Bank clients across the globe. FinTrU has also launched an opportunity forgraduates with their Financial Services Academy now open for applications.Candidates will be considered from several degree disciplines. FinTrU hasdelivered over 30 Academies over the past eight years across multiplelocations.Establishedin 2013 and headquartered in Belfast in Northern Ireland, FinTrU designstechnology-enabled solutions for Investment Banks across the world. The companycurrently employs more than 1,100 people [...]]]> Porto-based company inaugurates innovative workspace concept.
The new office will allow employees to travel across 4 continents and 12 cities. The concept created by Natixis in Portugal promotes sharing, creativity, innovation, agility and collaboration.The Villages occupy two floors and a total of more than 3,800 m2 of the company's headquarters in Porto, with a capacity for around 200 employees. 
Tétris, JLL's design and construction company, was responsible for the development and execution of this project.
Natixis in Portugal developed an innovative concept of office space that will transform the experience of the hybrid working model, enhancing sharing, creativity, innovation, agility and collaboration. The Villages - as this project is called - occupy two floors of the company's headquarters in Porto and recreate 12 cities, taking advantage of the latest technology to create an immersive experience - which includes sounds and smells - and which affirms this [...]]]> Carlos Alberto Silva and Carlos Moreira da Silva have partnered with global asset management firm Alantra to launch a new venture capital investment manager, 33N Ventures (33N).

33N is currently fundraising a €150 million vehicle investing in cybersecurity and infrastructure software companies across Europe, Israel, and the US. The fund will mostly target investments at Series A and B, with an average ticket size of around €10 million, and has an investment capacity of €20 million already committed by Alantra and its Strategic Partners.
33N co-founders and managing partners Carlos Alberto Silva and Carlos Moreira da Silva have made more than 20 investments in cybersecurity and infrastructure software over the past 10 years, across Europe, Israel and the US - including most notably Arctic Wolf, the cybersecurity unicorn founded in 2012 by former Blue Coat Systems CEO Brian NeSmith. They have also completed several exits,including one to Thales and one to [...]]]> Technology company founded in 2016 in Porto can create high-fidelity digital twins in less than a minute. By 2023 it plans to hire at least 10 new members.
Portuguese tech startup Didimo has received $7.15m (€7.34m) in its Series A investment. The Porto startup, which creates digital twins that can be used in the metaverse or video games in less than a minute, will accelerate commercial growth and hire at least 10 new elements next year, bringing the number of employees to 35.
The capital injection was led by Armilar Venture Partners, with participation from venture capital firms Bright Pixel Capital, Portugal Ventures and Techstars. Prior to the Series A, Didimo had already raised $8.8 million (about €9 million) from investors, reports Crunchbase.
"The main objectives of series A are to build a commercial team and develop the technology needed to grow our product to more sectors. We intend to acquire new customers and establish partnerships with large/medium-sized companies in [...]]]> Intellias, a global software engineering and digital consulting firm, which recently entered the Portuguese market continues to grow. The company announced the completion of its acquisition of Digitally Inspired, a fast-growing UK-based company focused on the retail and e-commerce sector.  "I am delighted to welcome the Digitally Inspired team to Intellias. It is symbolic that Intellias' 20th anniversary has coincided with the signing of an agreement that will help us accelerate our growth, enhance our retail expertise and expand our presence in the UK market. Headquartered in nearby London, Digitally Inspired enables us to reach out to customers in the UK and opens up new opportunities to develop business in this market," said Vitaly Sedler, CEO and co-founder of Intellias.
"M&A is a key part of Intellias' growth strategy, which aims to build a global business with leading positions in key vectors. This transaction is an important milestone in the execution of this strategy. [...]]]> Accompanied by 17 partners, the three Atlantic Front municipalities presented the new brand to international players. At a joint press conference in Munich, the Alderman of Economy of Porto City Council, Ricardo Valente (who is accompanied by the Alderman of Urbanism and Public Space, Pedro Baganha), the Mayor of Matosinhos, Luísa Salgueiro, and the Mayor of Vila Nova de Gaia, Eduardo Vítor Rodrigues, highlighted the importance of this new initiative, which aims to attract investment in the industrial, business, real estate and innovation sectors, promoting economic growth and qualified employment in the region.
"At the moment, these three municipalities represent 52 percent of direct foreign investment in the country," revealed the councillor for Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship, quoted by Lusa news agency.
"We are building a project that scales and projects territories beyond their borders," said Ricardo Valente. "We are creating another intangible bridge that allows us to sell [...]]]> Porto was elected Best City Destination in Europe 2022, during the 29th edition of the World Travel Awards (WTA), a ceremony held this saturday (01/10) in Palma de Mallorca (Spain). The award, which once again places the city in the elite of the best European destinations, was received by the Councillor for Tourism and Internationalisation, Catarina Santos Cunha.
In this category, Porto competed alongside cities such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Geneva, Lisbon, London, Lyon, Rome, Venice and Vienna.
Porto was also competing for Best European Destination for Urban Escape, Best European Cultural Destination and Best European Metropolitan Seaside Destination.
The World Travel Awards cover the entire spectrum of the travel and tourism industry, from hotels, resorts and destinations to airlines and tour operators worldwide, and are recognised globally as a mark of excellence. It was founded in 1993 and is now in its 29th [...]]]> The conception phase of the project, which brings together eight other companies, runs until 2023. The Portuguese company was already leading the development of one of the ESA's project support systems with the same purpose.
Critical Software is one of the nine companies chosen by the United Kingdom's Space Agency to take part in a mission to remove debris from space, which is already in its conception phase.
The Portuguese technology company is part of a consortium of nine companies, ClearSpace, led by the British unit of the company with the same name, and will be responsible for the supply of specialised services for equipment control, detection and recovery of system failures.
In October last year, the British Space Agency chose the ClearSpace consortium to carry out a feasibility study for the mission, which aims to remove at least two abandoned satellites from low-Earth orbit, if all goes well, in 2026, according to the The Lisbon MBA Católica|Nova and Porto Business School (PBS) are the two Portuguese schools that appear in the ranking of the British consultancy firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), which evaluates the performance of MBAs at a global level. The "QS Global MBA Rankings 2023", published this Thursday, places The Lisbon MBA in 34th place and the PBS in 71st place, sharing this position with other seven schools, from the European top, which analysed 73 schools.
The joint venture between Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics and Nova School of Business and Economics, in collaboration with MIT Sloan School of Management, which maintains the position achieved in the previous edition, obtained an overall score of 53.9.
Its value proposition is based on providing a truly global experience, with holistic development and a remarkable action learning approach, in a diverse and entrepreneurial city. Thus, the diversity of nationalities, the entrepreneurial spirit and alumni results, and leadership [...]]]> The Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, inaugurated the new headquarters of the Ageas Group in Porto, designed by architect Luís Pedro Silva. Created from scratch to house the institution, the new building, located at Francos junction, between VCI and Avenida AEP, in Ramalde, is based on modern transparency and sustainability. Rui Moreira even compared it to the "Flatiron Building", an iconic building in New York.
"When you join entrepreneurship, architecture and vision of the future, we can only be pleased with what we see," said Rui Moreira, leaving a compliment to architect Luís Pedro Silva, "representative of the Porto school of architecture", and the entire team of Urbanism of the municipality, led by councillor Pedro Baganha (also present at the ceremony, as well as the councillor for Health and Quality, Catarina Araújo): "it does not complicate and helps those who want to invest in the city".
"This is an iconic building, in a totally rehabilitated area. We want and do everything we can to [...]]]> The first phase of the works in the Campanhã Matadouro is complete. The work, carried out by the company Mota-Engil, included cleaning the area, demolition, earthworks and surveys of the existing structures, in addition to experiments with the materials to be used in the reconstruction of the building. Japanese architect Kengo Kuma visited the iconic project, carried out in partnership with award-winning Portuguese architects from OODA, an office inspired by the famous Porto school of architecture. Both developed the concept that will be implemented in the Matadouro.
The reconversion and operation of the Old Industrial Matadouro of Porto, which has been awarded to the company Mota-Engil, aims to transform the building, deactivated for about 20 years, into an anchor facility in the rehabilitation of the eastern part of the city, based on the axes of social cohesion, economy and culture.
"It was the first time that the architect Kengo Kuma visited the Matadouro after the works began. It [...]]]> In 2022 Feedzai submitted twelve patent applications in the area of fighting financial crime with machine learning and AI.
The most recent report from the consultancy firm IDC, specialist in market research and market intelligence in the area of technology, defined Feedzai as a 'Leader' in the "use of responsible AI in the management of financial crime".
Contributing to this 'election' will be Fairband, an algorithm the brand created in 2021, whose aim is to "automatically discover less biased machine learning models, with zero additional costs" in their training.
This technology helps the company in its main goal: to identify and detect financial crimes. According to the company, Fairband has raised awareness and led to the implementation of responsible AI at [...]]]> On October 4, Natixis in Portugal, in partnership with Fintech Solutions, will promote the Meetup Fintech is Impact, at its office in Porto, as part of the European Sustainable Development Week. 
The event open to the public will bring together three Portuguese fintechs - impactMarket, Goparity and Lynxai - that, since their founding, have helped create a positive impact on society and the world through technological innovation in financial services. This roundtable aims to explore fintech with social and sustainability impact and discuss how mature companies can create business opportunities from them.
With this event, Natixis in Portugal resumes the season of technology meetups, which it has hosted since 2018 at its Centre of Excellence in Porto, and which [...]]]> The municipalities of Matosinhos, Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia present Greater Porto, an entity that aims to aggregate interests and companies, boost the economy, pushing the region to a new level of competitiveness and attractiveness in attracting investment with high added value and that enhances the unique characteristics of Greater Porto, the designation chosen by the three municipalities of the Atlantic Front for the joint presentation.
A pioneering project in Portugal, Greater Porto is the result of dialogue and cooperation between these three municipalities and aims to develop growth opportunities throughout the "value chain" of territorial promotion activities and attracting national and foreign investment to the North/Northwest of Portugal.
This common purpose between Matosinhos, Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia is extremely relevant in a global context of accelerated transformation, in which there is a growing impact and acceleration of macro-trends. The territories are required to have [...]]]> A Brazilian delegation came to Porto to learn more about practices promoting innovation and promote exchanges between the ecosystems of the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina and the city of Porto.
The 20 representatives from Sebrae de Santa Catarina were received on Monday, at Paços do Concelho, by the vice-president of Porto City Hall and councillor for Environment and Climate Transition and Innovation and Digital Transition, Filipe Araújo. Also accompanying the delegation were the director of CEiiA by COLAB, Vladimiro Feliz, and members of InvestPorto.
"The city's economic activity comes from its capacity to undertake and innovate", stressed Filipe Araújo and gave some examples of municipal measures developed in this context and focused on the citizen, such as, for example, the Porto Card, Porto Digital, the programme Porto com Sentido and InvestPorto.
Seabre/SC highlighted the importance of the role of a municipality using the example of InvestPorto as a success story, given the [...]]]> Happiness Camp 2022, will take place this Thursday, September 29th, at Lionesa Business Hub, and will highlight the importance of happiness in the future of the business world and what companies can do to become a happier and more attractive place to work. The initiative organised by Lionesa Business Hub and Happiness Business School, of which Porto Municipality is a partner, will take place at the Central Park of Lionesa Business Hub, in Leça de Balio, Matosinhos.
The initiative will put on the agenda a debate on how to motivate, capture and retain the best professionals in the most diverse areas that allow stimulating creativity, innovation and cultural, economic and social dynamism of a region.
Porto, a city that is continually distinguished for fostering the pillars of happiness, dynamism, diversity and freedom of thought and movement in the northern region, has affirmed its commitment and will be present at the event.
This Wednesday, the Porto City Museum Reservoir hosts the [...]]]> CBRE was responsible for the placement of the technology hub at Lionesa Business Hub.
Volkswagen Financial Services has installed a new technology hub in the Lionesa Business Hub in Leça do Balio, in the municipality of Matosinhos. CBRE supported the operation.
With a total of 1,100 square meters, and with a capacity to receive about 130 employees, the new technology hub is installed in a business centre that "knew how to adapt the office space, but also all the surroundings, by maintaining a balance between work, culture and welfare. On the other hand, Lionesa's project to double its complex until 2025 and the will to create an authentic business city there was equally important in the decision of Volkswagen Financial Services, also because the company intends to continue investing in Portugal", says André Almada, Director of Offices Advisory & Transaction Services of CBRE Portugal.
Volkswagen Financial Services has been present in Portugal since 2011. The company plans [...]]]> Continental Engineering Services duplicates its team in Porto, to 400 people in 2023. In addition to the technological area, it will support the German group in finance, auditing, sustainability and human resources.
Three years after setting up in Porto with functions mainly focused on the areas of electrification of vehicles, autonomous driving, connectivity, cybersecurity, green technology and Industry 4.0, Continental Engineering Services (CES) decided to expand this hub to also provide services in areas such as financial consulting, internal audit, sustainability or human resources, transversal to the German group that owns the Continental Mabor tyre plant in Famalicão.
The expansion of competencies in the Portuguese office, which currently employs 200 people, was confirmed to ECO by Mark Schudeleit, with the location manager stating that the subsidiary of German giant Continental intends to "reach 400 employees in 2023". It started this hiring phase in August, mostly for profiles [...]]]> The first Intellias Blockchain Talks conference will take place on 28 September. This is an online event where experts from various fields will share their knowledge, real cases and experiences in using blockchain technologies. 
Blockchain combines trends, technology and commerce. These are the main themes that the invited experts will explore within Intellias Blockchain Talks. During the event, four experienced speakers will give three hours of presentations on the topic. In turn, Intellias will present its blockchain cases in areas such as finance, agriculture and healthcare. The participants of this event will also have the opportunity to ask some questions to the leading innovators of the industry.
Among the guest speakers at the event is Yevhen Mariiko, Senior Delivery Manager at Intellias with the topic "Blockchain in a regulated environment: use case in healthcare". Yevhen will share his real-life experience of working with Blockchain technology in healthcare, where there is a [...]]]> Danish company arrives to develop a new software from the Invicta city. It promises to offer a salary of almost 4200 euros, which translates into 50 thousand a year for each employee.
The Danish ISS World Services, a company focused on work experience and facilities management, now arrives in Porto with a new digital hub dedicated to software development. The hub, which will be fully operational by the end of the year, already has 10 professionals, and the goal is to recruit 100 more software engineers by the end of 2023. Data science, machine learning and mathematicians are some of the areas for which the ISS is looking for people.
Who helped the ISS to open doors was the Luso-German Xelerate.tech business accelerator, which chose Porto to install its Tech Hub. "We are very happy to be able to help ISS software engineering, a global company, to develop here in Porto," says the CEO and co-founder of Xelerate.tech, Klaus Straub.
The ISS Tech Portugal, which will support the company [...]]]> Between September 20 and 22, Readiness IT, a national technology company based in Porto, attended the TMForum Digital Transformation World (DTW), in Copenhagen, Denmark.
During these days, the most renowned technology companies in the Telco market, presented technological solutions that are at the base of digital acceleration, with the Telecommunications operators having a decisive and leading role in the coming years.
Adérito Ferreira, CEO of Readiness IT and founder of the RIT Group who attended the event, says that "this is a fantastic opportunity to present our digital acceleration solutions to the most respected influencers in the Telco industry. 5G has opened up a huge set of opportunities for new business and innovative service offerings, and this drives major technological advances in operators' systems, processes and automation and that is our speciality - Digital Accelerators."
One of the greatest current challenges for telecommunications companies is the creation of [...]]]> Porto is among the seven cities pre-selected by the European Commission for the European Smart Tourism Capital 2023 award. Together with Invicta, the following cities are selected, among 29 applications from 13 countries: Aarhus (Denmark), Gijón (Spain), Pafos (Cyprus), San Sebastian (Spain), Seville (Spain) and Zagreb (Croatia).
The competition is a European Union initiative, funded under the Cosme Programme, which aims to promote smart tourism in the EU by rewarding cities for their pioneering approaches in terms of accessibility, digitalisation, sustainability, cultural heritage and creativity. Building on the successful experience of a preparatory action proposed by the European Parliament, the initiative aims to promote innovative, sustainable and inclusive tourism development and to disseminate and facilitate the exchange of good practices.
Cities in the European Union with a population of over 100,000 can [...]]]> Natixis Purple Bus is back on the road between September 20 and 23, stopping in the cities of Coimbra, Aveiro and Porto for new recruitment actions among young talent.
Natixis in Portugal has over 100 vacancies for professional internships and will hold recruitment actions in Coimbra, Aveiro and Porto. Applications are open until October. 

"This is an opportunity for young people who want to have their first professional experience in a technological banking atmosphere, which combines digital innovation with the professionalism of one of the largest European banks, favouring the constant learning of its team, through quality training and work experiences in an informal and multicultural environment," says Maurício Marques, Natixis' Human Resources director in Portugal, quoted in a statement.
"We see internships as the beginning of a long career with us. In 2021, of the company's nearly 400 new hires, 70 were [...]]]> The inauguration will be attended by representatives of the Municipality of Porto and the companies Promiris, Satin and Odalys Group
PROMGRANJO SA, representative of the companies of Belgian origin - Promiris and Cetim and the French Group Odalys inaugurate on September 20, at 15h00, the Odalys Porto Granjo Centro, a residence for students with 212 rooms, located in the centre of Porto. This Residence is the first project in Portugal of the Odalys Group, which adds this one to several existing spaces in France and Spain. 
For the inauguration, are already confirmed the presence of the town councillors for Economy and Urbanism of the Municipality of Porto, as well as Christian Terlinden Managing Partner of Promiris, Patrick Lemerle partner of Cetim and Laurent Dusollier, CEO of Odalys Group. 
Odalys Porto Granjo Centro offers a privileged location, with easy access to the public transportation network and close to schools and universities - 600 meters from the Faculty of Fine [...]]]> More than five hundred programmers of Django technology gather for the first time in Porto, between 21 and 25 September. The DjangoCon Europe conference takes place at the Super Bock Arena - Pavilhão Rosa Mota and brings speakers from the four corners of the world and practitioners of web functionality of different levels.
After two editions, only in online format, DjangoCon Europe, organized by the technology company Ad Evolutio, will happen for the first time, in person, in Portugal, in what is the 14th edition since its foundation.
The conference, focused on the Django web framework, aims, says the organization in a statement, "to educate and develop new skills, best practices and ideas for the benefit of attendees, developers, speakers and everyone in our community".
Ad Evolution adds that the organization of DjangoCon Europe makes Portugal assume "a prominent role as a preferred destination for global events in technology and computing".
Since 2009, the conference has already [...]]]> A global IT services provider with deep automotive expertise creates new development centres in Portugal.
Intellias, a global technology partner to Fortune 500 companies and top-tier organisations, enters the Portuguese market. The company will have Lisbon and Porto as the backdrop for its new offices. The inauguration is planned for this autumn. Intellias intends to assemble a strong team of IT specialists located in Porto, Lisbon and other Portuguese cities. By the end of 2022, the company plans to hire around 60 specialists, who will join the global team of more than 2,700 talents. 
"With the increase in the number of technology and IT companies, Portugal has quickly become one of the fastest growing technology hubs in Europe. In addition to local experts, the country also welcomes IT specialists from all over the world, who choose Portugal as a place to live and work. By entering this market, we hope to be part of the local IT community and stimulate its development. Intellias offers [...]]]> The bell started ringing again at 8am in the renovated centenary market, which was, this Thursday, returned to the city.
The sound of the bell is heard but, given the number of people waiting for this moment, it was almost unnecessary to tell you. The whole city already knows: the doors of Bolhão Market are open again. Starting today, what has always been done in Bolhão will be done again: tradition.
"I didn't think I would live to see the market open". With a few tears of emotion hard to contain, Aurora Silva not only lived but also came from Custóias to Porto on purpose for the opening of Bolhão.
From today onwards, the stalls of the Market walk through streets with names that could well describe this homecoming: Longing, Joy, Encounter, Embraces. The inviting question "Frutinha, amor?" can already be heard in Frutaria do Bolhão, and Rosinha Florista has already received the usual visit from D. Custódia.
Amongst those who come from afar "to see with their own eyes because they [...]]]> Between 2017 and 2021, flex offices represented 3% of office occupancy in Porto.

There are indeed positive signs of recovery in the flexible office market, in Western Europe. According to the international report Further Signs of Recovery in the EMEA Flex Office Market, developed by real estate consultancy CBRE, companies are returning to their offices and those looking for short-term solutions are finding an answer to their needs in flexible spaces.
In fact, according to the report, there are still several opportunities for growth and expansion of flexible office operators in the European market: a growth is expected already in the second half of 2022.
In the last five years, Cristina Arouca, Director of Research and Data Intelligence at CBRE Portugal, refers that "flexible office operators represented 7% and 3% of office occupancy in Lisbon and Porto respectively". In the first half of this year, [...]]]> The Transport sector grew 137% year-on-year by setting up 2,641 new companies since January, and is the sector that stands out most in terms of entrepreneurship.

In the first eight months of the year 32,298 new companies were created in Portugal, which represents a growth of 17% compared to the same period in 2021, reveals the Informa D&B Barometer.
In a statement, the company said that the Transport sector grew 137% year-on-year by setting up 2,641 new companies since January. The increase in entrepreneurship in the Transport sector "has occurred for more than a year in a row, after this was also one of the sectors most penalised by the pandemic in 2020 and part of 2021".
Also noteworthy are "the growth of new companies in the sectors of General Services (+941 set-ups, +27%), Business Services (+709 set-ups, +15%) and Accommodation and catering (+568 set-ups, +23%). Retail (-12%), Agriculture and other natural resources (-2%) and Industry (-1%) are the only sectors to register [...]]]> The first "Ex Capital Sessions" meeting will take place on September 15th, in Porto. Registrations are open.
EX Capital, an investment company launched by the founders of Sword together with the founding team of the company, will hold the first meeting "EX Capital Sessions", an event that aims to bring together the national ecosystem of female entrepreneurs and founders of startups on September 15, in Porto.
"EX Capital's mission is to support founders and entrepreneurs with less representation, such as women. In 2021, women entrepreneurs received less funding than in previous years and women founders only raised 2% of venture capital in 2021. It seems clear to us that not only is greater representation needed, but, above all, giving voice and creating relevant opportunities," says André Eiras, cofounder of EX Capital, in a statement.
Open to the community, the event will be composed of three debate panels, one dedicated to female founders, another to women in charge of [...]]]> The city's talent and characteristics continue to be responsible for attracting technology companies to Porto.
This Friday, the Austrian Parkside Interactive opened its office in Sá da Bandeira, where five dozen people already work and from where it expects to create value of over four million euros in three years in custom software development and UX (user experience) design.
"Very grateful that Parkside has chosen Porto", Rui Moreira believes that this is a demonstration that "the city is capable of attracting new businesses and, of course, talent". "Cities are their talent," reinforces the Mayor of Porto.
Also the fact that "we do not complicate things, we do not force a lot of bureaucracy and we try to make life easier for companies", helps in attracting investment. "We have a very business-oriented mentality", adds Rui Moreira.
Acknowledging that a lot of talent is "wasted" and leaves the country, the mayor says the city needs its "best blood" to be competitive. "There are [...]]]> The airline wants to open a new training centre for pilots and cabin crew in the Iberian Peninsula and has admitted that Porto is one of the possibilities under consideration.
Ryanair wants to open a new training centre for pilots and cabin crew in the Iberian Peninsula and admitted that Porto is one of the hypotheses under consideration, advanced the chief executive, Michael O'Leary.
"We are interested in opening a training centre in Iberia. [...] It would be very good for us to have a training centre [on the Iberian Peninsula], but we are talking about Porto, not Lisbon," the Irish airline's leader said at a meeting with journalists at Ryanair's premises in Dublin.
He admitted that Porto was on the table as the airline has a significant operation at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport. The location has not yet been decided, but the decision is expected to be announced later this year.]]> Greater Porto, a unique project in Portugal that brings together the cities of Porto, Matosinhos and Vila Nova de Gaia, is beginning to take the first steps towards achieving its goal, which is to create an ecosystem of opportunities that can attract investors from all over the world.

Greater Porto's first public appearance will be at the next edition of Expo Real, one of the world's largest real estate investment fairs, an event that will take place in Munich, Germany, between October 4 and 6, 2022. We want to count on the presence of investors and private companies, a synergy that has already demonstrated its success in previous events (MIPIM 2022 and Expo Real 2021), and to present Expo Real 2022 and the conditions for access to the event, we will hold two presentation sessions, namely:Vila Nova de Gaia | 07/09/2022, 17h30 | Vinha Boutique Hotel (Rua Quinta Fonte da Vinha 383, 4430-604 Vila Nova de Gaia)Matosinhos | 08/09/2022, 17h30 | MuMMa - Matosinhos Memory Museum (Av. [...]]]> The Czech investment promotion agency visited Porto for two days to share good practices and experiences. At Paços do Concelho, CzechInvest was received by the councillor responsible of Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente, who presented the example that has been developed by its counterpart, InvestPorto.
Creative industries such as the gaming industry, music, art, audiovisual, design, architecture, virtual reality or augmented reality were the areas that enhanced this meeting, where they talked about the installation of industries, but also about policies to attract talent and boost events.
In Paços do Concelho, the councilman also presented the economic development strategy for 2035, PULSAR Porto, which places culture and creative industries among the most relevant areas of economic activity for the city. Ricardo Valente stressed the [...]]]> The company opened its third engineering centre in Porto, where 35 employees work. By the end of the year, the goal is to duplicate the team.
Zühlke, a Swiss company specialising in developing technological solutions for sectors such as telecommunications, health, banking, consumer goods and insurance, has decided to invest in Porto to set up its third engineering centre. The specialised talent and the great spirit of innovation that the city offers, together with the quality of life, determined the opening of this hub, which has been in operation for just over a year, and now wants to gain dimension. By the end of 2022, the management's ambition is to double the number of employees. But this is only one of the phases of the planned expansion, which foresees an investment of 1.5 million over the next five years, in attracting and retaining engineers.
Right now, the Porto hub has a team of 35 employees specialising in software development - a good number of them foreigners, in a philosophy [...]]]> The advisory services in the protocol to fight poverty ImpactMarket and the Hapiness Hub ensured Abreu Advogados a double nomination in the FT Innovative Lawyers Europe 2022, in the categories of "Practice of Law: Market Firsts" and "People Management".
Abreu Advogados was doubly nominated by the Financial Times for the FT Innovative Lawyers Europe 2022, international awards for innovation in the legal sector that distinguish the most innovative firms and projects. The list of nominees is available for consultation.
In addition to being nominated for the category "Practice of Law: Market Firsts", with the advisory work done to impactMarket, a protocol to fight poverty, the law firm is also nominated for "People Management", with the Happiness Hub project, an internal management and support area, created in 2021 to monitor the personal and professional well-being of its teams.
People4People will hold on the 17th of September the first edition of RH PATCH 1.0, a free one-day event, in which 3 themes related to People Management will be discussed by 4 speakers: Raquel Soares, Teresa Carreiro, Nuno Mateiro & Ricardo Fernandes.


The community of Porto, which has more than 4 years of existence, returns to the physical format, in a completely free event that will take place in the technology company Infraspeak. The themes will occur in an informal format and will be able to be applied in the day to day of the participants.

For Luís Silva, one of the founders of the community, this is a moment of affirmation of the community in the current ecosystem, since it returns to the physical format, after the virtual editions during the pandemic "The People4People community keeps the focus on its mission, which is to share relevant information related to people management. We are very proud of the creation of HR PATCH 1.0, which was a goal we would have liked [...]]]> Data cover only the universe of projects monitored by InvestPorto. The number of jobs created or being created may be higher, says a source from the Porto city council.
At least 35 companies have created or will create in Porto 2,122 jobs in the area of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), during the first half of the year, according to data from the City Council available to the Lusa agency.
"The data we have access to indicate that in the first half of 2022, in the ICT area, we have at least 35 companies with investment projects in Porto completed or with projects underway, corresponding to 2,122 new jobs," can be read in a response from Porto City Hall to questions from the Lusa agency.
According to the official source of the city council, the data provided "cover only the projects monitored by InvestPorto or publicly announced projects, so they do not reflect the entire universe of companies that have settled in the city.
Regarding previous years, according to data [...]]]> Selina Group has partnered with a freelancing services platform on a global scale. Fiverr freelancers can win travel and accommodation vouchers.

The Selina group, owner of Selina Porto and Secret Garden Lisbon, has partnered with Fiverr, a global freelance services platform, to meet the needs of remote workers. The "Work from Anywhere" competition will give freelancers on the platform the chance to win travel vouchers, worth around €2,000, to enjoy the group's accommodation and co-living spaces.
"Our active global coworking community has shown us that remote work doesn't have to be isolated, and we're excited that this partnership with Fiverr will allow you to host your workers, in any unit in our network of over 100 destinations. The Selina experience is particularly designed to bring meaning to groups of digital nomads, travellers and locals. Together, we hope to show how building connections through travel [...]]]> The luxury goods marketplace created by Portuguese José Neves has closed the acquisition of 47.5% of YNAP from Swiss firm Richemont.
Farfetch has closed the purchase of 47.5% of online luxury goods retailer YOOX Net-A-Porter (YNAP) from Richemont. According to Reuters, the sale will represent a loss of 2.7 billion on the accumulated of all the businesses of Richemont, which is also responsible for manufacturing Cartier jewellery.
The deal had been under negotiation for months after Richemont gave up plans to create its own online platform in 2021. In addition to the Farfetch deal, Richemont has also agreed to sell 3.2% of YNAP to Symphony Global, the investment company of UAE businessman Mohamed Alabbar (he was one of the driving forces behind the iconic Burj Khalifa in Dubai).
In this way, Richemont is giving up half of YNAP, sharing the [...]]]> The new Ageas office at the Icon Boavista development has 7,600 square metres and five floors.
Ageas will have a second office in Portugal, at the Icon Boavista development. After the inauguration of the 12-floor building at Parque das Nações in Lisbon, headquarters which Vida Imobiliária visited, the group is now completing the process of opening the new facilities in Porto, a €30 million investment that was designed and built with the employees' experience and well-being in mind, according to Idealista/news.
The new Ageas office, designed by Civilria and signed by architect Luís Pedro Silva, has 7,600 square metres and five floors. The aim of this new headquarters in Porto is to integrate the various teams and brands of the group [...]]]> Performance marketing agency already has a total team of 125 people, working in a hybrid model, and wants to reinforce it until the end of the year.
The Portuguese performance marketing agency Wise Pirates wants to reinforce the team with another 60 employees still this year. There are 25 vacancies already available. The agency, which has implemented a hybrid working model, offers up to a total of 27 holiday days.
"At Wise Pirates we favour a hybrid working policy, besides the possibility of nomadism for temporary periods, our employees receive long periods of training, including self training and mentoring. They can also enjoy cellular work with empowered cells, in other words, they work in different teams, by brand or business, where they can play different roles, such as leading or being led", adds Pedro Barbosa, CEO of Wise Pires, to Pessoas.
"What is intended is that they develop holistically around something critical for business: result, or as we say, performance. We also give [...]]]> The programming school Le Wagon promotes an Open Day on 25 August, in its two national campus. The initiative intends that interested people get to know the opportunities available in terms of career re-qualification and improvement of programming skills.
In this day, visitors will be able to meet the local team and the campus, and learn a little more about the Web Development and Data Science courses, available in both locations. Additionally, it will also be possible to have contact with some of the members of its local community, composed by more than 900 members - from students and alumni, to other institutional partners and hiring partners.
Participants will also be able to clarify all their doubts, namely about programming, the application and selection process, funding options, roles currently played by alumni and much more. For this, it is necessary to register online, both for The company that develops software for the financial sector is looking for solution architects, full stack programmers in technologies, testers and functional analysts. In all, there are 150 vacancies distributed across the company's six centres in the country. Applications are already open.
Portuguese technology company ITSector, dedicated to developing software for the financial sector, announced on Monday that it wants to hire 150 more professionals by the end of the year.
According to the note sent to the press, the vacancies are for solution architects, full stack programmers in technologies (.NET, REACT, Java, Android and iOS), testers and functional analysts, and are applicable to a hybrid work regime for the company's six development centres in Porto, Lisbon, Braga, Aveiro, Bragança and Castelo Branco, which together already total more than 600 employees.
The possibility of training, labour flexibility and [...]]]> The University of Porto appears among the 300 best in the world in the 2022 edition of the prestigious Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU 2022), known as the Shanghai ranking.
The information is provided by the news website of the University of Porto, which also states that this is the best position ever for that institution in the oldest and one of the most prestigious international rankings of higher education, drawn up by the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy.
With assiduity in the Shanghai ranking since 2007, the U.Porto had as its best classification its presence between the 301 and the 400 best in the world, a position it repeated for 11 consecutive years, from 2011 to 2021. This year's position is shared with the University of Lisbon.
For the 20th consecutive year, [...]]]> The Porto-based technology company, which develops customised software for web and mobile in the area of online betting, wants to close the year with 575 employees, an increase of about 40% compared to the previous year.
Blip wants to hire more than 100 people by the end of the year, raising to 575 the number of employees in Portugal, and starts in September with an internship programme, for which it has more than 40 vacancies, the highest number ever since the programme was created.
"The expansion and growth of the team are integrated in the company's strategy and are a necessary step to achieve its goals. Compared to 2021, the number of Blip employees is expected to grow by around 40%. But regardless of the team's increasing size, Blip continues to place the well-being of our employees and talent retention at the heart of its activity, always with the aim of providing meaningful and impactful experiences [...]]]> September marks the return to school, but Porto. For Talent Summer Academy presents differentiated classes: workshops, talks and company visits. The target audience are higher education students in the region and the study plan takes place from September to November.
The initiative promoted by Porto City Hall will give young talents the opportunity to meet dozens of companies, talk to their professionals and thus discover the business world more deeply.
Without any associated cost, students enrolled in the academic year 2022/2023, any cycle of studies in an institution of higher education in the macro-region of Porto and North can enroll in the academy.
Between 6 and 9 September, the Career Workshops take place, moments to talk about different career models and paths, deconstruct myths, contact with companies and other colleagues, make choices about companies and professionals to contact in order to better understand [...]]]> Danish ISS A/S, a leading work experience and facilities management company, opened a technology centre in Porto dedicated to software development, marking another important milestone in its digital transformation journey.
In order to make the company a technological leader in its field, the new technology centre ISS Tech Portugal will be "fully operational by the end of this year", reads a statement. The goal will be to have 100 employees in Porto by the end of 2023.
ISS Tech Portugal will support ISS' overall goal of accelerating the development of integrated technology solutions and establishing innovative digital products for its more than 350,000 employees and around 40,000 global customers. The development of innovative and high-quality solutions in the areas of IoT, Mobile, Data and Integrations is the focus of the new teams in Portugal.
The ISS Tech Portugal technology centre will complement the technology centres already established by the company in Denmark and Poland.
The Porto metrobus is expected to attract four million passengers to other means of transport in 2024, according to a study by Metro do Porto.
The Porto metro bus is expected to attract almost four million passengers from individual transport and other public transport in 2024, according to a cost-benefit analysis study conducted for Metro do Porto and consulted by Lusa.
According to the June study, conducted by the company Trenmo, headed by university professor Álvaro Costa, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT, aka metrobus) between Casa da Música, Praça do Império and Praça Cidade do Salvador (Anémona), will capture 3.96 million passengers to other transport in 2024.
The document, available on Metro do Porto's website, indicates that, in 2024, the demand for individual transport passengers, relative to "passengers who currently travel by car but who will use public transport, namely the new Metro do Porto service, totally or partially", will be 3,7 million passengers.
On [...]]]> Currently incubated at UPTEC - Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, DreamShaper captured the largest investment round of a national technology company in the area of education. The 3.5 million euros collected will allow the startup to move forward to hire 60 more people over the next year.
According to Notícias UP, this investment round is "the largest ever raised by a Portuguese Edtech". "Specialised in the implementation of active teaching methodologies focused on project-based learning, DreamShaper develops active teaching-learning solutions, adjusted to the needs of each institution, from basic education to higher education and already has about one million users.
With offices in Bogota, Budapest, Madrid, Lisbon and São Paulo, it is from Porto that the startup hosts its technology team. "After two years in a row of 100% growth," advances Notícias UP, "the company expects to surpass €2 million in turnover in 2022, continue to invest in product development and [...]]]> Among the most requested profiles are mainly technology professionals, specifically experts in data, taxonomy and software engineering. 
Swogo is committed to increasing the influence of retail tech in the strategies of major brands such as Worten, Fnac, Media Markt, Decathlon, Conforama, Rádio Popular and Staples. The bet on national talent, in order to grow its offices located in Lisbon and Porto, is part of the plans of the technology company founded in London that operates in the retail sector. From January to July, the company hired 24 people and, over the next 12 months, it should recruit 30 more professionals.
"Our recruitment process has been continuous for both locations, Lisbon and Porto. Since the beginning of the year, we have already hired about 24 new employees and we aim to bring 13 more people to our team in Portugal by the end of 2022 and up to a total of 30 in the next 12 months," Anthony Ng Monica, CEO of Swogo, tells People.
Among the most sought-after profiles [...]]]> Nexar, who claims to be the leader in artificial intelligence computer vision, has signed "an agreement to acquire Veniam, the Portuguese technology-based startup that is leading the way in intelligent networking software for the Internet of Moving Things".
Israeli technology company Nexar has announced it will buy Portuguese startup Veniam to "transform vehicles into data engines", opening up "limitless possibilities for a new class of mobility applications".
"This acquisition represents one of the first times that an Israeli company acquires a Portuguese technological 'startup', thus becoming a milestone for the innovation ecosystem in Portugal that is attracting more and more international attention as an important European 'hub' of 'startups'," the company said in a statement.
Nexar, which claims to be a leader in artificial intelligence computer vision, has signed "an agreement to acquire Veniam, the Portuguese technology-based startup that is at the [...]]]> "A Portuguese business school, for sure" is the slogan of the campaign that offers special conditions to Portuguese or Lusodescendants living abroad who want to enroll in an MBA.

Porto Business School (PBS) launched an initiative that aims to attract Portuguese and Lusodescendant talent. "A Portuguese business school, for sure" is the motto of the campaign that offers special conditions to Portuguese or Lusodescendants living abroad who want to attend an MBA.
"Today more than ever, our business schools are prepared to give flexible options to students. Either through remote and flexible teaching or through face-to-face teaching with international classes. We believe that it is our obligation to create conditions so that our emigrants and their children can maintain a close relationship with their country of origin", explains Patrícia Teixeira Lopes, associate dean of Porto Business School.
The aim of the campaign is to motivate the Portuguese diaspora community to invest in their [...]]]> Through the National Plan for Higher Education Accommodation 205 new student beds will be made available.
University of Porto saw approved the allocation of funding of 11.3 million euros, which will be applied in the creation of two new residences and upgrading of four existing ones until mid-2025, it was announced this Monday.
In a note published on its official website, the University of Porto reveals that the funding of 11.3 million, under the National Plan for Accommodation in Higher Education (PNAES) will enable 205 new beds for students.
Of the six applications from the University of Porto approved for funding from the Recovery and Resilience Program (PRR), the "largest slice", corresponding to 4.6 million euros, "is intended" to implement a new residence, on the street of Boa Hora, in the building currently occupied by the headquarters of the Sports Centre of the U.Porto and some classrooms of the Faculty of Fine Arts (FBAUP).
"The future Boa Hora Residence will have 151 [...]]]> Considered one of the 150 most promising startups in the world in the area of digital health, iLof - Intelligent on Fiber continues to grow. Responsible for developing an intelligent platform for diagnosis and personalised treatment of oncological diseases, it has now received five million dollars (around 4.9 million euros) in funding that will allow it to double its team.
The company explains in a statement that the capital will allow it to "accelerate current commitments with some of the leading global companies in the pharmaceutical, biotech space", and thus "accelerate pilots" and "expedite platform development".
To develop "effective therapies for millions of patients around the world", iLof will need to hire 20 more people by 2023 and is looking for profiles in physics, data science, biology and product management.
This funding round was led by Portuguese Faber [...]]]> Alibaba Cloud, which is part of the Chinese technology group, Alibaba chose the city of Porto to open the first of the company?s three international centres. The goal is to "serve foreign markets more efficiently and intelligently?.In a statement, the company explains that the new centre, inaugurated in partnership with Teleperformance, is a response to the "growing demand for digital services? and will provide after-sales support to 88 countries across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.The service centre in Porto, which precedes the opening, later this year, of two others in Mexico City and Kuala Lumpur, says the chief executive of Alibaba Cloud international technical service, Li Jin, "it represents a new reinforcement of the technical support capacity abroad?.Alibaba Cloud stresses that the three cities are "local IT hubs with rich talent pools, convenient for creating large service centres with multilingual capabilities?.The president of Alibaba Cloud?s international unit, Yuan Qian, hopes that [...]]]> The "world's largest technology entrepreneurship academy" brings news to Porto, presenting 125 startups created by EIA 2022 students.

The European Innovation Academy (EIA) in cooperation with the University of Porto and the Porto City Council invites everyone to the Porto Startup Expo, which will take place this Friday, 29th July, between 13:00 and 15:00 at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto. Entry to the event is free, but requires online registration.

At this event it will be possible to get to know the work developed by EIA students, learn about new trends in the entrepreneurship ecosystem, meet potential collaborators, and help these embryonic stage companies, while witnessing how far the ideas of these students reach in just ten days.
In addition to the startups launched by EIA students, Porto City Hall is taking to Porto Startup Expo, through InvestPorto, some of the [...]]]> "It is a milestone for the reorganization of the entire public transport system of Porto and a crucial step towards the decarbonization of the city". This is how the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, defined the importance that the inauguration of the Campanhã Intermodal Terminal (TIC) represents for the city and the region.
With the entry into operation of TIC - a project budgeted at over 13 million euros and with a green area of over 4.6 hectares - "a priority assumed by the Municipality of Porto to promote multimodal citizens" and the focus on efficient and sustainable public transport is fulfilled, stressed the mayor, who also alluded to the contribution that the equipment will make to the objective of the Porto Climate Pact, to achieve carbon neutrality in the city of Porto by 2030.
Rui Moreira left a guarantee: "Those who think that the circulation of heavy passenger vehicles in Porto will remain the same should not be deceived. This is a terminal open to all operators and all types of road [...]]]> The three municipalities of the Atlantic Front ? Porto, Matosinhos and Vila Nova de Gaia ? will be together at the Expo Real 2022, which will take place from October 4 to 6, in Munich, Germany.
The goal is to enhance these three cities as a model region of the 21st century: influential, attractive, supportive, thriving, dynamic, connected to each other and environmentally sustainable.
Presenting themselves as "Greater Porto ? A region of the Future?, the three cities will be represented in a joint exhibition space, which is configured as a showcase of the cities to the world. Expo Real brings together, annually, the most influential representatives and investors in the various segments of the international market.
The event, which will take place at the Messe exhibition centre, in Munich, brings together exhibitors linked to the financial, digital, real estate and services sectors, including regional and municipal authorities.
In the 2021 edition, still conditioned by the Covid-19 [...]]]> It still smells new at the 42 Porto facilities, at Palácio dos Correios, officially opened on Thursday afternoon. The space where the programming school is located already has about 150 candidates taking tests, in the first of three "piscines? ? the last stage of the selection until the beginning of the program, in October ? which begun on the 11th of July.

The atmosphere is relaxed, the space is large and there are long tables filled with computers. The opening in Porto of the 42, which presents itself as the best programming school in the world, is still recent, but inside the activity is simmering. There, innovative skills in technology are learned, following a learning model that offers free training, without teachers, without timetables, without requirements.

The school in Porto is the 43rd opening of the 42 followed by London and Berlin. The goal is to continue to grow, underlined the director of 42 in Portugal, Pedro Santa Clara: "Our ambition is big. We believe that we are [...]]]> Eidosmedia, global leader in content management and digital publishing, is opening a new technology centre in Porto this summer. Expanding the organization with a tech centre will allow Eidosmedia to better serve its customers and strengthen the company?s commitment to be the content platform of choice for leading enterprises.Eidosmedia Atlantic will employ around 35 people by 2023 and continue growing its staff in 2024 and beyond.
Eidosmedia, global leader in digital publishing and content management, is an international organization headquartered in Milan, Italy with subsidiaries in the USA, UK, France, Germany, Australia and China. The company?s digital publishing platforms have become the solution of choice in the news-media and financial sectors and are increasingly adopted for corporate publishing and public-sector information services.The new tech centre will reinforce the company?s tech community, acting as an extension of actual teams, working in full coordination with [...]]]> It was the edition with the largest attendance ever and generated a direct economic impact in the region of around €8.4 million. The 15th edition of the QSP Summit brought together, for two days, at Exponor, three thousand people to discuss and learn about practices and trends in the areas of management and marketing.

The figures are from QSP, the marketing consultant that organises the summit, based on a survey of almost 1/3 of the participants, from 18 different countries, of what they guarantee to be the largest conference of the sector in Europe.
"If we add the media impact, estimated at 3.3 million euros, then the total impact of the event exceeds 11.7 million," adds, in a statement, the general manager of QSP. For Rui Ribeiro, "is undeniable the dynamism that the initiative brings to companies and the ability it has to show new tools, perspectives and solutions to [...]]]> The British technology and engineering consultant BJSS, present in Portugal since 2020, will expand to Porto, with the opening of a new office located on Avenida da Boavista.
The company's goal is to recruit more than 40 new professionals, including engineers, business analysts and project managers, who will join the 35 members that BJSS already has in the North region. Currently, BJSS has a team of 102 workers at national level."This investment translates into new facilities with more than 430 square metres, located in one of the best areas of Porto. It is another important step towards achieving our initial goal of having a local team of 150 people. We are very proud", underlined the responsible of BJSS for Portugal, Pedro Ferreira, quoted in a press release.
BJSS international expansion coordinator Amir Soufizadeh, quoted in the same statement, highlighted the "phenomenal growth" the company has had in the Lisbon office since opening two years ago. "With so much and such diverse talent [...]]]> JLL's Office Flashpoint report, relative to the month of May 2022, reveals the continued strong dynamics of office occupation in Porto. 
The monthly take-up for the Porto office market was divided amongst 7 operations and totalled 8,500m2, of which 6,000m2 refers to spaces in the city of Porto. This demand is very much directed towards relatively large areas, as can be seen by the average area of the offices leased during the month of May (1.216m2).
In May, the highlights in Porto were Saltpay - renting over 4,700m2 in the Porto Business Plaza (CBD Baixa) - and Sodecia - renting over 1,300m2 in the Oporto Bessa Leite (CBD Boavista).
In year-to-date terms, the annual take-up in Porto was 23,500m2 , more than three times the 6,800 m2 seen the previous year. TMT's & Utilities' companies have been the most dynamic, generating 50% of the annual take-up, although Business Services' companies, with 31% of the area, also stood out.In geographical terms, the CBD-Baixa [...]]]> The Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport was distinguished with the "Best European Airport 2022" award in its category of 10-25 million passengers by the Airport Council International (ACI), ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal said in a statement.

This is the first time that Porto Airport has been distinguished as Best European Airport 2022 by ACI Europe, the international organisation of airports, which highlighted the recovery of activity after the pandemic crisis, the quality of service and the actions implemented within the sustainability contained in the environmental commitment of VINCI Airports.
During such a challenging period for the entire aviation sector, the infrastructure was improved with the extension of the taxiway, innovative solutions were developed and implemented, and sustainability commitments were reinforced, as [...]]]> Following a meeting on cities that took place during the participation of the Municipality of Porto in MIPIM 2022, the Porto City Hall received the visit of a New York delegation, which represents a group of US investors in the real estate field.On the occasion of a trade mission in Lisbon, and derived from the previous contact established in Cannes, the delegation expressed the desire to visit the city of Porto, to know the lifestyle and investment potential.The delegation was part of the management of two companies based in New York and representing a group of North American investors: Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors (represented by President Antony Domathati and head of marketing Cathleen Stack) and Dynamax Realty Team | DynaMax Realty (who was represented, among other members of the Dynamax Realty team, by its president Tony L. D'Anzica).As it was the first visit [...]]]> At the 15th edition of the management and marketing conference, whichtook place between 28 and 30 June, InvestPorto presented 19 Porto. LeadingInvestors - companies that represent the talent, competitiveness and innovationof the city of Porto.Continuing the strategy ofactivation and promotion of the Porto. Leading Investors, which began at NOSPrimavera Sound 2022, the QSP Summit was a new stage to present someof the companies that have most contributed to the consolidation of Porto as an international technologyhub.In the last 5 years, A.P.Moller-Maersk, Bee Engineering Critical TechWorks, FairJourney Biologics,Farfetch, Infraspeak, Intellias, ITSector, Kantar, Körber Digital,Kuehne+Nagel, Natixis, NTT Data, Readiness IT, Sitel Group, TeamViewer, Uphold,Wunderman Thompson Commerce and Zühlke Engineering have experienced rapidgrowth, materialized in the creation [...]]]> German remote control software company TeamViewer has extended its presence in Porto by opening a new office in the industrial area. The new innovation space of the technology can accommodate more than 70 professionals and state-of-the-art equipment.
The new space was inaugurated on Tuesday, June 21, in a ceremony attended by the vice-president of Porto City Hall and councilman for Environment and Climate Transition, Filipe Araújo, the councilman in charge of Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente, and the technical director of the multinational, Mike Eissele.
The vice president of the Porto municipality stressed that "the coming of TeamViewer to Porto is a perfect match with our strategy for the city, in terms of promoting a robust and dynamic ecosystem of companies. "We have invested heavily in promoting the quality of life in the city and it is clear that Porto is now a vibrant and cosmopolitan city, with talent of enormous quality and, as such, a fantastic pole of [...]]]> Portugalclimbed two positions in the index of European countries that attract moreforeign direct investment, drawn up annually by consultancy EY. The area of technologieshas been an important magnet.After, in2020, having achieved the feat of, for the first time, entering the 'top 10' ofEuropean economies that most attract foreign direct investment projects,Portugal climbed two positions last year, rising to 8th place in the 'ranking'prepared by EY consultancy.In 2021,"the year in which the Portuguese economy grew at the best pace of thelast decades, following the strong contraction caused by the pandemic,"Portugal attracted 200 foreign investment projects, which represents anincrease of 30% compared to 2020, according to data from the EY EuropeanAttractiveness Survey 2022, which annually assesses the perception of foreigninvestors regarding the attractiveness of Europe and its competitors.In light ofthe study, France won the title of most [...]]]> The Master in Finance of the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto (FEP) is, for the first time, present in the prestigious ranking "Masters in Finance 2022", of the Financial Times (FT), entering directly to the 49th position worldwide in this exclusive ranking for finance courses, one of the most influential among economics and management schools worldwide.

"The presence of the Master in Finance in the Financial Times ranking is the result of the work that the whole school has been doing, particularly in the field of internationalisation. This is another recognition that encourages us to work in order to continue to provide our students with a solid academic training and to create talent and impact in society", highlights FEP's Director, José Varejão.
The Master in Finance of FEP stood out as the best course in Portugal and the seventh best worldwide in terms of return on academic investment (value for money rank). This indicator, calculated from graduates' [...]]]> The 2022 edition of Master.Spitch is scheduled for 30 June, at the Manoel de Oliveira Grand Auditorium, at the Rivoli Municipal Theatre. The candidates have already been selected, so the registrations are now open for companies interested in participating in the initiative.

This networking and professional marketing activity, organized by the Porto City Hall, is an excellent opportunity for companies to prospect and attract talent, identify business opportunities and activate partnerships with other participating entities.
The group of 40 selected candidates will have the opportunity to present themselves to a set of companies and business partners, in a 90 seconds pitch. In this sense, they are participating in a training and personal and professional development plan - Skills Makeover - between 7 and 23 June, in order to develop their entrepreneurial and employability skills.
Each pitch presented will be commented by a panel of judges, representatives of the human resources, [...]]]> Zühlke, a Swiss innovation servicesconsultancy, with an office in Porto, has received the Happiness Worksaccreditation, which classifies it as one of the companies in Portugal whereprofessionals feel happiest at work.Through a questionnaire organizedindependently by Happiness Works, that evaluates the happiness level ofemployees, Zühlke scored a total of 4.5 in 5 points. Considering this is onlythe first year operating in Porto for the multinational company, thisdistinction reinforces the commitment to the well-being of its employees sincethe beginning."For Zühlke Portugal, to know the teamis happy to work with the company is a much-valued recognition. To get thisfeedback from our employees, especially in this first year of operating in thecountry, is already setting the bar high for the future of Zühlke and everyonehelping us grow further?, says Ana Correia, HR Lead at Zühlke Portugal.Founded in Switzerland in 1968 and present in 10countries, Zühlke opened its [...]]]> The technological company Critical Software, in partnership with Critical Techworks and Critical Manufacturing, kicked off in May the second edition of the project Neurodiversity Talent Program.
"The creation of this programme was primarily intended to increase our talent base. We know that these people, called neurodiverse, have extraordinary valences of their own, which can be very useful and contribute significantly in our engineering projects," said in a statement to the Lusa agency Catarina Fonseca, coordinator of this pioneering programme at a national level.
For Catarina Fonseca, the Neurodiversity Talent Program "was another quite natural step in this path, because we realized that a window of hope was opening for parents, for young people and for the psychologists that accompany them".
In the first edition, which took place in May 2021, Critical Software received more 70 candidates, from which 10 were selected and received a five-week training course before arriving at the [...]]]> NOS Primavera Sound 2022 marked thereturn of major music events to Porto and had 100,000 spectators from 33countries, with emphasis on Spain, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy,Brazil, USA and Switzerland. In total, 37% of the spectators were of foreignnationality. Furthermore, according to the study developed by ISAG andCICET-FCVC, 87% of the foreign participants and residents outside theMetropolitan Area of Porto came to the city on purpose for the festival, whichgenerated a global impact of 36.1 million euros.Apart from the music, the festivalwas also a stage for the presentation of Porto. Leading Investors, anInvestPorto initiative that promoted 17 companies from the city, whichrepresent the dynamism, competitiveness and talent of Porto's businessecosystem. Over the last five years, A.P. Moller-Maersk, Critical TechWorks,FairJourney Biologics, Farfetch, Infraspeak, Intellias, ITSector, Kantar,Körber Digital, Natixis, NTT Data, Readiness IT, Sitel Group, [...]]]> The most renowned International Congress and Conventions Association (ICCA) places Porto in the Top 15 European and Top 20 worldwide in the ranking that annually, presents the cities that stand out as the most wanted destinations to host congresses, conferences, international meetings, and events.
This distinction also confirms that the city was one of those that best dealt with the acute period of pandemic and that best prepared itself for the touristic recovery.
In 2021, the ICCA Destination Performance Index consecrated Porto as the 14th destination in Europe and the 16th worldwide in the business tourism sector, up from the 39th position in the world ranking in 2019, before the health crisis (in 2020 a comparative ranking was not published due to the effects of the pandemic, which affected the sector worldwide). The evaluators justified the rise of the destination with the quick response by all the stakeholders facing the constraints caused by Covid-19, the strong commitment to [...]]]> The City of Porto, through InvestPorto, will bring to this year?s NOS Primavera Sound festival some of the companies that best represent the potential of our city - the Porto. Leading Investors - companies that are shaping the future of Porto as an international hub where the mingling of cultures and the business ecosystem foster investment, talent, competitiveness and innovation.
From 9 to11 June, the Porto. area at NOS Primavera Sound will host an interactiveexhibition dedicated to 17 Leading Investors, who have stood out in recentyears for their investment and positive impact on the city.The exhibitionshows that Porto is a city full of opportunities, challenging the public todiscover where are the most exciting companies to work in the city.During thethree days of the festival, starting at 7.30 p.m., the Porto. lounge area willhost the Porto. Leading Investors Taste n' Toast, a cocktail dedicated to theLeading Investors, that will invite visitors to enjoy a Tonic [...]]]> The Le Wagon programming school, present in Portugal since 2016, opened a campus in Porto and plans to kick-start the first edition of the Web Development course in July.The French institution has facilities in more than 45 cities in several geographies ? Europe, Asia-Pacific, Americas, Africa, and Middle East ? and arrives in Porto to "transform careers?, you could read in a statement."Porto is a growing hub, with opportunities and unique talents around every corner. We are very excited to offer this opportunity to learn to program in one of the coolest destinations in Europe?, published Le Wagon on Facebook."It is a city with an inexhaustible culture, high quality of life and unique characteristics, one of which is its proximity to the sea?, noted the responsible for the facility in Porto, Francisco Mendonça, in statements reproduced by the online economy newspaper ECO."We want our students to take advantage of this connection while studying at Le Wagon, so we are considering the possibility of [...]]]> Parkside Interactive's expansion plans include the debut in the Portuguese market, with the opening of a development centre in Porto and the recruitment of 50 professionals over the next two years.
The Austrian company, leader in custom software development and UX (user experience) design, chose Invicta to start its activity in Portugal due to the city's "growing recognition as a global technology centre of excellence, as well as the favourable conditions it offers, such as stability and security", the statement said.
"Given the growth of Parkside, we saw in Portugal, and namely in Porto, the ideal place to move forward with our purpose of developing an increasingly personalized technological solution, and that allows us to support our customers on a daily basis. It is with this in mind that in Porto we want to reinforce the qualified technological talent in our teams, creating job opportunities", says the director of Parkside Interactive Portugal, Paulo Moura, in declarations [...]]]> The Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport is seen as a strategic point in the goals of Iberia and British Airways, which intend to intensify the number of routes from the Invicta city.
This was stated by the country manager in Portugal of the two companies, Manuela Barber, who was received by the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, on Tuesday morning.
At a meeting that was also attended by the councillor for Tourism and Internationalisation, Catarina Santos Cunha, the head of Iberia and British Airways said that the two airlines intend to intensify the routes they operate from Porto Airport.
Both Iberia and British Airways attribute a strategic importance to the city of Porto, which they include in their respective expansion plans.
The investment of the two airlines is important for Porto, as both fly directly to London's Heathrow airport - while TAP, for example, operates flights to Gatwick.
Heathrow is London's busiest airport, having recorded a total of 195,336 movements in 2021 [...]]]> 42 was founded in Paris in 2013 and now has more than 10,000 students from over 25 countries, which places it among the largest programming schools in the world.
According to ECO, the French programming school landed in Portugal in July 2020 and features a gamified learning model, "without schedules or teachers", counting with more than 20,000 applications in Lisbon, where around 400 students are aged between 17 and 57. 
The new campus in Porto is located near Avenida dos Aliados, in the centre of the city, in the former Palácio dos Correios, a space lent by Critical Techworks, and will open its doors on June 4th, 2022, with an annual investment of approximately one million euros. 
ECO also adds that SaltPay and Critical Techworks are founding partners of 42 Porto, led by Mafalda Sousa Guedes, who also plays the same role in the capital. Companies such as Amorim, Sogrape, Sonae, Prozis and also Porto City Council support the project of the French programming school.
The [...]]]> Intellias, a global IT company, will gather world-known Agile experts to discuss techniques and instruments for leading businesses during a crisis.?From June 1?3, the global software provider Intellias will hold a three-day conference on Agile development methodologies during challenging times. Later this summer, Intellias plans to open two offices in Porto and Lisbon. Promoting its human-to-human culture, the company plans to create an IT hub where specialists can grow professionally and exchange knowledge with each other. 
Intellias Agile Days will unite over 1000 onlineattendees from all over the world. The audience will include developers, QA engineers,Scrum masters, product owners and managers, Agile coaches, business analysts,and IT company CEOs, who will have the opportunity to interact and exchangeideas. The  The 2022 Financial Times Executive Education Ranking is already known and Porto Business School (PBS) appears in it once again. Porto institution climbs the table and now occupies the 40th position among the best business schools in the world and gives a push for Portugal to have a place on the podium.
In the Open Programmes category, Porto Business School sees its ranking rise 22 places and is now in 53rd place, highlighting the improvement in variables such as partner schools, international participants and overall customer satisfaction. In ten points, the institution achieved 9.33.
The Custom Executive programmes also improved in the Financial Times ranking. In this category, Porto Business School is now in 48th position, ten places above the previous evaluation. The growth of the activity, the programme design, the partner schools and the future use of the skills obtained are the criteria in which the school achieved the best score.
In a statement, the Dean of Porto Business School [...]]]> The course lasts abouttwo years, with internship included, and is organised by Porto Tech Hub inpartnership with the Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto. There are 60places available for the programme and students, after the end of the academiccomponent with positive evaluation, have direct entry in one of thetechnological companies in the region of Porto.SWitCH, a programme that re-qualifiesprofessionals to enter roles in the IT area and connects them to technologycompanies in the Porto region, is back with its sixth edition. The registrationperiod for the initiative, which is developed by Porto Tech Hub in partnershipwith Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, started on May 9th, and thereare 60 vacancies that can be filled by any graduate professional who wants tochange area and start a career in a high-growth sector. The teaching component lasts one [...]]]> Summer Camp is back again this year to give university students the opportunity to have their first contact with the world of work. The internship programme at Critical Software, a company specialising in software solutions and engineering services for the support of critical systems, begins on the 11th of July and enrolments are open until the 31st of May here.
The company bets on this internship format to promote the company's innovation projects in the engineering areas. Summer Camp will be divided in two moments - the Innovation Experience and the Summer Internship. The Innovation Experience will take place from July 11th to the 15th, a week in which the interns are together with engineers at the headquarters in Coimbra developing prototypes through robotics, Internet of Things and artificial intelligence. Critical Software covers all the expenses associated to this week.

The Summer Internship, which [...]]]> It is a story that has been sailing for twoyears and has now arrived in (good) Porto. One of the leading companies inmaritime transport, Maersk, inaugurated, this Monday, a technology centre atPorto Office Park (POP), in Boavista, with the presence of the Mayor of Porto,Rui Moreira, and the councillor for Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship,Ricardo Valente. By 2023, the company expects to reach 150 employees.Invited to cut the ribbon alongside thedirector of e-commerce of the Danish giant, Christoph Strok, Rui Moreira sharedhow "it is good to find a company like Maersk interested in what has beenhappening in Porto"."13 or 14 years ago, the only thing we werethinking about was how to stop people emigrating to work at Maersk. Copenhagenis a great city to visit, but it is better to stay here and innovate fromhere," emphasized the mayor, who recalled how "the value chain ischanging" towards the development of e-commerce.From the seventh floor of the POP, Rui [...]]]> Readiness IT plans to hire 25 recent graduates for Campanhã, where it strategically installed its headquarters and today is one of the main technological references in the Metropolitan Area of Porto, providing its services nationally and internationally.
During the month of May, Readiness IT is carrying out recruitment actions at local universities and polytechnics for the hiring of recent graduates from several technological areas. The candidates' profile is based on training or experience in programming, such as computer engineering, telecommunications, electrotechnical, mathematical sciences, bioengineering, biomedical, biochemical or other courses where there have been subjects or bases in programming. 
The new employees will join the already vast group of "System Ninjas", internal designation of its employees, to develop skills in new technologies, such as OutSystems, Kloudville, and Verticare Systems, the latter being an innovative project in the health area and recently [...]]]> One is a consultant in IT and engineering, the other a software technology company. Avenga and Boost IT arrive in Porto attracted by the talent and proximity to universities. Together, they have a hundred vacancies for qualified positions.In a statement, the chief Executive of the German Avenga explains that the company?s expansion aims to "satisfy, gradually, the growing demand, especially from customers located in Europe and North America?."Given that we are planning to grow significantly in the Porto metropolitan area in order to scale our offer in the global market even faster, we seek to work closely with the universities of the city?, says Jan Webering.Validating the investment in talent, the company, which works with Allianz, Credit Suisse, GSK, or Santander, adds that is hiring at least 50 people by the end of the year."Portugal embraced digitization from an early stage and made it a government priority. The results are visible, namely in terms of modern and efficient red tape, top education [...]]]> "Pulsar? (pulsate) is defined as the plan that considers the economy of the city and the region for 2035. The most diverse entities that contributed to the definition of the Economic Development Strategy of Porto ? and which will now assume the role of putting it into practice ? met, this Friday afternoon, at the Super Bock Arena ? Pavilhão Rosa Mota.Based on 10 structuring projects, defining after consultation with around a hundred entities, "Pulsar? is found in trade, services and real estate, tourism and sports, in ICT and service centres, health and life sciences, culture and creative industries, mobility, energy and environment, the blue economy, and sustainable construction the focus for the future vision of a "Best Porto?.For its implementation, a potential direct investment of approximately 600 million euros is budgeted, divided by the Municipality of Porto and the funds from the Recovery and Resilience Facility and NextGeneration EU.Responding to an unpredictable but prosperous future"This is [...]]]> The Economic Development Strategy of Porto, called "Pulsar", involves a direct investment of approximately 600 million euros until the end of the decade. The presentation is scheduled for next Friday, May 13, at 4 p.m., at the Super Bock Arena Auditorium - Rosa Mota Pavilion.
The session will have the participation of the European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, as keynote speaker, and the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, who will close the session. The opening will be in charge of the Councillor for Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente.
There will also be an interactive roundtable with questions posed by the public. This discussion panel includes António Parada, CEO of FairJourney Biologics, Hermano Rodrigues, EY Partner, Joana Resende, pro-rector for Strategic Planning at the University of Porto and Luis Filipe Reis, CEO of Sonae Financial Services and Sonae Fashion, with the moderation assumed by Joana Amorim, journalist from Jornal de Notícias.
There are 500 square meters in the heart of the city to house six dozen talents, and from there Devoteam?s relationship with the entire Northern region of the country will be nurtured. The inauguration of the new offices of the French technology consultancy, on Avenida dos Aliados, was attended, on Thursday morning by the Mayor of Porto.Rui Moreira underlined the importance of these moments, "when we realize that companies are growing, investing in human resources, in technology, and are investing in the city?.The mayor has no doubt that the role of politicians in this equation is to simplify and highlighted the Knowledge that exists in the city as a vital factor in attracting talent and investment.Devoteam?s new offices have a capacity for 60 people and are neighbours of other companies that have been settling up in Palácio dos Correios. The Mayor of Porto believes that these technological centres are "true ecosystems?, which take time to grow and "need many components?."The city of Porto does not [...]]]> Adapttech, biomedical start-up graduated from UPTEC (Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto) and whose office is located in the city of Porto, has the mission of introducing new intelligent technologies to increase the quality of life of people with physical limitations. 

According to Dinheiro Vivo, the Portuguese innovation company raised an additional 2.7 million euros in the new funding round, in which Bionova Capital (the first investor in Adapttech) and the British Mercia Asset Management, Angel CoFund, Wren Capital and Wealth Club also participated. 

Bionova Capital clarifies in a statement that "this new investment round will allow Adapttech to expand its INSIGHT system, a certified medical device that allows the correct fitting of lower limb prostheses to residual limbs, thus increasing mobility and quality of life for these patients." 

Frederico Carpinteiro, CEO of Adapttech points out that the launch of a "new product line is to [...]]]> The Municipality of Porto will start animmersion program for young people in the job market. Approved in the Executivemeeting this Monday, the strategy grants a support of 75 thousand euros for thecreation of summer internships, in several entities, for people between 16 and21 years old.Under the designation "SummeropPORTOnities", the program has the objectives of "providing young peoplea first contact with professional experiences and of immersion in anorganizational dynamic" and of "guaranteeing adequate workingconditions and learning contents, not only to the curricular plans but also tothe professional market demands".Targeting young people between 16 and 21 yearsold, with secondary education, vocational technical higher education course orhigher education, the programme foresees the creation of scholarships forinternships - between June and September - in several entities based in Porto,in the areas of hospitality and catering, logistics and commerce, andinformation [...]]]> Verticare Systems is an innovative project for the health sector created by two of the most recognized companies in their areas of expertise and founded in the metropolitan area of Porto.
B-Simple is already a national reference in the health sector, with its solutions implemented in a wide range of hospitals throughout the Iberian Peninsula. In its turn, Group RIT is a cluster of technology companies based in Campanhã, Porto, and is recognized worldwide for its digital transformation projects, software development and low-code, cloud services, as well as multiple technologies in the global market.
Through a business alliance, B-Simple and Group RIT are now joining forces to accelerate the digitization of the global healthcare sector.

The new, wholly nationally owned company will be responsible for delivering hospital solutions as well as developing digital solutions adapted to the digitization of healthcare and services around the world.

The new products and solutions [...]]]> The Municipal Council of Economy met on Wednesday, at Paços do Concelho, to analyse the Economic Development Strategy of Porto, a document that establishes a vision for the period until 2035.
After having been presented to the Municipal Executive, in March, Porto's Economic Development Strategy was analysed this Wednesday, in a meeting of the Municipal Council of Economy/"Casa dos 24". The meeting served to approach the document and collect the councillors' contributions.
In a brief presentation, the Councillor for Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship revealed that the document will be called "Pulsar Porto", and listed some of the guidelines. The time frame of this strategy is now 2035, and not 2030, as initially outlined: "We want to have a vision for a slightly longer period", underlined Ricardo Valente.
"Our city is extremely [...]]]> Kantar,the world?s leading data-driven analytics and brand consulting company todayannounces new plans to expand its presence in Porto. Kantar?s technology team,led by Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Alex Cesar, will open its first GTI Hubas part of a strategy to make advanced technology capabilities core to Kantar?sdifferentiation. Technology is recognised as a fundamental driverof Kantar?s transformation, the new GTI Hub will act as an incubator for thenew technologies underpinning the products and platforms that will deliver thenext phase of growth for Kantar and our clients. Initially, 150 Data and Software Engineering roles will be placed in Porto in 2022, with a plan to scale this to approximately400 over the next four years. Today?s plan builds upon Kantar?s previousannouncement of up to 200 new roles in 2022 in the new Regional Delivery Centre.The new GTI hub will initially focus onrecruiting data and software engineers to work on Porto Innovation Hub hosted the first conference of the Ireland Portugal Business Network (IPBN) organised in the city. In this Thursday's session, the municipality presented its strategy for attracting investment and talent before an audience where, in addition to representatives of companies operating in Porto and national companies considering expansion to Ireland, was the Irish Ambassador to Portugal, Ralph Victory.
The director of Economy of Porto City Council, Rui Monteiro, welcomed everyone to Porto, referring to this meeting as "proof of how resilient a city we are". "Our mission is very simple: to help you achieve your goals, your dreams," he stressed, introducing a presentation on the work developed by Invest Porto in attracting investment.
In the session at the Porto Innovation Hub, the Irish Ambassador in Portugal recalled that, "in order to be efficient, Ireland must listen, build new partnerships and be present in [...]]]> Opened in Porto in 2007, the Euronext?s technology center is responsible for the entire area of cybersecurity and continues to grow. With services reaching 15 markets, Europe?s largest exchange platform has expanded its offices in the city and is hiring 50 more workers by the end of the year.
According to the human resources manager, "the functions performed from Porto have an impact on the 15 countries where Euronext operates?. In statements to the newspaper Eco, Conceição Martins said that "the new resources will reinforce IT service management skills, including servers, networks, backups, storage, and cloud services, IT, as well as the support of corporate applications, advanced data services, digital transformation, and market management platforms, among others.
The profiles Euronext is looking for are "upper and middle, for the QA teams, Networking and Systems, Software Development, Big data, DevOps, Project Management, Business Analysis, Technology Operations, Cloudservices, [...]]]> To respond to a growth rate of around 50%, Blip is focused on hiring more than a hundred workers by the end of the year. The profiles sought are mostly back-end engineers and delivery managers, but there are also vacancies for mobile, front-end and developers.
The information was shared by the general director of the company in an interview to TSF. Sara Sousa began by recalling that, when it was born in 2009, Blip, incubated at UPTEC - Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, "started with only three people and, at that time, it was a 100% Portuguese company that made software for other companies".
In 2012, it was acquired by the group formed by Paddy Power and Betfair, Flutter Entertainment, listed on the London Stock Exchange, and today it is responsible for the technological management support to the more than 70 million transactions that the multinational, specialised in online betting, records every day.
In 2016, Visma is establishing a new technology centre in Porto this spring. The launch reinforces the company?s leadership in innovation and commitment to creating technology for a resilient society. The tech centre will employ around 50 people during its first year and reach 200 employees by 2025.
The Visma Group consists of over 14,000 people across Europe and Latin America, of which 6,500 are developers. The new tech centre will strengthen its already extensive tech community, making it one of the largest in Europe. It will serve as one of Visma?s main competence hubs, focusing on advancing development in security, AI, and product design using a wide range of technologies.
"Over one million customers trust Visma to provide technology and services for resilience.
To provide our customers with the best product and technology to run their everyday business, we need to stay at the forefront of product development. To make that happen, we are dependent on having talented people on board, which is [...]]]> The joint venture between the German group BMW and the Portuguese Critical Software has 400 vacancies to fill, including in Porto, where it has been established since 2018.
Doing justice to the company's work in the mobility of the future, the recruitment advertisement for 400 Critical TechWorks staff is anything but static: it is through a fleet of ten Mini cars with custom decorations that the campaign makes known the open opportunities.
The vehicles will be driven, from north to south of the country, by Critical TechWorks employees, explained to the online economic newspaper ECO the Marketing and Communication Director of Critical TechWorks, Susete Ferreira.
"The campaigns only make sense if they are lived by our employees, which is why these cars are in the hands of those who can best explain to the interested parties what they can find of [...]]]> The European Patent Office (EPO) has highlighted the Norte region as the leader in intellectual property registration processes originating in Portugal, with the Greater Porto area occupying a prominent place, thus positioning itself as the engine of the macro region. 
Data recently published by Semanário Expresso indicates that the Portuguese economy closed the year 2021 with 286 requests at the EPO, which is a new national record. 
The Portuguese start-up Feedzai, specialising in artificial intelligence in the detection of bank card fraud, and with an office in the city of Porto, was the entity that led this national ranking, with 17 patent requests. In the top 10 it is also possible to find four other companies present in Greater Porto, namely the health technology start-up Sword Health (12 patents; 3rd place), Novadelta - Comércio e Indústria de Cafés (11 patents; 4th place) and Abyssal (5 patents; 10th place).
These data reinforce the affirmation of Porto as [...]]]> The Luso-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry is organising, in collaboration with 15 bilateral chambers, an International Forum on the 21st of April in Lisbon.

The event, which will take place at the Marriott Hotel, from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m., will bring together in a single venue:

Fair Space - Stands with exhibitors: 16 Chambers of Commerce; AICEP; IAPMEI; export support consultations (lawyer; insurance company, freight forwarder; bank);

Conference Space: thematic or technical talks given by the Chambers or by private or institutional partners associated to the event;

Buyers' Exchange: participation of 5 French companies looking for new suppliers in Portugal. These companies are from diverse sectors and profiles, and intend to develop their sourcing with Portuguese manufacturers or [...]]]> New ranking, new record of the University of Porto.The "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022" distinguish theinstitution in 27 areas of study, including it among the 100 best inArchitecture, Civil Engineering and Information Management.Notícias UPorto highlights that this is the "bestperformance ever" of the institution in the "prestigious annualranking of Quacquarelli Symonds (QS)". Standing out among the best in theworld in 27 of 51 areas of study, the U.Porto was evaluated according toindicators such as academic reputation, reputation among employers andscientific production.In this year's list, a reference to the debut anddirect entry to the group of the 220 best in the area of Geophysics. The returnof the University's Linguistics to the top 251-300 is also a remarkablenovelty.Always exceeding the positions of previous years, [...]]]> The volume of foreign direct investment in the Metropolitan Area of Porto (AMP) has tripled since 2017 - said Ricardo Valente.

Speaking at the conference on Growth and Sustainability, held a few days ago at the Almeida Garrett Library in Porto, the Councillor for Finance, Economic Activities and Supervision noted that foreign companies already account for 19% of GVA and 13% of employment. Eight years ago, when Rui Moreira began his first mandate, the weight of foreign companies in GDP was no more than 4%. 

"What is happening in the Metropolitan Area of Porto is unique at a European level and is well above the national average. I believe, according to the data, that we have a bright future ahead of us, the trends are on our side", he said. 

Porto reached 3rd place among the most attractive medium-sized European cities for foreign investment, according to the Financial Times/fDi Intelligence ranking. In three years, Porto has risen five places in the ranking [...]]]> Faced with the reality that qualified work is becoming increasingly mobile, Rui Azevedo focused on the need for good management of attraction, facilitation and incorporation of international talent in the city. In its first edition, the Porto Economics Prize, launched by the Municipality, distinguished the Master's dissertation of the student of the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto (FEP) with the awarding of 1,500 euros.
The winner of the competition had the opportunity to present the work "Collective actions to attract, facilitate and incorporate international talent in the city of Porto" in the ceremony that took place this Thursday afternoon, April 7, at the Porto Innovation Hub, and where the Councillor for Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente, was present.
Rui Azevedo's Master's dissertation in International Economics and Management analysed [...]]]> The first edition of Bolsa de Empregabilidade in the North took place in Palácio da Bolsa and brought together over fifty companies. After six editions in Lisbon, the event - the biggest recruitment hub in tourism in Portugal - arrived in Porto to promote bringing qualified staff closer to companies and the labour market.
It was with a play on words that the participants were welcomed at the entrance of Bolsa de Empregabilidade: "Welcome to the world of oPORTOnities". The event held at the Palácio da Bolsa highlighted the qualified talent that exists in the region and is available for hiring by the tourism industry.
"The tourism sector has played, especially in the last decade, an important and even strategic role in the national and international affirmation of the city and its economic dynamics, particularly with regard to job creation, the rehabilitation of the building and also to leverage the city's trade," emphasized, in his speech, the Councillor for Economy, Employment and [...]]]> After opening its E-Commerce Centre of Excellence in Lisbon, Wunderman Thompson, technology consultant and creative agency for the WPP group, has now announced its arrival in Porto. This Centre already has 40 employees and this expansion to the north of the country will create new opportunities for growth for the agency. 

This new Wunderman Thompson office will allow greater proximity to the agency's employees living in the Greater Porto area and reinforce the company's focus on attracting talent in the areas of engineering and technology that exists in this part of the country. Among the objectives of this expansion is also the strategy of proximity to the main universities of Porto, which will allow a gateway for recent graduates in a global project.

Remember that Wunderman Thompson announced, at the end of last year, the choice of Portugal to implement the largest E-Commerce Centre of Excellence in Europe, a strategic bet of the agency that continues to look for [...]]]> Palácio da Bolsa will be the stage of the first edition in the North of Bolsa de Empregabilidade, scheduled for this Wednesday, the 6th of April, with the support of the Porto City Council.
The initiative consists of a tourism fair, whose mission is to connect the sector, through students, professionals and educational and business organizations.
Organised by Fórum Turismo, and after six editions in Lisbon, the event is welcomed in Porto with the aim of decentralising and promoting employability in the region. After a two-year interruption due to the pandemic situation, Bolsa de Empregabilidade returns with the aim of strengthening its position as a promoter of employment and dialogue between companies and various professional profiles.
The presence of 54 companies has been confirmed and the event will have exclusive areas for conferences, networking with national and international companies and knowledge sharing.
It also represents an opportunity for the unemployed, young people [...]]]> eDreams Odigeo continues its growth process and plans to hire 500 professionals over the next three years. With a technology centre operating in Porto's downtown, the Spanish online travel giant assumes the city is its priority for growth.
In a statement, the agency confirms that it intends to "increase its global workforce by 50%" and stresses that the centre in Porto, opened in October last year, will be, along with the similar space in Milan, the focus of the growth strategy.
The first phase of this recruitment will be launched later this year and envisages the hiring of 200 people to strengthen the technology, product and innovation teams and thus "enable the company to further develop its proprietary technology platform and the wide range of travel products and services it offers".
"To maintain our solid growth," says Dana Dunne, CEO of eDreams Odigeo, "we are looking for the best international talent to help us revolutionize the market and continue to drive technological [...]]]> Lionesa Business Hub office complex is the new home of Porto Application Center (PAC) by Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS). The technology hub will occupy 1,100 square metres (m2) and is in an active recruitment period to increase the operations team in Porto. VWFS' focus is to attract a diverse group of professionals, looking to recruit 130 people in various areas by the end of 2022.
The offices are designed "to meet the needs of employees and is equipped with innovative technology and ergonomic furniture taking into consideration the health and well-being of all," reads the statement sent to newsrooms. Captivated by Porto's strategic location and access to a qualified workforce, Volkswagen Financial Services "intends to be a fundamental pillar and contribute to the growth of the entire organisation, in Porto [...]]]> "Bolhão will always be Bolhão, and there shouldbe no doubt about that", says Pedro Baganha, Municipal Councillor forUrbanism and Public Space and Housing, when confronted by Expresso about thefuture management model and the maintenance of its original features. For the responsible, "the basic objective of themunicipality is to promote it as a fresh produce market and work it as acentral piece of affirmation of the Bolhão block as a food reference in thecity". With its reopening scheduled for the end of the firstsemester - everything points to the end of June -, after four years ofrestoration and modernisation works, justified by the complexity and by theadded difficulties due to the pandemic period, the Bolhão Market has a total of129 spaces (81 indoor stalls, 10 indoor restaurants and 38 outdoor shops). Of these, 42 spaces are assigned by tender and wherethe categories and priority areas were defined, to ensure the diversity andcomplementarity of the space, since [...]]]> The Porto Tech Hub, a business association that aimsto promote and develop Porto as a global technology centre, at the beginning of2022 exceeded the goal of having more than 30 associated companies - wherereference organisations such as Farfetch and Critical Software are integrated."Reaching the highest number of technologypartners since its creation, the association founded in 2015 now sees itsmission strengthened to continue to develop and expand the city's technologicalscene and capture the most qualified talent, promoting their employability withpartner companies."In an interview with JE, the director of theassociation, Luís Miguel Silva, explained that the growth in the number ofmembers implies new challenges for the organisation and growing flexibility inits initiatives. One of the most important is the partnership with the HigherInstitute of Engineering of Porto (ISEP) - an entity which the association hasjoined for the creation of a nine-month post-graduate [...]]]> The Municipal Library Almeida Garrett will host next Thursday, the 24th, the conference "Growth and Sustainability in Porto". The initiative, which will take place from 3 to 6.30 pm, is free of charge but requires prior registration.
Organised by the Vida Económica publishing group, with the support of Porto City Council, the conference will feature several speakers from public institutions and the city's business sector.
The conference will be opened by Filipe Araújo, vice-president of Porto City Council and councillor responsible for Environment and Climate Transition and for Innovation and Digital Transition, who will present Porto's strategy as a green city and the city's commitment to sustainability and innovation.
The councillor for Finance, Economic Activities and Taxation, as well as for Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente, will also speak about attracting foreign investment and setting up companies in the city.
The potential of tourism in [...]]]> The new Sé Catedral Hotel Porto, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, opened its doors this Monday, March 21st, a new investment of 23.8 million euros by Mercan Properties. It is the first project under the Tapestry Collection brand of the Hilton group in Portugal.
This urban regeneration project has given rise to a 77-room hotel, restaurant, bar and terrace café overlooking Porto's Cathedral.
Jordi Vilanova, chairman of Mercan Properties, said in a statement that "the Sé Catedral Hotel Porto, Tapestry Collection by Hilton will be an architectural landmark in the city of Porto. The hotel has an innovative concept, next to one of the city's main monuments, the Sé Cathedral. This project results from the conversion of a historic building, considered a UNESCO heritage site in 2012, which now gives way to a modern and welcoming hotel, open to the city and visitors from all over the world."
This is Mercan Properties' second hotel to open doors in Porto, after [...]]]> The mayors of Porto, Rui Moreira, and Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, were, on Wednesday, speakers at a conference on the transformations of cities, in a post-pandemic context at MIPIM. Both Portuguese municipalities are present at the world's largest real estate fair - MIPIM - which is held annually in Cannes (France), with the aim of attracting investment.
The session, under the theme "Leading Urban Transformation in Post-Pandemic Times", was moderated by the director of Diário de Notícias, Rosália Amorim, and both mayors discussed the assets of the two cities to attract national and foreign investors.
The Mayor of Porto presented strategies, the positioning and investment ecosystem of the city of Porto, taking a look at what is expected of the cities of the future, which are now centres of sharing, innovation and wealth.
Before an attentive audience, themes such as housing, energy, offices, mobility and environment were discussed, areas where there are new business opportunities.
The city of Porto received on Tuesday, in Cannes, the award for the 3rd place in the category "FDI strategy - Mid-sized Cities", attributed by fDi Magazine, a Financial Times publication specialized in international investment. The ceremony took place during Europe's largest Real Estate Investment Fair - MIPIM, which is being held from the 15th to the 18th of March in the French city.
After winning the 5th place in the 2020/21 edition, the city of Porto climbed to the European podium, reaching the 3rd position in the ranking of medium-sized European cities, in the category of best strategy for attracting foreign direct investment.
Representing the city were the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, the councillor for Finance, Economic Activities and Taxation and for Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente, and the councillor [...]]]> Porto City Council is present for the third time at MIPIM, Europe's largest investment fair, which starts this Tuesday, March 15th, in Cannes. In what is its largest participation, the city presents itself as a "global business hub for the 21st century". One of the highlights of Porto's presence in the 2022 edition of MIPIM will be the conference that will bring together, on Wednesday 16th of March, Rui Moreira and Carlos Moedas on the same stage, in a meeting that aims to reflect on the transformations of urban centres in a post-pandemic context.
In an invitation to a debate with the Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, presents in Cannes the strategies, positioning and investment ecosystem of the city of Porto, taking a look at what is expected of the cities of the future, which are now centres of sharing, innovation and wealth.
At the conference "Leading Urban Transformation in Post Pandemic Times", scheduled for 16th March at 4pm (French time), the [...]]]> The Strategic Economic Development Plan (PEDE) of Porto was presented to the Municipal Executive at Monday's public meeting. The document contemplates a vision for 2030 that goes from "More Porto" to "Better Porto" and establishes the Invicta city as a leader, magnet, and engine of the Portuguese (and Peninsular) Northwest macro-region. The PEDE Porto will be analysed by the Municipal Council of Economy before returning to the Executive.
The presentation of the document was made by Hermano Rodrigues, from EY (Ernst & Young), who detailed the PEDE Porto preparation process and explained the main proposals of this plan. "The ambitions set for the economic development of the city stimulate a vision for a 'Better Porto'," he emphasised, outlining the portrait of a "value-selective" Porto.
"A competitive, differentiating and increasingly technological economy, which combines identity with modernity, territorial intelligence with business intelligence, the so-called traditional [...]]]> Ritain.io is a Portuguese technology company powered by the Readiness IT Group, which has offices in Oporto and clients around the world. Positioning itself as a Center of Excellence for Automation and Business Agility, Ritain.io offers specialized consulting services on Multi-Cloud, DevSecOps, Quality Assurance & Test Automation and Robotic Process Automation.

In order to extend its offering in cloud services, Ritain.io has partnered with Palo Alto Networks, an American multinational company of reference in security solutions, including cloud-native security. Nuno Sá Couto, Executive Director of Ritain.io, states that:

"Ritain.io is now in a unique position to provide professional services on cloud technology and support our customers to accelerate their journey of adoption of cloud-native services, due to the superior capacity that Palo Alto offers to overcome cloud security challenges.?

Through this partnership, [...]]]> At MIPIM 2022, the largest real estate trade fair in Europe, the participation of the Municipality of Porto will underline the public and private projects that will define the city's landscape over the next years.

In this edition, Porto presents itself as a "Global Business Hub for the 21stCentury" along with 16 private companies, in what will be the biggestrepresentation ever of the city.Fromdifferent areas of activity ? promotion and management of real estate projects,architecture, construction, law firms, fund management, software solutions andmarketing ?, these are the companies that will be present at Porto's stand: AbreuAdvogados, Adriparte, Avenue, Civilria, Geo Investimentos, Finangeste, HA+,Lionesa Business Hub, Mercan Properties, Mota-Engil Real Estate, Nota Urbana,Predibisa, Promiris, Ribemon Partners, Virtual Tour 360, VPM Real Estate.Structural municipal projects for the city will also be promoted, such as therehabilitation of Mercado do Bolhão, [...]]]> Around 60 companies and 500 "job and internship opportunities available to undergraduate and master's degree students" will be present at the School of Economics and Management of the University of Porto (FEP) job fair, which will take place next week.
The event, with free entrance, returns to the face-to-face format on the 8th and 9th of March and expects to count more than 8,000 people, presenting as "the big news" of its 22nd edition the "company-student interaction" during and after the fair.
The initiative is promoted by FEP's consulting company, FJC, since 2001 and the organisation claims that it is "the biggest job fair in Portugal organised by students".
Among the areas covered are management, economics, engineering, information technologies, marketing, communication, auditing, banking, commercial, logistics, human resources and taxation. ]]> The Portuguese technology company Decode generated 1.9 million euros in 2021, tripling the amount recorded in the previous year (580 thousand euros), announced this Wednesday. With the increase in invoicing and the number of employees, which already stands at 70, the company expects to reach three million euros this year and reach 90 employees.
According to the company, the development of solutions and the training of new talents, within the scope of the Solutions area, were the drivers of the growth verified last year - and, for this reason, will continue to be a trend for 2022.
"Decode managed to thrive in one of the most complicated years for the global economy and reverse what was the trend in the labour market," João Reis Fernandes, CEO of Decode, says in a statement, adding that "companies and organisations are aware of the importance of digital transformation in their services to ensure their competitiveness and, as such, we work to ensure that they can meet these challenges."
Olimpo Studios is the most recent investment by Osquared, a brand of the Omer Group Investments, owned by the Israeli Eli Omer, in Porto, which plans the construction of over 100 flats in the Asprela area.
Located in Rua Professor Armando de Castro, next to Estrada da Circunvalação, Olimpo Studios will be set in a 12,000 square metre area, and will have 109 studio flats with 35 square metres and equipped, thinking about students from the various faculties in the area or young professionals from Hospital de São João or IPO do Porto. The condominium will have a central square and gardened areas.
In a press release, the businessman Eli Omer highlights that "this is a project different from all the others, a one-off project in its segment, given the size of the plot, the project and the landscape architecture work carried out by the team from Central de Arquitetos".
He highlights that "the project also had a great engineering challenge, involving intensive excavation work in a solid rock up [...]]]> The Municipality of Porto will be present at MIPIM 2022, which takes place in the French city of Cannes, from 15th to 18th of March. The Municipality will be at stand E.50, on the floor -1 of the Exhibition Hall, a privileged location near the entrance of the main exhibition of the largest real estate fair in Europe, and a transit point for the 17,000 expected visitors. In an area with over 2000m2, MIPIM 2022 will have representatives from 100 countries, 3800 companies, and over 480 speakers.
"We will occupy an area of 66m2, with an innovative and technological environment, prepared with two distinct zones: exhibition and meetings. We believe that we have the best space to present Porto and continue to attract investment to the city, following the strategy that has made it possible to make Porto one of the main tourist destinations and a global business hub," says Ricardo Valente, Porto City Councillor for Finance, Economy and Employment.
Under the theme "Building Sustainable Growth", the QSP Summit returns between the 28th and 30th of June. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Teatro Rivoli.
Fareed Zakaria, CNN journalist, is the keynote speaker of this 15th edition of one of the largest marketing conferences in Europe. Named one of the 10 thinkers of the decade in Foreign Policy's "Top 100 Global Thinkers", Fareed Zakaria comes to the QSP Summit for two moments: on the main stage he will address the most effective ways to stimulate development and build sustainable growth; in a second moment, in the Thinkers Hall, the journalist will reflect on the consequences and evolutionary impact in the post-pandemic world.
The opening ceremony will take place on June 28th, at Teatro Municipal do Porto - Rivoli, and this year will be open to all participants, although with limited capacity. The event remains at Exponor, in Matosinhos, on 29th and 30th June.
More than three thousand participants and over 140 brands are expected [...]]]> NTT Data is committed to creating technology hubs in the country. After the centres in Braga, Castelo Branco and Coimbra, which are already operational, the company announced the creation of two new hubs, this time in the city of Porto. Both follow the flexible, hybrid and dynamic work model adopted by the company, which is based on the trust and commitment of each employee. Throughout the year, the company plans to create ten more technology hubs in the country.
"We plan to create more than a dozen of these Hubs during the current year, preferably in centres of small or medium population density, promoting a strong connection with educational institutions, the business fabric and social entities located there. This way, we gain territorial capillarity and give our contribution to the development of these locations", adds Paulo Silva, partner & head of emerging [...]]]> It is already this Thursday, the 24th, that another edition of Entreprenow takes place, an event at the University of Porto, organised by U.Porto Inovação, and supported, among others, by the Porto City Council, through ScaleUp Porto. It is the largest conference of the Porto academy dedicated to entrepreneurship.
The conference starts at 3pm and will be on the theme "To be or to learn?". The debate will be streamed on a closed platform. Participation is free of charge and those interested can register here.
This edition of Entreprenow aims to involve the entrepreneurial community and the main stakeholders of the national innovation system through a cycle of debates dedicated to five pillars: the role of business, academia, civil society, public power and the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the development of actions that promote entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship.
From [...]]]> fDi Intelligence, a Financial Times publication specializing in foreign investment, has just released the results of the 2022/23 edition of the "European Cities and Regions of the Future" ranking. The City of Porto was highlighted for its investment promotion strategy, winning 3rd place in the category of "Best FDI strategy - Mid-sized Cities".
After placing 5th in the 2020/21 edition of the ranking, Porto rose tothe European podium, coming in 3rd place in the ranking of medium-sized Europeancities with best FDI attraction strategies. Porto is ranked ahead of otherEuropean cities such as Edinburgh, Newcastle and Nottingham, in the UnitedKingdom, or Bilbao, in Spain.This result reflects the priority that Porto City Council has placed onattracting foreign companies and investors, in order to promote job creationand the growth of the local economy. The city's strategy is led by InvestPorto,a municipal division dedicated to promote and facilitate investment projects inPorto. [...]]]> Through a partnership, Sonae Sierra and the Ferreira Group will develop a state-of-the-art office complex in Porto's business area, the company announced this Tuesday in a press release. Resulting from an investment of about 42 million euros, the construction project will feature a "contemporary and flexible architecture, with demanding sustainability requirements".
According to Sonae Sierra, the new office complex will benefit not only from an excellent location, but also from an efficient public transportation network and outdoor green spaces. The space "will provide well-being, comfort and flexibility to its users", it concludes.
"This project fits in Sonae Sierra's strategic purpose of being a key player in the urban reconversion and development of the cities of the future, through the development of sustainable, differentiating and innovative urban projects", states Alexandre Fernandes, Sonae Sierra's director of developments, adding that, in the current context of the [...]]]> In search of digital innovations with social impact, the World Summit Awards 2021 found in "ZoomGuide" one of the best proposals in the area of "Culture & Tourism". The app developed by students from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto was recognised by the initiative with the seal of the United Nations.
What Pedro Carvalho and Afonso Cunha, from the Masters in Engineering and Software FEUP, created was a kind of tourist guide that uses artificial intelligence.
According to Notícias UP, the "ZoomGuide" platform aims to "make the discovery of culture more interactive and accessible, giving users the possibility to access multimedia content available in several languages" and "cities and places the opportunity to interconnect offers and promote culture and tourism".
"The digital platform allows organisations such as museums, monuments, palaces and cities to make their visitors and tourists aware of the stories that these spaces have to tell," adds Afonso Cunha.
More than the reputation of "good hospitality", it is the guest reviews that have placed Porto at the top of the recognition in what concerns good practices in the tourism sector. The city's strategy to qualify its tourism offer has now gained a strong ally, with the international accommodation platform Airbnb joining the Confiança Porto programme.
It was the certainty that the city provides "exceptional stays for guests" (with nine out of ten ratings above four stars), together with the importance that Porto has in its operation, that led Airbnb to want to partner with the municipality and thus help the owners of tourist accommodations to not only improve their services, but also to be recognized for the excellence they offer.
For Ricardo Valente, councillor for Tourism and Commerce, "having the support of Airbnb in the promotion of Confiança [...]]]> Boosting commercial buildings to operate efficiently, keeping spaces comfortable, detecting and notifying anomalies are some of the main objectives of Bandora Systems, a Portuguese startup, more commonly known as a Virtual Facility Manager, which runs the operation and maintenance of service/commercial buildings.
But the Portuguese start-up's functions don't stop there. The truth is that Bandora, rather than wanting cities to become intelligent, wants buildings to become 100% autonomous, i.e. not requiring human intervention to manage them.
This is because, although buildings are increasingly sensorised and manage massive amounts of data and information, the truth is that they still depend on the human hand, which serves as a support in processing this data. In addition, the facility managers themselves, who help in this management, assume the difficulty in operating the so-called smart buildings, and, in this sense, the building's autonomy would be the solution to the problem.
Created in Estonia and recognised as "the largest technological and digital entrepreneurship programme in the world", the European Innovation Academy (EIA) brings together hundreds of university students from all over the world every year for an intensive three-week programme dedicated to innovation and technology.
After five years in Cascais, the EIA is now heading to the north of the country. "The city of Porto has been officially chosen to host the EIA until 2026," announces the University of Porto, in a statement.
The first edition of EIA in Porto will take place next summer, between July 17 and August 5, in the Faculties of Economics and Engineering of the University of Porto, "bringing together more than 500 students from more than 120 international universities, accompanied by 100 mentors and speakers from around the world," says the same institution.
Aiming to boost the creation of new business ideas by university students, now in partnership with the University of Porto, the EIA [...]]]> It is purple and has a capacity of 80 seats. The Natixis Purple Bus parks this Wednesday and Thursday near several university education institutions in Porto to promote 80 internships in information technology and finance that the French group has for young finalists at the office in Porto Business Plaza.
Purple Scan Finalists Edition is looking for students in the areas of IT, Economics, Management, Accounting, Finance, International Relations, Law and Human Resources, "fluent in English and enthusiastic about starting their career path", says the company in a statement.
The Natixis Purple Bus will circulate between the university poles of Asprela and Campo Alegre and the route ends with a late-afternoon networking event at the Natixis offices to showcase the facilities and "experience an informal moment with the teams". The event is free of charge [...]]]> Inventa, a consulting firm specialised in intellectual property and copyright protection, has just opened an office in Porto to support creators of patents and trademarks. "The Northern region is strategic for us, it has one of the highest invention rates in Portugal," and so, "we decided to invest in a personalised service, closer to the client," reveals Tiago Reis Nobre, director of the Lisbon-based company with a presence in Angola, Mozambique, Nigeria, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor and Macau.
Hiring Jorge Machado, a consultant with 20 years of experience in industrial property, made it possible to make the leap to the North, which was already part of the expansion plan. Inventa's growth also "depends on finding talent and we were looking for people with the right profile to represent the company in Porto", explains the company's director and partner. Now with a physical presence in the heart of the region, Inventa is preparing to gain market share with [...]]]> The Plug-In Mentoring for Girls programme will allow young women to receive specialised advice and mentoring from technology professionals, promoting the acceleration of students' development.
"The Plug-In Mentoring for Girls is a unique opportunity for young women who are entering or have already entered Technology, Engineering and Mathematics courses to have a totally personalised accompaniment with other women who can help them on this path. The value proposition of this programme is unique and contributes to encouraging more women to embrace careers in technology areas," says Ana Sousa, VP of People at Farfetch.
"These girls learn what it is like to work in technology areas at FARFETCH and we, as mentors, also learn by listening to new proposals and suggestions and by feeling that we are playing a role in the future of these young women, by advising and serving as a model to stimulate a greater gender diversity in these areas", explained Cláudia Santos, Product Director at Farfetch [...]]]> The Douro Waterway received 279,151 passengers in 2021, a recovery of 23.34% compared to 2020, a year with sharp falls due to Covid-19, according to Administração dos Portos do Douro, Leixões e Viana do Castelo (APDL).
According to data made available on the website by the manager of the Douro Waterway, APDL, and disclosed by Lusa, last year river tourism on the Douro River recorded a recovery of 23% compared to 2020, a year in which this segment suffered a severe hit because of the Covid-19 pandemic and accounted for a drop of 86.24% compared to 2019.
In 2021, 279,151 passengers travelled on the waterway, 160,897 (58%) of which on cruises in the same reservoir and at night, 74,438 on day cruises (27%), 33,307 on hotel boats (12%) and 10,151 (4%) on pleasure boats.
In the year 2020, in which due to the Covid-19 pandemic the boats were stopped between March and June/July, 226,333 passengers travelled on the Douro River, 86.24% less than in 2019, a year in which 1,644,937 tourists [...]]]> EasyJetannounced on Thursday that it will invest in the Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport,with more airplanes, the creation of three new routes and the recovery of twoothers. This investment will boost capacity by 350,000 seats and create 70direct jobs. The airlinewill now have six airplanes parked at the airport, also enabling the opening ofthree new routes: Porto Santo, Madrid and Cologne. The first one (to PortoSanto) will be available from May 1st until the end of October, withtwo weekly frequencies, while the route to Cologne will be operated twice aweek and the connection to Madrid will have five weekly frequencies, throughoutthe year, with both connections being available at the beginning of April. Witha strategy for next summer in mind, the company also announced the reactivationof the routes to Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca.In additionto the 15 airplanes based in Portugal, EasyJet has an additional capacity of 16aircraft not based in Portugal (four of these [...]]]> The OnOffice report prepared by Predibisa looks back to the last three years of the Porto office market and concludes that although in 2019 the area placement was higher, in the last two years, even with the pandemic constraints, the placement volume was very similar in 2020 and 2021.

2021 proved to be a surprising year, recording a very undynamic first quarter, but with a progressive growth with an evolution in demand, placement and expansion of companies, which was reflected in a placed area of 56, 585 sqm at the end of the year. The main players responsible for the highest occupation rates are companies linked to the "Other Services" sector with 28%, followed by "Pharmaceutical and Health" with 23%, "Business Services" with 20% and "TMT's & Utilities" with 14%. The remaining 15% are split between "Financial Services", "Consulting and Legal", "Construction and Real Estate", and "Consumer Products". 

Throughout 2021, the main factor that led organizations to look for [...]]]> HAS - hinterland architecture studio organizes the international conference "BUILD, from high to low tech" to promote new approaches to design and construction that make possible the reduction of the impact on the environment of buildings by applying existing technology. The event will take place in Porto from the 3rd to the 5th of February of 2022.
The construction industry has a significant impact on the environment and without major transformations in design strategies and construction techniques, the planet's environmental ambitions will be compromised. According to the World Green Building Council, buildings and their construction account for 39% of all carbon emissions worldwide.
In order to answer this problem, there are two paths from opposite fields to consider as complementary tools of the same discussion. New manufacturing technologies and artificial intelligence can be accompanied by sustainable construction techniques such as compressed earth, bamboo and organic fibers. The [...]]]> What German Finoa offers is a safe way of storing (custody) cryptocurrencies for institutions. In 2022, technology and product operations will be carried out from the offices the company is about to open in the city of Porto. For this mission, two dozen people will be hired.If the track record continues as it did last year ?in which Finoa grew by more than 340% and reached millions of euros in revenue, assuming a leading position in Europe ? the goal is clear: to increase the global team from the current 75 to 200 employees to support this rapid growth.To Porto., Henrik Gebbing, one of the Chief Executives and founder of Finoa, admitted that the choice of Porto was due to the fact that they see the city as a "crypto hub under development in Europe? and for offering a "very competitive job market?. The partner, Christopher May, confirmed the hiring of "20 people by the end of 2022 in the technology and product areas?.In a statement, Henrik Gebbing adds that "Finoa is opening this office at an important [...]]]> Quistor, a multinational managed services provider and Oracle's partner, entered the Portuguese market by opening an office in Porto.

The company has a strong presence in the European market, providing business customers with technology consulting solutions, as well as software and managed services, "in order to help and accompany the journey of digital transformation of companies", details the company's statement.

The company was founded in the Netherlands in 2005, and today has more than 250 international clients in 12 countries around the world, namely in the Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, France, Czech Republic, and Italy. Portugal now joins this list, which are considered as "strategic markets" for the company.

Javier Prego, Quistor's COO, states that "the opening of this office is part of our growth and expansion strategy", quoted in a press release. The manager also indicates that "this will not be the last announcement we make this year in this [...]]]> SWORD Health has just announced the purchase of the software development unit of the Portuguese startup Bright Technologies.

With this acquisition, the Portuguese unicorn led by Virgílio Bento intends to strengthen its expansion and growth plans by investing in the creation of a team of excellence in engineering and product in the area of Digital Health. This also involves hiring more than 150 professionals, says a statement sent to the newsroom.

SWORD Health recently closed a Series D round of funding worth $189 million, which put its valuation at $2 billion, becoming the Portuguese startup that most quickly reached unicorn status.

With the mission of democratizing access to quality health care to more than 2 billion people suffering from musculoskeletal pathologies worldwide, the Portuguese company stresses in the press release that it wants to accelerate the treatment of these pathologies by developing new digital therapies, from prevention to post-surgery [...]]]> A new edition of the Incentive Program to the Commercial Activity is about to start, this time also associated with the Porto card. The process for merchants to join has been streamlined and the period to sign up runs from February 1 to March 31. The vouchers can start to be discounted by customers from February 14 until April 10.
Three vouchers with a unit value of 5 euros will be distributed to holders of the card Porto. - which includes new subscriptions until February 14 - to be used in participating stores for purchases of 10 euros or more. As the campaign that is now hitting the streets says, the Porto. vouchers are "really worth it".
The measure covers commercial establishments, restaurants, cafeterias, barbershops, hairdressing salons, and physical wellness activities, with an area of up to 250m2 and that have their tax and social security situation in order.
The vouchers can be used cumulatively in a single purchase, as long as the discount ratio of 5 euros is maintained for a [...]]]> On this Tuesday, January 25, the new tenders started for the allocation of 28 spaces that are still vacant in Mercado do Bolhão, divided between 16 stalls inside the market, three restaurants (also inside) and nine stores outside.
Launched by the municipal company GO Porto - Gestão e Obras do Porto, the tenders will take place in two stages. In the first stage, "Application and Qualification", with the submission of the application, the experience of the candidates will be verified and their respective qualification documents will be examined. The deadline is February 14th.
Later, in the "Public Bidding" phase, all candidates that demonstrate the referred experience will be invited to participate in the public auction, as bidders, in order to bid for the spaces in the competition.
The 16 still free stalls correspond to 11 categories: Sugar; Seaweed and Mushrooms; Coffee and Cafeterias; Meat and Poultry; Tea and Coffee; Fruit; Pasta, Seasonings, Spices and Condiments; Eggs and Dairy [...]]]> Portugal is3rd in Quality of Life according to the InterNations? Expat Insider 2021.Portugal was also considered the 5th in the overall index, being the onlyEuropean nation to be ranked in the top 10.Portugal ishome to some of the happiest expats worldwide: 84% are happy with their life ingeneral, compared to a global average of 75%. They enjoy a high quality oflife, ranking Portugal 3rd out of 59 destinations in this index. Expatsparticularly appreciate the local leisure options (87% positive replies vs. 72%globally) and the sunny climate and weather (90% vs. 66% globally). Nearly fourin five (79%) are also happy with their own socializing and leisure activities(vs. 67% globally). A further 96% describe the country as peaceful (vs. 80%globally), and 97% feel safe there (vs. 84% globally). "It?s a safe andpeaceful place,? a British expat confirms. "It?s very beautiful with greatfood, music, culture, and scenery.?WhilePortugal narrowly misses out on a top 10 spot in [...]]]> The firstdebate of the fourth edition of Entreprenow, the largest entrepreneurship eventorganized by the University of Porto, will take place this Tuesday. The debate,to be held at 5 pm, at the Porto Innovation Hub, will be about the theme:"Is the Power Public?". The event aims to promote discussion aboutthe determining role of public power in current entrepreneurial behavior.The eventwill count on the participation of Filipe Araújo, vice-president of Porto CityHall, Rui Monteiro, director of the Regional Development Services of the NorthRegional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N), and Joana Mendonça,president of the National Innovation Agency. It will be moderated by Ana RitaBastos, a journalist from Porto Canal.Thisedition of Entreprenow, which is supported by the Porto City Hall, throughScaleUp Porto., aims to involve the entrepreneurial community and the main stakeholdersof the innovation system through a cycle of debates dedicated to five [...]]]> ENERCON,a German wind turbine manufacturer, announced it will expand its presence inPortugal by opening a Shared Service Centre in Porto.With anexpected team of 130, the main areas will be Finance, Wind Farm Engineering,Research & Development, Global Procurement, IT, Logistics, ProjectManagement, Sales and After-Sales.Keeping itscommitment to a quality workforce in Portugal, ENERCON will expand its presencein the country by opening an office in the city of Oporto - ENERCON BusinessShared Service Center.Reputablemarket leader, with 52 % of wind power installed in Portugal, ENERCON, a Germanwind turbine manufacturer, already employs around 1,500 people at itsfacilities in the Praia Norte and Lanheses Business Park, in the district ofViana do Castelo, and at various Service Stations throughout the country forthe maintenance and support of various wind farms, has now added this newoffice in Oporto to its structure. Located in the Porto Office Park - [...]]]> The Municipality and the University of Porto advancewith different projects for three new university residences, which will provideto the city 270 more beds for students. The first, in the historic center, willbe operating in the next academic year.A new residence for students will be built in therenovated facilities of the old Sé Social Center, on Rua da Bainharia. Thespace, lent and renovated by the City Council, will provide about 20 beds tostudents in the city already at the beginning of the next school year.The agreement is now closed and comes under a pilotproject of shared management of student residences established between theMunicipality, the Academic Federation of Porto and the University of Porto.Municipality and University of Porto evaluate a jointapplication to the RRP for financing the residencesJoint applications between the Municipality and theUniversity of Porto to the Resilience and Recovery Plan (RRP) are also beingstudied, which may [...]]]> Theallocation of a total of 28 vacant spaces in the restored Mercado do Bolhãowill be put up for tender from January 25.The spacesto be occupied are divided between 16 stalls inside the market, threerestaurants (also inside) and nine stores outside.The 16still free stalls correspond to 11 categories: Sugar; Seaweed and Mushrooms;Coffee and Cafeterias; Meat and Poultry; Tea and Coffee; Fruit; Pasta,Seasonings, Spices and Condiments; Eggs and Dairy Products; Fresh Fish andSeafood; Natural and Dietary Products; Vegetables, Roots and Plants and Grainsand Pulses. The base value per square meter is 16 euros.There arealso three restaurants to be assigned per contest: one in the Raw category,another in the Vegetarian category, and a third in the Tapas and Snackscategory. The restaurants have a base value per square meter of 12 euros, withminimum base bid values between 1030.80 and 2512.80 euros.The ninestores outside the market are part of the "Free" food category, [...]]]> After three years of growth, the digital fabrication laboratory VIVA Lab will reopen on January 22nd in a new space, in the center of Boavista, with 500 sqm. It will make available to the community tools such as 3D Printing, CNC, Laser Cutting, or Precious Plastic.
"It is with great joy and excitement that we announce the opening of the new VIVA Lab. We want to extend an invitation to the entire local community to visit the new space so that we can collaborate and help create impact locally and internationally", said VIVA Lab's co-founder, João Leão, quoted in a statement from the institution.
Defining itself as a "laboratory for turning ideas into reality that seeks to support companies, educational institutions, entrepreneurs and communities", VIVA Lab makes digital fabrication facilities available to "prototype, fabricate and test ideas in the real world through research, education and design projects".
Part of the worldwide network of Fab Labs that aims to democratize access to [...]]]> Despite notbeing fully completed yet, it already meets the necessary conditions to attractexcellent companies. The old Central Shopping, between Rua de Santos Pousadaand Avenida de Fernão de Magalhães, is moving at a good pace to take on the newidentity of Porto Business Plaza, the new business center in Bonfim, which willemploy 3,500 people.Builtduring the flourishing era of shopping centers in the '90s, the CentralShopping is now following the future and attracting companies in thetechnological area. After Natixis and Feedzai, Bouygues Telecom Services has inauguratedits offices.From Areosato Bonfim, the company of the French telecommunication group Bouygues Telecomoccupies now one of the floors of Porto Business Plaza, with the capacity toreceive more than 500 employees, in addition to the current 375. Therecruitment process has been ongoing.The Frenchinvestment bank Natixis has had its A team of researchers from the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S) of the University of Porto found a way to stop the progression of pancreatic cancer in the communication between cells. The discovery has already been published in one of the most important gastroenterology and hepatology medical journals.
According to the statement quoted by Lusa news agency, what the researchers realized was that "in pancreatic tumors, cancer stem cells communicate with tumor cells, giving them orders for the tumor to grow and resist chemotherapy".
Although fewer in number, "it is the stem cells that communicate the most with the other cells. They are, in fact, the ones that command and transmit the directives for the tumor to survive", adds the team.
What the i3S researchers did was to focus on this communication, made through the secretion of extracellular vesicles. They found that, inside the extracellular vesicles, there is a protein, Agrin, that, "when sent to other cells, pushes [...]]]> Assumingits strong commitment to the Multidisciplinary Training Program (Programa deFormação Multidisciplinar), the University of Porto will invest, over the nextfour and a half years, more than 16 million euros to attract new students. Thefund, made available through the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), will allowthe launch of more than 150 new courses and training for adults, as well asfive degrees in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts andMathematics (STEAM). Accordingto the University of Porto, this initiative is part of "the effort tomodernize higher education and (re)qualify the Portuguese population" andaims to attract more than 9,500 new students through training opportunities,the strengthening of incentives and intervention in physical and technologicalinfrastructure. Theproject, which started in early 2022, is part of the "Impulso JovensSTEAM" and "Impulso Adultos" programs. It is, in fact, thelatter that takes most of the [...]]]> Fibersail, a startup installed at UPTEC - Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, received funding of 1.6 million euros from the European Union to increase the potential of the technology it develops and helps monitor the efficiency of wind turbine blades.
Wind turbines are already part of the landscape, and there is a startup installed at UPTEC helping to make them more efficient. Fibersail, founded in 2014, works on monitoring the condition of critical structures, such as wind turbines.
The company has developed a system that measures the shape of structures remotely and in real-time, while also processing information about the atmospheric environment. This provides greater insight into the actual condition and behaviour of wind blades, thus enabling greater efficiency, failure prevention, and reduced maintenance costs.
The funding of 1.6 million euros, obtained under Portugal 2020, through the European Regional [...]]]> 217 gamers are already part of the strategy of Fabamaq, the software company for casino games that exports to Spain, Ireland, the Philippines, Mexico, Uruguay or Paraguay from its offices in Campo Alegre. In 2022, the technological company from Porto expects to increase its team with 35 more people, with some positions already open.
Some of the positions will be to work with the new technology (Godot), but also in new projects - for physical and digital casinos - that are expected for next year. However, Fabamaq is looking for people for project management, certification, data management, and different software development teams.
This year, the company's employees gained the jackpot, sharing a performance bonus of 500,000 euros among themselves. Fabamaq's operations director does not doubt that "it is very positive to close the year this way, with another gesture of recognition of the work done by our Gamers".
In a press release, João Maia says that "we hope that the awarding of [...]]]> The architecture studio SUMMARY is among the 20 best offices in the world, according to the ArchDaily platform. It is another distinction of the company already incubated by UPTEC-Parque of Science and Technology of the University of Porto, that also saw its founder integrate the list "Europe 40 under 40", which selects the 40 most promising emerging architects and designers in Europe.
In the "Best Practices of 2021" list, prepared by 16 experts, the international website highlights the Porto company for the "balance between pragmatism and experimentalism" of its work.
According to UPTEC, Archdaily points out that "the need for change, combined with the rapid digitalization of the industry, has put architecture on the verge of a major revolution", and that the winners "are the catalysts of that change?.
SUMMARY, as the University of Porto?s centre shares, "operates in the fields of architecture and urbanism, with a special focus on developing architectural solutions through [...]]]> In its 9th edition, Doing Business turned its focus to the Tourism area. The event promoted by the Porto City Council through the ScaleUp Porto strategy gave once again the opportunity for start-up companies to present their innovation and technology solutions to major industry professionals.
In all, 95 meetings took place to explore collaboration opportunities, promote innovation and stimulate the capacity for joint growth in an area that everyone agrees to be promising in Porto in terms of innovation, investment, and return.
23 large companies with business in the Tourism area were present, among them ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, the Pestana Group, Sonae Capital, STCP, Transdev, the Super Bock Group, Symington, and Aveleda. All of them have shown interest and capacity to invest in technological solutions and are currently searching for the best technological partners to solve specific needs and challenges of their line of business.
This edition of Doing Business had the partnership of [...]]]> The consulting firm Deloitte recently launched the publication "Urban Future with a Purpose", which outlines 12 trends that will mark the future of cities in 2030. The study underlines the commitment of the Porto City Hall to the improvement of the urban life of its citizens.

12 trends will mark the future of cities in 2030, according to consulting firm Deloitte, and Porto stands out for its work in areas such as Mobility, Environment, Government, and Security. In the recently published study "Urban Future with a Purpose", the city's stimulus to innovation and creativity is praised.

Green planning of public spaces; Smart Health communities; "15-minute? Cities; Mobility: smart, sustainable, and "as-a-service"; Inclusive planning and public services; Digital innovation ecosystems; Circular economy and local production; Smart and sustainable buildings and infrastructure; Mass participation; AI applied to city operations; Cybersecurity and privacy awareness; AI applied to [...]]]> The latest investment received by Infraspeak, a specialist in infrastructure and maintenance management software amounts to ten million euros. The financing will allow the start-up founded in Porto to reinforce its presence in Europe and increase its team.This recent Series A investment round (which takes place at a time when start-ups have already developed the product, a client base and a steady stream of revenue) was accompanied by the opening of the new headquarters in the city, a recently refurbished space in Bonfim, to keep up with the company?s growth with regard - also ? to workplaces.Currently with 110 employees, and offices spread across Barcelona, London, and Florianopolis, Infraspeak intends to double its team, next year, while preparing to enter the German, Austrian, Swiss and French markets.For the vice-mayor of Porto, Filipe Araújo, who attended the inauguration of the new offices, the company is "a true example of the importance of investing in the promotion of technological [...]]]> Two proposals were approved unanimously at the private meeting of the Executive held on Monday, aimed at encouraging economic and commercial activity in the city, designed in the context of the pandemic, and which impact exceeds 1.1 million euros. The measures were designed to have an effect on the side of consumers, with discounts on purchases in local street shops, and also on traders, with the approval of exemptions from municipal taxes.

The support for economic, business, and commercial activity is materialized in the extension of the exemption from municipal taxes for the establishments and agents of the city's economic fabric, extending the The extension of the exemption from municipal taxes for establishments and agents of the economic fabric of the city, currently in force until the end of the year, will be voted at next Monday's City Council meeting.
The document signed by Porto's City Councillor of Commerce, Ricardo Valente, proposes the extension of the exemptions in force for an additional period of six months, between January 1 and June 30, 2022, and intends to relieve the commercial sector of the payment of municipal fees for occupation in fairs and markets, as well as the total exemption of the rents owed by traders who are tenants of municipal buildings, as well as of spaces intended for storage.
Recalling that the pandemic has caused "high social and economic constraints, primarily for the protection of public health [...]]]> Another step towards the completion of the future Campanhã Intermodal Terminal (TIC) is taken this Wednesday, December 15. The municipal company GO Porto is starting the construction of the North Pedestrian Underpass, which will connect the new building to train, metro, taxi and other services.

The walkway will consist of an atrium, west access to the lines and the Metro, main circulation, access corridors to platforms and technical areas, presenting a "simple and functional public space" programmatic content.

According to GO Porto, it aims to allow "the interconnection between the new building of the Campanhã Intermodal Terminal, the regional, intercity, international and IP/CP suburban train services, light rail services, complemented by STCP urban transport services, cab services, kiss & ride services and car and bicycle parking services or spaces".

The intervention, under the responsibility of "Construções Pardais - Irmãos Monteiros, Lda", will take about eight [...]]]> The crypto active custodian company has raised $350 million on the market in a Series D round led by US fund KKR. Diogo Mónica, co-founder and president of the San Francisco-based company, says he wants to continue investing in national talent
Anchorage announced Wednesday that it has raised 350 million dollars (about 309 million euros) in a Series D funding round, an investment that values the cryptocurrency custodian co-founded by the Portuguese Diogo Mónica at $3 billion (2.7 billion euros).

In a statement, Anchorage said it is the first "unicorn" (companies valued at over a billion dollars) in the crypto active area with Portuguese DNA.

The round was led by private equity fund KKR - currently in the process of buying Telecom Italia, and a possible future buyer of Altice's Portuguese operation, Meo - and included US funds Andreessen Horowitz, Wellington Management and Apollo, and investment bank Goldman Sachs.

Other investors include funds and accounts [...]]]> Sold to an association that represents Google, Meta, Microsoft, Spotify or Sony, the technology created at INESC TEC promises to "revolutionize" smartwatches and disrupt the electronic industry.

Called C4MiR - Control module for multiple mixed-signal resources management, it promises to make smartwatches and smart bands faster and more reliable and is the first technology developed by the Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC) to have a patent commercialized at an international level.

ECO was told by the head of the licensing support service of this research institute linked to the University of Porto that the buyer was the Allied Security Trust (AST), based in the USA, which must now assign the rights of use to its associates, among which are some of the largest technology companies in the world, such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, Spotify, Phillips or Sony.

Without confirming the amounts involved in this operation, claiming to [...]]]> The centre of excellence of the global financial company will have new teams next year, namely in management, regulatory and credit risk.

The second-largest innovation centre of the French bank Natixis is located in Porto and has reached, even before the end of the year, the goal of having 1,500 workers in Portugal, mostly technological talent, from 20 nationalities. Those who enter this excellence hub soon feel like they are in a Silicon Valley-style multinational, full of colour, post-its, rooms with table tennis courts and PlayStation, scooters parked in the cubicles or community vegetable gardens. It is the possible answer to the war for human resources, which not only insists on not disappearing but is becoming more acute with the increased competition in the sector and the digitalization of society.

"There is a fierce fight for Portuguese talent. We go to the universities because we need new graduates, but clearly, there is competition. So, we also go outside, to Brazil, [...]]]> PortoBusiness School has been for ten consecutive years among the best Europeanbusiness schools, according to the Financial Times. The 2021 ranking saw an increaseof 13 positions of the Porto institution, being the fifth that rose most amongthe 95 schools considered.Currently,Porto Business School occupies the 66th position and this is due to theinstitution's results in the Executive Education category, with the 31st placein custom executive education and the 42nd in open training, the 42nd positionof The International MBA and the 62nd position of the Executive MBA.For PortoBusiness School "these results reflect the continuous evolution andgrowing adaptation to the demands of an increasingly disruptive world, based ondigital transformation and sustainable growth", says in a statement.In thewords of the Director of Porto Business School, "we could not be moremotivated to continue to present innovative solutions within our training offer?."In a volatile and [...]]]> The German group ENERCON announced this Thursday the creation of 150 jobs through a new investment in Porto. The wind energy giant, which has factories in two business parks in Viana do Castelo, is preparing to open a "Business Shared Service Center" in 2022 in the Porto Office Park - POP building in Boavista.

According to a statement released by ENERCON, this is a reinforcement of the group's presence in Portugal, to "diversify its locations and get closer to a more varied labor market, also betting on greater proximity to its main customers, partnerships with University Campuses and various entities linked to the development of projects in the area of Wind Energy?.

For now, the company is recruiting "to form a team of about 130 people, mostly in the areas of Finance, Wind Farm Engineering, Research & Development, Global Procurement, IT, Logistics, Project Management, Sales and After-Sales". The operation "began in the summer of this year and will continue through the [...]]]> The Portuguese intelligent facility management platform plans to "significantly strengthen the team by the end of 2022" and expand to Germany, Austria, Switzerland (DACH) and France.Infraspeak raised ten million euros to "consolidate its leadership in the European market", in a Series A investment round led by Indico Capital and Knight Capital, from the Netherlands, also counting with the participation of the current investors Innovation Nest and Caixa Capital. The intelligent facility management platform plans to "significantly strengthen the team by the end of 2022" and expand into Germany, Austria, Switzerland (DACH) and France."The future of facility management software is about flexibility, intelligence, and integration, to allow each team to adapt the software to its operations and enable the capacity to proactively transform the thousands of data collected each day into actions for both management and technical teams. This integration allows people, processes, sensors and software to communicate [...]]]> The German group signs this Tuesday a partnership protocol with the University of Porto for the development of the Theia project, within the scope of intelligent mobility, in a ceremony that will be attended by António Costa.

The new joint innovation project of Bosch and the University of Porto (U. Porto), within the scope of intelligent mobility, is called Theia - Automated Perception Driving, represents an investment of 28 million euros and predicts the creation of 55 new jobs in the German group in Portugal and the involvement of more than 70 researchers of the university. "Theia aims to develop solutions to improve the sensory capabilities of autonomous vehicles, through perception algorithms based on data collected by their sensors", reveals the University of Porto in a statement.

The choice of this university for the development of new solutions for the technology used in autonomous cars "puts Portugal on the map of major innovations in terms of intelligent mobility and the [...]]]> Porto's office market continues to grow and, according to figures presented by Predibisa, there are 95,000 m² in the construction pipeline, of which 23,500 m² are already occupied.

"The city and the region have passed the pandemic test. We continue to attract investment and talent", said Ricardo Valente, Porto City Councillor of Finance, Economy and Employment and City Councillor of Tourism and Commerce, who spoke on the afternoon of November 25th, during Porto?s Urban Rehabilitation Week.

According to Graça Cunha, Offices & Retail, Associate Director of Predibisa and Isabel Rocha, Offices & Industry, Senior Consultant of Predibisa, in Greater Porto there are 95,000 m² of offices in the construction pipeline, of which 23,500 m² are already occupied. These are workspaces prepared to meet a growing and challenging demand, which wants more sustainable buildings, with more mobility facilities and better infrastructures. Spaces with high standards of comfort that compete at [...]]]> The Sustainable Development Report for the year 2020 (available here) presented today analyzes the economic, environmental, and social performance of the Municipality, which has been reporting its sustainability performance, in line with international best practices and benchmarks. This is the fourth consecutive report prepared by the Municipality, which main objectives were to compile and process sustainability information in the municipal ecosystem, composed of its Organic Units and Municipal Companies; to involve stakeholders more actively; and to co-create an identity to communicate sustainability in the Municipality: Porto Futuro. 
In a year strongly marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, facing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the [...]]]> The insurance company has signed an agreement with the Belgian groups Promiris and Cetim for the construction of this student residence in Asprela, 500 meters from the university campus, and expects to start the work this year.

The Belgian group Promiris, which has in its portfolio investments in Portugal worth around 200 million euros, acquired last year a plot of land in Asprela, near the University of Porto campus, to build a student residence, in partnership with the also Belgian Cetim, which held a minority stake in the developer company.

Like the other two student residences that Promiris is developing in Porto and Lisbon, the one in Asprela, which will have 265 rooms with a gross construction area of 7,700 square meters, will be managed by the Odalys group, "leader in France in the segment of university residences?.

December 2, 2021: the Ageas Portugal group announces that it has signed with Promiris and Cetim "an agreement for the construction and acquisition of [...]]]> Jumia operates in the African market, but one of the company's main development center is in Porto and already has 350 employees. The technology company wants to hire 100 more.

Jumia is hiring 100 new employees to work in its technological development center in the city of Porto. The company manages an e-commerce platform that operates in Africa and the support to this operation is made from Portugal.

The Tech Center in Porto was Jumia's first and, according to the company, it is one of the most important in a network that has other centers in Africa. There are 350 employees in Porto and the team will now be reinforced with software engineers, product managers and cybersecurity engineers.

Jumia runs a marketplace that connects consumers and retailers. It also has a logistics platform that ensures the delivery of millions of orders and a payment service - JumiaPay - that facilitates financial transactions in its ecosystem.

The company was Africa's [...]]]> Underway or about to start, there are a large number of projects that are already transforming the city of Porto, in an unprecedented wave of public and private investment.

With an eye on the future and focusing on continuing the regeneration of the city, the new Municipal Master Plan (PDM, Plano Diretor Municipal) of Porto advocates a large set of structuring projects, some of them already underway while others are scheduled to start soon. They intend not only to leverage private investment but also to enhance the attractiveness of the city.

To present the strategic lines of the new Municipality Master Plan, Pedro Baganha, Porto City Councillor for Urbanism was invited to the Urban Rehabilitation Week, noting that this is "a city in development?. 

Starting with the city center, Pedro Baganha highlighted the rehabilitation of the Bolhão Market, which is "a few months away from the opening". Without forgetting the role of the private sector, he also mentioned the [...]]]> This amount corresponds to 286 transactions of property acquisition registered in the Downtown and Historical Center of the city, which represented an increase of 40% when compared to the 204 operations registered in the previous semester.

The urban rehabilitation areas in the city of Porto, namely the Downtown and Historical Center, registered investments of 86 million euros, which represented an increase of 14%, when compared to the previous semester, according to data disclosed by Confidencial Imobiliário this Thursday, November 25th.

This value corresponded to 286 property acquisition transactions registered in the Downtown and Historical Center of the city, equivalent to a 40% growth, when compared to the 204 operations registered in the previous semester, while at the same time investment also grew 40% in the number of properties and 20% in value.

These two urban rehabilitation areas recorded in the second half of 2020 a 38% share of the amount of investment [...]]]> Sítio, a company of Himo Group specialized in coworking space management, has developed a new product, Hybrid Office, which allows companies to choose the office where they want to work within its network in Lisbon and Porto.

Presenting it as a "new product adjusted to the needs of companies that opt for a permanent hybrid office model", Hybrid Office "responds to the demand for solutions to use their own office, offering competitive conditions both in terms of costs related to the rental of space and the number of days to be contracted".

Thus, the new Sítio network?s product allows companies to choose the office they want to use within its 13 locations in Lisbon and three in Porto, as well as the number of days per week they wish to occupy it and which days of the week they wish to do so, on an exclusive basis.

According to Miguel Ricardo, General Manager of Sítio network, "new products such as the Hybrid Office aim to meet the demand from companies for solutions that [...]]]> The 2021 edition of the prestigious "Business School Ranking" places the two Business Schools of the University of Porto in a restricted group of business schools distinguished with "4 Palmes of Excellence".

The School of Economics and Management of the University of Porto (FEP) and Porto Business School were classified with "4 Palmes of Excellence" in the latest edition of the prestigious Business School Ranking, an initiative of Eduniversal agency that annually recognizes the 1000 best business schools worldwide.

The two University of Porto schools join the restricted group of 200 business schools from around the world that stand out for their relevant international influence.

Notoriety criteria were considered for this award, such as international accreditations, positioning in international rankings, as well as affiliations and partnerships.

It should be recalled that it was in 2019 that FEP and Porto Business School were The company led by Virgílio Bento obtained 189 million dollars (167.5 million euros) in a Series D funding and is now valued at two billion dollars. The company will hire 300 people in the next few months.

SWORD Health is the latest company with Portuguese DNA to achieve unicorn status. The company that developed a digital physical therapy system is now valued at over a billion dollars after closing a Series D investment round of 189 million dollars (167.5 million euros). The transaction was announced on Monday.

The capital injection was led by venture capital firm Sapphire Ventures and also counted with the entry of new entities such as Sozo Ventures, Willoughby Capital, ADQ and LocalGlobe. Older investors such as General Catalyst, Khosla Ventures, Founders Fund, Bond, Transformation Capital and Green Innovations were also part of the operation.

This was SWORD Health's third investment round in 2021: in June, it had raised A new tender is underway for lease promissory contracts, under the program Porto com Sentido, which aims to select 200 homes still in design, under construction or rehabilitation.

This initiative of Porto Vivo, SRU seeks to expand the supply in the affordable rental market and fits in the "build to rent" mode, in which the municipal company is betting.

The properties to be contracted, with one, two or three bedrooms and maximum proposed rents of 480 euros, 780 euros and 950 euros, respectively, will be rented for subsequent sublease under the affordable rental system. This step will take place from the moment the promissory lease contract is signed, which will happen when the works to be carried out in the properties are completed and the respective use permit has been issued.

The [...]]]> The growing number of new companies and offices in the city of Porto and in the Greater Porto region allowed the placement of 33,766 m² by the closure of the third quarter, in a total of 39 registered operations.

According to the OnOffice Market Report of the northern consultancy firm Predibisa, the growing number of new companies and offices in the city of Porto and the Greater Porto region allowed the closure of the third quarter with a total of 33,766 m² placed, in a total of 39 registered operations, with the dynamics of the last three months having a great impact on the volume of absorbed area (61% of the total area). The reality observed in August and September (the best months of the year in terms of area absorption so far) predicts an equally dynamic last quarter, even though the total accumulated is lower when compared to 2020, more specifically by 13%.

Regarding the areas with more demand, the trends remain in line with the last periods of analysis, with the city of [...]]]> Technology developed by Körber in Portugal allows intelligent inspection of vaccine vials and more efficient transportation.
March 23, 2020. While Portugal was at the beginning of its first confinement, the industrial group Körber had just registered its company in Porto for the technological field. The German group has an office in the Heroísmo area and will employ 150 people by the end of this year. 15 million euros have already been invested in the last 18 months.
In 2022, the team will double but most of the recruits will be working remotely. Paula Gomes da Costa, a professional with nearly three decades of experience in the technological area, is leading the Portuguese operations.
"We had to reinvent all the recruitment procedures", recalls the manager. Uncertainty was the main fear when hiring: "All the people we approached didn't know what was going to happen in a company that was just beginning. The name Körber didn't mean anything?.

Nevertheless, workers began [...]]]> The initiative of networking, professional marketing and recruitment will take place in a hybrid format (face-to-face and online).

The 14th edition of Speed Recruitment, to be held this Thursday, November 25, from 9 am to 6 pm, puts once again companies and job seekers face to face.

The initiative promoted by Porto City Hall, through the project Cidade das Profissões, will combine the face-to-face and online dimensions, in an already known format: job seekers have the opportunity to introduce themselves to national reference companies, but also to submit applications to the available ads.

The presential part of Speed Recruitment consists of a meeting between companies and job seekers, in five-minute interviews taking place at Alfândega Congress Center.

Through an online platform, job seekers will also have the possibility to visit the virtual stand of more than 25 [...]]]> From Tuesday to Thursday, November 23 to 25, conferences, workshops and seminars fill the program of the 9th Urban Rehabilitation Week, promoted by Vida Económica, with the support of the Porto City Council. The return to the face-to-face format will have as the main themes multifamily housing for rent ("built to rent") and projects such as the Campanhã Intermodal Terminal or the Matadouro [slaughterhouse] and debuts at the Alfândega do Porto Congress Center.

The initiative proposes to bring to the debate "the structuring themes of urban rehabilitation and regeneration, with a special look at the reality of the city of Porto", with the main associations of the real estate and construction sector, professional associations, and academia, within more than a hundred invited speakers.

The 2021 edition focuses on topics such as multifamily housing for rent ("built to rent"), affordable housing, senior living, or the dynamics of the office market in Porto. "Major mobilizing projects" [...]]]> Long gone are the days when people used to queue up to use the escalators in the former Brasília Shopping Center. The high concentration of stores in a single space was the greatest modernity the city was witnessing in 1976. There was no other in the Iberian Peninsula. It is to rescue this attractiveness that Brasília - now simply Brasília, with no anglicism - is getting ready for a deep remodelling and a new life beginning in 2022.

Everyone can get to know the project, which was designed by architect João Ferros, even before construction begins. Everything is in pictures, displayed on the second floor. With an investment of around 500 thousand euros, the major transformation will be made in the total remodelling of the common spaces, from the floor to the ceiling.

Part of the past, the metallic stairs in the center of the space will give way to a plaza [...]]]> Startup Portugal study shows that nearly 1 in 5 Portuguese startups are in Porto. The results are promising for the North region and particularly for the city of Porto.
Three years after being classified by Atomico as thethird fastest-growing tech hub in Europe, the city of Porto masters again ininnovation and entrepreneurship.The study "Startup& Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Report Portugal 2021",developed by IDC for Startup Portugal, presents Porto as the main hub forentrepreneurship in Portugal. The results presented by Startup Portugal at theWeb Summit show that Porto concentrates 19% of Portuguese startups and scaleups,leading the national ranking of entrepreneurship ecosystems.In the European panorama, Porto also stands out with anumber of startups per capita 20% higher than the European average. In turn,the North region proved to be the most entrepreneurial region in the [...]]]> On December 2, 2021, from 3 pm to 5:30 pm at the Porto Innovation Hub the Ireland Portugal Business Network (IPBN) is organizing its first-ever conference in Porto, with the aim to support the growing number of both Irish and Portuguese companies in this region and beyond. The IPBN?s ever-growing membership of business professionals is keen to use this event as a springboard to grow their companies? offerings and expand their reach.

The Ireland Portugal Business Network (IPBN) has been promoting economic activity and business opportunities between Ireland and Portugal since 2016, thanks in part to its continued support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland. With close ties to both the Irish and Portuguese State Agencies responsible for exporters, Enterprise Ireland, and You?re invited to Kantar Talks ? the first Kantar?s evening of networking and socialising for professionals.

SAVE THE DATE - Terça, 23 Novembro 2021, 18h00
Location: InterContinental Porto - Palácio das Cardosas

Enjoy drinks and canapes at this informal event for innovation and design thinkers, technologists, collaborators and specialists in HR and Finance.

Hear from Kantar?s Chief Technology Officer, Alex Cesar, about her approach to transformation throughout her career, and why she believes innovation culture is critical to business success.

"At Kantar, transformation is underway. We are reshaping the company to become the world?s leading evidence- and technology-based growth consultancy. We provide research, insights and actionable advice on consumer behaviours to help marketing and businesses leaders make better business decisions.?

Global Luxury Landscape 2021 report, by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, highlights Porto?s downtown as a highly sought after area of ??growing interest for real estate investment.

In a document that analyses the main trends in the real estate sector in 2021, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, a real estate network led by the billionaire Warren Buffett, places Porto in the list of destinations to consider. The publication mentions several Invicta?s attractions.
"There?s a ?huge? demand for real estate in the northern area of the dynamic downtown and in the neighbouring area of Cedofeita?, says Andres Jennings, connected to the Portuguese branch of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.
Emphasizing that the aforementioned area is home to the Paços do Concelho building, the Global Luxury Landscape 2021 report adds that downtown Porto has a variety of bars, restaurants and art galleries. "The historic and soon to be refurbished Mercado do Bolhão, as well as the palaces and mansions built by [...]]]> Responsible for the entire cybersecurity area of Europe's largest exchange platform, Euronext's technology center in Porto wants to continue its upward growth and, for this, will hire "a few dozen more workers?. The information was shared by the president of Euronext Lisbon, at the presentation of the group's strategic plan until 2024, in Milan, and corroborated by the group's CEO, Stéphane Boujnah.

"The place where we have created more jobs is in Porto. Portugal's main contribution to Euronext has been the quality of the technology center, of the Portuguese engineers. That has made a real difference. And it is to continue", says Stéphane Boujnah, in an interview with Negócios.
The Euronext director underlines that "year after year we have increased the number of people in the operations center and increased the strategic relevance and autonomy of Porto?s teams", a strategy that will be maintained.
According to the president of Euronext Lisbon, the [...]]]> With the northern region accounting for about 40% of the support granted under the Cohesion Policy, the municipality has been having a proactive behavior in the preparation of projects prone to receive funding. The execution rate is higher than the national average.

The municipalities of the Northern region captured about 40% of Portugal 2020 funds, and one-sixth of the 1400 million euros approved until June were absorbed by the municipalities of Porto, Matosinhos, Braga and Vila Nova de Gaia.
These, which are the most populous municipalities in the region, are also the ones that can be associated with almost one-sixth of the allocated support. Porto led the way, with the capture of 64 million euros in the period under review, according to the publication "Norte UE Dinâmicas dos Fundos Estruturais na Região do Norte?, launched on Thursday by the Commission for Coordination and Regional Development of the North (CCDR-N) and cited by Lusa agency.
On the sidelines of the tribute to [...]]]> "Bee Kind" was developed thinking of companies that feel the need to involve their professionals in a solidarity action, after a phase of prolonged physical distancing.

The academy of Bee Engineering created a video game capable of involving companies and employees in solidary objectives. Thanks to "Bee Kind", packages of feed, deworming products and toys were already delivered to the animals of União Zoófila, the entity that hosts Empada, the protégé dog of the technology company. The game is customizable, depending on the playing company and the association being helped.
"Organizations should set an example in education and awareness, encouraging good practices and appropriate behavior. Social responsibility is one of these examples, however, they often put into practice measures of great impact, but without the involvement of their employees. The goal of 'Bee Kind' is precisely to help any company to achieve the involvement of all its professionals in business [...]]]> Sonae's technology investment arm co-led the fifth round of funding (Series D) of this pioneering company in the market of simulations of cyber-attacks and data leaks, representing "the largest investment made in a solution in this space".

In September 2014, in Tel Aviv, Guy Bejerano, who was director of security, and Itzik Kotler, "hacker" of Israel Defense Forces, founded SafeBreach, a pioneering BAS - "Breach and Attack Simulation" (cyber-attack simulation) company, which in the very next July was able to raise four million dollars (3.5 million euros) from investors in the first round of funding.
Half a dozen years later, Sonae IM led, together with Israel Growth Partners (IGP), the fifth round of funding (Series D) of the company, worth 53.5 million dollars (46.2 million euros), in what is "the largest investment made in a solution in this space", guarantees the technological investment arm of Sonae, in a statement.
A round that more than doubles the investment made in [...]]]> Assuming a "provocative character", Career Summit returns this year to the face-to-face format. On November 11 and 12, Casa da Música will host the initiative that, every year, aims to raise "guided reflection on the issues of career management in the future and the evolution of the labor market.

Promoted by the City of Porto, through the project Cidade das Profissões [City of Professions], the Career Summit takes on the challenges of analyzing and discussing the strategies of the current labor market, reflecting on the skills of the future and the evolution of the labor market, exploring the future of career management/people management in companies, and to share best practices and update knowledge.
In two days of debate, the reflection has the participation of professionals from ISCAP - Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto, Deloitte Portugal, Efacec, Coverflex, Sonae MC, Critical TechWorks, El Corte Inglès, PWC or the International Labour Organization, among [...]]]> Smartex won the Web Summit start-ups contest. The company did not win the public's choice but ended up gathering the preference of the jury of experts.

Smartex, a company based at the Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto (UPTEC), won the competition for entrepreneurship and innovative businesses of Web Summit. The announcement was made this Thursday afternoon on the main stage of the Web Summit, in Lisbon. Porto´s company distinguished itself from the other finalists with a device that eliminates fabric waste in textile factories.
If it were up to the public's choice, the victory would have been handed to Okra Solar, a company that came from Cambodia and collected 46% of the votes of the public present at the technology show that is taking place in Lisbon. Smartex got 42% of the votes, while Lisa, a German company that developed a tool that streamlines e-commerce, got 13% of the votes.
Hanna Henig, Information Director at Siemens, delivered the award [...]]]> On November 25, the Cidade das Profissões [City of Professions] will carry out the 14th edition of Speed Recruitment, a recruitment and networking initiative that puts job seekers and national reference companies face to face.

In 2021, this initiative will take place in a hybrid format: face-to-face (at the Alfândega Congress Center) and online.
Sign up until November 7!
For more information: http://www.speedrecruitment.pt/.
An excellent opportunity to make yourself known to companies! ]]> Verónica Orvalho, the founder of Didimo, a University of Porto spin-off that creates 3D virtual characters from a simple cell phone photo, is among the 21 most innovative women in the European Union. The EU Prize for Women Innovators distinguishes every year entrepreneurial women, founders of successful companies that have brought innovation to the market.
With the company incubated at UPTEC - Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia da Universidade do Porto [Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto], Verónica Orvalho is a researcher in computer graphics, machine learning and facial animation and her algorithms are part of video games like "The Simpsons Ride", but also productions in the areas of health and education.
In a press release, Verónica Orvalho recognizes that "being part of this list is, more than anything, a motivation to continue growing as a professional and to inspire others to fight for advances that help people. It is an honor to share this with more women in the [...]]]> The new segment of the municipal program "Porto com Sentido" will allow lease promissory contracting in 200 dwellings still under project, construction, or rehabilitation, located in urban rehabilitation areas.

In broad terms, the new segment of the municipal program "Porto com Sentido" aims to accelerate the stock of housing available in the city, engaging real estate developers to contract a lease commitment for an initial batch of 200 homes in the "Build to Rent" mode. The houses may still be under project, construction or in the rehabilitation phase, provided they are located in an Urban Rehabilitation Area (ARU).
The Porto City Hall will act as an intermediary between the property owner and the final tenant, underlined the Councillor of Urbanism and Public Space and Housing, Pedro Baganha, in the introduction of the presentation session of the tender "Build to Rent", which took place in Casa do Infante. This new segment results from the deliberation that changed the terms of "Porto [...]]]> Ascendi, the freeway concessionaire, has just opened its new facilities in the Boavista area, in the former premises of Litografia Lusitana. With a gross area of 4,122 m2, the space will have a customer service point, and from now on it will be possible for customers to schedule their attendance to avoid waiting times.
Present at the door opening, the Vice President of Porto City Council emphasized that "Ascendi chose not only to come to Porto, but also to rehabilitate a space that has its history in the city, and that fills us with pride". For Filipe Araújo, the focus on the sustainability of the space and the environmental perspective brings even more value to the rehabilitation.
"We are extremely happy to be seeing today a building like this rehabilitated, with these conditions and occupied with hundreds of workers who have already been here for a few days and who will certainly contribute a lot to liven up this part of the city", he adds.
Designed by architect André Costa de [...]]]> When, in September this year, one of the leading companies in sea transport, Maersk, bought the Porto start-up HUUB, it announced the creation of a new hub at the Invicta. Approximately a month later, the new technological centre in the logistics sector is emerging in Porto Office Park (POP), in Boavista.

The Portuguese technology company HUUB was born six years ago in Porto with the aim of transforming logistics in the fashion world, with the management of the chain of the brands? channels ? e-commerce, retail, stores, and marketplaces. The work, the growth and the several rounds of investment it attracted, drew the attention of the multinational Maersk, keen on entering the e-commerce area.
To achieve its ambition of becoming an equal leader in this sector, the company wants to have around 150 people working at the technological centre by the end of next year.
In an interview to Dinheiro Vivo, the HUUB?s executive director explained that the team in Porto will be responsible for [...]]]> The municipal program launched this Tuesday, November 2, the first tender for promissory contracts of leasing, which will be presented in a session at Casa do Infante.

The presentation session will start at 5.00 p.m. and marks the beginning of a new phase of the "Porto com Sentido" program, with which the Municipality of Porto is promoting the settlement of residents in the city by providing affordable rental housing.

In this case, in addition to the rental of ready-to-inhabit dwellings, the program developed by the municipal company Porto Vivo, SRU aims at the promise of renting dwellings still under project or already under construction or rehabilitation, located in an area of urban rehabilitation, thus providing greater security to the investment.

This possibility is now provided for in the regulations of "Porto com Sentido" following the revision of the general conditions of the municipal program, approved by a majority in the Municipal Executive, and aims to [...]]]> Until the end of November, the application phase for the public auction promoted by Porto Municipality for the allocation of two spaces in the Campanhã Intermodal Terminal, through commercial lease, is underway.

The properties in question are the following:

A - Campanhã Intermodal Terminal (Cafeteria), Area of 74,9 m2, Gallery floor 1, base value 1,000 euros;

B - Campanhã Intermodal Terminal (Convenience store), Area of 74,9 m2, Gallery floor 1, base value 1,000 euros.
In this first phase of the tender, which will run until November 30, candidates will submit the application form and other documents that are required for the application. Five candidates will be selected for the next phase. They will then be able to auction for the licenses by presenting successive bids.
The period for the attribution of the spaces is three years and may be renewed up to a maximum of two times, for equal periods, through written agreement of the parties.
See The "customer relationship center" currently operates in Hipercentro, but the company will move to the renovated Porto Business Plaza.

Bouygues Telecom Services - a company 100% owned by the French group Bouygues Telecom - will move to the renovated Porto Business Plaza, located between Rua Santos Pousada and Avenida Fernão Magalhães, near Campo 24 Agosto, in Invicta (Porto city).
To idealista/news, Idalette Cervaes, Human Resources responsible at Bouygues Telecom Services, confirmed the move of the "customer relationship center" of the telecommunications company, scheduled for the beginning of next year, to an area with more than 4,400 square meters (m2). The company will thus occupy one of the floors of Porto Business Plaza, a modern office building that Capitólio (former SDC Investimentos) has in the final stages of renovation, with delivery scheduled for mid-November.
According to Idalette, the new offices of Bouygues Telecom Services are prepared to receive more than 500 [...]]]> It assumes itself as a "hub" of Innovation in Sustainability and Regeneration and intends to defy national companies and foreign specialists to find the best solutions to make businesses more sustainable, whether in new products or policies. INSURE.hub is a platform created by the Catholic University of Porto and Planetiers New Generation, which was presented this Wednesday.

Following the need to respond to environmental challenges, and in line with the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations for sustainable development, INSURE.hub will support companies and clusters in business development and new investments, promote sustainable and regenerative entrepreneurship, create postgraduate and master's degrees in the area, as well as seeking to mobilize society towards full sustainability (net-zero) and/or regeneration.

The platform, which was born from the work of Católica Porto Business School and the School of Biotechnology, "has as main objective the creation of a vibrant [...]]]> The event that brings together speakers from some of the most relevant companies in the information technology (IT) sector is back. Porto Tech Hub Conference will take place for the first time in an online format, on November 18th and 19th. It will count with the presence of representatives of technological giants such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Netflix.

The participation in the sixth edition of the event is free and will focus on talks with experts. The guest panel includes names such as Minko Gechev, software engineer at Google, Josh Long and Adam Bien, Java experts, Graeme Rocher, architect at Oracle, and the artificial intelligence researcher Neda Navidi.

Among this years? novelties are the workshops of about three hours that will allow interested parties to "explore some of the presented topics ".

In the words of the vice president of Porto Tech Hub, "the main objective for this edition is to focus at 100% on the most relevant themes for IT professionals [...]]]> The onlinetravel giant has just opened its first office in Portugal, starting theoperation with 25 people in downtown Porto and opening a hundred positions inthe areas of technology and product.

The eDreams Odigeo group, one of the biggest in the world in the online travel sector, leased an office with 845 square meters on the fourth floor of Trindade Domus, a real estate development that combines retail and offices, to install the technological development center in the center of Porto.Open since the beginning of October, the engineering hub in Portugal starts with a team of 25 people. In an interview with ECO, the executive president, Dana Philip Dunne, said that the company has "around one hundred open positions in Europe? ? it also has centers in Barcelona, Madrid and Milan ? and hopes to "place a large portion of them? in Invicta.These vacancies for the technology and product innovation departments "will be open until they are filled?, but the Spanish-born group leader hopes to [...]]]> Porto Airport was distinguished in the category "10-25 million passengers" per year by Airports Council International Europe.

Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, the entity that represents airport operators on the European continent, distinguished Porto Airport in terms of "sustainability, digitization and passenger experience" in the category "10-25 million passengers" per year.
In a ceremony that took place in Geneva, Switzerland, ACI Europe awarded the prizes corresponding to the 17th edition of the Best Airport Awards. And Porto Airport deserved an honorable mention, being "highly recommended" in the category "10-25 million passengers" per year. The prize in this class went to Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, Russia.
The Best Airport Awards "recognise excellence and extraordinary achievements across airport activities. The 17th edition of the awards devoted special attention to the various ways in which airports responded and innovated during the Covid-19 pandemic, keeping [...]]]> Nearly two thousand exhibitors and more than 19,200 participants from 52 countries attended the latest edition of Expo Real, the largest real estate investment fair in the world, which took place in Munich, Germany. Porto presented itself as a "global business hub for the 21st century", a destination "to live, work and invest". The city was represented by the City Councillors for Economy and Urbanism, as well as six companies of the sector, which made a positive balance of the joint participation.

Francisco Mendes, executive director of VPM Real Estate, Mário Moreira, project manager at Avenue, and Pedro Ramos, business director of Mota-Engil Real Estate, accepted the Municipality's invitation to be present at Expo Real with the objective of "strengthening contacts with current customers and raising new ones, in order to drive more investment to the city of Porto?.
VPM, Avenue and Mota-Engil recognize that "events of this size are very relevant for the real estate sector since all [...]]]> Born in Porto, Replai resorts to artificial intelligence to help companies make the best use of videos published on the internet. The funding round will increase the range of products on the platform.

Created in 2019 in Porto, Replai is a platform that helps companies to assess the performance of videos published on the internet. Thanks to the solution based on artificial intelligence, the Portuguese startup has received an investment of 4.7 million dollars (4.07 million euros) in the seed round, according to the announcement made on Wednesday.

The capital injection was led by the British Hoxton Ventures and also included the Portuguese Sonae IM and the international funds Lux Capital, Sequoia and Accel, as the press release reveals.With offices in Porto, London and San Francisco - where 25 people work - the Portuguese startup is preparing to hire 20 people in the coming months for the technological development, sales and marketing teams in Portugal. The capital injection will [...]]]> Business doesn?t have to be done in an overly formal environment. The person who says this is Ofelia de Souza, the illustrious leading actor of the new campaign launched today by Turismo do Porto e Norte de Portugal, aimed at the increasingly more competitive Meeting Industry sector, and that presents the Region as an "excellent destination for business tourism?. It?s a three-minute video to know "The Majestic Adventures of Ofelia de Souza?, a 72-year-old experienced and extravagant event?s organizer and epicurean, who wishes her business travel doesn?t make her "die of boredom?, in other words, just a "big pain in the back?. Because "time is Money?, the counting of time starts on the Clérigos Tower clock. But the campaign takes the leading lady on boat trips along the Douro River, discovering Serralves' TreeTop Walk, feeding social media at Casa da Música or acknowledging the splendor of Livraria Lello and the taste of francesinha. Porto and the North appear in the campaign as a [...]]]> Porto is part of a group of six pilot cities analyzed in the study "Building urban datasets for the SDGs. Six pilot European cities monitoring the 2030 Agenda?. Prepared by the European Commission?s Joint Research Center, the work involved the identification and collection of performance indicators of the city, in order to assess the degree of compliance to the targets of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) decreed by the United Nations. The results were presented during the European Week of Regions and Cities 2021.

Most of the measures implemented by the city are based on the objective "Sustainable Cities and Communities", followed by "No Poverty", "Clean Water and Sanitation", and "Responsible Consumption and Production ".

The study highlights the fact that "along with the focus on the local identity", Porto has developed research, entrepreneurship and innovation. The city "is committed to becoming more innovative and resilient" supporting "new businesses and promoting [...]]]> Built in the 40's and the emblematic house of Correios de Portugal [Portuguesepost office] in Porto, Palácio dos Correios was renovated to receive officesand shops. This rehabilitation and reconstruction work was now distinguished inthe third edition of Prémios do Imobilário [Real Estate Awards], held byExpresso and SIC Notícias.Promoted by the Ferreira Group, the intervention, which won in theRehabilitation and Reconstruction ? Office category, included the creation of20 thousand square meters of commercial and office spaces, in addition to themodernization of the building and its surroundings. The architecture project wasmade by Ginestal Machado, from APEL, while the engineering was in charge ofPedro Freitas.The building, an original work by the architect Carlos Ramos, a majorfigure in Porto's modernist architecture, is where companies such as CriticalTechworks, Bold or the inter-municipal entity Área Metropolitana do Porto currentlywork. The atrium was [...]]]> Porto is in ExpoReal, the trade fair for property and investment in Munich, Germany, until thisWednesday.The city of Portois present in Expo Real with a stand that invites visitors to take a seat, havea break and get to know Porto through landmark icons, such as photographs orthe graphical brand design of Porto. The event is running until today, 13thOctober, in Messe München exhibition centre, gathering nearly 1 500 exhibitorsfrom real estate, finance, digital and service sectors, including regional andmunicipal authorities.As "A GlobalBusiness Hub for the 21st Century?, Porto positions itself asdestination to "live, work and invest?. The municipality is represented by thecouncillor for Economy, Tourism and Commerce, Dr. Ricardo Valente, and by the councillorfor Urbanism, Arch. Pedro Baganha.Therehabilitation of BolhãoMarket, CampanhãIntermodal Transport Terminal and the Oriental Hub (Matadouro) are key elements in Porto?sparticipation in Expo Real, as well [...]]]> Kantar, theworld?s leading data-driven analytics and brand consulting company todayannounces a $5 million investment in Porto with the establishment of a newRegional Delivery Centre. Plans are in development for the new centre to createup to 200 new jobs by the end of 2022 within Kantar?s Finance, HR andProcurement functions. Additionally, Kantar has a clear ambition to extend its presenceto include strategic technology roles in the future.Porto?s trackrecord in attracting and scaling delivery centres was a key factor in Kantar?s decision.The city?s multilingual talent pool combined with its technologicalinfrastructure and growing innovation credentials reinforced the choice. Commentingon the investment decision, Ian Griffiths, Kantar?s Deputy CEO and Group CFOsaid "Over the past two years Kantar has been on a significant transformationjourney. Our investment in Porto is a key step on that journey; ensuring wehave the right support capabilities to deliver the outstanding [...]]]> Between 11th and 13th of October, for the second time, the Municipality of Porto will be present in Expo Real, the trade fair for property and investment, in Munich, Germany.
This event marks the return of the city of Porto to main international showrooms for investment attraction, constituting a unique opportunity to promote the dynamism and solidness of Porto?s real estate market, as illustrated by the several public and private projects that will be presented.
In this edition, Porto?s participation will highlight strategic projects such as the rehabilitation of Bolhão Market, Campanhã Intermodal Transport Terminal, the Oriental Hub (Matadouro), among others, as well as municipal projects for affordable housing, namely Monte Pedral, Monte da Bela and Lordelo do Ouro.
The Municipality of Porto will be represented by the Council for Economy, Tourism and Commerce (Dr. Ricardo Valente) and by the Council for Urbanism (Arch. Pedro Baganha), while it is also noteworthy to underline the [...]]]> Porto appears in second place on the ranking of the best cities in Europe 2021, a voting carried out by the readers of the respected magazine Condé Nast Traveler. It?s the only Portuguese city in the top 10.The announcement was made on the bank holiday October 5 and it is now beginning to gain coverage. Porto, according to the publication itself, "dethrones the Portuguese capital city in this year?s list.?, as Lisbon descends to the 15th position on the list.The score given to Porto by the voters reaches a remarkable 92.78, behind winner Istanbul (Turkey) that reached 93.67 points, that is to say, not even a full point from the Invicta.The third position on the ranking belongs to San Sebastian (Spain), with 91.52 points.Overall, the evaluation observed criteria such as the outstanding gastronomy, the hotel offer with high standards of service and quality, the hospitality of the locals, as well as the [...]]]> DEUS is a Dutch companythat challenges themselves to explore and build AI services to impact thefuture positively. They connect business, academia, and government institutesin exchanging ideas and experiences in developing human(ity) centered AIapplications. They combine data, design, and artificial intelligence to solvechallenging problems elegantly, ethically and efficiently. DEUS iscurrently looking to broaden their team in Porto. DEUS already hosts about 45 peoplein offices in Amsterdam, A Coruna and Porto. DEUS is specifically looking for "disciples in all the disciplines of the innovationquadrivium ? ie. Data Science, Engineering (React, Goland, Python, .net,DevOps) and UX and Service Design for value creation with AI?. They also haveinternship opportunities in engineering & service design."AtDEUS we are dedicated to making a friendly and inclusive workplace and create anatmosphere in which we celebrate differences? says Ron Vrijmoet, the ManagingDirector at [...]]]> Next Tuesday, September 28th, the Employment Forum promoted by CCILF will take place in Porto. The forum aims to respond to the needs ofFrench and Portuguese companies that recruit candidates in the Portuguesemarket.In this sense, companies withactive recruitment processes will be able to present their services andactivities, publicize their job offers, find candidates, conduct interviews,find partners, as well as, networking with experts of human resources.Additionally, it will be possibleto participate in conferences on topics such as the panorama of the labormarket in Portugal, employment contracts and labor law, and tax benefitsto support employment.Noteworthy is the presence ofrecruiters from the most diverse areas - banking, recruitment, construction,real estate, automotive, among others.The companies AlbertoCouto Alves, ATS Ingeneering,BNP Paribas, BCTP Equipamento Automóvel,Bouygues Telecom Services, Consort NT, Effigest, Felino Fundição e [...]]]> The development of cybersecurity products for mobile and internetapplications was worth an investment of 13 million euros to Jscrambler. The A funding series for the Portuguese technology company was announced thisThursday and was led by French venture capital firm Ace Capital Partners,accompanied by Portuguese companies Portugal Ventures and Sonae IM.The capital injection will serve to strengthen the marketing and salesareas in Europe and the United States. The amount will also speed up productdevelopment.The announcement of the operation also coincides with the entry ofspecialist Pedro Abreu to the administration of Jscrambler, after working at cybersecurity companies such as McAfee and Forescout.Founded in Porto in 2014, Jscrambler currently has a team of 40 people. Theprevious capital investment, in the seed funding round, had yielded 2.3 million dollars(1.96 million euros, at the current exchange rate).The series A funding of the Portuguese company takes place in a [...]]]> This week, theCouncil of Ministers approved the disaffection of the public water and militarydomain of Trem do Ouro and Casa do Lordelo do Ouro buildings, in Porto,which will be used for affordable housing by the IHRU - Property Institute and the Urban Rehabilitation.In the statementof the Council of Ministers, it is possible to read that "the decree-law thatdisaffects from the public water domain and from the military public domain theState properties allocated to National Defense, available for monetizationunder the Law on Military Infrastructures, designated by PM 11/Porto ?"Trem do Ouro" and PM 17/Porto ? "House of Lordelo doOuro", integrating them into the private domain of the State".The note alsospecifies that "these properties are intended for the promotion of housingsolutions within the Public Housing Park at Affordable Costs".Last year, the Government announced that it was contacting local authorities toidentify those interested in monetizing military [...]]]> The office market in Porto is showing signs of recovering from the crisiscaused by the Covid-19 pandemic, with five operations having been registeredand 12.200 sq. mt. were occupied in August. The recovery compared toprevious months and the same period of the previous year is notable, as in anyof the periods the occupancy had not reached 1.000 sq. mt., states JLL, adding that the demand for space in the office segment in Porto ishigh.According to the consultant, data on the occupation of offices in Porto inAugust also show "that the market strongly accelerated its pace ofrecovery compared to 2020, going from a contraction of 55% at the end of Julyto a contraction of only 15% at the end of August." "The month's activitypractically doubled the volume of accumulated absorption that had beenregistered until the end of July, placing the annual 'take-up' at around 26.000 sq. mt.", the note reads. In accumulated terms, that is, between January and August,32 operations [...]]]> The vast list of awards won by Moxycaught the attention of North Americans from Uphold, who bought the digitalagency from Porto with the objective of "simplifying the platform'sinterface" for consumers. The business brings the need to hireanother six dozen people ? including softwareengineers and designers ? over the next few months.The story begins in 2016, after MarcoOliveira, Filipe Dias, and André Cruz left the Baboom music service and assumedthe will to continue working together. Thus was born Moxy, a software studiothat combines design and engineering in applications that are developed for web and mobile phones, namely for luxury e-commerce companies.Two offices in Porto (one in Madeira andanother in Berlin) later, and more than 30 awards on the shelf, including thebest website for mobile phones in the world, during the Awwwards gala, inAmsterdam, in 2019. Have now sparked the interest of the Uphold financial [...]]]> DUALis an intermediary between companies and young people interested inprofessional qualification courses. It promotes qualification courses for youngpeople that follow the guidelines of the German dual system.Thecourses last for 3 years, have a large practical component, are free, provide equivalence to the 12th year and a certificate of professional qualification(Level IV).Inthe DUAL apprenticeship courses, the trainees are placed in training companies,where they intern for three days a week, the remaining days are for theoretical training at the DUAL centre.Atthe moment, the DUAL center in Porto has open enrollment, with limited places forthe courses of Management Support Technician, Electronics/Automation and Command Technician, and Electronics, Automation and Computers Technician.TheManagement Support Technician has the possibility to work in all administrativeand commercial departments of a company, namely Human Resources, Marketing,Accounting, Sales and [...]]]> Nova SBE,Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics, ISCTE Business School, and the University of Porto ? School of Business and Management are the four Portugueseschools that are part of the Financial Times (FT) "Masters inManagement" ranking, released this Monday. The new Portuguese entry in 2021 is the School of Business & Management of the University of Porto.The Schoolof Business & Management of the University of Porto closes the Portugueserepresentation in the ranking, winning 98th place. The school debuts on this list with its master's degree in management, which hasan employability rate of 100% and a salary of 43,257 dollars (36,560 euros)after three years of completion of training."Thepresence of the Master's in Management course in the Financial Times ranking, after directly entering to the Top 100, is the result of the work that the entire schoolhas been doing towards its renewal and internationalization. This is yet anotherrecognition which [...]]]> Universidade Católica Portuguesa Porto and Porsche signed a partnership protocol in which they commit to the development of various initiatives as a way to strengthen relations and add value to both institutions. The new Porsche room will be equipped with the latest digital technology."Following the partnership, the Porsche room was developed and is equippedwith the latest technology, as the prestigious brand is now part of theEnterprise Club [Clube das Empresas] of the Executive MBA of Católica Porto Business School",as read in a statement.This room was designed for various academic activities, having alreadyserved as a stage for the presentation by Executive MBA students of a workdeveloped for Porsche, within the scope of the Marketing Module."The close relationship between the university and the business fabricis one of the missions of universities. If teaching and research are, without ashadow of a doubt, Católica's central missions, the transfer of knowledge [...]]]> The president of Tourism of Porto and Northern Portugal (TPNP) and the Porto Tourism Association (ATP) reaffirmed this Monday that hecontinues to believe that the region will recover the 11 million overnight stays registered before the pandemic, by 2023."After the end of this year, at a timewhen we will nearly have the entire population vaccinated, that is, with groupimmunity close to guaranteed, there is no reason not to start believing that weare going to start a return to normality. As in 2019, the autumn andwinter months were quite strong, I think that from now on we will be able to work tofulfill what is the great goal, which is to reach 2023 with 2019 numbers",said today to Lusa agency, the president of TPNP and ATP, Luís PedroMartins.In 2019, tourism in the Northern regionregistered six million guests and 11 million overnight stays.According to Luís Pedro Martins, tourism in the summer of 2021 returned to the big cities ? unlike the summer of 2020 when people [...]]]> Porto Business School (PBS) decided to extend the enrollment period for thetraining program it created in partnership with Natixis, aimed at professionalswith experience in finance, banking, or quantitative models who wish to deepentheir technical skills in the field of capital. Registration is open untilOctober 11th.The program "Capital Markets: Quantitative Approach" is scheduledto start on October 18th and will take place at PBS, after work hours, three days aweek. The program can be attended in person, but also in a hybrid format(allowing the choice between face-to-face and online synchronous). It will havea duration of 144 hours and will be fully taught in English."With this training, the two institutions intend not only to promotethe upskilling of professionals with experience in the financial and bankingareas, through specialization in the theme of the capital market in Portugal,but also to promote the requalification of staff in the banking sector, who [...]]]> QSP Summit,one of Europe's biggest marketing conferences is back for its 14th edition.The event continues until tomorrow in a face-to-face format, at Exponor.Experts and academics Malcolm Gladwell, MartynNewman, Peter Fisk, and Lauren deLisa Coleman, along with Unilever chief brandofficer and chief diversity & inclusion officer, Aline Santos, are amongthe top names in this edition.The opening ceremony took place on Wednesday, atRivoli, with the presence of the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, the CEO ofQSP, Rui Ribeiro, and the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rita Marques, amongother guests. The moment was also attended by economist Vítor Bento, whopresented his vision on the "Challenges of World Demography".This Thursday highlighted the intervention ofMalcolm Gladwell, author of five best-sellers of "The New YorkTimes", being named one of the 100 most influential people by"Time" magazine.The conference has a space of [...]]]> The ranking prepared by the international magazine which was based on 27 thousand responses to a survey, places Porto in the ninth position worldwide.The attractions of Porto are once againhighlighted by TimeOut, which places Porto in ninth place in the hierarchy of the bestcities in the world. Following a pandemic that forced a change in lifestylehabits, readers of the international magazine did not fail to recognize Porto'sdifferentiating factors."A total of 73% of Porto residentsconsidered their city to be great for culture ? and even during a pandemic,it's hard to disagree. In the past year, Porto's graffiti artists have beenmore active than ever, filling in the streets with color, while our immensegalleries were also surprisingly active?, begins by pointing out Ana PatríciaSilva, [...]]]> The Portuguese cryptocurrency platformfounded by Diogo Mónica, Anchorage Digital was hired by the Federal DepositInsurance Corporation (FDIC) to manage the digital assets of failed banks inthe US.The information provided by 'Expresso'reveals that the work carried out by the company will, in the event ofa bank's closure, concern evaluating the digital assets held in that bank, as theseentities will begin to provide cryptocurrency services to customers in the US."According to sources familiar withthe process, Anchorage will provide custody and settlement services, in orderto return the excess money generated to the FDIC for later distribution todepositors", as stated in Expresso Newspaper.The same source recalls an interview givenby Diogo Mónica to 'Vox' where he reveals that "there is no traditionalbank that provides these services because they are extremely technically complex."Anchorage Digital has offices in Porto, SanFrancisco, South [...]]]> Portuguese Reckon.ai, a startup that develops artificial intelligence andcomputer vision solutions applied to retail, announced a seed round investmentof €1.5 million, led by Nos 5G fund and Portugal Ventures. Bright Pixeland WiseNext are the other two investors.This is also the first investment of the fund created by Nos, which has aninitial capital of €10 million. The money will be applied, within an estimatedtimeframe of five years, to companies developing innovative solutions linked tothe new mobile technology. This ranges from network infrastructure to productsor services for customers, favoring technological projects in the early stagesof development.Reckon.ai was founded in 2017 by Ana Pinto (CEO) and Paulo Ribeiro (CTO),based on computer vision technology. It began by offering a price analysisplatform to help retail chains define pricing strategies and then focused onautomating the purchasing process for consumers.At the moment it is developing [...]]]> Critical TechWorks is on the way to achieving the growth goals that aim to end the year with 1400 employees. The company which focuses on projects that impact the mobility of the future is currently recruiting.To continue to improve its' solutions, the tech company is recruiting professionals with knowledgeand experience in data, in C++ and Java languages, as well as product owners.All vacancies are available on Critical TechWorks careers page. ]]> TAIKAI raised a €2 million round led by the German FinLab EOS VC Fund. The round also includes the participation of Portugal Ventures, as a new investor, and Bright Pixel, which reinforced its investment.The open innovation platform based on blockchain technology intends, withthis investment, to scale the business, enter new markets, and strengthen theoffer. To do this, it is recruiting for various positions andintends to reach up to 24 people this year.The pandemic did not slow down the operation of the Portuguese company, as lockdown and social distancing "driven the adoption of the virtualformat of programming marathons (hackathons), a trend that accelerated thegrowth of TAIKAI across borders".The round of two million will be applied to the geographic and servicesexpansion of the platform. "With this investment, it will be possible toreach more markets, supporting companies in the process of innovation andrecruitment. We also intend to support the evolution of the [...]]]> Natixis inPortugal aims to hire another 400 employees by the end of the year. The companyis looking for professionals with different levels of seniority in the areas ofbanking, finance, economics, management, law, and information technology."Four yearsafter we started our journey in Portugal, our ambition is to continue expandingour center of excellence with the best talent. Porto has become the second mostimportant hub for Natixis in Europe, right after Paris, and we have no doubtsthat our team was an essential factor in this success?, says Etienne Huret,general director of Natixis in Portugal.The newprofessionals will integrate teams from the back-office, compliance, sanctions,and embargoes, know your customer, know your supplier, purchasing, financialoperations, risk management, and human resources management, supportingactivities in different countries and business areas. In the IT areas, Natixiscontinues to look for developers, application support engineers, [...]]]> Until October 3rd, applications are open for the Data Challenge, a program to support the development of new business ideas with awards amounting to 75 thousand euros.The Data Challenge seeks students, researchers, and recent graduates fromany area of ??training and from any University/Polytechnic Institute in thecountry. By joining this free entrepreneurship program, participants will havethe opportunity to interact with partner companies and contribute to solvingreal industry challenges.Create autonomous condominiums, solutions that improve environmentalhealth, unconventional e-commerce marketing approaches, new strategies for thedecentralization of clinical trials, credit solutions based on digitallifestyle and social media or tools to calculate the carbon footprint of asupply chain, are some of the 20 challenges of the program that will supportbusiness ideas that develop data management, valorization, and securitysolutions states the University of Porto news [...]]]> The 'startup' Bandora Systems, incubated at UPTEC - Science and Technology Park of University of Porto, is working on a solution for autonomous buildings in partnership with the French multinational SPIE.In a statement published on its website, theUniversity of Porto states that the startup won the Open Data Systems forBuilding Environment challenge of the European program PITCCH, gaining theopportunity to work with the French multinational.Entitled ?Project Oddyssee?, the projectaims to develop an autonomous building solution that "automates operationand maintenance without human intervention".

The startup also aims to adjust comfortlevels to people's needs, taking into account "maximum energyefficiency".Bandora Systems thus integrates the conceptcreated by SPIE (SOS ? System of the Systems) of integrating into a singleplatform all the existing systems in buildings, based on machine learning technology.The platform intends that all buildings will [...]]]> ABI4ALL has just opened the 11th edition ofthe Talent Academy, with the objective of onboarding 10 young talents,according to an official source."The editions we carried out inprevious years were a success. All the feedback we have obtained, both from trainersand trainees have proven the excellence of our Academy, as well as the developed and implemented program", says José Oliveira, CEO from BI4ALL, quoted ina press release. "The 11th edition of the TalentAcademy starts in September, with the possibility of hiring 10consultants".Lasting two months, the new edition of thebusiness intelligence & data analytics academy seeks to attract "youngrecent graduates to enter the world of data and consulting, through anintensive theoretical and practical training program", states the companythat operates in data analytics and artificial intelligence, providing trainees with theopportunity to integrate company projects, both nationally and internationallyBI4ALL [...]]]> The residence LIV Student Porto - PóloUniversitário is located in the middle of the university area, next to themetro station with the same name and very close to several faculties of theUniversity of Porto. It has 470 beds, in 423 rooms spread over 16 floors andfour types of accommodation ? single or double studio and single or double roomin a shared apartment, all with private bathroom. It also has rooms andfacilities adapted for people with reduced mobility.The residence is managed by the ValeoManagement branch of Valeo Groupe.VStudent is a Spanish venture capital fund,promoted by Bankinter, Valeo Groupe, and Plenium Partners, the threerepresentatives on its governing bodies and its main co-investors, togetherwith a large number of Bankinter's investor clients. It currently has fiveprojects under development (+2,800 beds) in cities such as Seville, Barcelonaand Granada, in addition to Porto.At the opening of LIV StudentPorto ? Pólo Universitário, were [...]]]> Enrollment is now open for the Municipal Recognition Program "Confiança Porto?, which will allow tourist accommodation establishments in the city to obtain the respective "seal? of trust.TheMunicipality of Porto provides a verification form (checklist) that containsthe requirements that will be evaluated in each accommodation, in order forthem to prepare in the best possible way for the respective technical visitnecessary to obtain municipal recognition.In addition, tofacilitate the process, a guide to support enrollment in the program isprovided. All this information can be consulted through the Municipality Portalof Porto City Council.For anyfurther clarification, it is also possible to contact the team responsible forthe Municipal Recognition Program "Confiança Porto", by e-mailconfincaporto@cm-porto.pt.TheMunicipal Recognition Program "Confiança Porto" aims to distinguishthe local accommodation (AL) and tourist developments that best represent [...]]]> Magic Beans, a Portuguese company created in 2017 to provide, exclusively, technology advisory services for Cloud, which this year expects to exceed 1.5 million euros in turnover, is carrying out a campaign to recruit 20 new talents to expand its current team and support its European network of 6 offices which includes the recent opening of a new branch in Porto.
Thesemeasures aim to accelerate the company's ability to respond to the growingdemand for Cloud Adoption services by its customers around the world.The currentrecruitment campaign by Magic Beans, which is one of the largest AWS partnersin Portugal, is aimed at young IT engineers, preferably with some experience,who are willing to learn and specialize in the cloud, as well as grow withcompany. Applications can be sent to: team@magicbeans.pt."Bythe end of this year, when we hope to reach a turnover of more than 1.5 millionEuros, we want to be a team of 60 specialists. For that, we are recruiting moretalents [...]]]> At number Frei Heitor Pinto 67, in Bonfim, Porto, M.Ou.Co. is located, the new hotel and cultural space, which is the result of an investment of around eight million euros.With a total area of ??about five thousand square meters, M.Ou.Co. includesa total of 62 rooms, a restaurant, a concert hall, and a music library, as wellas three rehearsal rooms, and alsooutdoor garden areas, swimming pool, bar, and terrace."Stay. Listen. Play." is the signature of the project thatassumes itself as "a place to stay, relax, listen, play and experience,were it not for a concept that brings together tourism, culture, and community,with music as the guiding principle and aggregating element", emphasizesM.Ou.Co., which, in addition to a set of concerts, will also promote"various workshops, masterclasses and talks".The highlight of the cultural aspect of this project is centered on theM.Ou.Co. room, "a multifaceted space with a flexible stage, natural lightand direct access to the outside", [...]]]> Unicorns (companies valued at at least one billion dollars) with "Portuguese DNA? Farfetch, Outsystems, Talkdesk, Feedzai, and Remote, are recruiting new talent by the end of 2021. There are 1791 vacancies to fill.Outsystems has 250 recruitment processes, mainly for the engineering team,with vacancies for programmers of different levels. The company is hiring, andmany of the positions are in telecommuting.Farfetch, for example, has 916 vacancies around the world, 374 of which arefor Portugal. The same source reveals that the company has difficulties inhiring data science specialists.Talkdesk currently has 225 vacancies to fill in various departments. Thegoal for 2021 is 500 signings.Feedzai has 100 active positions worldwide, 59 of which are for Portugal.The working model is flexible and allows you to choose between working from oneof the offices or mostly remotely.Remote, which specializes in solving bureaucracy in remote work, has 300open positions in various areas [...]]]> Data wasreleased on 25 August by the EU statistical institute, Eurostat, indicates that"annual comparisons show that the number of new business registrationsincreased by 53 percent in the second quarter of 2021 compared to the previousyear, while the number of registered bankruptcies increased 24 percent?.Eurostatpoints out, in these statistics, there was a decrease in bankruptcies in thefirst two quarters of 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic began and became moreaccentuated, due to "government measures to support companies during thecrisis, which allowed for companies avoid? this scenario.In thequarter-on-quarter variation, the statistical office notes that in the secondquarter of 2021, declared bankruptcies in the EU rose by 1.8 percent comparedto the first few months of this year, while new business registrationsincreased by 5.3 percent compared to the previous quarter.In general,according to Eurostat, there has been a "declining trend in the number [...]]]> The foreignpopulation living in Portugal increased in 2020 for the fifth consecutive year,12.2% more compared to 2019, and totalling 662,095 citizens - the highest valuerecorded by the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF).ThoughBrazilians remain the main foreign community residing in the country, there hasbeen a sustained growth of foreign citizens from EU countries.Attractivenessfactors such as safety, quality of life, tax advantages, and an increasingnumber of job opportunities are among the most mentioned reasons by this newwave of newcomers.]]> The University of Porto ranks second among Portuguese institutions in the oldest and most prestigious international ranking in higher education.The"Academic Ranking of World Universities" index, prepared by theShanghai Ranking Consultancy, places the University of Porto in the range of the 301-400best, among more than 2000 higher education institutions from all over theworld.Theanalysis is based on six criteria, which assess the quality of education,teachers, scientific production, and per capita production. In general, theUniversity of Porto improved the indicators analyzed.On thenational scene, the Shanghai Ranking highlights five more universities: theUniversity of Lisbon (201-300), University of Minho (401-500), University ofCoimbra (501-600), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (601-700) and University ofAveiro (601-700).In globalterms, Harvard University, in the USA, leads the ranking for the 19th year.Stanford and Cambridge Universities complete the top-3 of the [...]]]> Talkdesk, a Portuguese unicorn cloud software company for contact centers, announced the closing of series D financing. In this round of funding, the tech company raised 230 million dollars and is now valued at more than 10 billion dollars.This financing aims to boost Talkdesk's second decade of growth, with theexpansion of its presence internationally, focusing on product innovationsrelated to the customer experience (CX), providing a meticulous and detailedcustomer service and creating teams diverse, equitable, and inclusive."For many organizations, the contact center is quickly becoming anengine of tangible business results and an asset to achieve them, and Talkdeskhas, since its founding, challenged the status quo and the usual way. We aregrateful for the continued confidence in our strategy and are increasinglydetermined about our unique ability to help companies deliver memorablecustomer experiences,? says Tiago Paiva, founder and chief executive officer [...]]]> When the company decided to install its engineering center in Circunvalação in 2019, Continental expected to have 300 employees. Two years later, Continental reviewed the needs and announced the hiring of 400 more engineers until 2025.ContinentalEngineering Services Portugal already employs one hundred engineers and another150 are expected to join by the end of the year. The company's goal is to reach500 by 2025. To this effect, there are open vacancies for software engineers, embedded SWengineers, hardware engineers, systems engineers, cybersecurity specialists,penetration testers, and full-stack developers.In the statement, the director of engineering services at Continental guarantees that"two years later, we are a team of 100 employees and I can say that wemade an excellent bet in investing in Porto, where we found a young, committedand a highly motivated team to face up to the technological challengesahead". And these challenges, which now lead to the reinforcement [...]]]> The Porto and Northern regionclosed the first half of this year with more than 885 thousand guests,occupying first place in the national ranking, announced Tourism of Porto and the North of Portugal (TPNP).Quoted in a statement, thepresident of TPNT, Luís Pedro Martins, says this is "a clear sign of thePortuguese preference, as already registred in 2020".Considering only the month ofJune, and according to data released by the National Institute ofStatistics (INE), the region received 303,190 guests (+142.8% compared to2020). In the first six months of theyear, guests in the Porto and North region amounted to 885,600."It is a sign of recoveryin the sector, although still far from the data for 2019, when the region wasexperiencing historic growth, in a record year in all indicators", recallsthe president of TPNP.Accordingto Luís Pedro Martins, it is, therefore, "necessary to continue to investin the promotion of the region and the four sub-destinations that [...]]]> TeamViewer, a leading global providerof remote connectivity and workplace digitalization solutions, announced theestablishment of a new Research & Development (R&D) hub in Porto,Portugal, to enhance its leading engineering force in strategically importantfields like Augmented Reality (AR) and Internet of Things (IoT). The decisionfor Portugal as location was based on a comprehensive selection frameworkevaluating key growth and cultural factors including availability of toptalent, educational infrastructure, regulatory framework, entrepreneurialmindset, and quality of life.

TeamViewer has the ambition to create a worldthat works better - in business contexts as well as in private life. Throughinnovative remote connectivity, AR and IoT solutions, TeamViewer on the one handdigitalizes processes across the entire value chain. On the other hand,TeamViewer democratizes technology by making remote connectivity and [...]]]> Continental Engineering Services Portugal,located in Porto will hire 400 engineers by the year 2025.The company, which consists of the technologydevelopment center of the German multinational Continental, already employs ahundred engineers and wants to recruit another 150 by the end of next year. Stating that the company's goal is to reach 500engineers by 2025.The German group decided to set up a newcompany in Portugal, in the summer of 2019, after "almost six years ofexchanging information, studies, analyzes, and negotiations". The announcement of the decision to install anew company in Porto was made in November 2019. At the time, the company stated that it would hire 300 engineers.The multinational pointed out that the choiceof location in Porto would help to develop solutions for the next era ofmobility, such as electric vehicles or autonomous driving. Also, referring the focus on research and development of solutions related to the [...]]]> The ForbesCloud 100 list, made in partnership with Bessemer Venture Partners andSalesforce Ventures, is the ranking of the largest private cloud companies inthe world and this year there are two Portuguese companies among thoseselected, Talkdesk (which makes software for the contact centers and this yearalone it is hiring 500 people in Portugal) - in 17th place - and OutSystems -in 61st place.OutSystems,founded in 2001, helps programmers implement applications that companies need,a feat that is not easy, says in a statement Paulo Rosado, founder and the CEO ofthe Portuguese company: "there are few programmers and change is complex andconstant". "Customers are choosing OutSystems because weenable them to achieve significant productivity while creating relevantapplications. We are thrilled to be recognized as one of the world's leadingcompanies leading innovation in cloud technology," he adds in a statement.Based onArtificial Intelligence (AI), OutSystems creates [...]]]> SWitCH 5th edition is open until August 19th. The initiative promoted by Porto Tech Hub aims for quick insertion in the job market in the area of ??Information Technologies.There are 33 places available for the 5th edition of SWitCH, requalificationprogram, with open applications for the academic year 2021/2022. The deadlineis running until August 19th.Organized by Porto Tech Hub, in partnership with ISEP, SWitCH is a requalification programaimed at all graduates, regardless of their area of ??training, who showinterest in changing the course of their career. SWitCH aims to allowentry into the Information Technology area and quick insertion into the job market."Despite the difficulties that the pandemic has brought us, wecontinue with the objective of maintaining this professional requalificationcourse that assumes a preponderant role for students, for the organizationsinvolved and for the city of Porto", underlined the vice-president ofPorto Tech Hub and responsible for [...]]]> NatixisPortugal's recruitment plan for this year is ambitious: hiring more than 400employees in the areas of Banking, Finance, Economics, Management, Law andInformation Technology. To reach the best talents, the investment bank ispromoting an employer branding campaign under the motto "We Want YourBrain".Thecreative concept was developed by the agency Legendary People + Ideas and aimsto respond to the challenge launched by the Portuguese division of the Frenchbank. As explained in a statement, Natixis wanted a campaign that would allowit to reach the best and most demanding professionals."From the outset, the culture of Natixis in Portugal has distinguished itself for beingmore similar to the spirit of a startup than a company in the banking sector.Our mission is to transform traditional banking by developing innovativesolutions for Natixis around the world, so it was essential for us to bet on adisruptive campaign that would illustrate who we really are and what [...]]]> 2019 data show that, in that year, the economic impact of UPTEC ? Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached 284 million euros, having also been responsible for new 6,464 job posts.The studyprepared by the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto (FEP) highlights theincubator "as an important agent of innovation, entrepreneurship andqualified employment in the North of Portugal and as an interface between theuniversity and the business world".Theconclusions were obtained by estimating the direct, indirect (generated by thesupply of goods and services that are consumed or made available by companies)and induced (results from the economic activity associated with the consumptionexpenses of employees of the UPTEC community) generated on the economy in termsof GDP, employment, wages, and tax revenues, explains Notícias U.Porto.The nearly300 million euros were achieved by the work of the 176 companies under [...]]]> Portuguesetechnology company Feedzai announces today the purchase of the biometricplatform Revelock, a promising startup based in Madrid that specializes inpre-transaction behavioral analysis to prevent financial crimes in real-time.This is the first acquisition of the Portuguese unicorn after the 200 million dollares financing round at the beginning of the year, and the valueof the deal was not disclosed.CharacterizingRevelock as "the most advanced behavioral biometric platform in the world",Feedzai explains that the addition of the technology will allow it to createthe largest Financial Intelligence Network globally."The goal has always been to make digital commerce safe for everyone. AddingRevelock technology to our customers' arsenal changes the paradigm", said the CEO Nuno Sebastião. "Feedzai already assured transactions in real-time,now we are talking about acting in the pre-transaction phase, where it ispossible to effectively predict and prevent a financial [...]]]> A new job seeker mobile app was developed by researchers atthe Systems and Computer Engineering Institute of Porto (INESC Porto). It iscalled ?Life Skills VR - Life Skills for Employment in COVID-19 Era through VRInnovation and it could be a swift tool to help mitigate the unemployment ratesdue to the ongoing pandemic. The project takes on a consortium format thatincludes countries such as the United Kingdom, Greece, Italy and Malta.The ?Life Skills VR - Life Skills for Employment in COVID-19Era through VR Innovation is an application that will present as an alternativeto vocational tests, by combining gamification techniques and the HollandMethod, which is a code that determines the adequacy of personality toprofessional careers.INESC TEC considers that virtual reality will enable to"identify citizen?s qualities and competencies?, especially the youngest ones,who are unemployed, and combine them with the features of a certain professionand thus "direct them to the most [...]]]>
The new project in the Bonfim area will include a residential building and a new student residence, promoted by Promiris and Cetim.

Granjo is the name of the new residential project of the Belgian developers Promiris and Cetim in Porto, which will be located on António Granjo street, in Bonfim.
This is a mixed project, which will include a student residence and a residential building, in an old construction material factory. It will consist of six blocks, one of which housing, with 16 one-bedroom and two bedroom apartments. The remaining five blocks will have 212 rooms for students, in addition to a green area, with laundry, gym, study rooms and various social areas.
The construction of the project, which includes rehabilitation and new construction, is by Garcia Garcia. The architecture is designed by Fragmentos.
According to the construction company, "the new residence enhances the space where it is located, giving a new usage to the previously vacant facilities. It [...]]]> French bank Natixis, in Porto since 2017, will hire four hundred professionals in the areas of technology, finance or law until the end of year for its excellence centre near Campo 24 de Agosto garden, where 1.200 people already work. There are vacancies destined for new graduates.

In a declaration to Negócios, the general manager of Natixis Portugal justifies the reinforcement of the team with "the success of the project and, above all, of people?. "It is a difficult formula to replicate and it transformed Natixis in Portugal in a worldwide case study?, states Etienne Huret.
What the French bank is looking for are different levels of professional experience from a broad range of areas related to baking and finance, but also technology, management, economics and law, that is, "much varied backgrounds, experiences and profiles, which may enrich our activity from Portugal to the world?.
Focused in information technologies (IT) in the beginning, the excellence centre has been [...]]]> The Municipal Executive unanimously aproved a proposal to support the return of traders to the ancient and now fully renovated Bolhão Market. The amount of 2.13 million euros has been approved for adaptation works and rearrangement of business spaces.

The proposal is signed by the councillor for Economy, Tourism and Trade, Ricardo Valente, and states that the value will be used by the said traders to implement adaptation works to both their outside and inside business spaces.
"The Municipality considers that it should attach an amount to liquidate to the said traders [historic] - licence holders for restaurants and outside store rent contracts ? thus supporting the costs involved in their comeback to the new spaces?, the document reads.
The Executive led by Mayor Rui Moreira proposes that two support modalities are in place: the payment of adaptation works of indoor restaurant space in an estimate amount of 268 thousand euros, and the restocking of outside stores (and respective [...]]]>
The French bank wants to increase the number of employees of its excellence centre installed in Porto, with available vacancies in areas such as technology, finance or law. The company is also investing in a campaign to attract new graduates.

Natixis will reinforce the team that was established in downtown Porto in 2017, with the objective of hiring more than 400 professionals until the end of the year. If, initially, the excellence centre in Invicta?s downtown was dedicated to information technologies (IT), the company is now looking for profiles in the areas of management or law, due to the diversification of operations in the portuense office. In February 2020, the centre?s operation began to include activities of banking support as well, with teams dedicated to compliance, sanctions and embargoes, risk management and HR management.
Natixis, with 1.200 workers in Porto, has 400 open vacancies at the moment, with several levels of professional experience, in areas related to [...]]]> Positive results and the growth of the operations in the city will lead Adentis to open a second office in Porto and to hire 100 engineers more. The second space of the consulting company, focused in innovation and specialized in the development of information systems? projects, will be up and running until the end of the year.

MoOngy group?s French tech company finished this year?s first semester with a turnover of 3.9M€, 47% more than the same period in 2020, year when it reached the figure of 5.8M€.
The strong growth of a company with barely more than four years of activity will motivate the reinforcement of operations in Porto, with recruitment until the end of the year in the areas of ?software engineering?, ?quality assurance? and ?business intelligence?, to join the current team of 200 people.
"First semester?s turnover growth of two digits illustrates the increase in confidence from the business sector and the quality of our services and team?, believes João [...]]]> SWORD Health tech company draws investors? attention once again by raising a new capital injection, this time of 85M$ (71,4M€). If in February this company that develops systems of digital physiotherapy intended to hire about 100 workers for Porto, now those figures should reach 200.

Five months have passed since the announcement of a 25M$-worth series B investment (the second phase of startups? journey, with the aim of expanding businesses, improving processes, recruiting talent and exploring new markets). This week, SWORD Health confirms the most recent capital injection, of series C, the second largest ever received by a Portuguese company.
According to Dinheiro Vivo, this capital injection will allow the duplication of recruitment intentions, as it constitutes one of the assumptions of an investment round of such calibre. As a result, over 400 people should join the 120 workers that already composed the teams in the offices of Sá da Bandeira, Salt Lake City and New York: half [...]]]> The U.Porto Spin-off and startup incubated at UPTEC- Science and Technology Park ofPorto Adyta willcollaborate in the development of quantum communications networks to strengthenEurope?s defence communications autonomy. This project termed DISCRETION willbe developed for 42 months and has a budget of more than 6.7 million euros.The DISCRETION project is aimed at integrating and combining SoftwareDefined Networks (SDN) and the distribution of quantum keys. Together with thelegacy of optical networks it will be possible to build a highly effectivescalable and resilient network control architecture, for the services ofadvanced tactical operations, thus strengthening Europe?s defencecommunications and enabling European Armed Forces to also use the RadioFrequency Spectrum when engaged in tactical military activities.Adyta?s integration in such a Consortium that is at the forefront oftechnology is crucial, as [...]]]> The initial objective was to help 120 small and medium-sized businesses inthe city accelerate the transition to the digital economy and respond to thechallenges caused by the current crisis. Almost three thousand hours oftraining later, the "reinventaPorto?, promoted by the Municipality of Porto andthe National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (ANJE), trained 204 companiesfrom different sectors, most of them in consulting, commerce/retail andrestaurants, but also from areas of health, insurance, and construction.In the words of the city councilor responsible for Economy, Tourism andCommerce, Ricardo Valente, Porto City Council has the intention "to trainpeople, to support training in this granular logic, with entities that allowthis knowledge to quickly transform into something concrete from the businesspoint of view, that transforms organizations and allows the city to regaineconomic dynamism", since, according to Ricardo Valente, "municipalities shouldnot replace the [...]]]> There is Portuguese technology that automatically transforms hybrid carsinto electric cars in three cities. Lisbon, Porto, and Braga are the first threelocations to benefit from the solution created by Critical Software in a consortium with BMW.The eDriveZones solution allows hybrids with an external charging socket(plug-in) to automatically switch to electric mode in the zero or low emissionzones of the center of Lisbon, Porto and Braga.In the initial phase, the tool is available for models 330e, 745e, X5xDrive45e and 530e, according to the statement.Since 2018, Critical Software and BMW have been working together inPortugal, through the Critical TechWorks consortium. There are more than 1000people working in this entity, with offices in Porto. In 2021 alone, 400 peopleare being hired.Among the tools developed in the last three years, a highlight is thesystem that allows the driver to program the car's temperature before enteringit and the charging plan for [...]]]> "AmroPartners has expanded its reach in the Iberian market with two new strategicstudent accommodation projects in the Spanish capital, Madrid, and in thesecond largest Portuguese city, Porto. Together, they will add 367 beds to theIberian student housing market and strengthen Amro's position as a pan-IberianPBSA (Purposed Built Student Accommodation) promoter and operator", announcesthe British company.Amro becomes the most recent international company to be present inthe Portuguese student housing market. Porto, and more precisely the Asprelauniversity center in Paranhos, was the location chosen for his "first projectin the poor student housing market in Portugal", the same document reads.Scheduledto open in 2023, Amro's new residence will add 151 beds, distributed inindividual studios, "twodios" and double rooms with servicesincluded, as well as various support equipment such as study rooms, terraces, and gym, a MasterChef room, paddle court, and outdoor green [...]]]> The signing of the Porto Declaration marks the conclusion of the UNWTOMayors Forum for Sustainable Urban Tourism, which was held at Porto Customs,today, 9 July.The representatives of the cities of Athens, Braga, Brussels, Bruges,Budapest, Dubrovnik, Florence, Ouagadougou, Podgorica, Porto, Prague, Rome,Samarkand, São Vicente, Skiathos, Tirana and Venice; of the Ministry of State,Economy and Digital Transition of Portugal, UN-Habitat, the European Committeeof the Regions, the Unión Ciudades Capitales Iberoamericanas, Expedia, CLIAEurope, Must Travel & Tech and Airbnb meeting in Porto, Portugal, on July9, 2021 on the occasion of the UNWTO Mayors Forum for Sustainable Urban Tourismhave signed the Porto Declaration, whose main mission is to establish targetgoals on the umbrella objective of attaining a sustainable urban tourism.The world representatives of local government committed to work towards theestablishment of an inclusive and more sustainable tourism sector in [...]]]> Portugal strengthens its position as an attractive market for the implementationof international companies, due to factors such as its strategic location,quality of national human resources, the climate of political stability, and socialpeace, robust infrastructure of connectivity and innovation, and digitaltransition.This is one of the conclusions of the study "Portugal on the Radar ofBusiness Service Centers (BSC): the Attractiveness of the Real Estate Market,Edition 2021", prepared by Savills, which highlights as proof of thisattractiveness the recognition of several international awards, which"have placed Portugal as a top destination for investment in multiplesectors, especially by foreign investors, who show a growing interest inpositioning themselves in our country." It also highlights the educationsystem, with more and more internationally recognized institutions.Shared service centers are growing, responding to the companies' need tooptimize resources, [...]]]> Metrics such asthe so-called unicorn status (when companies reach the valuation of one billiondollars) are "of little or no value" for the Portuguese Diogo Mónica,who was born in California (son of a sea captain and war captain in thePortuguese Navy ) but grew up in Lisbon. The company he co-founded and ispresident of, Anchorage, already seems to have investors ready to put hisvaluation above that, but at 34 his tech-based mission is just beginning inwhat he calls a "world revolution that cryptocurrencies and blockchaintechnology is unleashing and it won't stop".The startup'svalue has skyrocketed since it was created in San Francisco in 2017. In 2019alone, it raised two rounds of investment totaling $57 million and whichincluded investors like Visa and the famous Silicon Valley venture capitalfirm, Andreessen Horowitz, with a valuation of 139 million dollars. InFebruary, it raised 80 million (unknown valuation) from series C, for a totalof 137 million.The [...]]]> The new luxury unit ofthe Mercan group in Porto, the Casa da Companhia hotel, opens on July 5th.The hotel is located onRua das Flores and is the result of the rehabilitation and restoration of ahistoric building from the 18th century, located in an area classified as WorldHeritage by UNESCO. The architectural project respected the lines of thebuilding, where Real Companhia Velha was located, one of the oldest companiesproducing Port Wine.This new five-starboutique hotel has 40 rooms, 10 of which are suites, in addition to an outdoorpool overlooking the Cathedral, a 160 square meter wellness area with a heatedindoor pool, gym, treatment room, sauna, and Turkish bath. It also has arestaurant and bar with direct access to Rua das Flores, with a special focuson traditional Portuguese cuisine, with Mediterranean and international influence.Jordi Vilanova, vicepresident of the Mercan group, believes that this "is a work that the MercanGroup is very proud of, for the care [...]]]> In July 2022, the number of available student residence units will reaffirmthe city as a housing hub. The BigCity Asprela, a 30 million euros investmentby BigCity and Reditum Capital, will bring 241 beds to the city, in an area of10.850 square metres.This is the first project in national territory by the two investment andproperty manager companies, whose goal is to meet the need regarding the increasein the number of international students that, every year, choose the city ofPorto to pursue their academic degrees."Housing for students in Portugal features as a way in the national market,by investors, as there is a high demand?, enhances Mark Stephen, founder ofReditum Capital, as quoted by the Property Funds World site, furthering that"there is a substantial appetite for institutional investment for this type ofhigh-quality assets?.As such, the academic year 2022/23 will rely on over two hundred beds, in a12 storey building that will be built next to the Asprela [...]]]> On July 13th, Mercadona will open its third storein Porto, in the parish of Lordelo do Ouro, one of the oldest parishes in thecity. It will be the chain's 22nd store in Portugal and the second to open thisyear. This new supermarket is located at Rua Diogo Botelho (entrance to the carpark at Rua da Pasteleira, no. 219), and will create 65 new jobs in the city. After ending 2020 with 20 storesnationwide, the new openings continue to reveal Mercadona's strong commitmentto the country, resulting in 600  new jobs throughout theyear, with permanent contracts from day one.This store, which has a sales area of ??1,900 sq. mt., responds to the company's Efficient Store Model as it will have 240 parkingspaces, ten designated for charging electric vehicles, meeting thecompany's commitment to electric mobility.This supermarket will have implementedthe 6.25 Store concept, inserted in the company's Strategy 6.25, which has thetriple objective of, by 2025, [...]]]> The development of a digital physiotherapy system that brings togetherartificial intelligence and clinical teams earned SWORD Health a new investment. The Portuguese startup received an investment of 85 million dollars(71.4 million euros) in series C, according to the announcement made thisWednesday. The inflow of money will allow the hiring of 400 people in thecoming months and the development of new tools.It is the second-largest investment series ever for a startup founded byPortuguese. Only Talkdesk managed to raise more funds in thisfinancing stage, in the amount of 143 million dollars, in July 2020.The new capital injection also points SWORD Health down the unicorn route,which brings together companies valued by private investors at least $1billion. The restricted 'club' of tech companies includes four representativeswith Portuguese DNA: Farfetch, OutSystems, Talkdesk, and Feedzai (the mostrecent).The second investment in the Portuguese startup in 2021 [...]]]> Porto forTalent Summer Academy gives companies the opportunity to meet and makethemselves known to new talents in higher education. At the Summer Academy,companies receive visits from university students and host conversationsbetween students and professionals.The PortoCity Council, in partnership with the Faculty of Psychology and EducationalSciences of the University of Porto invites your company to join the firstedition of this initiative, which will start with an online Workshop on July 13th(4pm-6pm).Anopportunity to:Meetstudents throughout their academic career, contributing to the strategy ofidentifying and attracting talent in your companyMakeyourself known to students, contributing to your company's Employer BrandStrengthenand expand its network of contacts with employability offices of HigherEducation InstitutionsDon't missthe opportunity to register your company: Porto for Talent ? [...]]]> Techcompany Readiness IT, based in Campanhã, Porto, has consolidated its role asregards 5G technology and Internet of Things (IoT) due to new partnership withAmerican company Blue Planet. The Portuguese company is pioneer in implementingdigital transformation projects and will combine its expertise to the BluePlanet?s mission of accelerating digital transformation by streamlining theautomation of the services lifecycle.Readiness IT was listed among the top best companies in the world of digitaltransformation,by the international magazine APAC CIO Outlook, in 2019. The tech companyemploys over 300 people and has an active policy of attracting projects fromall over the world.The company was founded in 2015 and it operates in Chile, Peru and NewZealand and its products have reached 50 million subscribers in Latin America,Oceania, North America and [...]]]> The year was apandemic, but Portugal managed to enter the Top 10 of the most attractiveEuropean economies for foreign investment. This is one of the conclusions ofthe EY Attractiveness Survey Portugal 2021, which every year assesses the perceptionof foreign investors about how attractive the country is at this level.Covid-19 resulted in a drop in the number of investments raised (four fewerthan in the previous year), but the future perspectives are positive as 37% ofrespondents plan to create or expand their operations in Portugal.France remains themost attractive European economy for foreign investment, followed by the UnitedKingdom, Germany, and Spain, which remained in the same positions compared to2019, but all with a drop in the number of new projects. The pandemic resultedin a 13% drop in FDI projects in Europe ? Spain was the most affected (-27%),but in Portugal the drop was 3%.Of the 154 FDIprojects that Portugal attracted in 2020, 113 were new and the [...]]]> PHCSoftwareTechnologicalPHC Software is recruiting for several roles, some at the Porto offices.In total there are 17 vacancies open.Juniordeveloper, developer analyst, junior training consultant, front-end developer,support technician, UX designer, product manager, junior fiscal specialist,account manager, Scrum master are some of the open positions. Applications can be made here.
IT PeopleIT Peopleis hiring and looking for candidates for the roles of junior java developer,devops, python developer, angular developer.Learn moreabout these or other vacancies here.
MilestoneMilestoneis also hiring and has open positions for SAP analytics consultant,successfactors consultant, senior ABAP consultant.You cancheck open vacancies and apply here. ]]> Portugal is the fourth safest country in the world, according to theGlobal Peace Index 2021, just behind Iceland, New Zealand, and Denmark. In otherwords, it is second among the countries of the European Union.In a statement sent to the newsrooms, the ministry headed by EduardoCabrita highlights that in the Institute for Economics & Peace report,released this Thursday, "Portugal is one of the 5 safest countries in theworld and the second among the countries of the European Union".For the Minister of Internal Affairs, "Portugal being consideredone of the safest countries in the world is an asset for the quality of life ofthe Portuguese" and constitutes a competitive advantage over othercountries."The issue of security is far from being a strict law enforcement issue.Today, security is a decisive factor in attracting investment, in attractingtourists that we hope to have again, in order to strengthen the country'sglobal image. easily from countries that have [...]]]> APDPortugal promotes the webinar "Post-pandemic: it is important to reflecton the "next day", on June 22nd.Theinitiative aims to understand and analyze the impact of remote work oncompanies and how the real estate sector will face this cultural change, aswell as what changes are expected in the leadership of human resources and inthe new legal and labor context.Sign up:http://ow.ly/3hjW50Fbt4i]]> SonaeCapital is investing 17.5 million euros in a new hotel brand, called TheEditory Collection Hotels, projecting to reach 600 rooms by 2025, informed the company'sofficial source to Lusa.Thus,according to the same source, Sonae Capital's investment already made, and inprogress in this project amounts to 17.5 million euros, with the goal ofreaching a dozen units and 600 rooms by 2025."Thepositioning is clearly one of expansion. We are receptive to proposals toassess this expansion, whose goal is not defined beyond what has already beenmentioned", said the same source.In the statement, Sonae Capital Hospitality said that this brand presented "at themoment of tourism recovery", assumes "a more ambitious position andgreater implementation in the national market, with two openings planned in thecoming months, totaling eight units under the new seal".The eightunits in question are "the Porto Palácio Hotel by The Publisher, AqualuzHotels by The Publisher [...]]]> Joe Bidenis set to define the American strategy around AI (Artificial Intelligence) andgathered a team of 12 experts in the subject to form a Task Force that willwork closely with the US government in that topic. One of such experts is thePorto native Daniela Braga, founder of the DefinedCrowd startup, which is widelyrecognised in the sector and already collaborates with Amazon or Google.The strategy of the White House includes the democratisation of theartificial intelligence and its development, its impact on learning, onworkers, on research, and on the economy. The Task Force's mission is toprovide advice and assistance as regards the drawing-up of a guide to create aNorth American research centre for artificial intelligence.The Government headed by Joe Biden wants to create a knowledge-sharingplatform that enables students and researchers to access computational tools,data, educational tools and [...]]]> As regardsEU Funding, the Municipality of Porto is at the top of the Commission's agendaas regards attractiveness. Since the Community framework kicked off, in 2014,circa 1.4 billion euros of Portugal 2020 were allocated to the city ofPorto to deliver strategic works, both to support companies and training. Thisdata was provided by the "Mais Transparência? portal.The capacity of Porto?s accession toEU funding is related to the strategic projects in town, namely the Metroexpansion, or the milestone works that are ongoing, such as the rehabilitationof the Bolhão market or the building of the new Terminal Intermodal deCampanhã.However, a large amount of what hasbeen allocated to the city until March 2020 ? which corresponds to 6% of thetotal national amount of 24.5 billion euros ? was allocated to supportcompanies, research, training and [...]]]> Founded in 2016, GoParity is the Portuguese platformthat raises crowdfunding for projects with social and environmental impact.Five years later, the startup received an investment of 200,000 euros, in apre-seed round, from Critical Software and the Mustard Seed Maze (MSM) fund,linked to the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, according to the announcementmade this Tuesday.The capital injection will make it possible tostrengthen the team, launch new products and even multiply the number ofinvestors by five by the end of 2022."The MSM fund and Critical Software's way ofbeing attracted us, in which we review ourselves and who we know we can counton to multiply the positive impact we have", notes the platform leader,Nuno Brito Jorge, quoted in a press release.The Portuguese startup also intends to get closer andcloser to companies. "We can be used as a tool to encourage talent. Forexample, a worker can receive an investment voucher for a project that is onour [...]]]> Artificialintelligence is one of the emerging technologies that is making economies"shake up" the most, due to the huge number of companies developingsolutions taking advantage of AI, the much research that continues to be donein this field and the billions of euros in public and private investment plans,already presented by several countries.Some of thetechnologies that are already changing the world and business, thanks to thepower of AI were or are being developed and operated from Portugal. It isPortuguese AI-based technology that supports the fraud detection systems in thefinancial transactions of 800 million people around the world, including thecustomers of four of the five largest banks in North America (Feedzai).It is Portuguesetechnology, which 1800 companies around the world use when interacting withcustomers from a platform developed by Talkdesk, strongly supported by AI. Asit is also Portuguese technology that helps several Fortune 500 companies tocreate [...]]]> The Municipality of Porto wants to distinguish the best academic studies developed in the areas of economic development, attraction and talent retention, competitiveness, knowledge and innovation networks, entrepreneurship, and economic diplomacy. The winner will receive a cash prize worth €1,500 and entries must be submitted by September 30th.Academic thesis should focus on topics of relevanceand interest to the city and, in this first edition, works that have beendeveloped in the 2020/2021 academic year, but also in 2017/18, 2018/19 and2019/20, written in Portuguese or English. In addition to the first prize, twohonorable mentions worth 500 euros each will be awarded.The jury, composed of Porto City Council representatives, the Business Association of Portugal, the Order of Economists (North), the Faculty of Economics and Management of the Catholic University ofPortugal, the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto, the Lusíada University and the Portucalense Infante D. [...]]]> Engineer Mike Eissele is the CTO of TeamViewer, aGerman company known for its remote computer access tools present in over 2.5billion devices, which is opening a new technology center in Porto after theacquisition of the Portuguese company Hapibot Studio. To Dinheiro Vivo, GermanEissele admits that "there is an exciting time to innovate in the world ofwork" and that, to a certain extent, it is already possible to say"that augmented reality tools are already making virtual meetings moreeffective in sharing and interaction between stakeholders, better thanface-to-face meetings".The plan for Porto is ambitious and foresees, over thenext three years the contracting of 200 new employees "to help us innovate in newproducts", in addition to the current 20 from Hapibot - by the end of theyear the company will triple the team.And why Porto? "We are growing rapidly and wanted a new research and development center in Europe (due to time zones,regulations and also university [...]]]> SDCInvestimentos changed its name and image, now denominated as Capitólio. The newlycreated Capitólio, jointly controlled and managed by Gonçalo Andrade Santos andAntónio Castro Henriques, heads a group of companies operating in the areas ofreal estate development and venture capital."Thechanges in the name and image clarify the company's positioning and symbolizeits entry into a new phase, after having stopped intervening in any form in theconstruction business area", explained the directors.Accordingto the company, the group's main asset is the Porto Business Plaza businesscenter, which has 49,000 square meters, including more than 30,000 sq. mt. ofoffices, and where an investment program of more than 15 million euros for its full requalification isunderway.At hand is, as reported about two years ago, an old shopping center located in theheart of Porto, in the Bonfim area, which opened in 1996.SDCInvestimentos, now Capitólio, which according to [...]]]> It entered the Spanish market in 2019 and now arrivesin Portugal. The French company Hubside, created in 2018, promises to create,by the end of the year, 200 jobs in the country.The company, in a statement, says that "it is thefirst web services platform in Portugal that is sold at points of sale, amongwhich Fnac stores stand out. Hubside offers free, personalized, and professionaltechnical assistance, both in person, as online and over the phone, with thesupport of local experts"."Hubside arrives in Portugal to become theplatform of our users' passions, just as we did in France. We want to create acommunity and connect people so that they can share their ideas, interests andhobbies", explains Álex Hampe, CEO of Hubside, quoted in the pressrelease."The tool we propose is easy, intuitive andconvenient, for anyone who wants to create and design their own website,without the need for IT skills. With Hubside, users can meet to connect withtheir community and show [...]]]> The Municipal Assembly has just approved the proposal to revise the Municipal Master Plan. The new Master Plan will create conditions to increase available housing in the city, promote more jobs, attract more investment and, consequently, create more wealth. This is also a Plan that expresses as a priority the fightagainst climate change, through the duplication of green areas.In the now approved Master Plan, which will be in force over the next decade, Porto City Hall prints a new approach to the municipal ecological structure, aiming at"the increase of the public green area and the qualification of thehydrographic network of rivers and streams", stresses the city ??councilor for urbanism, Pedro Baganha.Theincrease in the provision of available housing, with a particular focus onaccessibility, is also part of the Great Options of the Plan, aiming at thedemographic recovery and the regulation of the real estate market. In thisregard, it is worth mentioning the inclusion in the new [...]]]> The new Municipal Master Plan, which defines the strategic lines of the city of Porto during the next decade, was approved by the Municipal Assembly on Monday night.The revision proposal, admittedly reformist and not breaking with the previousplan places "the balance of the eastern zone" as one of the mainpriorities, in addition to a strong commitment to employment, the provision ofmore housing and the duplication of green areas highlighted Rui Moreira, whoreceived the abstention of the president of the Campanhã Parish Council,who did not follow the direction of the PS parliamentary group with a dissenting vote.Theproposal to revise the Master Plan was approved with votes in favor of the deputies ofthe Rui Moreira municipal group: Porto, Nosso Partido, abstention from PSD,two abstentions from PS (from the president of the Campanhã Parish Council,Ernesto Santos, and Rodrigo Oliveira), dissenting votes by the rest of the socialistbench, CDU, BE, and PAN.In thedebate, which [...]]]> Rui Moreira and another 60 mayors of municipalities all over the worldgathered for an online meeting, today, to discuss commitments to inclusivegrowth and pledged to support youth through COVID-19 recovery initiatives intheir cities. This event marked the 5th Anniversary Meeting of the OECDChampion Mayors For Inclusive Growth, which was first established in March2016.The ongoing pandemic laid bare the painful shortcomings among vulnerablepeople, communities and even countries. And local governments, namely mayorshave positioned themselves to champion the necessary responses that can help tobridge the gap of inequalities, as regards the Covid-9 crisis.One of the most vulnerable groups are the youth, with alarming unemploymentrates that have skyrocket at global level. Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, joinedthe mayors of Athens, Bilbao, Braga, Boulogne, Bogota, Buenos Aires, Dakar,Philadelphia, Florence, Stockholm, Hamburg, Lima, Liverpool, Los Angeles,Montreal, New York, [...]]]> The mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, accompanied by the councilor for Economy, Tourism, and Commerce, Ricardo Valente visited the new residential complex for students LIV Student - University Campus.The complex will be the first to open the doors of the two future universityresidences brought to Porto by a company belonging to the North American groupValeo, with its' opening scheduled for the beginning of the next academic year. Itwill provide more than 400 accommodation units spread over two buildings.The secondunit, LIV Student - The Street Campus, which is being built on a plot next toEstrada da Circunvalação also consists of two buildings and will have acapacity for 816 residential units, including rooms and studios, 17 of whichare adapted to people with reduced mobility.Bothaccommodation units will offer a total of 1,200 residential units for studentswith an individual apartment concept or with the possibility of choosing sharedapartments with single or twin rooms, [...]]]> The stark contrast: what once was a derelict place, is giving way to a building that is making sure that this renovation will be one for the History books: the landmark site that will change the scenery in the Eastern part of the city of Porto. The wheel excavators of Mota Engil entered the building of the former Matadouro Industrial de Campanhã. This building stage comprises the demolition of all the elements that have been compromised by degradation. The Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira visited the site yesterday morning, accompanied by Horácio Sá, Mota Engil Engenharia board chairman, by Carlos Mota Santos, Mota Engil board member, architect Luís Sousa, of the civil construction company in charge of the project.Rui Moreira had a glimpse of how all will work out, namely the 8 000 square kilometres that Porto City Hall reserved for the Museu da Cidade and other cultural and social projects. Following the due licencing of the several specialities, the new Matadouro will start to come to life, where multiple [...]]]> The region with the best road and rail access in Portugal is the Metropolitan Area of ??Porto (AMP). This is one of the main conclusions of a study carried out by Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation, which Expresso echoes today, in the Economics section.The study "Transport systems inPortugal: analysis of efficiency and regional impacts", by FranciscoManuel dos Santos Foundation, concludes that it is in the two metropolitanareas of the country that there is a better connectivity offer, justifiedby the greater population density. Straight after the Metropolitan Area of ??Porto comesthe region of Lisbon.From the research coordinated by CarlosOliveira Cruz, a professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico, Expressohighlights, it also appears that "the entry of private investors intransport companies in Portugal in recent years has brought more efficiency tothis sector".The article does not dissociate theimprovement of connectivity in Porto and in the metropolitan [...]]]> Sitel Group continues to recruit with the objective of hiring 300 new employees during the month of June for remote work opportunities. Having already hired 400 new employees in the months of April and May. In total, the company intends torecruit 700 new employees in three months, offering a career opportunity forthose who wish to embrace a new challenge, in a flexible work modality suitedto the current context.For therecruitment process that is still on-going, Sitel is looking for candidates whoare fluent at a native level in the languages ??of French and Italian. Theapplication will be to perform functions to support clients in the banking,tourism, and aviation sectors and to provide technical support for television streamingsectors. Although applications from those who already have technical skills inthe Customer Care area are valued, Sitel offers the necessary training to newemployees.BeneditaMiranda, General Manager Sitel Portugal, Greece, and Italy, says "we have [...]]]> Talkdesk, one of the four Portuguese unicorns together with Feedzai,OutSystems and Farfetch will organize a free online event where the idea is to share "ten years of learning and technological knowledge?.Inside Talkdesk takes place on the 1st and 2nd of June, with fifteensessions divided by four themes: ?Technology?, ?Engineering Management?,?Product Development? and the presentation of the company?s project to welcome interns: Tech Dojo.All of these sessions are related to the work developed by Talkdesk andserve two purposes: "Introduce the Portuguese DNA unicorn to the public andenlighten people interested in issues related to the products' developed andrecruitment?.The sessions are, for example, 'Real-world Microservices in Java','How AI & Automations are boosting customer delight and driving moreefficient interactions' or 'Career growth after the pandemic - What's going tochange and how to be prepared' - the complete program is [...]]]> Data from the NationalRegister of Tourist Enterprises (RNET), to which Lusa had access today,indicate that in 2020 14 new tourist developments opened in Porto and that,this year, they opened six hotels, totaling 19 new tourist developments in thecity.Questioned by the Lusa agencyabout the entry of new licensing requests for hotels in 2020 and 2021, thePorto City Hall said, in a written reply, that in the year 2020 and in the firstfour months of 2021, 27 processes for licensing new hotels were entered intothe services. hotels, being "all in the process of analysis".In 2020, a total of "21licensing processes" for new hotel units were entered into the Porto City Hall,and "two legalization processes" and a "change of useauthorization process" were also filed.In 2021, and until April, sixlicensing processes for new tourism enterprises and a request for authorizationto change their use were made available to municipal services."All the processes areunder [...]]]> "Porto_4_All - Recruitment and networking" will present migrants to recruiting companies. The initiative takes place in an online format, this Wednesday, May 26th, between 9 am and 13 pm.Inpractice, 20 migrant candidates, previously trained in employability skills,will have the opportunity to introduce themselves to top companies in thecity of Porto through a three-minute pitch. The opening session will count onthe presence of the city councilor for the Department ofHousing and Social Cohesion, Fernando Paulo.Porto_4_Allis a pilot project dedicated to the professional integration of the migrantcommunity developed by Porto City Council, in partnership with the HighCommission for Migration, ANJE - National Association of Young Entrepreneurs, Seiva Association, Cesae Digital - Centre For the Development of Digital Skills,EAPN - European Anti-Poverty Network and IEFP - Institute of Employment andVocational Training.In thecontext of this program, several actions have already [...]]]> The Municipal Executive approved, at the beginning of this afternoon, bymajority and with the PSD abstention, the proposal to revise the MunicipalMaster Plan (PDM). It is the culmination of a long process, initiated in 2015,which went through three councilors of Urbanism, and whose debate was widelyparticipated, with the promotion of at least 35 public sessions. Being areformist plan and not a rupture, it presents novelties in terms of majoroptions, among them the enhancement of green spaces and the increase inavailable housing.The city of Porto has a new PDM approved by the executive body, with votesin favor of the independent majority Rui Moreira: Porto, Nosso Partido, PSDabstained, and votes against by PS and CDU. The new plan will only effectivelycome into force after the approval of the Municipal Assembly, which will meetprecisely one week from now, on May 31st.In total, there are five Great Options of the Plan that will govern thecity during the next decade, and [...]]]> In a list of 59 countries from all over the world, Portugal was classified as one of the destinations with the best quality of life and work, occupyingthe fifth position in the table. And it is even considered "the home ofsome of the happiest expatriates in the world", reveals the Expat Insider2021 survey developed by InterNations, which included the participation of12,420 expatriates.In this study, about 84% of respondents say they are "happy with theirlife in general" in Portugal. And there are several factorsthat explain this satisfaction: these foreign citizens who chose to liveoutside their country "enjoy a high quality of life. in the country,ranking Portugal in third place in this index ?. Highlights include localleisure options, sunny weather, and security, which expatriates highly value.Speaking to InterNations, a British expatriate confirms that Portugal "isa safe and quiet place" and adds that "it is very beautiful, withgood food, music, culture, and landscapes." [...]]]> Accenturehas just been considered the best provider of technological services to thehealthcare sector globally, according to the report "HFS Top 10 HealthcareSector Service Providers".The studyconcluded that "Accenture is the only service provider in this report thatcan bring together consultancy, technology, and large-scale operations for itshealthcare customers", after assessing the specific capabilities of 18 providersat the company level, innovation and execution capacity, based on services forpatients and healthcare providers.For HFS, the company that provides studies, vision, and consultancy for the technology andservices industry, the increase in demand, the scarcity of supply and thepandemic created an urgent moment for the digital transformation of the healthsector.Thistransformation "ranges from reducing the cost of care to changing thedisease paradigm to promoting well-being, through resilience and compliance tomore effectively manage the associated [...]]]> Working inPorto with a sea view will be possible in the renovated Transparante building, located next to the seafront of Porto - Matosinhos and at thewest entrance of the City Park. A property that in 2018 was to bedemolished, will now host a 650 square meter ?coworking? space, with its' inauguration foreseen for June 1st, 2021."Designedin 2006 by Catalan architect Solà-Morales, (?) Transparente building is takingon a new life, through the remodeling of its interior spaces to accommodate thebrand new Work-In, which will facilitate the implementation of multiplebusiness activities in one of the main city ??arteries", predicts in astatement the real estate consultant Predibisa, responsible for thecommercialization of the Work-In project.Accordingto the company, Work-In is an innovative idea that is the result of the partnershipestablished between the management entity of Transparente building and thePortuguese office furniture company Caos, in order to promote and fit [...]]]> The Mercan group and 160 international investors are developing a hotelproject in Lapa, Porto's historic district, in an investment of 56 millioneuros. The Renaissance Park Hotel - Porto, whose construction started at thebeginning of the year integrates a wider plan for that area of ??the city,which includes an urban park of 14,600 square meters.According to Jordi Vilanova, vice president of the Mercan group, investorsacquired a 22,787 square meter plot, of which 17,700 were assigned to the cityfor the construction of the Lapa urban park and public infrastructure. Theassignment was in return for the licensing of the project.The official underlines that the Mercan group's projects combine"foreign investment, with job creation, the stimulation of tourism andlocal and national development", and in the case of Porto "it goeseven further in its positive impact".As he reveals, the new hotel "is only possible because there were 160international investors who saw Gold [...]]]> RuiMoreira, Mayor of Porto assessed some of the most significant projects that havebeen developed in the city of Porto, throughout the past years, from urbanrehabilitation to housing, through mobility, environment and sustainability,highlighting that this evolution is due to a "virtuous circle between publicand private policies?. For each euro of public investment, "the multipliereffect varies between 20 to 30 euros of private investment?, the Mayor added.During the debate "Uma visão para o futuro do Porto? ["A Vision for theFuture of Porto?, free translation], organised by the Vida Imobiliária e aAssociação Portuguesa de Promotores e Investidores Imobiliários (APPII), thePortuguese Association of Portuguese Real Estate, where Rui Moreira was a guestspeaker, the Mayor of Porto commenced by referring some facts of the past, andthen concluded that, at present, the city is "profoundly different?, which isnot "merited by Porto City Hall?, but "merited by all?.Rui Moreira [...]]]> With 20 stores in Portugal, the chain closed last year with revenues of 186 million euros. It recorded operating losses of 83 million euros last year, an improvement of 13.5%, compared to a 96 million loss in the previous year.At thebeginning of the year, Mercadona approved an investment of 400 million euros todevelop the Spanish chain's business in Portugal. It is a "long-terminvestment for different initiatives", says the chain's official source. This year, the injection of 150 million and the openingof nine supermarkets is planned."The400 million euros relate to long-term investment for different initiativessuch as the opening of new stores, among other structures. The 150 millioneuros announced are the investment for 2021", says the chain's officialsource.With 20stores in Portugal, the chain closed last year with revenues of 186 million euros,with the presentation of last year's accounts by Juan Roig emphasizing thatstores in Portugal register on [...]]]> YOTEL Portois a project by United Investments Portugal, which according to its statementrepresents an investment of 30 million euros in the city of Porto. The groupalso has Pine Cliffs Resort, Sheraton Cascais, and the brand Spas Serenity - TheArt of Well Being in its portfolio.The hotelhas a design and service inspired by the first aviation class, referring to itsrooms as small but luxurious "cabins", with adjustable"SmartBed" beds, rejuvenating rain showers, smart TVs, and differentenergy points and USB inputs.Thefacilities at YOTEL Porto include 150 rooms, common areas for work, two meetingrooms, flexible spaces for events overlooking the city, parking, and a 24-hour gym.

After downloading the YOTEL Porto application, which is available for iOS andAndroid, customers can check in remotely and have access to a SmartKey to enter the room,as well as access to room service, control the television, and the accommodation lighting. The hotel also has [...]]]> In 2015,Sonae IM was created after a discussion within Sonae about growth areas and, in consequence of the group's past experience in investments in technology companies."Wesaw that there was an interesting opportunity, an area of ??strong growth"in technology companies, which includes "the benefit it would bring toSonae's business at the time", says the official."Andit was with the experience that people within the Sonae universe had" that the subsidiary Sonae IM emerged, with the objective of"being an active investor in technology-based companies", he adds.The bet is to create and manage a portfolio of technology-based companies"worldwide and distinctively", points out Eduardo Piedade."Andthat is how we started, we had some companies in our portfolio such asWeDo, Saphety, and Bizdirect and we had made an investment in cybersecurity in2014, at S21Sec", he continues, pointing out that three investment areashave been identified: technologies for retail, for [...]]]> The first real estate project by the Belgian Krest Real Estate Investmentsin the city of Porto will start soon. It is a mixed-use complex located inCampanhã that has the signature of the architect Eduardo Souto Moura. This ventureis part of its strategy for Portugal, which plans to invest an additional 200million euros in new projects in the next four years.This project in the city of Invicta includes the construction of 7,000square meters for housing, 5,000 sq. mt. for office spaces, and 2,000 sq. mt. for ahotel and restaurant, as described by Krest CEO Claude Kandiyoti.This project - designed by Souto Moura in partnership with the Metroubestudio - aims to generate a residential offer affordable to the Portuguese. Thesame official guarantees that "the objective is to be affordable".The value of the investment has not been revealed, but it is known that theapplication for the license should occur, at the latest, until July andalthough it is expected to start with the [...]]]> Boehringer Ingelheim Healthcare Management and Misericórdia do Porto present an innovative project in Portugal, that provides an effective rehabilitation of stroke patients, thus creating CONSANAS Prelada Hospital.Thepartnership combines Prelada Hospital's high and proven experience of rehabilitation of strokepatients with the innovation and operational excellenceof Boehringer Ingelheim Healthcare Management, by transferring the bestconcepts of German rehabilitation.Theassistance response provided by CONSANAS Hospital da Prelada is distinguishedby a therapeutic plan supported by prognosis, in which the focus is based onrealistic and achievable objectives and the short-term results (40 to60 days), bring direct benefits to patients, family members, the NationalHealth Service, financing entities for better care provision, and society ingeneral.CONSANAS Prelada Hospital has been in operation since the end of September 2019, butthe pandemic context that the country and the [...]]]> TeamViewer remotecontrol software company claims for economic recovery and redress by setting upa technological centre in Porto. From the Invicta, the German business willdevelop solutions in the field of augmented reality and The Internet of Things(IoT)."The recent acquisition of Hapibot Studio, the software developmentagency based in Porto, TeamViewer already kicked off its establishment in thecity with a team of circa 20 highly qualified software and designengineers", reveals the German company in a news release.TeamViewer, the Manchester United Football Team Shirt sponsor, alsostated that its main goal is that the hub to be installed in Porto strengthensits strategy in the field of augmented reality and IoT, furthering that theirmain objective is that "this new site develops in a significant way in time asto become the key-component of TeamViewer?s I&D global organisation?.The German company [...]]]> TheIsraelis of Velocity Investments are investing 3.5 million euros in thedevelopment of a residential project, in Porto.Thedevelopment, located at Rua do Almada - in downtown Porto - is part of aVelocity investment portfolio in the city that already amounts to 50 millioneuros.The companyof Israeli origin, which entered the Porto real estate market in 2017,considers that Porto, given the hospitality of its population, "is thebest city in the world to live".And, forthis reason, Velocity intends to "double in the coming years" itsinvestments in Porto, that is, to increase the portfolio to 100 millioneuros.The Alma project in Downtown, to be implemented in an area of ​​1197 square meters, includesthe construction of 16 apartments (types studio to two-bedroom), with areas between 41.4 and95.6 square meters.Pricesrange from 199,500 euros to 419,000 euros.]]> Coverflex, the solution that allows companies to aggregate the benefits attributed toemployees has reinforced its team in the area of ??technology, human resourcesand marketing and is still hiring. Currently, with about 40 employees, thestartup wants to double the team by the end of the year, especially in theareas of product, engineering, and design.See here the vacancies and how to applyTiago Fernandes(ex-co-founder and CTO of Bitmaker Software) is the new CTO of the startup,João Franqueira the new VP of People at Coverflex, after more than nine yearsin the position of human resources director at Prozis.Mariana Barbosa(ex-ECO and People magazine) and Miguel Fraga (ex-Indie Campers) reinforceCoverflex's Marketing team, such as Head PR & Communication Manager andHead of Inbound Marketing, respectively."HavingJoão, Tiago, Mariana, and Miguel join the team validates the enthusiasm we feltin building this response [...]]]> "Future Shapers? is the theme of the fifth edition of the Start & Scale Week, andthe outlining objective is the promotion of innovation, entrepreneurship andtechnology. All initiatives, organised by the ScaleUp Porto strategy are heldin the digital format, between 24 and 28 May.The five day Start&Scale week will launch events to boost synergies,similar to the "Doing Business?, in collaboration with established industriesand startups. Under the motto "together we can shape the future, incollaboration with all parties in the city?, the Future Shapers platform willshare testimonies, stories and talks that approach past, present and the futureof Porto?s ecosystem regarding entrepreneurship. The goal is to provideindividual experiences to participants, at their own pace.This year?s main objective is to strengthen the role of entrepreneurs [...]]]> So far,Porto City Council has already distributed around 50 thousand euros of vouchersto commercial establishments that have joined the incentive program forcommercial activity. The measure includes a discount of 2 euros for every 20euros in purchases at participating stores. Applications are still beingaccepted and the measure remains active until July 30th.The programwill remain active in the coming months, to support the resumption of Porto'sstreet and traditional commerce activities. More than 100 applications havealready been registered, with new ones incoming daily.The measureis aimed at restaurants, cafeterias, barber shops, hairdressing salons, beautyinstitutes, physical well-being activity establishments, or any commercialstore up to 250 sq. mt. and with a door to the street. Consumers are able toidentify participating establishments, as all of them display a badge on thewindow that identifies their membership to the program.The discountvouchers are [...]]]> One month since the beginning of the trainingthat the Municipality of Porto offers to owners of tourist accommodation, sixsessions have already sold out. There are more than 450 participants in the MunicipalProgram "Confiança Porto?, which wants to help managers to offer anexcellent service and to act as key agents in promoting Porto as a worldreference destination.This free training, comprises a range of topicsrelated to management requirements, reception, cleaning service, equipment andinfrastructure, maintenance and environment, security and surroundings.After the training action, managers of touristaccommodations seeking recognition by the "Confiança Porto" seal mustrequest a technical visit to verify that the necessary procedures are in place.So far, and through the trainee satisfactionassessment questionnaire, sent at the end of each training, the feedback receivedhas been very satisfactory, providing an opportunity to bet on the continuousimprovement of the [...]]]> Thealgorithms have been driving the banking business for a long time and it is nocoincidence that Portuguese Manuela Velosa, one of the world's leadingspecialists in artificial intelligence, has led the innovation area of ??thelargest American bank, JP Morgan since 2019. This is what took the Frenchinvestment bank Natixis (from the universe of the Groupe Banque Populaire &Caisse d?Epargne, the second largest French banking group) to Porto.It has beenfour years since Natixis arrived in search of Portuguese talent for atechnological pole and even in January they announced that they will transfer200 jobs in France to the offices of Porto, where the company has its' innovationhub already with close to a thousand employees.Now theyhave partnered with the Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering,Technology and Science (INESC TEC), in Porto, to find a solution to correctfinancial series through algorithms. The analysis of risk in banking systemsrequires an [...]]]> LineTen, a British founded software and e-commercecompany chose UPTEC- Science and Technology Park at the University of Porto toset up a centre in Portugal. This investment in the city of Porto by the Fundode Coinvestimento 200M is held in the framework of LineTen? strategy toconsolidate its business in the Iberian Peninsula.Established in Londonin 2009 and now set up at UPTEC, the British company that specialises in lastmile deliveries, is bridging gaps between companies and customers, by ensuringreduced integration and maintenance costs and swifter management of deliveries.LineTen alreadysettled in 25 countries in the five continents, with the outlining goal ofoffering customers optimised delivery options.In Porto, the companyhas a team of five members and is expecting to "hire more collaborators toaccompany the business growth in Portugal?, stated Bruno Gil, LineTen CountryManager in Portugal to [...]]]> Porto is helping bring companies and talent together at FINDE.U International Job Fair, hosted by the University of Porto, with the support of the Municipality.
This year, the fair is held online until April 30. The City is represented by InvestPorto and "Cidade das Profissões? in the Porto. for talent platform stand.
Among several events, the fair will host on the 28th a company pitch organized by InvestPorto to showcase 11 companies that plan to recruit more than 770 employees in Porto this year.
The virtual event, which will take place between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. next Wednesday, will put candidates and recruiters in direct contact with each other.
Craftable Software, Euronext Technologies, FABAMAQ, Goweb Agency, Grupo Salvador Caetano, Jumia, KICKS, Metyis, Mindera, Sitel and Sodexo Bussiness Services will be present.
Porto ForTalent municipal strategy is enhanced by the EU in its project to highlight theActions of the 14 Partnerships of the Urban Agenda, as regards Covid-19 impacton employment and competencies and the cities? response.This article refers to the "Talent in Porto?, and the reputation ofPorto "as a magnet for investment, particularly in the technology sector?,throughout the past ten years.In the same publication, the EU explains that Porto?s anticipation "ofan uplift in demand for digital skills in the local economy? and the fact thatthe local government "worked closely with the local business community?, by"developing a variety of channels to sustain this growing sector?, led toattracting and retaining firms in the city. The local strategy "includedinitiatives like the Porto Tech Hub, a collaboration portal for localbusinesses in the sector?.Another highlight in the article is the fact that "Porto has rolled outa digital upskilling programme aimed at micro [...]]]> Axians is committed to strengthening its teamsin Portugal. To this end, the VINCI Energies Group's technological brand, withoffices in Porto, has 200 open positions in areas such as data science, projectmanagement, SW development, SW testing, and IT infrastructures. Allopportunities are published on the company's website.This is a clear bet of technology on nationaltalent, since, still last year, in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic phase,the company onboarded 263 employees who were part of the Axians teams inPortugal.In addition to hiring talent, Axians has alsoinvested in requalification and training, trying to combat the current problemof the lack of qualified labor in the technological industry. "In the ITsector, the labor market is very dynamic and growing rapidly. (?) This is dueto the various digital transformation initiatives that are taking place in allsectors of activity, and has intensified with the [...]]]> The proposal to reduce by 100% the leases of contract holders destined for warehouses and by 50% non-housing tenants, whose activity is directly or indirectly related to tourism will be voted during the April 5th Porto City Council executive meeting. Themeasure corresponds to a financial effort by the municipalityof more than 281 thousand euros.Consideringthat the pandemic scenario did not change, on the contrary, it worsened at thebeginning of this year, Rui Moreira's Executive presents a new proposal tomaintain the rent reduction support for commercial tenants that depend, to agreater or lesser degree, on the tourism sector.Themeasure, which had already been approved at the end of September last year, andwhich was also applied to municipal companies, as informed by the Mayor ofPorto. The proposal will take effect from April 1st to September 30th,totaling the overall amount of 281,633.25 euros.Rui Moreiraagain suggests "determining as a strategic guidance? to [...]]]> Revitaliza Porto. is a helpline created by Municipality of Porto to help local entrepreneurs, business owners and investors find available Covid-19 business support. The service offered by InvestPorto has already helped over 300 small and medium-sized businesses.The "Revitaliza Porto." helpline is available to tell problems, ask for expert advice, get answers and obtain the latestinformation on Covid-19 economic relief measures available for businesses in Porto. The helpline is easy to use, confidential and free of charge. To submit a help request fill the online form available at www.investporto.pt, or call "Linha Porto.? at (+351) 220 100 220 and press option 4. After submitting the request, a multidisciplinary team from InvestPorto will search the most suitable answers for each situation and send you the [...]]]> INESC TEC coordinates the European project TRUST-AI, with the purpose of explaining how AI works. The specific goal is to make AI more transparent and reliable.Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Intelligence is widely used, nowadays, as regards decision making, for example, in providing personalised information or recommendation to people, namely to a doctor that is told by mathematic models where to operate, a customer that buys from one retailer rather than from another one; but it also raises questions such as the math used to equate the amount of energy consumers pay is fair and accurate. Gonçalo Figueira, INESC TEC researcher and TRUST-AI coordinator, states that AI is increasingly influencing the way people decide, and machine reasoning is evermore abstract and complex to be easily [...]]]> The QS World University Rankings by Subject latest edition spotlights the University of Porto among the top 400 Best Universities in the world in 25 out of the 51 study areas assessed. The highlight is the enhancement of UP in the World Top 100 in Architecture, Sports, Civil Engineering, and a debut area is Management Information ranking at the 49th position. This year?s edition also marks the return of Psychology and Sociology to the elite ranking positions, according to the UP news release."The University ranks between the 101 and 150 best in the areas of Mechanical and Chemistry Engineering; among the 151 and the 200 best in Agriculture, Art and Design, Environmental Sciences, Education, Power Engineering, Pharmacy and Pharmacology; among the 201 and the 250 best in Materials Science, Biological Sciences, Modern Languages and Chemistry; among the 251 and 300 best in Computer Science, Finance and Medicine; also among the 350 Best in Economy, Management and Math; and in the Top 400 in Physics and [...]]]> The Faculty of Economy of the University of Porto (FEP) and Porto Business School (PBS) earned the highest standards of excellence by the Association for Advance Collegiate Schools of Business ? AACSB, a global non-profit association that brings together educators, students, and business to jointly train the next generation of great leaders.Accredited schools and institutions are subject to a rigorous process of analysis led by their peers within the business community education, to certify that all needed resources, capacity and commitment are in place to provide students the best business education.Stephanie M. Bryant, chief executive officer and executive vice president for Accreditation of AACSB, explains that "the commitment by the University of Porto in obtaining the accreditation truly mirrors their dedication, not only of their students, but also of their alumni and the businesses [...]]]> Payment company euPago is to invest two million euros in a venue that will work as a hub of innovative ideas in the fintech area. This place will be located near Constituição and will accommodate about 20 startups, this year alone.The fintech concept is used to describe startups that work towards innovation and optimization of services within the financial sector; and this is an increasing area in Porto. That very function is performed by euPago, founded in 2015, when it took the definition "online trade ATM?, delivering payment solutions and services, namely Payshop, Pagaqui, Paysafecard and MbWay, to companies with online services, and services provider, which also include donations and private sales.The company?s next goal is to work as a "sandbox?, i.e, a space where "third parties can test innovative ideas in the market?, as stated by euPago in a news release. The investment is worth two million euros, with the office space [...]]]> Researchers from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP) developed three devices that, from the movement of the waves, manage to generate electrical energy and the objective now is to install them in ocean buoys, as announced today.
In a statement, FCUP explains that the study which was published in the scientific journal Nano Energy and developed by researchers from the Institute of Physics of Advanced Materials, Nanotechnology and Photonics, had the mission of "generating energy from the movement of waves".
As part of this study, the researchers developed three nanogenerators that, through the movement of the waves, manage to generate electrical energy.
Nanogenerators use two triboelectric materials with different polarities to generate this type of energy.]]> Portugal is the 26th most attractive destination for foreign workers, according to a study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in partnership with The Network. The country rose four places compared to the ranking recorded in the ranking in 2018.
Portugal climbs some positions on this list, although the study concludes that worker mobility is declining due to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the Decoding Global Talent, Onsite and Virtual study, the pandemic had a significant impact on workers' interest in working abroad; in addition, the preference now falls on countries that have had better results in containing the pandemic.
In this ranking, which results from surveys of 209,000 people in 190 countries, Canada leads the preferences of foreign workers, even surpassing the United States - the former leading destination, which has moved into second place. Australia ranks third, followed by Germany and the United Kingdom. In the second half of the top 10 are Japan (6th), Switzerland (7th), [...]]]> The acronym ADATO corresponds, precisely, to Another Day At The Office. It intends to be an informal meeting between finalist engineering students about to enter the job market and large national companies. It takes place on March 17th, online. Registrations must be made on the initiative's page. A week later, Engineering and Industrial Management students have the chance to participate in economics-related workshops.
Engineering, management or consulting companies such as Ernst & Young, EDP, Glintt, Wurth, Lactogal, Siemens or Sonae are ready for this cocktail at the office.
The suit and tie are exempted, as ADATO wants to promote networking in a relaxed environment, and focus on the essentials: providing the possibility for students to establish contact with some of the great leaders, pioneers and "troublemakers" of various companies, with a wide range of sizes and markets in which they operate.
"They are not conferences. [...]]]> Porto Vivo, SRU has just launched the second public consultation, for leases under the municipal program Porto com Sentido. The aim is to rent up to 500 one-bedroom to four-bedroom properties, with gross area over 52 sq. mt., throughout the city.
The general conditions of the Porto com Sentido program, approved by the Municipal Assembly at the end of last year, made it possible to introduce novelties in view of the 2020 competition, immediately giving rise to the possibility of leasing fires that require small works, up to a limit of 100 properties in these conditions. For this, the interventions must be carried out within a maximum period of one year, and the municipality is available to pay in advance up to one year of rents to carry them out.
The contest establishes two-bedroom as the most desirable properties, without also discarding one-bedroom, thus seeking to increase the supply of housing, with intermediate rents, aimed at the predominant households. Therefore, new maximum values [...]]]> The Airport Council Intenational (ACI Europe) again lists Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport as one of the best European airports. This year's edition brought a new category and highlighted the equipment that best adopted hygiene measures compared to Covid-19. And so, Porto Airport adds yet another distinction to the portfolio.
The distinction for "Best Airport" is made according to the airport size in the European region, with Porto sharing the prize with Faro Airport in the range between 5 and 15 million passengers.
The "Hygiene Award" is a novelty in this edition and the aim is to recognize the capacity of airports to ensure hygienic and safe environments, and the maintenance of the necessary measures to meet the needs and expectations of passengers.
"The Covid-19 pandemic had a dramatic impact on global passenger traffic in 2020, as well as changing customer perceptions and expectations regarding the airport experience", says the ACI, in a statement.
For the director general of [...]]]> During the set of webinars "Perspectivas APD 2021", the most recognized experts will analyze the challenges and trends that arise in the new Next Normal.
? ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVES, March 2ndDiscussion of the prospects for the recovery of the Portuguese economy are surrounded by great uncertainty, macroeconomic mitigation policy, and the implementation of the European Union's Recovery and Resilience Mechanism.
? MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS MARKET, March 9thThe mergers and acquisitions market shows growth indicators during 2020 and continues to show vigor in the beginning of 2021. How can the mergers and acquisitions market be a catalyst for a more solid and sustainable economic recovery?
? WHAT CHALLENGES AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NEW GLOBAL GEOSTRATEGY, March 16thThe way companies will have to make their decisions at the global level will imply an attentive and permanent knowledge of the evolution trends of the main markets and customers and new forms of strategic cooperation with [...]]]> ALTER SOLUTIONS Portugal, expertise and consulting group specialised in DevOps, Mobile development, Data Science, Business Intelligence, Project Management, Infrastructure and Quality Assurance is to hire more than 200 collaborators for its offices in Porto and in Lisbon during 2021. The goal is to strengthen support teams and increase operations capacity in the country.In a time when the pandemic brought harsh consequences to the economy at global level, the consulting group was able to achieve positive tangible results, and saw a significant increase in consolidated revenue of circa 25%, with a turnover of 13 million euros. The company ended the year with 100 active clients, both national and international, in sectors as Banking, Insurance, Payment methods and Industry."2020 was a year of adapting methods to the new context in the market, always aligned with the strategic goals defined to the company. Looking back, we can say it was [...]]]> Startups and health companies come together on 25th March to debate ideas and challenges in the sector. This online event is promoted by ScaleUp Porto. Register until 8th March.This edition is devoted to the Health sector and the goal is to bring startups to debate innovative technology based solutions with established companies, as regards developing a product or service, or even finding a new client or partner to expand business. Companies such as Bial or Pfizer, the hospital centres of CUF and S. João, Glintt and Manvia are some of the participating companies in the event on 25th March that look to enhancing competitiveness.Once a startup registers, it will be able to schedule meetings until 23rd March, with established companies in their areas of interest. The meetings happen on 25th March.ScaleUp Porto organises this initiative with partners such as [...]]]> The reduction of polluting emissions to which Portugal and the European Union are committed will force many traditional industries to change their production processes and this is for Tecnoplano an encouragement and an opportunity to expand its activity.
"We realized that it was the right time to move forward with the autonomy of a new business area: consulting in the industrial development segment", sustains Pedro Matos de Pinho, engineer and executive director of Tecnoplano, a company with a 55-year history, integrated into a family group whose range of shareholders is complemented by his twin brother Bernardo, an architect, and a sister, a non-executive director. The three share the conglomerate in equal parts, with 100% Portuguese capital, already with extensions in Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Equatorial Guinea and Belgium.
In Portugal, the headquarters is in Lisbon, but has an office in Porto. And it was precisely in Porto where the company just installed the new independent department, [...]]]> Fintech SaltPay acquired 90% of the payment solution national company's capital Pagaqui, and it will invest 40 million euros in a new technological centre in Porto. There is a team of 40 people working remotely, owing to the pandemic, but another 140 people are to be hired till the end of 2021. It will depend on the end of the lockdown. Still, the target is to hire up until 550 collaborators in two years? time.Porto is the centre stage for Pagaqui to "assemble a multidisciplinary pool of talents in the fields of Information Technologies, Acquiring, EPOS Systems, CRM, Loyalty Manager and E-commerce?, advances the company?s president, João Barros, in a statement.SaltPay furthers that it will hire "mostly technological infrastructure and software engineers, thus becoming an excellence centre at European level?.The head of the Portuguese payment solution company has no doubts that "the [...]]]> CEiiA - Centre of Engineering and Product Development is working on 5G in two lines, the development of applications for new technology and the study still in an early phase of the complementarity of the network with satellites.
"What is 5G really going to change in our lives, what are the applications, what are the technological solutions? that will allow them to emerge, both in mobility and in city contexts?, among others, explains the director of development, Tiago Rebelo.
In a second line, CEiiA works on "complementarity of terrestrial 5G networks with what 5G networks are via satellite?, in order to "maximize the coverage? of fifth generation mobile networks, "particularly in remote areas or in the Atlantic?.
Among the projects that CEiiA has underway, it highlights "a great national mobilizing program? - Link4S (?Link for Sustainability?), aimed at sustainability -, which started in June last year and is also coordinated by NOS.
This is a project in which CEiiA "is a very [...]]]> The Municipal Tourism Council met this Thursday, by videoconference, to learn about the strategy that Porto City Council is developing for the resumption of tourism activity.
Covid-19 cooled the main engine of the local economy. The tourism sector in the city of Porto was, before the virus, responsible for thousands of direct jobs, and many others of related activities, and was well launched on the road of economic growth.
Rui Moreira stated it recently, in an interview with Público newspaper, and also the City Councilor for Economy, Tourism and Commerce and City Councilor for European Funds, Ricardo Valente, recognized it when he announced the municipal recognition program "Confiança Porto".
This project was referred to this morning at the second meeting of the Municipal Tourism Council, which had as a central point of the agenda, the presentation of the measures initiated by the Porto City Council to mitigate the negative impact caused by the pandemic, from an economic point [...]]]> The financial startup Anchorage will hire 50 people in Portugal over the next two years. The banks' front door to cryptocurrencies just announced an investment round in the C series of $ 80 million (€ 65.8 million). Led by Portuguese Diogo Mónica, this fintech obtained  the first bank license for cryptocurrencies in the United States, in January.
"This new round of investment will allow us to scale quickly, to respond to the growing demand for participation in the space of digital assets, particularly among companies and traditional financial institutions", points out Diogo Mónica, quoted in a press release.
Of the 75 people working at Anchorage, 15 are currently in Porto. The company had already planned to recruit at least 15 more elements for 2021, mainly for engineering roles. For 2022, another 35 employees are expected to join. The Porto office is focused on product development and engineering.
Anchorage is expected to open a second office in Portugal, probably in [...]]]> Portuguese tech company Fabamaq is expanding the team in Porto. The company was founded in February 2010 and develops software solutions for physical and virtual casinos. It now has about 10 open vacancies, according to information released by the company this week.
The job positions available are mainly within the scope of programming: devops engineer, software developer, game developer, game engine developer, software tester or motion designer, among others. There is also room to recruit a business consultant with an international outlook.
After these jobs are filled, the tech company will have more than 200 employees, including computer programmers, graphic designers, 3D artists, sound designers, software testers, project managers, product managers, people partners and other types of professionals. ]]> The startup Rows, previously known as Dashdash, raised $ 16 million in a series B investment round (€ 13.17 million).
Founded by Portuguese Humberto Ayres Pereira and Torben Schulz, the company is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, but also has an office and team in Porto. Rows has developed a platform that allows you to fill and analyze web applications using only spreadsheets.
According to the TechCrunch website, the startup details that this investment will be used to continue investing in the platform developed by the company, in sales and in marketing. This investment round was led by Lakestar, with the participation of investors such as Accel or Cherry Ventures.
To TechCrunch, Humberto Ayres Pereira indicated that, in fact, this investment round was already closed more than a year ago, in January 2020. However, only now has the announcement been made to coincide with the launch of new features for the platform , which is now available in beta, accessible to anyone. In the free [...]]]> "We expect to have 200,000 connected vehicles to our technology in the next 12 months, mainly from commercial fleets'", said the executive president of Veniam, João Barros, who foresees a "strong growth" of the Portuguese startup, established almost nine years ago. "This is the objective and we are already in the right partnerships," he said, without giving further details.
Veniam is a Portuguese technology-based startup that resulted from the 'spin-off' of the University of Porto, the University of Aveiro and the Telecommunications Institute.
The technology currently has about 40 people, engineers, and a sales team in Germany, Japan and the United States, said the executive president of Veniam, who will speak about his smart grid platform at FISTA - Technology and architecture forum ISCTE, where more than 60 companies will present their products in various areas, which takes place online between 24 and 25 February.
"We developed a unique software platform that allows cars, [...]]]> APD Portugal, in partnership with Nortempo Portugal, promotes the event "Human Resources - The Essential Element in Digital Transformation" on the February 25th at 5pm.
In a context in which the use of technology is increasingly present and companies must follow this evolution, it is intended to answer questions such as:- What skills does the digital transformation process require?- Is there a standard path to follow?
The speakers will include: Eduardo Adán - Commercial & Marketing Director at Nortempo, Rui Soares - Corporate Human Resources Director at DESFO Holding, Susana Silva - Human Resources Director at El Corte Inglés and Armandina Fernandes - Head of Sales & Marketing at TBFiles Portugal.
More information and registration available at: https://www.apd.pt/actividad/recursos-humanos-o-elemento-essencial-na-transformacao-digital/]]> With the BMW group's autonomous driving projects unfolding, Critical TechWorks announces that it plans to hire 400 more people this year, with a special emphasis on engineers with knowledge in C ++ programming language.
With this objective, the company intends to reach a total of 1400 people at the end of this year, above the values ??previously foreseen. In November 2020, an official source of the company stated that, for 2021, the hiring of 250 more elements would be expected, reaching the mark of 1250 workers.
So far, the role of Portuguese teams at Critical TechWorks is to support a knowledge unit in this area of ??the BMW Group, which is located in Germany.
With more than two years of activity and more than 50 projects delivered to the car manufacturer, with emphasis on Operating System 7 and the new applications from BMW and MINI, Critical TechWorks is now interested in recruiting junior and senior profiles that join these teams and are aligned with the company's values.
DefinedCrowd, a tech startup working with artificial intelligence, is among the 25 winners of the Global Startup Competition of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a specialized agency of the United Nations. The competition aims to distinguish startups with the most disruptive projects that contribute to accelerating the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The company led by Daniela Braga distinguished itself for its contribution to objective nine, related to development in industry, innovation and infrastructure.
"In the value proposal presented by DefinedCrowd for this competition, the contribution to the democratization of access to artificial intelligence is highlighted, making this technology accessible to all and an essential asset for innovation in tourism worldwide", points out DefinedCrowd in a statement. This proposal is materialized by the crowdsourcing platform, Neevo.ai, which already has more than 500,000 members worldwide.
In this edition, the [...]]]> The concept is still taking its first steps in Portugal, but it is close to universities, large companies or office parks and public transport that co-living finds its' space. In July 2022, one of the main university centers in the city will increase the residential offer to a very specific audience: students and young workers, with a building of 280 apartments, offering studios and one-bedroom apartments.If the closing of universities during the first confinement alienated students, remote working did not have the same effect on younger professionals (between 25 and 35 years old), who found in the concept of co-living a way of, living alone, during the pandemic, while not feeling isolated.For this reason, and for the certainty in the resumption of old routines, Smart Studios will start the construction in Asprela of a residence focusing on these two types of public. There will be 280 apartments to rent, with common features such as meeting, study, dining rooms, lounge areas, gym and a space for [...]]]> In view of the changes that the world faces, we will all be faced with more turning points and the challenge of rebuilding professional paths throughout life.
In order to respond to these transitions, we have developed and tested a new methodology and we want to make it reach companies.
Participate in the webinar that will take place on February 17th at 5 pm and implement this new approach in your company
Confirm your presence: jobs&skills@cm-porto.pt
More information available at: https://lnkd.in/dRjJ8rn]]> Catalan ARC Homes arrived in Portugal with an investment plan that foresees the purchase of land for the construction of a park of 500 houses in the city of Porto, in an investment that will be around 100 million euros.
According to Agência EFE, the first project is located in the neighborhood of Prelada, where 156 houses (one-bedroom to three-bedroom) will be built, whose minimum price will be around 140,000 euros. The venture will represent an investment of 30 million euros, this being the first of three acquisitions that the promoter wants to make during 2021.
"While the real estate companies that have invested in Porto in the last 10 years have done so in luxury hotels, in tourist houses and luxury accommodation for foreigners, in office complexes ... practically nobody has done it thinking about accessible houses", comments the director - Arc Homes executive Jan Maarten Goedemans, cited by the publication.
The sale of this first promotion should start between April and May this [...]]]> Many companies saw demand drop during the Covid-19 pandemic, however SWORD Health was not one of them. On the contrary, subject to confinement, thousands of people had to resort to physiotherapy treatments in digital format, a solution that the Porto company has been developing since 2015. The increase in demand and a substantial investment of 25 million dollars (about 20.6 million euros) now lead to the recruitment of 100 more people to the office in Porto.
Started in Porto in 2015, SWORD Health is growing more and more in the huge North American market - representing US $ 190 billion - because of the digital physiotherapy system that it has developed by combining clinical teams with artificial intelligence. Much due to this exponential growth on the other side of the Atlantic, throughout 2021, it will integrate another hundred reinforcements in the Porto team in the areas of technology, product and operations. It is almost a doubling of the current total of workers.
The year 2020 was [...]]]> This is a promotion by Neya Empreendimentos Turísticos that expands its portfolio with this new 4-star hotel, with 124 rooms, including 12 suites, a restaurant, a rooftop bar, SPA, meeting rooms of various sizes and areas of events in coexistence with the historical heritage, namely, the cloister and the church.
Sustainability and innovation were some of the premises of this project, requiring the development of the project to always take into account the parameters of sustainable architecture. The Neya Porto Hotel is, in effect, the first hotel in the city of Porto to obtain international Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.
With the work of CARI Construtores, the contract was completed in August 2020.
Applications for the National Urban Rehabilitation Award 2021 run until next March 8th. In the 2021 edition, urban rehabilitation interventions concluded between January 1st, 2019 and December 31st, 2020 can compete, as long as they have not been candidates [...]]]> Anchorage Digital Bank, the first company to provide crypto custody and safe trading, is hiring in Porto. The company, founded in 2017 by Portuguese Diogo Mónica and American Nathan McCauley, is now regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).The company, with a physical office in Porto established last June, has already hired software engineers in the Invicta. Now, they are ramping up hiring and are searching for collaborators in the areas of Customer Support and product management, backend engineering, engineering manager and operations associate. Besides Porto, which deals with product and engineering development, the company has three other offices in the USA.Anchorage was founded in 2017 by Diogo Mónica and Nathan McCauley, and it is now regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), an independent bureau within the United States Department of the Treasury. Among the OCC?s main objectives [...]]]> During the year, around 50 operations were registered, 11% below the numbers for 2019. However, the average contracted area per transaction in 2020 increased, reflecting the conclusion of 7 operations with areas above 3,000 sq. mt.
21 of these transactions relate to gross lettable areas over 500 sq. mt., about 89% of the placed area. 13 operations relate to areas between 200 and 300 sq. mt. (8% of the placed area), and 16 to areas below 200 sq. mt. (3%).
According to Predibisa's "On Office Porto" report, ¾ of the area placed concerns the city of Porto. Boavista's CBD alone concentrated ¼ of the entire area placed during the year (13,638 sq. mt.) and 16 operations. The market was also very dynamic in the CBD of Baixa, in the Eastern Zone, Other Porto (Paranhos) or ZEP. Outside Porto, the highlight is the Matosinhos area, which concentrated 8,185 sq. mt. placed and 11 operations, followed by Vila Nova de Gaia, with 3,933 sq. mt.
More than half (56%) of the area placed in Porto in [...]]]> A new tender will be launched in early February, within the scope of the affordable rental program "Porto com Sentido", which aims to introduce affordable housing to the traditional rental market, covering a further 12 properties ready to live.
Gradually, the objective of placing private fires at affordable prices, with municipal support, is being fulfilled. The "Porto com Sentido" program, operated by the municipal company Porto Vivo, SRU, has already carried out a first tender for tenants and is preparing a second procedure, to be carried out in February.
The first tender for the "Porto com Sentido" program to rent housing available on the market brought together a total of 49 properties. Among these, the first 7 properties for sublease were in competition - the fractions will be allocated by lot among the candidates.
The conditions are met for a new sublease tender, within the scope of this program, which will be launched in early February, relating to a set of 12 properties ready to [...]]]> Blip is currently hiring (again!). There are 70 open vacancies that can lead you to finding a job at this Portuguese Porto-based technological company that is "a top of the edge software engineering company?. Even amid the pandemic, Blip did not stop and is looking for candidates to fulfil 70 work posts.By the end of 2020, the company?s employees totalled 375; yet, amid the new coronavirus pandemic, Blip is hiring again, only this time the profiles required are in the fields of development, quality, product and project management and design."Our goal is to find talent and make sure that the best choose Blip because they believe in the company, in its differentiating factors and their added value to the company. Only then can we ensure that there is quality regarding recruitment, and sustainability in the management and development of our human resources?, clarifies Gisela Oliveira, Blip?s Talent Acquisition Manager. Nouriel Roubini, American economist and former consultant in the Clinton and Obama Administrations, was the guest speaker during the QSP Summit 2021 warm-up, held on 28th January, via videoconference, whose audience gathered at Super Bock Arena ? Pavilhão Rosa Mota.This was the kick off for the 14th edition of QSP Summit, one of the most relevant events in the fields of management, marketing and communication in Europe. From the stage at Super Bock Arena ? Pavilhão Rosa Mota to the world, the warm-up was a look of what waits ahead, on 1st and 2nd July at Exponor, and on 30th June at Super Bock Arena ? Pavilhão Rosa Mota, for the opening session.Nouriel Roubini, economist and professor at New York University?s Stern School of Business, is widely known for having predicted the global financial crisis of 2008. During his lecture, in the framework of the QSP Summit, whose theme is "Facing the Unknown?, Roubini evaluated the different reactions from several countries to the ongoing pandemic, prospects on [...]]]> The student residence Milestone Porto Asprela achieved the LEED gold certification or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The building, which was formally inaugurated on 19th November 2019, is the first in the Iberian Peninsula to earn this international certification, in the Hospitality typology.The Milestone Porto Asprela reached 62 points certification wise, the highest ever in Europe in the LEED V4 ? Hospitality, the same result obtained by a certified building in Ireland. The student residence represents an increased capacity of 220 more individual rooms, located in one of the main areas of higher education in the city of Porto. This is the acknowledgment that new construction in Porto is done in accordance with the sustainability principles that guide the policies by the Municipality of Porto, as stress is put on building more [...]]]> Named "Ahead Portugal? and inspired by the German model. The program's objective is to find new technological solutions in the areas of health, digital agriculture or artificial intelligence. In the end, Fraunhofer startup companies will develop and implement these ideas business
The entrepreneurship program - mentions "Jornal de Negócios" - aims to take advantage of the knowledge of 16 of its employees at the Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS center, in Porto, together with the technologies that are developed there, for the creation of innovative startups.
The registrants, organized in six teams, will receive training, training and capacity building, thus helping to incubate spin-offs with a business model based on health technologies, digital agriculture and artificial intelligence that the company develops.
"Ahead Portugal? assumes itself as a technology transfer, entrepreneurship and innovation program and will "present the potential of Fraunhofer Portugal's technologies and [...]]]> The program that aims to accelerate the transition to the digital economy and respond to the challenges caused by the current crisis kicks off today. Aimed at micro and small businesses in the city, the "reinventaPorto" is implemented by the National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (ANJE) and has the support of the Municipality of Porto.
The "reinventaPorto" aims to reinvent 120 small and micro companies in the field of digital transformation, proposing, for this, an experimental approach and exposure to new models of work management and organization.
In 2,700 hours of training and 24 training actions, which companies will attend free of charge, the program will allow the development of strategic skills for these economic agents and the dynamism of a Digital Accelerator.
Actions involving professional training - e-business, management models and distance work, innovation management, e-content for the digital environment, and change management and new business models - are foreseen, [...]]]> eDreams Odigeo is aimed at hiring in the city of Porto. The company first landed in Portugal in February 2020, and more recently, it has settled its technological centre in Downton Porto, where it has expanded operations. The next step for this month of January is to hire circa 30 people to work with the "largest online travel agency in Europe?, as they put it.The hub expansion is in line with the group?s goal of "leading the travel industry transformation and emerge as a winner in the post-Covid-19 era?, explains eDreams Odigeo in a statement."We are glad to continue our technological expansion at global level, especially in Porto, where there is a vibrant and expanding tech community and this will, for sure, bring talent to our team and further our innovation goals for the benefit of the traveller?, affirmed the technological director of the group, Carsten Bernhard.The exact number of thirty people is advanced by the newspaper Jornal de Negócios, which further states that this is just phase one of a [...]]]> The Zühlke Group announced the opening of a new Global Delivery Center in Porto. After Belgrade (Serbia) and Sofia (Bulgaria), Porto will be the third Global Delivery Center of the Zühlke Group. Recruitment to Porto starts immediately and bets on experienced software engineering profiles. The inauguration is scheduled for the first quarter of 2021.
"We see Porto not only as a great source of talent, but also as a place where many Zühlke employees from existing locations can work together", said Global Delivery Centers CEO Aleksandar Marjanovic. "The inauguration of the new location in challenging and in such challenging and special times it is a clear sign of our efforts for greater sustainable growth", comments Fabrizio Ferrandina, CEO of the Zühlke Group.
As a provider of global innovation services, Zühlke creates new ideas and business models for customers in a wide variety of sectors. Based on the latest technologies, Zühlke creates and transforms services and products - from the initial [...]]]> Alten, a world leader in consultancy and technological engineering, acquired the Porto tech company ITSector. The purchase can boost the pace of hiring and business expansion of the company that employs 600 people.
Jobs, including administration, remain unchanged. What will change is the physical location of the headquarters: the company is preparing to open facilities in the Porto Office Park building, in Boavista, distinguished as "Best Office Development of the Year".
Renato Oliveira, CEO of ITSector, highlights,"the vast set of opportunities and potential synergies that are now approaching, including the expansion of business and the growth of ITSector's knowledge regarding the digital transformation of the financial sector in the markets where Alten operates".
In 2020, the technology company hired more than a hundred employees. And, with the sale to Alten, there is "a great potential to maintain the pace of hiring and growth". Last year, the company attracted new customers, in [...]]]> Portugal has the second highest rate (20%) in the European Union (EU) for graduates in "engineering, manufacturing and construction?, according to a bulletin released by Eurostat, under the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU.
The European statistical office released some data about Portugal, as since January 1st and until June 30th, Portugal holds the half-yearly presidency of the Council of the EU.
With regard to the group of 27 Member States, Portugal's relative weight in the EU area is 2.2% (92,200 km2), that of population is 2.3% (ten million inhabitants) and that of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 1.5%.
The ?translation? of Portugal in numbers also highlights that the national ?per capita? GDP is 20,740 euros, 79% of the EU average (31,160 euros). Portugal has an investment rate of 18.2% (EU 22.1%). The tax burden, measured in tax revenue as a percentage of GDP, is also lower in Portugal (36.8%) than in the EU average (41.1%).
In the scope of science and [...]]]> The Robert Walters Salary Survey identified the sectors that will grow most in Portugal this year.


Digital Transformation, E-commerce, Analytics and Business IntelligenceIn 2021, Portugal will witness the development and continuation of current major market trends, namely digital transformation, e-commerce, Data & Analytics, process improvement and implementation of Lean methodologies. Thus, there will be a great need for Cybersecurity, front-end and CTO profiles, as well as Digital Marketing, Business Intelligence and E-commerce profiles.


Artificial Intelligence, Data and RoboticsCompanies will seek to achieve optimized performance in an increasingly competitive environment - Artificial Intelligence and automation are gaining importance and companies hope to drive data-based decision making, which means that Data, AI and robotics profiles will be one of the main hiring trends in 2021 in most sectors, from Engineering to IT, human resources, strategy definition, [...]]]> Porto City Council estimates that the Monte Pedral project, for which the construction of about 330 affordable houses is planned, corresponds to an investment of more than 63 million euros. This amount is included in the subdivision operation for that land, for which the submission for public discussion was approved today by unanimous vote of the Municipal Executive.
"This land is the great opportunity for the creation of a new centrality in the city", pointed out the city councilor for Urbanism, Pedro Baganha, during this Monday's Executive meeting, in which the independent majority and opposition were in agreement regarding the relevance of this project to increase the offer of affordable housing in the city.
The planned investment is 63.2 million euros and will mostly be provided by private individuals, according to the model that the Porto City Council has established for the site, based on the Municipal Policy for the Promotion of Affordable Housing.
During the summary [...]]]> This year's edition of the EY Attractiviness Survey Portugal shows that the number of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects in Portugal reached, in 2019, a record of 158, more than doubling the value of the previous year. Portugal rose to 8th place among the most attractive economies in the European Union for foreign investors, more than doubling its share of projects (from 1.2% to 2.5%). The number of jobs created (more than 12,000 in total) followed the same trend.
The study indicates that in a year marked by uncertainty and escalating tension in world trade, Portugal managed to diversify the origin of FDI and attract highly qualified geographies such as the United States, which in 2019 were the main investor market in Portugal, followed by Germany and France.
2019 saw widespread growth, with all sectors maintaining at least the same level of FDI intentions. The Digital area reinforced its leadership position in terms of attractiveness, practically tripling the number of projects [...]]]> The report carried out by Porto. for Talent, part of the investment attraction office InvestPorto, was prepared last December and follows a first study, launched in June 2020, which concluded that most companies located in the city kept their investment plans, even in a crisis scenario.
This time, it was intended to examine how companies and professionals have adapted to a new reality of work imposed by the pandemic. The questionnaire, developed in two parts, covered a total of 100 companies and their employees, and focused on three main areas: "Remote work and Covid 19: Changes and adaptation", "Impacts of remote work" and "Perspectives".
The conclusions of the study "Impact of Covid-19 on work and on the digital transformation process" point, unequivocally, to a set of changes in organizations with long-term repercussions.
Not only do the vast majority of companies (80%) consider that Covid-19 accelerated the digital transformation process, but almost all companies (90%) say that the [...]]]> The municipal company Porto Vivo, SRU, responsible for managing the "Porto com Sentido" program, granted another fortnight to deliver applications for the lease of seven fractions, ready to live, located between Downtown Porto and the parish of Ramalde.

The types in question in this first lot vary between one-bedroom and three-bedroom, so the properties are prepared to receive different types of aggregates.

At the end of this process, the houses will be allocated, by lot, among the candidates who meet the selection criteria.

The effort rate will be, at most, 35%, counting that among the admissibility criteria the program determines the maximum yields per fiscal year and the adaptation of the aggregate composition to the typology to which it is applying.

All applications must be submitted using an electronic form available on the Porto Vivo, SRU website, however, in-person presentation at Porto Vivo, SRU facilities is permitted, provided that previously [...]]]> Several companies with offices in Porto lead the ranking of innovative Portuguese companies that grew the most in 2020, according to the report by Building Global Innovators (BGI) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT Digital), being close to achieving unicorn status. The valuation of unicorns is set at US $ 1 billion (€ 815 million). Already having three unicorns and with a high number of successful startups, Portugal ends up distinguishing itself from other countries with which it is usually compared, since, Spain has only one unicorn and Italy has none.According to the BGI/EIT report, Sword Health, with its national headquarters in Porto, raised € 20 million in investment in 2020 to start a business around a digital physiotherapy system. The company is already present in Europe, Australia, and America - and has the largest market in the United States. With the necessary adaptations, Sword Health's recipe for success may serve as a motto for many of the 2,000 [...]]]> The new phase for building works of Morro da Sé has started. It corresponds to the complete requalification of five properties, which will provide 14 new housing units. The municipal investment amounts to 1.6 million euros.
The requalification works of Morro da Sé, a structural intervention in the rehabilitation of the Historic Center of Porto - and in the axis of municipal action for population regeneration - begins a new phase in the so-called "Operation D", whose public contract had been announced last August.
With an expected execution period of two years, the work will result in the provision of another 14 new housing units. Covering a total area of ??1,611 square meters, it will include two studios, five one-bedroom, and seven two-bedroom apartments, and also the constitution of four commercial spaces, with the exterior of the building being preserved.
As part of the municipal accessible rental program, aimed at the middle class, this intervention thus continues the [...]]]> The Portuguese technology company Bold will grow the team in Portugal and proceed with the hiring of 70 workers by the end of the first quarter of 2021 for the areas of cloud & DevOps (development and operations), programming/application development, data and analytics, management consulting and RPA (Robotic Process Automation).
The company considers these areas to be "key" and will be "critical" in the coming years to assist organizations in developing their business by creating cloud-first infrastructures, accelerating transformation processes, and creating digital strategies for customers.

"We are a recognized company in the market, which brings us the responsibility to do more and better. Even though we are attentive to the evolution of the market, these hires are part of the challenge we set out to continue to grow, in order to maintain the quality of our solutions for the customer", explains the operations director, Hugo Fonseca.
Founded in 2009, Bold has offices in Porto [...]]]> The easternmost parish in the city of Porto has, as of today, a new Mercadona supermarket, which immediately creates 60 new jobs.This is the opening of the second store of the Spanish chain in the city and the twentieth at the national level. For the Mayor of Porto, the investment "is in line with the Municipality's commitment to the eastern part of the city?, being legitimately linked to "ongoing emblematic projects? in the parish, "namely the Campanhã Intermodal Transport Terminal, which is in final construction phase, and the Matadouro Project, an investment of 40 million euros, with the start of work scheduled for September 2021?, points out Rui Moreira. The mayor also stresses that this bet by the food distribution company "reinforces [...]]]> The Municipality of Porto intends to change the general conditions of the Porto com Sentido program, adjusting this instrument so that it fulfills the purposes that were at its origin and effectively contributes to the housing market.
Noting the "strong imbalance between housing demand and supply, not only in quantity but also in terms of rents and prices when compared to the average income earned by households" - a situation that the pandemic crisis has worsened - and the existence of some limitations in the general conditions of the municipal program, the Executive designed a set of adjustments to be implemented so that Porto com Sentido gains greater efficiency.
The experience of more than six months of the program, combined with the reflection made by the working group created at Porto Vivo, SRU and the feedback gathered from different public and private stakeholders, led the City Councillor for Urbanism, Pedro Baganha, to elaborate the proposal that will be voted on [...]]]> Talent and skills, good infrastructure, quality of life, and a favorable macroeconomic context put Porto at the top of foreign investors' preferences. The bet has significant implications in terms of job creation.This is one of the conclusions of a study carried out by Predibisa for the real estate sector, which states that "Porto and the North Region have higher rates of attractiveness than the center and south of the country".Over the past decade, "the region has managed to attract diversified and high-value investment, ultimately attracting talent. This investment is notorious in traditional sectors with innovation components, which distinguish Porto from other cities, with real estate demand leveraged on four indicators: macroeconomic, talent and skills (know-how), good infrastructure and quality of life".Compared to Lisbon, the values ??also weigh in the balance. Prices per square meter are generally lower in Porto (the reference value is 3,500 euros per sq. mt. against 5,800 euros in Lisbon), [...]]]> On Monday, the Municipal Executive unanimously approved the "Program to boost commercial activity" for the festive season. It consists of the delivery, to a group of participating merchants, of discount vouchers of two euros for every 20 euros in purchases. In total, 162,500 vouchers will be awarded, in a municipal investment of up to 325 thousand euros. In addition to this program, tickets for the exemption of parking in four municipal car parks in downtown Porto will be available.This is yet another municipal program that seeks to mitigate the economic crisis that is plaguing the commercial activities of the city of Porto. It is aimed at street commerce establishments with a store size of up to 250 square meters.The Municipality's objective is to support street, local and traditional commerce, hoping that this complementary measure will contribute "to an increase in the flow of customers with the city's commercial sector and thus contribute to face the difficult situation of the economic [...]]]> Demographic changes pose a challenge to the business fabric, but age diversity can represent a competitive advantage for companies. These questions will be discussed in a webinar dedicated to the theme "Senior Talent: Myths and Opportunities - How to mobilize employability".
The event, promoted by APD Portugal - Association for the Progress of Management, takes place on Thursday, December 10th, from 5 pm to 6 pm, through the Microsoft Teams platform.
The objective of this webinar is to enable the business community to face the challenges and opportunities arising from the sharp demographic changes, explains the organization. "Using data and practical cases, it is intended to confer on how age diversity, when effectively included in the work dynamics, presents a potential for competitive advantage for companies", he adds.
Aimed at administrators and managers of companies, as well as elements of human resources departments, the webinar will count on the councilor of Porto City Council [...]]]> "Portugal is today the country where Euronext employs more people, followed by France. A dynamism brought by the opening of a Technological centre in Porto, in 2017, which employs 150 people.? These are the opening lines of an article published by the French newspaper "Les Echos?, the first daily French financial newspaper, founded in 1908 and one of the most relevant in France.Three years ago, Euronext moved from Belfast to settle in Porto. The IT Technologic Centre is located at Avenida da Boavista and secures the trans-European Stock Exchange management platform of this important company.According [...]]]> The negative impact of the pandemic is showing of the number of companies and investors, close to one hundred the first week alone, that have requested the specialised service of the support line "Revitaliza Porto?, a free support service launched by the Municipality of Porto, via InvestPorto, whose goal is to support the business community in the city of Porto in the response to the pandemic crisis.The support line "Revitaliza Porto.?, which started operating o 20th November, enables to present questions and problems, clarify doubts, ask for expert advice and get information on the latest support measures to each business.Data by InvestPorto shows that 97.8% of the support request are by companies and they are related to Covid-19 distress. These are companies whose inception dates back to less than five years (32 companies) and 29 requests for help are of companies that were established between 2011 and 2015.The overwhelming majority of requests was filled by microbusiness (82), in the Tourism, hotel [...]]]> The Municipality launches the 1st edition of the Porto. Economy Award, together with other academic and associative partners, within the scope of its activity to encourage the economic development of the city. Applications are now open.
The Porto. Economy Award aims to stimulate research on material issues for the economy of Porto, namely strategies for economic development, investment attraction, attracting and maintaining talent, competitiveness, knowledge and innovation networks, entrepreneurship, and economic diplomacy.
The winning entry will be awarded a prize of 1,500 euros, with two additional honorable mentions of 500 euros.
In this first edition, works developed over the last three academic years (2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2019/2020), in addition to the current academic year (2020/2021), in both Portuguese or English will be eligible.
Besides the Municipality, the jury is formed by a group of academic and associative entities of reference in Porto, namely the Business [...]]]> The total exemption from municipal fees to establishments and agents of the city's economic, commercial, and business fabric, until December 2021, was approved by every Municipal Executive on Monday morning. The measure has a global impact of around 505 thousand euros on the 2021 budget.
When the intention was announced, the study pointed to a financial impact of 315 thousand euros, but with municipal services now analyzing in detail the impact of each of the associated exemptions with fees directly linked to the city's economic activities, the impact was adjusted to more of approximately 200 thousand euros.
At the meeting, in addition to the announcement made on the Christmas campaign to support traditional street commerce, which the city councilor for Economy, Tourism, and Commerce, Ricardo Valente, noted that is being finalized, the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira clarified that, in terms of support to the economic agents, the government would have to go further.
"In [...]]]> Finally, several major projects have started in the city of Porto and the eastern area is the main focus of the municipality, which has prepared a dedicated masterplan.
The major structuring projects in Porto were highlighted during the conference "The creators of the city - The new structuring projects in Porto", co-organized by VI, APPII, and Predibisa, and which took place on November 26th, part of the Porto Urban Rehabilitation Week.
Among these projects is the new Campanhã Intermodal Terminal. Porto City Council is also developing a set of rehabilitation projects for the Justino Teixeira area, between the terminal and Avenida 25 de Abril, where "we want to create a strong service area, with a strong construction index", since "together to an intermodal pole there must be great density and urban growth".
Included is the new affordable housing project at Monte da Bela, in addition [...]]]> Although the pandemic has resulted in an increase in unemployment in Portugal, a study conducted by the human resources company Hays revealed that more than half of Portuguese employers intend to go ahead with a reinforcement of human resources in companies in 2021.
According to the Labor Market Guide 2021, 75% of employers intend to hire more employees for the commercial, information technology, engineering, and marketing, and communication sectors. In the North region, 74% of companies intend to recruit for 2021, mainly in the areas of Engineering (29%), Information Technologies (24%), and Commercial (22%).
Among the reasons most mentioned by employers for hiring in 2021, the growth of the business in the national territory stands out, but also the recovery of the business in the post-Covid-19 period.
More than half of employers (54%) believe that flexibility in remote work models will be essential to guarantee productivity in 2021. However, the application of this form of work is [...]]]> These issues were addressed in a panel held on the first day of Porto's Urban Rehabilitation Week, which discussed the European economic recovery plan to overcome the pandemic and the strategies that cities should adopt to face the future with more confidence."Economy, finance and the city - Where is the future?" - this was the starting point and the city councilor for Economy, Tourism and Commerce of Porto City Council, Ricardo Valente, did not fail to admit feeling "not very optimistic" about the national response to the health and economic emergency. "There was a null conversation with cities, regarding the application of European funds. It is a very centralist view, completely contradicting the logic of the funds, which is to combat a series of problems in cities, from mobility to environmental issues", stressed the councilor."It is a missed opportunity from the point of view of what could have been done", added Ricardo Valente, noting that the good management of the Municipality of Porto [...]]]> This unit integrates a set of technologies that aim to improve efficiency in energy and water consumption. In addition to these features, the building has a thermal insulation system, energy and heat recovery structures, and photovoltaic panels to produce clean energy.
All these systems were thought out since the beginning of the project that contributed to this unit - which offers 220 apartments and several common spaces (such as gym and laundry) - to receive 62 points in terms of sustainability, which is "the highest score in the hospitality category ever granted in Europe", states the statement from Milestone, a student residence operator created by Value One and Nuveen Real Estate.
"In addition to the technical innovations in this building, we guaranteed from the beginning of the project that we were dealing sustainably with resources, such as creating a sustainable waste management system in the building", adds Miguel Garcia, CEO of Garcia Garcia, the company responsible for building [...]]]> Proof of this is the volume accumulated until September in the Northern region of Portugal, which reached 400 million euros, about double the amount added in the same period last year. The data are from the latest Market 360º Porto 2020 study by JLL.
For Fernando Ferreira Head of Capital Markets at JLL, these results show that "Porto and the North region are beginning to gain their own expression in investment plans, becoming increasingly the first option for investors as an Iberian city to invest, instead to be only the second city in Portugal", reads in the document presented in the 8th Porto Urban Rehabilitation Week.
Pedro Lancastre, general director of JLL, also has no doubts that "Porto has positioned itself over the last year as the first option of many companies and investors, not being seen as an alternative market due to the scarcity of opportunities in Lisbon. This also explains the favorable performance both in terms of investment and occupation of offices", he says in a [...]]]> Porto features the highest proficiency in English at national level, for the second year running, according to an EF- Education First study that discloses Porto not only as the best English speaking city in the country but also the 9th best in the world.The EF English Proficiency Index 2020 Report that analysed data from 2.2 million non-native speakers of the English language, in 100 countries and regions, spotlighted Porto as "Very High Proficiency? in a list that is led by cities such as Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Helsinki.At national level, comparing to last year, Lisbon declined in the ranking; last year, it featured first at national level, and this year it ranks fourth, below Coimbra, Braga, second and third in the ranking, respectively.Porto, in turn, jumped up in the ranking, and now ranks first place, for the second year running, having improved by eight places.Portugal ranks 7th in a list of countries that has Holland, Denmark [...]]]> Founders Founders, a co-working space in the city of Porto that helps boost start-ups is to expand in Porto and will inaugurate a new space in the parish of Campanhã, in eastern Porto. The new Founders Founders? space, close by Campanhã Station, will have 4 thousand square metres, it will accommodate circa 300 people, from 12 startups. It is scheduled to open in the beginning of 2021.Porto is home to economic dynamism and start-up culture as start-up economy is spreading across town; in fact, following the tech company Readiness IT, 100% Portuguese Capital Company that is listed among the top best companies in the world of digital transformation, by the international magazine APAC CIO Outlook, which is headquartered in Campanhã, the parish of Campanhã demonstrated it is among the perfect spots in Porto for attracting projects from all over the world. Not only does Campanhã [...]]]> This week starts the Porto Urban Rehabilitation Week, The event will take place in an online format, on the Swapcard platform. The opening session is scheduled for 10 am, with the intervention of Rui Moreira, Mayor of Porto.This is followed by the conference "Economy, financing and the city - Where is the future??, Which will include an intervention by Ana Paula Serra, Director of Banco de Portugal, and a round table debate moderated by António Gil Machado, director of Vi, with Ricardo Valente, Porto City Councilor for Economy, Tourism and Commerce; Manuel Reis Campos, President of AICCOPN; Fernando Freire de Sousa, Economist; Carlos Mineiro Aires, President of the Order of Engineers, and Luís Lima, President of APEMIP.
In this session, the consequences of the pandemic crisis in the real estate market in Porto, and the opportunities of the new European financial [...]]]> Mayor Rui Moreira recalls that "the municipality of Porto designed a policy to promote affordable housing that is based on a diverse set of instruments. In addition to capturing a park already installed through the "Porto com Sentido" program, Porto City Council's action is divided between projects with its own investment, others developed through partnerships with private entities and other tools to encourage private promotion".
In this context, he adds that "during the last few months we launched design contests for the elaboration of projects for an operation in the parish of Lordelo do Ouro, which aims at the urban reformulation of an area of ??6.6 hectares and the construction of 5 buildings intended affordable housing with around 300 dwellings, an investment of more than 45 million euros".
More recently, the public discussion of the Monte da Bela subdivision in Campanhã was approved, "where we foresee the construction of more than 230 dwellings in a project with an estimated [...]]]> In view of the effects caused in the economic fabric by the pandemic, the Municipality of Porto identifies the need to support "measures that are supplementary and complementary in order to guarantee that the recovery, reinvention is carried out in a sustainable and inclusive way", says the proposal that will be voted on November 23rd, signed by the city councilor for Economy, Tourism, and Commerce, Ricardo Valente.
The program that will be the object of analysis is operationalized by ANJE, an association that has "unrivaled knowledge of the Porto business ecosystem", says the support proponent, who points out the financing of 50 thousand euros for the execution of the training plan.
Right from the start, because, according to the proposal, it aims to enable small and micro-enterprises to recover and resilience, through tools that boost the digital transition, new models of work management and organization, innovation and trends, and soft skills to better deal with the crisis. In addition, [...]]]> The mayor guarantees that "Porto maintains its strategy of investing in foreign investment and of high added value".
Due to the pandemic, "we changed the tactic of publicizing the city and the way of being in contact with potential investors. We have invested in participating in international forums now in digital format and, in this context, we have just received two awards at the AIM (Annual Investment Meeting) in Dubai", he says.
The data provided by InvestPorto reveal, according to Rui Moreira, that in the post-pandemic scenario there will be no lack of interest in investing in Invicta: "in post-Covid, one in three investors anticipate expanding their presence in Porto, with the ICT sector and the external investors to lead the intentions of new investments". In contrast, in the hotel and tourism sector, "a major contraction in investment is expected".
And two out of three foreign investors anticipate increasing the pace of new investments in Porto, "and no large or medium-sized [...]]]> In an interview, the Mayor of Porto explains that the document currently under discussion is "a plan for a city, to a large extent, consolidated and built", but that "it introduces new tools and operating concepts that respond, in an innovative, to an innovative city policy, based on five major strategic axes: environment, housing, mobility, heritage, and economy".Rui Moreira points out that "the touchstone is the sustainability of these sectoral policies, understood this concept broadly: we speak of sustainability not only environmental but social, economic and territorial".Housing is a "strategic" bet of the new document that aims to "reinforce the diversity of the housing supply, with a view to the demographic recovery of the city, as well as a more effective mix of uses". The mayor emphasizes that "there is a specific concern in this area, related to the accessibility of the middle class to housing". The great novelty of the Master Plan in terms of the environment is an "approach to the issues [...]]]> In view of the current situation of the second wave of the pandemic, the independent majority of the Municipal Executive takes to the City Council meeting on November 30th, together with the 2021 Municipal Budget document, a proposal to extend the support measures to establishments and agents the economic, commercial and business fabric of the city, approved in May this year and which, for now, are in force until the end of December 2020.The intention now is to renew the package of measures throughout the next year, with effect until December 31st, 2021. The impact in terms of revenue will be significant, since the Municipality estimates a loss up to considerably higher than 315 thousand euros, taking into account that the exemptions still cover the  For this purpose, it should spend a total of 4.3 million euros, states the person responsible for the initiative, José Sequeira, which is managed by Porto Vivo SRU. Covered by the legal regime of affordable housing, this program was created "to boost the offer of long-term leasing for people of the so-called middle class", in a system in which Porto City Council works as a lessee, through a brake income, giving greater confidence to the market.Raquel Maia, the administrator of Porto Vivo SRU, explains that the idea is to "capture properties available on the market, of different types and in all the parishes of the city, taking them for lease by the Municipality of Porto to place them, later, in the sublease market, aimed at different profiles of the middle class?. Owners who join benefit from a range of tax benefits, such as exemption from taxation under the IRS or Corporate Tax and Municipal Property Tax. In addition to these advantages, "the owner receives the rent regardless of [...]]]> The new Mercure Porto Centro Aliados hotel is opened at Rua do Bonjardim, 95.
With 83 rooms of various types, the unit also has an outdoor garden with a terrace, heated pool, and gym, as well as a bar area, and "Sítio Esquecido" restaurant, with architecture inspired by the colors of Porto. Directed by Thomas da Costa, the unit will be managed on a franchise basis.
Mercure Porto Centro will promote experiences that allow visitors to feel like real locals, namely through the brand "Local Discoveries". The hotel team will be prepared to assist in «immersion in the city's culture and local life, recommending various experiences that promote "feel like a local" », can be read in a statement.
Through the "Discover Local" program, the hotel invests in collaboration with local suppliers, valuing the local elements of each city, providing experiences associated with the culture of each location.
The hotel is also committed to progressively implementing its program of environmental [...]]]> Hilton chose Porto to debut the Tapestry Collection by the Hilton group in Portugal.
Joining the portfolio of more than 40 brand properties worldwide, the Sé Catedral Hotel Porto - Tapestry Collection by Hilton will have 77 rooms, a bar, a restaurant, and parking.
The new hotel is an investment by the Mercan Group of Companies. For Jordi Vilanova, vice-president of the group in Portugal, "despite the contraction that the tourism sector is feeling due to the pandemic, we believe that the destination has the potential to continue to attract tourists from all over the world". He is convinced that "with its unique style and privileged location in the cultural center of Porto, this hotel will quickly become a favorite of guests looking for an original and luxurious hospitality service", quotes the DV.
For his part, Patrick Fitzgibbon, Senior Vice President, Development, EMEA, of the Hilton group, points out that "the Tapestry Collection is gaining momentum in Europe and with new hotels [...]]]> The company leader in online sales of luxury brands continued to hire in Portugal during the pandemic, it already has more than two thousand employees in the country. Farfetch also has a list of perks and benefits for remote work, which is here to stay at least in a hybrid way, says the vice president of human resources Ana Sousa.
As a rapidly expanding technology company, Farfetch, a Portuguese-British company founded and led by José Neves and which is a kind of Amazon of luxury fashion, has long included a package of perks for its employees. Talent attraction is one of the priorities of any company that is distinguished by innovation. With the pandemic and the need to have more people on the job, the company has created mechanisms to provide extra support, including global access to a paid mental health and wellness services app, Unmind.
"We have created several wellness initiatives, ranging from remote classes to online medical appointments", states Ana Sousa, vice president of [...]]]> The business and economic dynamics of Greater Porto remain unstoppable with regard to the attractiveness of companies (mostly international) that despite the current pandemic context continue to choose the city of Porto to settle.
In the third quarter alone, the office market recorded a total occupancy of 10,269 square meters, which is equivalent to a value 6% above the demand verified in the same period of 2019, thus managing to offset the deceleration that occurred during the confinement season and maintain the line of recovery in business activity, which has been registered since June.
According to the data collected in the OnOffice report, published by the real estate consultancy Predibisa, although there was a drop of 8% with regard to the number of transactions, the average value contracted per operation increased, standing at 934 square meters, 16% above the value recorded in the same period of the previous year. In the accumulated result for the year, Porto is 28% above the year 2019, [...]]]> Porto City Council continues to promote free training courses aimed at city traders, through a digital format. Sign up for all the themes and schedules available during November. Places are limited.
How to attract your customers; Time Management and Work Organization; Creation of graphic content for social networks - Photography and Design; Online sales on Instagram, Stock and Storage Management; Balances, Promotions and Price Display; Conflict management; Trademark Registration; Techniques to gain the trust of your customers; Storefronts Decoration for Specific Seasons and Festivities are the themes for next month's training courses.
Consult the detailed plan, find out the number of hours of each training (many of them are given after work hours) and invest in recycling and acquiring new knowledge, useful for those who, daily, interact with customers.
Participation is free, but requires prior registration via e-mail comercio@cm-porto.pt, with the following information: Name of the [...]]]> The investment made in Porto by Critical TechWorks, the joint venture between the BMW Group and the Portuguese Critical Software, was distinguished by the "Investment Awards" of the Annual Investment Meeting in Dubai. At the same event, Porto's innovation ecosystem was awarded the "The Smart City Innovator Award".
The investment in the newly opened operations center of the joint venture in Porto was considered the second-best foreign investment project in Europe,  last year.
The jury of international experts at the "Investment Awards" attributed this distinction to the city of Porto and the Critical TechWorks project during a ceremony that closed the Annual Investment Meeting 2020.
The event, organized by the Ministry of Economy of the United Arab Emirates, brought together investors, experts, and decision-makers from more than 170 countries. This year the forum was held for the first time in digital format, between the 20th and 22nd of October.
Critical TechWorks' [...]]]> The Municipality of Porto, through the municipal company Porto Vivo, SRU opened the public tender for the accessible lease of ten rehabilitated houses in the Historic Center. The application period runs until November 29th. At the end of the process, the houses will be allocated by lot to the selected candidates. It is another step in the municipal affordable rental program, which in early August made it possible for new and old residents to arrive at Morro da Sé. There are a dozen houses ready to live between Rua Mouzinho da Silveira, Rua dos Pelames, Rua dos Mercadores and Rua da Armenia, and the types vary between one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom.Those interested may refer to the Contest Program, available at the Porto Vivo SRU website or, alternatively, at the headquarters of the municipal company itself (Rua de Mouzinho da Silveira, no. 208 to 214). The rental prices start at 273 [...]]]> The University of Porto appears in the National Taiwan University (NTU) ranking as one of the 100 best in the world that develops more and better scientific research in the areas of Agrarian Sciences, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Chemical Engineering. This is the conclusion of one of the most reputed international rankings that measure the scientific performance of higher education institutions.To compile this list, more than 4000 universities from around the world are evaluated regarding their performance in the last 11 years (2009-2019), in areas such as productivity, impact, and excellence of scientific research produced by different institutions. In the six fields of knowledge evaluated (By Field), U.Porto obtains its best classification in the field of Agriculture, being highlighted in the 82nd position worldwide. The University also rises seven positions in the Engineering area (it appears in [...]]]> An international delegation of the Ceetrus group visited the City Hall this week and got to know the path that the Municipality is tracing in terms of sustainability and the transformation of the city for the future. The company that owns brands like Auchan, Decathlon, or Leroy Merlin, and which also owns and manages several shopping centers in Portugal, evaluates investment opportunities in Porto.
The Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, and the councilor for Economy, Tourism, and Commerce, Ricardo Valente, received the 17 members of the Ceetrus group, this Wednesday. The delegation was represented at the highest level, by its main decision-makers and advisers worldwide, with emphasis on the CEO of Ceetrus Internacional, Benoit Lheureux, the CFO, Benoit Chang, as well as the scientist-entrepreneur and precursor of smart cities, specialist Carlos Moreno. Pioneer in the definition of "Living Smart Cities", in January 2015, he assumed the role of "special envoy for smart cities" with the mayor of Paris [...]]]> The first session to clarify the proposed revision of the Municipal Master Plan will take place this Friday afternoon, starting at 3 pm, in the City Hall. The face-to-face session is limited to the participation of 25 people, but the transmission is ensured live through Porto City Council Facebook page.The public discussion period began on Monday, the 19th, and will continue until December 7th, fulfilling the 35-day deadline stipulated by the Municipal Executive.Today, the first of several public clarification sessions will take place. If you still want to attend it in person, you can do so by prior registration, via email pelouros.uepp@cm-porto.pt. The live streaming of the session is also guaranteed through the Porto City Council's Facebook page.Porto City Council also created a website that contains all the [...]]]> I-charging is a Portuguese startup created in 2019. It was now launched in an international online event, the first fast charger to reach the market with a power between 50 kW and 600 kW (from 100 to 1000 V).

Values ??that surpass the current fast charging systems in Portugal that reach 50kW and can reach 250kW per car with Tesla's Superchargers. The range presented by i-charging is the blueberry and it has three possible configurations: blueberry, blueberry PLUS, and blueberry CLUSTER. "This solution allows to charge all vehicles currently in circulation, as well as those that will be launched in the future with batteries up to 1000 V", states the company, which is already thinking about heavy electric vehicles such as buses and trucks, which will be available in the future. "This new range of fast chargers is disruptive in relation to the current market offer and covers all vehicle segments, light and heavy. It is, for us, a source of great pride, as Portuguese [...]]]> This month, the teaching of the subject of computing in three schools in the city, as part of the E-Computing project started, and it is supported by the Municipality of Porto. At this stage, it arrives at the educational establishments of Garcia de Orta and Cerco, and Nossa Senhora de Lourdes Private School.With a budget of 38 thousand euros, recently approved at a meeting of the Municipal Executive, the project developed on the ground by ENSICO, the Association for the Teaching of Computing, will cover, during this academic year 2020/2021, six classes from 2nd and 3rd 7th cycle, for a total of 150 students, during 240 academic periods of computing. The initiative was recently distinguished by the European Erasmus + program, which marks the alignment of the project with the values ??of the European Union, especially with regards to supporting the creation of innovative practices in the digital age, through new teaching tools, materials, and learning software. The support of the Porto City [...]]]> The third quarter of 2020 ended with the office market in Greater Porto registering a take-up of 10,269 sq. mt., a value 6% above the demand verified in the same period, influenced by the resumption of business activity that has been registered since mid-June, with companies "returning to the office? in the post-confinement period.According to data from OnOffice, a study carried out by Predibisa, despite the number of transactions being lower than the same period last year (a drop of 8%), there is an increase in the average value contracted per operation, reaching the 934 sq. mt., ( 16%) above the value registered in the same period of the previous year.The city of Porto, as in the previous analysis periods, continues to absorb most of the contracted office area, with around 70%, with Boavista Central Business District being the leader in the number of operations and in absorbed area. CBD records 11 operations (31%) of the total activity of the Greater Porto office market and also absorbs around 30% of [...]]]> The ceremony of the signing of the Consignment Agreement of the former Slaughterhouse has been held on 21st October, and that day will stand as a landmark date for the city. The Mayor of Porto said it: "Today is a good day for Porto!".The ceremony gathered Rui Moreira and Carlos Mota Santos, representing the Municipality of Porto and Mota Engil, respectively. The Prime Minister, António Costa, also attended the ceremony. The project of the Matadouro is estimated to start the works in September 2021 and the project conclusion deadline is two years from that moment. The investment of over 40 million euros is fully ensured by Mota Engil. When the 30-year licence grant ends, the equipment returns to municipal management. "In 2016 we had the opportunity to present the project internationally, at the 21st Triennial of Arts, Design and Architecture, in Milan. This project has always had a strong social component", recalled the Mayor of Porto, during the ceremony, on 21st October. However, "after the [...]]]> The subdivision operation planned for Monte da Bela is a part of the municipal policy of affordable housing promotion, will include the constitution of a total of 13 lots. 244 dwellings will be built, in a project that will be submitted to public consultation after being voted by the Executive.
Of the 13 planned lots, 12 will be used for housing, with the construction of a total of 244 houses, distributed by types T1 (12 houses), T2 (192), and T3 (40). The remaining lot will be reserved for trade, services, and equipment.
This affordable housing project will be implemented on the Monte da Bela site, located in Campanhã, in an area of ??more than 28,000 square meters, where the São Vicente de Paulo neighborhood existed.
At the next City Council meeting, the Executive will vote to submit this allotment project to public consultation. After the expected approval of the proposal, signed by the councilor for the areas of Urbanism, Public Space and Heritage, Pedro Baganha, and after the [...]]]> The office market is reacting differently to the Covid-19 pandemic in Lisbon and Porto: in September, 8,070 square meters (sq. mt.) were occupied in Porto - one of the best months of the year - while in the capital only 4,642 sq. mt. were occupied. Year-to-date, the Porto market is 28% above 2019, with 38,650 sq. mt. occupied between January and September. In Lisbon, by contrast, activity decreased by 30% year-on-year, with only 102,041 sq. mt. occupied until September. At stake is data contained in JLL's Office Flashpoint, which analyzes the dynamics of the office segment in September. According to the consultant, seven transactions took place in Porto in September, with an average area of ??1,153 sq. mt. "CBD-Baixa was the most dynamic area, with 63% of the 'take-up', hosting the biggest operation of the month, namely the expansion of Natixis in Porto Business Plaza by about 4,400 sq. mt.", states JLL.For Mariana Rosa, Head of Office/Logistics Agency & Transaction Management at [...]]]> The Executive will make the support mechanisms more flexible in order to reach more companies with increased support, especially those most affected by the crisis. On Monday, October 19th, the Government diploma that alters the extraordinary support for the resumption of business activity was published. Signaling that the changes aim to "better calibrate? this instrument and go in the direction of "reinforcing support to employers in greater difficulty, to expand access to more employers and thus improve their coverage, to strengthen incentives for training and, at the same time, complementary support aimed at employers and workers?.This diploma amends Decree-Law no. 46-A/2020, of July 30th, which regulates extraordinary support for the progressive resumption of activity in companies in situations of a business crisis. Companies with breakages of billing equal to or greater than 75% are now able to reduce the Normal Working Period (PNT) to 100%, with the worker always being guaranteed a minimum of 88% [...]]]> As of today, the public discussion period for the proposal to revise the Municipal Master Plan will take place. It will last for a period of 35 working days, that is, until December 7th.Porto City Council dedicated a website to the presentation of the document's objectives, the proposal for revising the Master Plan, as well as all the constituent parts of the Plan, so that makes it available to all interested parties. The proposed revision of the Master Plan will be the subject of several public clarification sessions, the first of which is scheduled for next Friday, October 23rd, at 3 pm, in the City Hall. The session will have participation limited to 25 people, requiring prior registration through the email address pelouros.uepp@cm-porto.pt. Live streaming is also ensured through Porto City Council's Facebook page. Clarification sessions in parishesAdditionally, [...]]]> This new condominium will emerge between Antas Lane and Agostinho José Freire Street, in Porto. Built from scratch, it includes two housing blocks, in a total construction area above ground of 8,300 sq. mt. One of the blocks has 18 fractions and 4 floors (three- to four-bedroom), and the other 36 fractions and 7 floors (T2 and T3). The values ??vary between 285,000 and 660,000 euros, with areas between 87 and 195 sq. mt.The architectural project of the enterprise is signed by the Carlos Castanheira Architecture Office. Located next to the São Roque Park, it has a panoramic view over the Douro and at 360º.Christian Terlinden, the Managing Partner at Promiris, underlines that "the Mira Douro project is the result of a year of work with an excellent Northern architecture firm to arrive at a concept of a high-quality project, both in terms of visual and optimization of spaces, or energy excellence?.He explains that "he was also the object of particular care in the meetings with the Chamber to create [...]]]> These are impressive numbers, revealing the unbreakable strength of the industry in the Northern Region. Between April and July, exports soared by 95%, reaching 2,040 million euros and exceeding the national average growth by around 71%. These are the main conclusions of the last quarterly report of the Commission for Coordination and Development of the Northern Region (CCDR-N) for the second quarter of 2020.
"After a significant downturn in the regional economy during the lockdown period, the first signs of recovery are visible," the entity points out, which presents the most recent export data of the region from the NORTE CONJUNTURA report.
Compared to the country, the performance was better. "In Portugal, the value of exports in July was still lower than in January," as stated in [...]]]> Talkdesk has established the objective to reach 1000 employees this year in 2017. The platform founded in 2011 by Tiago Paiva and Cristina Fonseca helps companies to customize the telephone service to customers with a system in the cloud, that is, without the need for physical infrastructure. In a pandemic year, the company exceeded its goal and is hiring 700 people.
"We are already 1050?, says João Coelho, one of the two people responsible for the technology company. Since 2018, Talkdesk has been a unicorn, being valued by investors at more than 1,000 million dollars.
By the end of the year, another 600 workers will enter the technology sector, half of which will be in Portugal. "We will have more than 1500 people by the end of this year. We are preparing our human resources teams to be able to ensure that this ambitious but realistic objective is being met." To accomplish this goal, there will also be help from the Tech Dojo program, which integrates recent graduates and masters in Computer [...]]]> "Abanca-te no Bolhão", which translates as "Trading at Bolhão" (free translation) is the telling motto of the campaign that officially starts today, as of 2pm, and refers to the opening of the application period to hold a vendor place at the restored and renovated Bolhão Market. We are looking at 42 new stalls, 6 restaurants and 12 stores.The application is available at the digital platform for public tenders (concursos/compras públicos(as)) AcinGov (www.acingov.pt), which provides all the necessary information.Those interested in applying and with any doubts regarding the utilization of this digital tool, which is the exclusive means to apply to the "Abanca-te no Bolhão" tender can contact the support line by AcinGov, via the phone number 707 451 451, with the option "Tender at Bolhão (concursos do Bolhão).In addition, the Municipality of Porto, through the municipal company GO Porto, the project's manager, will provide clarification [...]]]> In 2015, founded with an initial group of 25 people, Readiness IT started its training and qualification center. Today, with its headquarters located in the Campanhã area, in Porto, it employs more than 400 employees around the world and is already a global technological reference.
Since the end of 2015, the company has trained almost 250 people. The "System Ninjas" are mostly recent graduates in the technological areas, who for one year are trained and certified in various technological skills with which the company works and are subsequently integrated into the company's staff.
The "System Ninjas? model was so successful that it was exported to other countries where the company is present. In Portugal, 20 "Dojos" were held to date, forming 138 "System Ninjas".
This project has a huge impact on creating job opportunities for young graduates and qualifying people in a highly technological area.
Last month the System Ninjas Dojos 20.1 and 20.2 started, which gave employment to a [...]]]> The new public employment program Ativar.pt to reinforce support for internships and the hiring of workers includes two active employment measures - the Ativar.pt Internships and the Ativar.pt Incentive. Applications for the Ativar.pt Internships, in this case, start this Thursday, October 1st, 2020, at IEFP Online, and replace the current Professional Internships. Applications will be open until December 18th.
This new instrument includes an increase in internship grants that values ??qualifications. In practice, the internship scholarship for a trainee with a degree, for example, will go from 719 euros to 790 euros. The increase in the scholarship will oscillate, for candidates with qualification above the secondary, between 7.1% and 30.6%, as explained by the Government statement.
On the other hand, and on a transitional basis (until June 30th, 2021), candidates up to 35 years old will be covered (currently they can only be up to 30 years old) and people over 35 will be eligible if they [...]]]> Beneficiary entities that, on October 1st, 2020, are covered by any of the moratorium provided for in the law, benefit from the supplementary and automatic extension of these measures for a period of six months, between March 31st, 2021 and September 30th, 2021.
Decree-Law No. 78-A/2020, of 29th September, was published in Diário da República, which changes the exceptional credit protection regime for families, companies, private institutions of social solidarity, and other entities of the social economy, and it will remain in force for an additional period of six months, until September 30th, 2021.
According to this amendment, with effect from September 30th, 2020, credits granted to natural persons, such as housing or education loans, and credits granted to companies belonging to the sectors most affected by the economic impact of the COVID-19 disease, such as tourism, culture, the social sector, commerce, accommodation, restaurants, transport or the repair and rental of motor vehicles, [...]]]> This is what the city councillor of the City of Porto, Ricardo Valente, maintains a "very optimistic" prospect regarding the setting of new companies in the city of Porto, especially in the next year.
Ricardo Valente states that in the course of research carried out by the municipality over the past few months, not only 75% of investment intentions remain, but 25% of companies even argue that they want to strengthen their position in Porto.
Despite recognizing that "this is a challenging moment", the councilman highlights that "this is good news. The intentions of locating companies remain strong, we continue to receive many requests for information for location in the city, and we have companies already set in the city that plan to organically increase the centers they already have in the city".
The real estate market may be less impacted in this context of uncertainty, as "investment has a cycle that goes beyond the pandemic. Therefore, investments continue to happen".
The [...]]]> The Municipal Executive approved, in an extraordinary meeting, the opening of the public discussion period on the revision of the Municipal Master Plan (PDM), after the Northern Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N) issued the final favorable opinion. Even before the official start of this decisive phase, the municipality launched a website with all the constituent parts of the Plan, which the citizens can now read.At this meeting, City Councilor, Pedro Baganha, underlined that "the proposed revision of the Municipal Master Plan was built from a perspective of the city and an approach to planning started with the current 2006 Master Plan", already designed "for a city largely built and consolidated".For this reason, "the approach to this new Master Plan was based on a planning position that was more of reform than a rupture", that is, incorporating the planning options that remain valid, without, restraining from reviewing those that proved to be inadequate in the execution of the [...]]]> The next community support framework is expected to affect at least five billion euros for companies, revealed Planning Minister Nelson Souza.
"Feder, for example, will have a value of around 10 billion euros in the next community support framework, and I can say that close to 50% of that Feder value will be associated with a policy objective related to companies and business competitiveness", explained the minister who is in charge of conducting negotiations with Brussels on the new Community support framework - the Multiannual Financial Framework 21-27, which succeeds Portugal 2020.
"In the community support framework, a different priority will be set than the one in the Recovery and Resilience Plan and that should be read in addition", stresses Nelson Souza, thus responding to criticisms that the Recovery and Resilience Plan does not have enough money for companies.
Nelson Souza also explained that the Recovery and Resilience Plan, with 12.9 billion euros, "must be analyzed together, [...]]]> Starting on October 30th, Ryanair will increase the frequency of the Porto-Dortmund to three times a week.
Jason McGuinness, commercial director of the Irish airline said that the flights will be made "with a wide range of health measures that Ryanair has implemented to protect the customers and crew".
The Ryanair Holdings group, which includes Ryanair, has more than 470 aircraft and is still waiting for an additional order for 210 Boeing 737s.]]> Talkdesk has opened applications for the 3rd edition of Tech Dojo, a program to hire recent graduates in computer engineering. This year's edition will be 100% online and is therefore open to students from anywhere in the country. Applications for the first phase are now available and the company wants to recruit 50 people at the end of the program."We will do a completely remote onboarding, which will include an initial period of about three intensive weeks of online classes. They will then be immediately integrated into their respective teams, where they will implement what they have learned and contribute to the development of new products?, explains Francisca Matos, talent director at Talkdesk."Tech Dojo has been an initiative greatly appreciated by participants who, having just left university, still do not have the knowledge of the real world of work. Thus, this is [...]]]> The Municipality of Porto will launch, on October 6th, public tenders for the occupation of the 60 vacant commercial spaces in the Bolhão Market. In detail, for 42 new stalls, 6 restaurants, and 12 stores. They are spaces that were already empty before the municipal equipment went to works or that are now vacant, given the withdrawal of some historic traders who chose not to return to Bolhão.
Competition is divided into three phasesIn the first phase, explained the administrator of GO Porto, the candidate's experience and experience in relation to the category/product will be evaluated, with ten candidates selected for the next phase.The second phase consists of the delivery of the qualification documents (non-debt and Social Security certificates, for example) and the presentation of the project. This last piece excludes stalls, which do not need to present a project, this is only necessary for restaurants and shops. The project includes three essential components, namely architectural, [...]]]> Portuguese startup Didimo, which develops high-fidelity digital humans (avatars) to help provide online services, closed an investment round worth one million euros. The financing is intended to increase and consolidate the team, especially in the areas of Marketing and product development.
The investment round was led by Armilar Venture Partners, a Portuguese venture capital fund company, and also counted on the participation of Bright Pixel and PME Investimentos. The investment underlines to the observer Verónica Orvalho, founder, and president the startup, "was fundamental, taking into account the strategic plan that existed before Covid-19 and that forced to ensure cash flow after the pandemic".
"This investment gives us, in the first place, more security and more tranquility. It is also comforting to see that in a time of crisis there is still an investment to be made in Portugal, it is very positive and hope for other startups. Second, this financing round will allow us to define the [...]]]> With teleworking more widespread today than ever before, there are still those looking for spaces for their companies to work in an office or people who simply don't want to work just at home. Cowork spaces are fashionable and there are more and more options for customers to choose from. In the heart of the city of Porto, Almada Ponto is the new work and social space.
Located at 544 Rua de Almada, this space, which opened in June, is large enough - at a time when social distance is important. The historic building in Porto has adapted to current times and is a little bit of everything. The space is divided into two floors, with a dedicated space for cowork, a concept store, and a bistro. In addition, at the end of a working day, you can also enjoy the terraces and gardens.
This is an ideal place for digital nomads, freelancers, or simply for people who want a flexible workplace that allows for high levels of productivity. The workroom is reminiscent of the 50s and 60s years old rooms - [...]]]> Watch today, September 21st, the public presentation "Abanca-te no Bolhão", in livestreaming, starting at 5 pm, on Facebook at Mercado do Bolhão. In the session, everything about the public tenders will be revealed by prior qualification to allocate spaces in the municipal building, when its? restoration is completed."In the heart of Bolhão +1 will always fit" is the motto for the presentation that will reveal everything about the application process for the public tenders that will be launched, in order to fill the commercial spaces that were free for stalls, restaurants, and stores the food industry at Mercado do Bolhão.The presentation will be conducted by the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira on the Facebook of Mercado do Bolhão.It is recalled that the restoration works of Mercado do Bolhão are underway and [...]]]> The academic year 2020/21, which begins in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, will present many challenges, but the expectation is positive for university residence operators. The three main companies operating in this market - U.hub/Xior, Livensa Living, and Milestone - say they believe they will achieve good occupancy rates, especially with national students, thus showing confidence that this is a market segment that remains high and desirable for investment in Portugal.
"Despite this challenging environment for operators, we remain optimistic regarding occupancy rates, since the Xior Campus Asprela residence has been positioned to cover different market segments, offering individual rooms with bathrooms that fit the purchasing power of many Portuguese parents, ?says Hugo Gonçalves Pereira, U.hub administrator.
The unit is part of a batch of homes purchased at the end of 2019 by the Belgian operator Xior from developer U.hub Investments, linked to asset manager Atrium, having started [...]]]> Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira announced that the contract to restore the former Industrial Slaughterhouse entered into force on 18th September. The company in charge of the works is Mota Engil, the Portuguese company that will invest 40 million euros in the municipal equipment, located in the parish of Campanhã.Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, author of the Tokyo Olympic Stadium is the architect in charge of the project, jointly with renowned Portuguese architecture atelier OODA.The final step towards the conversion of the former Industrial Slaughterhouse (Matadouro) into a business, cultural and social hub were taken last April, as Porto City Hall won the action before the Institutional Court against the decision by the Court of Auditors (Tribunal de Contas). This institution had denied ante visa to the above-mentioned [...]]]> APD Portugal and Nova SBE have been designing Advanced and Specialized Training actions for managers and Company CEOs.
As a first project, the Association for the Progress of Business Management (APD) and Nova SBE Executive Education present the Acceleration Business Program, which aims to enhance the creation of competitive advantages.
The Acceleration Business Program was designed to expand and reinforce key competencies of leaders and managers in key areas of management and strategy, which allows them to approach strategically, challenging the acceleration of the business and the creation of competitive advantages. The program designed with cross-sectoral strategic potential will be an asset in addressing the challenges of the vast majority of businesses, taking the opportunity to align the strengthening of strategic management skills with the facilitation for taking action through advisory and business coaching sessions. The program, therefore, takes an innovative approach, combining 3 [...]]]> It is the second time that it happens. The unicorn (a company valued at more than one billion dollars) Talkdesk has returned to the Forbes Cloud 100 ranking, being considered one of the 100 largest companies in the world that bet on solutions based on the cloud. In the 2020 edition, the startup led by Tiago Paiva climbed 13 positions compared to the previous one, is in 53rd position.
"Talkdesk is dedicated to driving the contact center industry through its fast pace of innovation and is focused on providing its customers with the platform that will allow them to differentiate themselves through a superior consumer experience," said the co-founder and leader of the company that operates in the area of ??contact centers in a statement.
Talkdesk was founded by Tiago Paiva and Cristina Fonseca in 2011 with the promise of setting up a call center in five minutes. Headquartered in San Francisco, USA, the company also has five offices in Portugal, and in July closed a round of C series investment [...]]]> After registering a 74% increase in revenues between April and June and gaining half a million new customers, Farfetch, an online luxury fashion platform, renewed its identity and launched a new marketing campaign - "Doors open to the world of fashion.? The objective, the company says in a statement, is to promote" the idea of ??a global fashion community capable of uniting across geographic, cultural and home borders?.
José Neves, founder and president of Farfetch, explains that the period of confinement due to the Covid-19 pandemic "significantly accelerated the movement of luxury fashion online sales." With the conquest of "thousands of new customers", adds the official company, brands, and stores began to prioritize more digital strategies.
"The market is now years ahead of where it would be without the confinement and customers who come to the platform are loyal, in what seems to be a permanent change in consumption habits. This is, therefore, the ideal time to launch the campaign [...]]]> The market for offices of companies linked to the 'Serviced Offices' segment, which has registered a "strong expansion in Portugal", has not subsided with the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, concludes a study by the consultancy B. Prime.
According to B. Prime, the industry has adapted in the past in a positive way to the SARS outbreak in the East, between 2002 and 2004, and that is a good indicator.
This is a segment "which was already booming in Portugal" and which "will continue to have a very interesting dynamic", particularly due to the "intensive use of teleworking". This regime that has been used a lot in recent times, ended up becoming more exposed. At this moment, everyone recognizes its advantages, but also its disadvantages and it is precisely to fill the less positive aspects that this segment is becoming more and more comprehensive, with an increase in the market share of offices. We have no doubt in saying that ?Serviced Offices? will no longer be seen as [...]]]> The Ageas Portugal Group, which has been active in the real estate sector in Portugal, will have new headquarters in Porto in 2021.

The work on the Ageas Portugal Group's headquarters in Porto, part of the building ICON, is taking place "at cruising speed”, the company states, ensuring that the entire structure of the building should be completed this year.
"In the coming months, work will begin on the installation of technical equipment. The building should be completed in the last quarter of 2021”, concludes the insurance company. ]]> Porto airport is among the ten most profitable airports for the low-cost airline Ryanair, according to data collected in April 2019 by the RDC Apex platform.
In this 'ranking', Porto airport is placed as the seventh most profitable airport for Ryanair's operations.
According to this data, Francisco Sá Carneiro airport generated a total of 73.2 million euros for Ryanair, offset by a total of around 215.15 million euros in costs, at figures reported in April 2019
The profit margin obtained by Ryanair in the period under analysis at the Porto airport amounted to 25.36%.
In the aforementioned ranking, the most profitable airports scheduled by Ryanair are Dublin airports (146.3 million profits, 17.5% profit margin), Brussels South - Charleroi (105.17 million euros, 27, 61%), Alicante (95.13 million euros, 25.02%), 27.61%), Palma de Mallorca (88.42 million euros, 18.85%), Milan - Orio Al Serio (83, 67 million euros, 14.14%) and London-Stansted (81.38 million euros, 7.25%).
The Greenstone project will have a total of 36 houses with independent access, divided between "townhouses? (two-bedroom, with two floors and private gardens) and "garden villas? (three-bedroom and four-bedroom, also with two floors and private gardens), with areas between 140 square meters and 225 square meters. The project also includes nine "sky villas? - on the top floor, with private rooftops, an independent access elevator, and areas between 210 square meters and 355 square meters.
According to the promoters, all houses benefit from large outdoor areas, open views, many green spaces, and, in some cases, private pools - in addition to a large common garden that includes a pool and pool house for all residents. Greenstone will also provide garden coverings, use of solar energy, charging electric vehicles, and parking for bicycles.
Tiago Violas Ferreira, CEO of the holding company Violas Ferreira, points out that the new project "was born in the most peaceful area of ??Foz, where you can [...]]]> After being nominated the Best City Hotel in the World Travel Awards, the InterContinental Porto Palácio das Cardosas is once again highlighted in an international award. This time the IHG group hotel is in the race for the World Luxury Hotel Awards in three categories: Luxury City Hotel, Luxury Honeymoon Hotel, and Luxury Heritage Hotel.
Vincent Poulingue, Chief Executive of InterContinental Porto, says that these appointments are a "distinction of teamwork?. "We are always very happy when we receive these nominations, as they reveal not only the quality of our service but also the characteristics that our hotel offers to those who visit it?, underlines the representative.
The privileged location of the InterContinental Porto allows to be close to several monuments in the city and guarantees to show that Porto is a very versatile destination: ideal to rest for several days on vacation or even for a city break. On the other hand, the fact that it is located in an 18th-century palace, while [...]]]> The Ars Electronica Porto Garden by FNDMT is happening in Porto as of today and it brings to the city of makers roundtables and debates on how to "map the new world".Porto is a world-reputed city of entrepreneurs and makers par excellence, so what better place to host a creatives and technologies's festival? The ecosystem at the Invicta delivers innovation and entrepreneurship, clearly demonstrating that it embodies the DNA of such a festival, which celebrates collaboration and partnership, alongside industry and creatives.The festival runs from 9th September to 13th September and the agenda is streamed online.The event is organised by Lisa Lang, a German who established in Porto several years ago. Ars Electronica Porto Garden by FNDMT is inspired by Ars Electronica of Linz, in Austria, which has been delivered since 1979, bringing together artists, scientists, programmers, [...]]]> The data is encouraging for owners of local accommodation. Reservations have been increasing since June, although they are still far from last year's figures and also before the pandemic crisis. But it is not being the same for the whole country.
The statistics made available by AirDNA for the local accommodation registered on the AirBNB and Vrbo platforms for the two main cities, show a two-speed recovery: Porto is ahead of Lisbon, both in monthly and year-on-year terms. This may be related to the fact that some parishes in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area spent more time in a state of calamity when the rest of the country was already in a state of alert.
In the city of Porto, the monthly and year-on-year declines were milder than in Lisbon and the recovery is being faster. In July, for example, reserves rose 30% compared to June (the year-on-year drop was 39%). In Lisbon, reserves increased only 19% in a chain but remained 51% below July of last year.
And compared to the worst days of [...]]]> The Municipality of Porto just launched the project "Study in Porto", a website where students that intend to come to the Invicta to study can find just about any information they need to navigate the city as smoothly as possible.The main goal is to centralize in one online platform bountiful information where new students in town can learn things about the city and better adjust and adapt to a new reality both as a student and someone from Porto.All tips students who move to Porto might need are available online at studyinporto.pt, available in Portuguese and in English, namely learning and research institutions in the city, finding accommodation, or even job opportunities and cultural and leisure activities.Study in Porto is based in a collaboration strategy between the Municipality of Porto and the Academic Federation of Porto (FAP). Later on, this collaboration integrated [...]]]> The municipal affordable rental program continues its bed in the city center at Carlos Alberto block. Where a building belonging to the municipal company Porto Vivo, SRU will give way to three more housing fractions, after rehabilitation works.
The public tender for the "Rehabilitation of Parcel 14 of Carlos Alberto Block", launched in August, accepts proposals for the execution of the contract until October 8th.
This operation, located next to the Carlos Alberto Theater, at the confluence of Sá Noronha Street with das Oliveiras Street (Sá Noronha Street 149-153), specifically covers the rehabilitation of a building with a total area of ??approximately 200 square meters, which will result in the availability of three T0 houses, to integrate the municipal accessible rental program, and also the constitution of a commercial fraction on the ground floor.
The architectural project, prepared by Porto Vivo, SRU, ensures the rehabilitation of the main constructive elements of the building, with [...]]]> Claranet Portugal, the company with offices in Porto, reached a turnover of 121 million euros in the last twelve months, "driven by organic growth in all its areas".
The results contributed to the Claranet business in Portugal corresponding "already to about 27% of the total revenues of the Group, which reached a turnover of approximately 450 million euros in the same period". In the last three years, the company has registered an accumulated growth of around 50% in turnover. In the note disclosed, it is also mentioned that the company "ended the fiscal year of 2020 with an EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, and amortizations) of more than 7 million euros, which represents a growth of 20% over the previous year. During the last 3 years, Claranet Portugal has managed to register an annual growth above or equal to 20%". Claranet Portugal currently has 650 employees, who have driven the increase in "a turnover almost twenty times greater than that of Spain". The company estimates "to [...]]]> iLoF - Intelligent on Fiber, a University of Porto spin-off, is responsible for a patented technology that detects nanostructures in fluids. The start-up was distinguished in the area of ??digital health.Born at INESC TEC - Institute of Systems and Computers Engineering, Technology and Science, and currently installed at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), iLoF is among the 150 most promising startups worldwide in the field of digital health, according to the list of CB Insights, an American company specializing in business analysis.iLoF, which is being developed at Oxford Foundry, at the University of Oxford, was selected from a group of about 8,000 startups and is the only one with Portuguese DNA in this list, dominated mainly by North American companies (77%).In order to reach this annual list, CB Insights collected several data, [...]]]> The free training plan for traders in the city is back. The online format will continue to be adopted, due to the pandemic. Registration for September is now open, but places are limited. Check the training areas, schedules, and invest your time in learning specific knowledge useful for the renewal, innovation, and/or modernization of your business. The Online Training Plan for the second half of 2020, promoted by the Municipality of Porto, starts this month, with a set of training actions delivered through a digital platform, following the e-learning model."Innovation and Competitiveness in Business", "Good Practices - Visual Merchandising/Organization of the store space", "Leadership", "Business English Initial Level", "French Business Initial Level", "Techniques to gain confidence from your customers", "Complaints Management", are the themes defined for September.The training starts from the 14th, but the registration period starts 15 days before the date of the training, this step being [...]]]> The joint venture between BMW and the Portuguese Critical Software, which resulted in the installation of the new Critical TechWorks in the center of Porto, expects to double its turnover to 57 million euros in 2020. In addition, this happy partnership for developing state-of-the-art software for the automotive industry wants to hire more specialized staff in the city, where the headquarters are located.
Still with the facilities under construction, in the old Post Office Building, Critical TechWorks announced that it would hire 500 staff, mainly for the ICT area, but at this moment, as the company's Chief Operations Officer (COO), Jochen Kirschbaum, advances to Lusa, the balance is already 850 people hired, mostly in the offices of Porto.
Now the goal, says the official in an interview with the news agency, is to end the year with 1,000 employees (of which about two thirds in Porto and the rest in Lisbon), compared to the 600 he had hired by the end of 2019. For 2021, the expectation is [...]]]> Natixis announced the hiring of Etienne Huret to lead its innovation hub in Porto, succeeding Nathalie Risacher. With 27 years of experience in the banking sector, Etienne Huret previously worked at Unilog Management, Accenture, and Société Générale, where he managed the global offshoring and nearshoring centers.
With an engineering degree from Hautes Etudes Industrielles, in Lille, Etienne Huret reveals his priorities: "My goal is to continue to develop what was created at Natixis, in Portugal. I want to put innovation and transformation at the heart of Natixis, continuing to build an entrepreneurial and responsible team, to enhance Portuguese talent in universities and startups, and also to create a focus of specialization that is globally recognized in the areas of technology, banking, and transformation processes".
The company also reinforced its team in Portugal to guarantee sustained growth in the Portuguese market with the hiring of Christophe Rachel, to [...]]]> Porto City Council has 98 licensing processes underway for new tourist developments, 84 of which are hotels, this will allow for an 84% increase in the hotel offer in the city, especially in the historic center. According to the statistical bulletin of July 2020, in the first semester of 2020, the bet on the hotel sector remains, with 111 licensing processes for tourism enterprises taking place, of which 88% are destined. to new units.
According to the City Council, the 98 processes for new tourist developments are in different stages of processing: 23% in progress, 29% with an approved architectural project, 9% with a final decision, in the remaining 39% the deadline for the works permit. Of the 98 licensing processes, 84 relate to hotels, 13 to tourist apartments, and only one to residential tourism.
Based on the collected data, it is also concluded that 86% of the processes are for hotels, adding 92% of the total expected capacity, with the focus on mainly four-star (52%) and five-star [...]]]> The Portuguese technology company ITSector closed the first half of the year with a 25% growth to 13 million euros, having already conquered during the pandemic three new major clients, two of which are international.
The cross-border business of the software development company specialized in digital transformation for financial institutions already represents half of the total. "In recent years we have considerably evolved across borders and this bet remains. In the semester that ended, it reached about 50% of the total turnover", reveals Jorge Ferreira, Vice President and Board Member of ITSector.
"We develop solutions for the financial sector and we are developing projects for clients in more than 20 countries between Portugal, the rest of Europe, Africa, and North America", he adds.
Expanding business means job creation. Between January and June this year, ITSector hired 38 new employees, currently totaling 511. Professionals with deep knowledge of the financial area, among whom [...]]]> As executive director of iLof, Luís Valente is committed to using photonic technology to detect nanostructures in blood or other biological samples, so that the drugs end up on the pharmacy shelf - but so that they can be prescribed to people who can benefit from them, and without metaphors to the mix.
The first challenge of the startup based at the Medical Research Center of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto could not be more demanding: "in 15 years, more than 400 scientific studies have failed to develop therapies for Alzheimer's. A doctor today uses the same tools from 15 years ago. There is nothing that can be used as a therapy that is sure to be effective?, he explains.
Alzheimer is just the beginning of a business idea that started to be developed around the work of Paula Sampaio, at the Institute of Research and Innovation in Health of the University of Porto (I3S). In the summer of 2019, the company was incorporated - and last year it guaranteed, through the [...]]]> It was not only the British who made reservations for Portugal immediately after the United Kingdom announced the opening of the air corridor with the country. The decision had a contagious effect on tourists across Europe, according to Luis Araújo, President of Turismo de Portugal.
"From the moment Portugal was placed on the 'green list' of air corridors, the number of reservations for Portugal soared 130% worldwide and in the United Kingdom almost 400%", adds Luís Araújo, explaining that these data refer to the demand for airline tickets and not hospitality.
"The number of people looking for airline tickets to Portugal multiplied by ten, we had about 40,000 searches on August 19, and went up to 400,000 on August 20, the day it was announced," explains the official, stressing that, in addition to the Algarve, "we are also experiencing growth in the British market for cities".
The UK's decision to put Portugal on the list of 'safe' destinations for the British to [...]]]> The Porto municipality has set a goal of including in the rental market, by 2022, a total of one thousand properties that are currently earmarked for local accommodation, which will involve an investment of more than four million euros that will be realized through the Porto program with Sense. The first public tender for properties with a view to placing them on the affordable rental market has already started and will run until December 2020.
As explained by the municipality, every ten applications or monthly, a selection will be made of the houses that will be immediately put up for tender for subleasing to affordable rents.
Parallel to the Porto com Sentido program, the municipality continues to invest in the rehabilitation of the historic center and recently launched the public tender for a new phase of rehabilitation at Morro da Sé. This operation, located in the historic center of the city of Porto, at the confluence of the Streets of Bainharia, Mercadores, and Santana, will [...]]]> The ScaleUp Porto municipal initiative added a new tool to the city's entrepreneurship ecosystem map, facilitating access to all information about the city's startups.
In order to monitor and promote the entrepreneurship ecosystem in the city Invicta, ScaleUp Porto launched a new tool that facilitates the task of finding new startups and those with greater growth, creating recommendations for companies and investors, knowing the evolution of investment or do targeted research.
This dashboard makes the map of the entrepreneurship ecosystem, launched in January 2019, easier to access. In a continuous work of evolution together with the startup Dealroom, which develops the platform, this tool facilitates the visualization of all information, in a centralized way, allowing a greater understanding, the monitoring of its evolution, and the most effective communication for different target audiences.
The objective is to monitor the evolution of the data to understand the evolution of [...]]]> The University of Porto and its associated institutes are highlighted this year, once again, in the field of Intellectual Property Protection. According to the Made in Portugal Patent Barometer, published this month by Inventa Internacional, 71 of the patent applications, both national and international, originated at the University of Porto. These figures refer to patent applications published in 2019 and not submitted.
The report also highlights the strong presence of Portuguese universities as the entities that most submit patent applications both in Portugal and in Europe, the United States and China (countries on which the analysis was focused). Of the 71 requests associated with U.Porto, 47 are related to inventions from the University Faculties and 24 from INESC TEC.
It is worth noting that the UP also renewed the first place as an institution that most submits patent applications in Europe.
The following places in the top 20 are occupied by the University of Minho and Novadelta - [...]]]> Portugal will be included in the list of air corridors in the United Kingdom, that is, the quarantine will no longer be required for those arriving from Portugal. British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has already confirmed the good news for Portuguese tourism.
Since the 22nd, Portugal, including Madeira, Porto Santo, and the Azores, officially entered the list of air corridors, as stated on the British government website. However, this can be changed, depending on the evolution of the pandemic.
It is recalled that the United Kingdom is one of the biggest emitters of tourists in the country. The British market, in 2019, was responsible for 2.1 million guests, 9.4 million overnight stays, and almost 3.3 billion euros in tourist revenues, according to data from Turismo de Portugal. ]]> Trindade Domus, a building located in Porto with 20,000 square meters (sq. mt.) of gross leasable area, combining offices (60%) and a commercial gallery (40%), has a new owner, having been purchased by Finangeste in a 'joint venture' with an institutional investor based in the United Kingdom for more than 40 million euros.
The operation was concluded during the pandemic, having received more than a dozen proposals.
The property in question was built in 2008 and is located just a few steps from the Porto City Council, between Trindade and Avenida dos Aliados. It has parking for 496 vehicles and totals seven floors above ground and three in the basement.
For Fernando Ferreira, director of Capital Markets at JLL, the interest in Trindade Domus reflects "the high appetite of investors, both national and international, for the Porto market." "Only in the last year and a half, which, as we already know it includes a period of almost stoppage of activity, we registered three [...]]]> For the tenth consecutive year, the Shanghai ranking placed the University of Porto, among the 400 best universities in the world.After being ranked among the top 100 universities in the world in four different areas (Food Science and Technology, Veterinary, Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering), in an analysis that evaluated more than 4 thousand establishments, the University of Porto stands out among the 301 and 400 best educational institutions worldwide by the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2020, by Shanghai Ranking Consultancy.The oldest and one of the most prestigious international rankings in higher education awarded the university with a score of 45.8 (higher than last year), with regard to the number of publications indexed in the Social Sciences Citation Index 2019 of the Web of Science. In the number of citations per article, U.Porto acquired 10.2 points and 19.1 in the university's overall performance per teacher.In an assessment that included more than 2000 higher [...]]]> Luis Teixeira, COO of Farfetch, classifies the quarterly results as "above expected", taking into account the adverse context of luxury fashion.

The British-Portuguese Farfetch, a platform of the luxury fashion trade, this Thursday presented the results for the second quarter, after the closing of the session of Wall Street. Until June, the company had revenues of 365 million dollars (309 million euros), 74% more than the same period in 2019, leveraged by the number of new customers.
"It is an adverse context for the luxury industry, in which there is a general contraction in consumption, something that is evident in the consultants' studies and also in the results of the large luxury groups. When we delivered a 34% growth in the digital platform, it shows that, in fact, we maintained an accelerated growth and gained market share. Better than this would be impossible", summarizes the person in charge.
Farfetch's COO believes that in a "very positive next quarter", [...]]]> The startup led and founded by Daniela Braga, DefinedCrowd, appears in 27th place (out of five thousand) in the list of companies with the fastest growth of Inc. 5000.

DefinedCrowd, a startup with Portuguese DNA, founded by Daniela Braga, was distinguished in the 27th place in the reputed Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in the USA. In a statement, DefinedCrowd explains that success was achieved due to the "incredible 8550.28% revenue growth between 2016 and 2019". Regarding this distinction, the Portuguese entrepreneur states: "Since the company was founded in 2015 with an initial investment of 200,000 dollars, our growth has been exponential". "Our rapidly growing customer base and the rapid expansion of services offered to our existing customers resulted in an impressive 656% growth in revenue, supported by a 176% growth in our global workforce in 2019 alone." In the past, the Inc. 5000 list has distinguished companies in the technology world such as Zappos, Under [...]]]> The public tender for the new phase of rehabilitation of Morro da Sé is underway. This operation, located in the heart of the Historic Center, at the confluence of the streets of Bainharia, Mercadores, and Santana, will result in the provision of 14 more housing units to integrate the municipal program. affordable rental. Corresponds to an investment by the municipality in the order of 1.6 million euros.
As part of the municipal accessible rental program, the Morro da Sé Rehabilitation Operation has already provided the delivery of the first affordable housing units to new families who moved to this area in the historic center at the beginning of August.
This new tender, identified as "Operation D?, covers the rehabilitation of a total area of ??1,611 square meters, which will result in the provision of 14 housing units, namely two T0, five T1, and seven T2. The project also foresees the constitution of four commercial fractions.
The deadline for submission of proposals is [...]]]> The "Technology Fast 500", Deloitte'sranking that highlights the companies in the Europe, Middle East and Africa(EMEA) region that grew faster in the last four years, includes nine companiesfrom Porto, and the first Portuguese company best positioned - the startupFindster - is also from Porto. In fact, Invicta is the National City thatcontributes the most to a list led by Revolut (United Kingdom).Findster (33), Smarkio (141), FairJourneyBiologics (293), Appgeneration (320), SWORD Health (322), ebankIT (404),Readiness IT (413), Jscrambler (430), Fabamaq (488) are the companies thatenter the ranking of the most prominent in these continents and all of them areheadquartered in Porto.Portugal is represented in the list with 31Portuguese cities and receives from Porto the largest share of companies thathave had a greater evolution since 2015, standing out, in the IT sector. ]]> Not eventhe pandemic stopped Porto's business and economic dynamics, as proved by thenumbers of demand for offices in the city: in the first half of this year, thevolume of occupation increased by 38% with two thirds of the deals involvingmultinational companies.Thecomparison with data from the first half of 2019 is illustrative. The officemarket in Greater Porto registered a 38% increase in occupancy volume, with atotal of 28,381 square meters of offices.Accordingto the data collected in the OnOffice report, prepared by the real estateconsultant Predibisa, the growth dynamics of the office market in the city waslittle affected by the uncertainty of the pandemic. Despite a smaller number ofregistered transactions (4% less, in a total of 24 deals), the average valuecontracted per operation increased to 1,183 m2. This variation was positivelyinfluenced by four operations above 3,000 m2.The samereport also clarifies that two thirds of transactions closed until [...]]]> The EUGLOHRIA - Research and Innovation Action project, which was recently approved by the European Commission, will invest 2 million euros in strengthening cooperation between the five universities that are part of the "alliance", namely the University of Porto (Portugal), the University of Paris Saclay (France), LMU Munich (Germany), Lund University (Sweden) and Szeged University (Hungary), within the framework of the European University Alliance for Global Health (EUGLOH) initiative.The main objective of this European project, which resulted from a "SwafS - Science with and for Society" program, under the H2020 program, is the promotion of innovation and research among the five partner institutions that are part of EUGLOH, with regard to access to scientific infrastructure and its structures and practices to bring civil society and companies [...]]]> The Portuguese company Blip, which produces technology and software tailored to the web and mobile, developed a recruitment website to fill the approximately 70 vacancies available in the IT area, for middle and senior staff, for the office in Porto. The new online recruitment platform aims to make the application process more appealing and intuitive.Under the motto "Find your dream job", Blip presents some benefits in the recruitment process, such as flexible schedules, continuous training, family support, or the opportunity to participate in international exchanges. Porto's tech hub currently employs 300 people.
"One of Blip's brand images is its policy of attracting and retaining talent, and it was not the pandemic that stopped this effort. Despite the crisis caused by Covid-19, we opened 70 vacancies mainly for middle and senior staff, which we intend to that are filled with reference talent ?, says Ângelo Valente, senior [...]]]> Natixis, which has its Innovation Hub in Porto, has a second edition of the Purple Scan recruitment program in progress, aimed at junior profiles in the areas of Software Development, Computer Engineering, Law, Finance, Banking, Economics and Accounting. Applications are open until August 17th, through the website www.natixispurplescan.com, and all stages of the process will be virtual.Candidates must be fluent in English, have a predisposition to learn, agile and innovative thinking, a proactive attitude, and a collaborative and multicultural mindset and be eligible for professional internships at the Institute of Employment and Professional Training (IEFP). Those selected will join the Natixis team in September.Maurício Marques, Human Resources Director at Natixis in Portugal, says: "even during the confinement period, we continued to hire for the new areas of the organization and we intend to continue to invest in young talents to support us in [...]]]> The PSA Group, which will soon become the fourth largest car manufacturer in the world, announced the acquisition of a startup based in Porto dedicated to the recycling of auto parts.According to a note from PSA, the group bought "the Portuguese company Amanhã Global and its e-commerce platform (electronic commerce) B-Parts.com, acquiring a majority stake in the company's capital". The Porto startup has its facilities at Rua do Engenheiro Ezequiel de Campos, in the Ramalde area.B-Parts "is a leader in the online distribution of used auto parts", as stated on their official website. The parts come from damaged cars, ready to be reused in other vehicles, and all are original and have a warranty, explains the startup from Porto. Also, according to PSA (which has a production center in Mangualde, in the district of Viseu), the Portuguese management of Amanhã Global will "fully" maintain its functions. The directors of Amanhã Global, Manuel Araújo Monteiro and Luís Sousa Vieira, cited by the Lusa [...]]]> The group Nelson Quintas is building two buildings on Rua Manuel Pinto de Azevedo, one for offices and another for parking, with three underground floors, and has just opened S. Bento Residences, a tourist project built next to the iconic train station.S. Bento Residences, the new hotel in Porto which was built on an old ruin resulting from the opening of Avenida D. Afonso Henriques has opened.S. Bento Residences is the result of an investment of around four million euros, said an official source from the group Nelson Quintas.On the other side of the city, in the Business District of Porto, the group Nelson Quintas is building two buildings, intended for offices, parking and commerce, in an investment estimated at 12.5 million euros.In the middle of Rua Manuel Pinto de Azevedo, right in front of Avenida Antunes Guimarães, the glazed office building will have a gross lettable area of ??2,600 square meters, offering fractions in an open space of 200 and 400 square meters, with the possibility of being [...]]]> In the first half of this year, the office market in Greater Porto registered a 38% increase in occupancy volume, compared to the same half of 2019, in a total of 28,381 sq. mt. of offices taken over. Despite the pandemic, Porto's office market continues to grow. This is shown by Predibisa's OnOffice report, according to which, despite a smaller number of registered transactions (4% less, in a total of 24 trades), the average value contracted per operation increased to 1,183 sq. mt. This variation was influenced by four operations above 3,000 sq. mt.According to the consultant, 2/3 of transactions closed until June involved multinationals, and 38% of them concern the installation of new companies in the region, confirming Porto's growing attractiveness in the international business area. On the other hand, 50% of the take up was motivated by the expansion of the companies' area.In this semester, the city of Porto absorbed 65% of the area placed, with CBD leading, with giht [...]]]> The European Commission has launched an initiative to transform more than 120 cities into smart and sustainable urban centers, and Porto is one of the cities acknowledged.Through the "100 Intelligent Cities Challenge" program, the European Commission will support the implementation of innovation and technological development strategies in 124 cities, and Porto is one of the examples chosen as a reference. The city of Porto is part of the group of ten mentoring cities, along with Barcelona, ??Amsterdam, Antwerp and Singapore, and others. The 124 cities chosen by the European Commission to receive this support are already known, in a list that includes capitals like Rome, Budapest, Bratislava, Sofia and Zagreb, in addition to two Portuguese cities, Guimarães and Valongo, which will develop their action plans with the support of mentor cities. This initiative by the European Commission aims to support participating cities in [...]]]> The Sonae Tech Hub, the most recent office building on the Sonae Campus, in Maia, was awarded the LEED - Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design certification by the United States Green Building Council, with the Platinum level.With an award of 89 points, this is the highest certification awarded to a building in Portugal to date, rewarding its characteristics of environmental sustainability. Involving an investment of around 11 million euros, this is the most eco-efficient building built in the country, and one of the 100 best in the world.For João Günther Amaral, member of Sonae's Executive Committee and Chief Development Officer, "Sonae is committed to sustainability and committed to actively contributing to achieve the sustainable development goals set for 2030. The Sonae Tech Hub, the new building at Sonae Campus that receives the technology areas of the various companies of the group, is an example of this commitment?. "Being in the top 100 worldwide for the most eco-efficient [...]]]> The Call for proposals under the "Convocatória Aberta 2020" of the ScaleUp Porto aims to promote activities that boost the city's entrepreneur ecosystem. The ideas presented were a match of technology and entrepreneurship and the jury selected seven of those projects that were formally validated on 20th July, during the Municipal Executive Meeting. 
This is the fourth consecutive edition that challenges the technological community in Porto and the selected projects will encourage the exploration of both competence and innovation in the city's ecosystem.
Each of the projects will be granted 10 thousand euros for implementation. They are as follows:
Future Female Founders Program, by Press Play, combines inspiration, networking and training. These are the three pillars of this programme, [...]]]> The next Municipal Master Plan (PDM) focuses on creating conditions to attract companies and investment, and thus reinforce the city's centrality at the metropolitan and national level. Efforts that combine with the international projection of the brand "Porto.", as a seal that combines modernity with tradition, a city focused on the future and innovation, which simultaneously preserves its character and protects traditional commerce. The last few years have inscribed in the history of the city of Porto a dynamic, attractive period, mirrored in numbers that reveal a fast-growing economy, based on attracting foreign investment and tourism. Even in the middle of a pandemic, the impact of the crisis is not affecting the installation of new companies in Porto, a recent study concluded.The formula is therefore already invented, and in the next PDM it will be improved, with the creation of zones of economic activity, be they in the business or service sector, which will be defined in the soil [...]]]> UpSkill an initiative of APDC (Portuguese Association for the Development of Communications), the IEFP (Institute of Employment and Professional Training) and the (Coordinating Council of the Higher Polytechnic Institutes) has started. The objective of this project is to convert three thousand employees and unemployed people into professionals in technological activities in three years. There are already 500 places available. After a training phase, the companies undertake to hire the selected participants with "a minimum remuneration of 1,200 euros".UpSkill officially kicked off at a ceremony in Lisbon. In this event, 13 companies that need "professionals in the digital areas", digitally signed a protocol to offer these 500 vacancies. Altogether, and shortly after the start of this initiative, the program now has 22 companies and "is open to anyone who needs professionals in the digital areas." The campaign for "new members" to the program will run until September, explain the officials in a [...]]]> "Financial Development Tools" is the theme of the webinar scheduled for next Tuesday, the 21st, which aims to inform and clarify companies about public financing instruments available for capitalization. The session, scheduled to start at 5 pm, is free but requires prior registration.The initiative, promoted by the Financial Development Institution (IFD), in partnership with the Câmara do Porto, through InvestPorto, is aimed at small, medium and large companies in the city.Participants will have the opportunity to learn, in detail, the characteristics of the various financial instruments operated by IFD, which could be fundamental to support the economic recovery of companies, in a particularly demanding period.In effect, the pandemic crisis caused by Covid-19 caused an unprecedented challenge to the national economy, which will require an enormous capacity for resilience to the business fabric.The coming months will require a great deal of treasury from companies, which have to face up to the [...]]]> Office occupancy in the Porto market increased by 65% ??in June, compared to the previous month, in a total of 3,034 sq. mt. placed. The take-up accumulated since the beginning of the year remains 25% above last year, despite the pandemic.According to JLL's Office Flashpoint, as a result of the behavior of June, Porto maintained its 2020 activity above the previous year. Between January and June, 25,581 sq. mt. of offices were placed at Porto, 25% more than in the first half of last year. At the end of May, the take-up accumulated since the beginning of the year was 10% above the same period last year.Since the beginning of the year, 23 office occupation operations have been registered in Porto, with an average area of ??1,112 sq. mt. The most active areas were zone 1 - CBD Boavista, with 37% of activity, and zone 6 - Matosinhos, with 21%. Demand was particularly dynamic in the "Business Services" sector, with 34% of the half-yearly absorption, and "TMT?s & Utilities", with 26%. Mariana [...]]]> Applications are now open for the first public consultation addressed to owners interested in hiring their properties, under the "Porto com Sentido" program, promoted by the Porto City Council. The objective is to select, in this first phase, 250 homes to be placed on the affordable rental market.The initiative aims to attract thousands of new residents to the city center, through the provision of properties that are available on the free rental market, including those previously used for Local Lodgement (AL).For the owners, there are advantages associated with joining this regime, including the possibility of prepayment of two years of rent by the Municipality of Porto, as well as the enjoyment of tax benefits under the IRS, IRC and IMI provided by law.On the other hand, landlords who join the program see their risk substantially reduced, since it will be the Municipality that directly assumes the timely payment of rents, the regular maintenance of properties and also the timely delivery of fractions, [...]]]> The 2020 edition of the Leiden ranking, associated with a prestigious higher education institution in the Netherlands, placed the University of Porto among the top 100 in the world, in the areas of Health and Biomedical and Life Sciences and Biology.The University of Porto was again ranked among the best in the world, with regard to scientific production, by the CWTS Leiden Ranking, one of the most important international rankings in higher education. It ranks 153rd worldwide and 38th at the European level, in a list that ranks around 1,000 institutions worldwide.In the areas of Health and Biomedical, U.Porto is highlighted as the best Portuguese university, in 149th place.In an analysis carried out by themes, U.Porto News also states that the institution appears, globally, in the 78th position with regard to the areas of Physics and Engineering, in the 284th place in the areas of Social Sciences and Humanities and in the 317th position in the areas of Mathematics and Computer Science.Conducted by the [...]]]> DefinedCrowd launched DefinedData, a pre-collected, annotated and validated database that can be used in Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects. The catalog is available online and counts with the contribution of more than 300 thousand employees in more than 50 countries. Coming shortly after the startup founded by Daniela Braga announced its most recent Series B financing round, worth 46,2 million EUR."Machine learning teams working on AI models have always faced a particular pressure problem, the need for continuous access to very good quality data. When companies focused on technology want to launch their initiatives that involve artificial intelligence, they simply do not have time to collect and validate this data that is required?, explains Daniela Braga, founder and CEO of DefinedCrowd.The database allows startup customers to accelerate their artificial intelligence initiatives in the market, as they are able to obtain validated data through an online catalog, available in several languages, [...]]]> Israelis from Fortera, Issta Lines and Fattal are preparing to invest 47 million euros in a new real estate project in the Bonfim area, in Porto.Later this year the construction works of a hotel and a residential complex on land acquired last year in this area of ​​Invicta, will start. More precisely on Avenida Camilo, in front of Alexandre Herculano Secondary School.A 5-star hotel with 258 rooms will be built, with an investment of 27 million euros. In the same block, facing Rua do Bonfim, a residential development of 200 apartments will also be built, in an investment of 20 million euros.According to information provided by Elad Dror, CEO of Fortera, in these two projects, Fortera has two partners, also Israelis, who hold 1/3 of the share capital of the promoting company.The promoter Fortera has in its portfolio a global investment of more than 200 million euros for Porto, which will be applied in the construction of housing and hotels.]]> Marques Soares, an iconic traditional store located in downtown Porto - which opened its doors in 1960 - decided to start a new business. It recently opened SizeCowork, a shared workspace with the capacity to accommodate 100 people in the historic city center. Rents range between 50 and 150 euros.The building, which was already owned by Marques Soares, was equipped with meeting rooms, training rooms, social rooms, wi-fi, printers and air conditioning. The privileged location in Baixa do Porto, overlooking the monumental Torre dos Clérigos, several public transports, car parks, catering equipment and natural light are "distinctive? and "factors that captivate those looking for this type of spaces?. SizeCowork, which had an investment of around 200 thousand euros, "is an excellent solution for companies to reduce their costs, namely with equipment and logistical resources. Simultaneously, working from the noblest area of ??the city, with controlled costs and where they can even develop [...]]]> Several international companies leased offices in the city of Porto during the state of emergency. This performance was achieved "exclusively" by foreign capital, informs the consultancy CBRE, which alone rented 7,500 square meters. Foreign investment in the city of Porto did not stop during Covid-19's most critical pandemic period. According to CBRE, this performance was achieved "exclusively by international companies, which confirms the attractiveness of Portugal as a country and region of Porto, in particular", says a consultant, quoted by the newspaper Construir.The senior director of A&T offices at CBRE Portugal, André Vaz de Almada, adds that "the Porto market continues to show positive signs, even in the context of a pandemic". This statement is confirmed as a recent study by the Municipality of Porto, prepared by the investment attraction office InvestPorto, which shows the impact of the pandemic on the fabric of strategic companies in the city. Among the main [...]]]> The municipal program "Porto com Sentido" starts in July with a public tender that aims to select, 250 houses to be placed on the affordable rental market, hitherto used, mostly, for Local Accommodation (AL). The initiative aims to attract thousands of new residents to the city center, and for the owners, there are a number of advantages associated with joining this regime, including the possibility to advance payment of two years of rent ? by Porto City Council. For the next three years, the municipal investment will be around 4 million euros.The program, which will last until 2022, will amount to a global offer of 1,000 dwellings, with the selection of the first 250 dwellings starting in July.Among the main advantages of "Porto com Sentido", for the owners of fractions that are currently not being placed on the market, is the possibility of the prepayment of two years of rent.In addition to this measure, the provision of tax benefits under tax return, corporate tax, and Municipal Property Tax are [...]]]> The last cycle of the five webinars (online conferences) "Economy of the city of Porto" will take place this Thursday and will include the participation of Rui Moreira.Promoted by the municipality, the last cycle of five webinars will take place next Thursday, July 2, at 5 pm. Participation is free, but requires prior registration.In this closing session, the invited speakers will identify the new challenges facing the local economy, which must be reinvented in the post-pandemic.The Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, will speak at the beginning of the session.We recall that in the last sessions of this cycle of online debates, held throughout the month of May, topics such as fiscal and financing measures, the role of technology in this period of crisis, tourism, the positioning of Porto as a security destination were discussed and also the trade sector and the future reality of business.This last session will aim to summarize the concerns and challenges, across all sectors of activity, in an empirical [...]]]> For the fourth consecutive year, the Hotel da Avenida da Boavista is nominated in the category of Best Conference Hotel in Portugal at the World Travel Awards. The winners of the 27th edition will be announced on September 28th.Crowne Plaza Porto is once again on the exclusive list of the best hotels. The unit of the IHG group is nominated for the World Travel Awards, in the category of Best Conference Hotel in Portugal. The city of Antalaya, Turkey, will host the gala of the 27th edition of the awards ceremony on September 28th. The appointment of the Hotel Crowne Plaza Porto proves, once again, the unique characteristics that the facilities offer for conferences, combining rooms with excellent conditions to a team of professionals who know how to receive and welcome visitors.The General Manager of the hotel unit, Vincent Poulingue, says: "We adapted to the new post-pandemic reality and we implemented all the conditions of hygiene and safety to receive business meetings and conferences. At this [...]]]> Most office occupants within the EMEA region intend to increase their investment in technology to better support greater adoption of remote work, as a result of adjusting to the pandemic. This is one of the main conclusions drawn by CBRE in its EMEA Occupier Flash Survey 2020 survey, conducted during the months of April and May, among occupants in the EMEA region.92% of respondents foresee an increase in the adoption of remote work, which is why investment in technology is a priority. 45% expect to adopt non-touch technologies in their buildings, and 41% showed a strong interest in WELL buildings - certification that assesses the relationship between the building and the well-being of its users, and other sustainable resources. Cristina Arouca, CBRE Research Director in Portugal, states that "in the period of disturbance caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the importance of investment in technology remains central to all occupants"."Although, currently, the focus is on supporting remote work and [...]]]> Investors in the Portuguese real estate market remain optimistic. Regarding market indicators, yields in offices and retail are expected to rise.This is one of the main conclusions of the most recent JLL study called "The Investors? Perspective in Pre- and Post-Covid Analysis 19?, which sought to understand investors' perspective regarding the possible impacts of the pandemic on retail and office real estate as investment assets."If optimism continues to prevail among investors, it is a clear proof of Portugal's attractiveness as an investment destination, which is especially important at a time when the pandemic imposed a global brake on the markets and when the liquidity levels of investors remain high. In the context of returning to normality, all markets will want to go to the game to capture a slice of that liquidity and I believe that Portugal will be extremely well-positioned?, states Fernando Ferreira, Head of Capital Markets at JLL.Even so, the uncertainty brought about by the current [...]]]> Sitel, a Customer Experience Management (CX) services company, is recruiting 600 new employees to provide services remotely. The recruitment process takes place during the months of June and July. "When we enter the recruitment process, our concern is to understand if the candidates already have some type of training, experience, or ability to serve the public and how we can enhance this so that they can be part of our team. All Sitel employees receive extensive training, as this is the only way to ensure qualified and specialized professionals. Our employees are the mirror of our company and, therefore, we count on them to contribute to the success of our customers?, says Benedita Miranda, Chief Executive of Sitel Portugal, Greece and Italy.Sitel is "looking for 300 employees who are fluent in English and who combine this fluency with other languages ??such as French (over 200 employees) and Italian (an additional 100 employees)?."Employees will also be recruited to coordinate the campaign in [...]]]> The Portuguese startup Replai closed a seed investment round of 1.1 million euros, an amount that will be used to develop its multimedia production business, grow the team, and expand the company to markets such as the United Kingdom or the United States.The funding was headed by Bright Pixel and also counted with Ideias Glaciares, Clever Advertising, the founders of Unbabel and other business angels, members of gaming and application companies such as Playrix, Nekki, Aptoide, and Dashdash. The company, which uses artificial intelligence to create short videos especially for the esports industry, was founded last year by João Costa and Francisco Pacheco. The entrepreneurial duo developed a platform that automates the creation of short videos through algorithms that analyze longer videos and extract information from them.Today, it has a team of about ten employees and the advisers are personalities who are part of multinationals like EA Sports, Google, and WhatsApp.Replai's founders recall that [...]]]> A new concept for Ibis hotels, the debut of a new design in Portugal. Porto has over 89 rooms, in an iconic location and with a style unlike anything we are used to. The Accor Group opened on June 18th the Ibis Porto Centro Mercado do Bolhão, the first hotel in our country with the new design of the group, with vast areas and modern lines, titled Plaza da Europa. In a historic building at number 567 on Rua Sá da Bandeira, where the layout and facade were preserved, there is now a unit with single, double, triple and family rooms.The design, described by the group as modern and welcoming, refers to the city landscape, which has a direct entrance through the second floor, with balconies and windows, with views from the inside and lots of light in the interior space.In this new concept of the chain, of which the Porto unit is a pioneer, the classic concept of reception disappears, thanks to the application of Fols Mobile. This allows teams to receive customers with just a mobile phone or tablet [...]]]> "The Investor's Perspective, the Pre- and Post-Covid19 Analysis?, is the focus of the consultant's study that aimed to outline a scenario of the possible impacts of the pandemic on retail and office real estate as investment assets, in addition to including a round of issues made at the beginning of the year, before confinement.Fernando Ferreira, Head of Capital Markets at JLL, says that "if this feeling of optimism continues to prevail among investors, it is a clear proof of Portugal's attractiveness as an investment destination, which is especially important at a time when the pandemic imposed a global brake on markets and where investors' liquidity levels remain high. In the context of returning to normality, all markets will want to go to the game to capture a slice of that liquidity and I believe that Portugal will be extremely well-positioned?.Even so, the uncertainty brought about by the current pandemic associated with an expectation of downward adjustment in incomes anticipates [...]]]> Portugal has made the greatest progress in terms of innovation in recent years and has joined the group of member states of the European Union (EU) considered to be "strong innovators?, reveals the European Innovation Panel released by the European Commission. The annual report shows that, between 2012 and 2019, Portugal was one of the five EU countries that made the most progress in terms of innovation, highlighting the 'leap' made in the last two years, from 84 points to 105 points, which puts the country for the first time in the group of "strong innovators?, after being considered a "moderate innovator? over the last few years.For the second consecutive year, Portugal is even the leader in one of the areas contemplated for the elaboration of the ranking, "innovation in small and medium-sized companies?, and is now part of the group of seven countries considered "strong innovators?, the second-highest in the hierarchy, after the "innovation leaders?, which are Sweden, Finland, Denmark, [...]]]> The project is developed on a plot of land with 28,500 square meters, which results from a set of land integrated into a block between Sá da Bandeira, Bonjardim, and Formosa streets, close to the Mercado do Bolhão and Avenida dos Aliados.The former space of Casa Forte - which occupies a significant part of the Block of Praça D. João I - in downtown Porto, has planned a real estate project consisting of housing, commerce, and a hotel. The future development maintains a strong housing component and a hotel unit is still planned. However, now the focus on the tourism component goes through a hybrid concept, which adapts both to the needs of those who need long and short stays.Guaranteed is also the construction of a square, which should include a common garden open to the public, called Bonjardim Plaza.
]]> Nelson Quintas group will invest around 12.5 million euros in the construction of two new buildings (offices, shops and parking) in the Business District of Porto.Located at the intersection between Manuel Pinto Azevedo Street and Antunes Guimarães Avenue, one of the buildings has 2,600 square meters of GLA, composed of 12 open space office units, with the possibility of joining complete floors with modular spaces from 200 to 400 square meters of gross building area, plus two shops on the ground floor. It is being built by Ergicon - Engenharia e Construção, and should be completed in November, and the fit-out works can be carried out in December.Daniel Oliveira, manager of the group's real estate projects, believes that this is "a differentiating building, with a project by the office of the renowned architect José Carlos Cruz, with a unique location?, he says.Next to this building, a car park is also being built, with 3 underground floors, and a total of 175 spaces. A green roof [...]]]> The volume of absorption in the office marketin Porto registered a year-on-year increase of 11.4% in the accumulated periodfrom January to May 2020, marked by confinement due to the pandemic, in a totalof 22,847 m².According to the PPI (Prime Porto Index)figures, analysed by Savills, a total of 20 operations were registered, 20%less than in the same period of 2019.Boavista and Out of Town are the areas with thebest results in the analysed period, with a growth of 27% and 54% compared tolast year.Rodrigo Canas, Associate Director of theSavills Portugal Office department, comments that "the Porto market started ayear with an excellent dynamic that far surpassed the results achieved in thesame period of 2019, having been interrupted by the State of Emergency. Themonths of April and May felt expected decreases in the volume of absorption, asa result of the confinement phase?."A slight recovery is expected in the secondhalf of the year, but still under the influence [...]]]> The Covid-19 crisis has hit Porto?s micro-enterprises, hospitality and tourism businesses and Portuguese investors the hardest. In contrast, large firms, tech companies and foreign investors tend to record smaller losses. These are just some of the key findings of a survey carried out by InvestPorto, the investment promotion body of the Municipality of Porto, which studied the effects of the pandemic on the city's strategic businesses.
InvestPorto drew its conclusions from the feedback of 65 firms located in the city, which was obtained through the "Porto: Covid-19 Business Continuity Survey" conducted between May 19th and June 5th, 2020. Surveyed companies employ over 4,000 workers and generated a combined turnover of more than 768 million euros in 2019. InvestPorto can provide an  UnilabsPortugal has a new clinical analysis laboratory in operation, located in theBusiness District of Porto (ZEP). The building has a construction area of 2,300square meters (m2) and also an expansion area that could be completed thisyear. The operation of the new clinical analysis laboratory began in the secondhalf of 2019.The Unilabsbuilding is located at Rua Manuel Pinto de Azevedo, one of the arteries of ZEPthat in recent years has received a significant number of companies and newservices, and is currently totally renovated and undergoing strong expansion.]]> In the global competitiveness ranking of theIMD World Competitiveness Center, Portugal registers an increase of twopositions compared to 2019, climbing from 39th to 37th place.According to the results of this IMDcompetitiveness ranking, in which Porto Business School collaboratesexclusively in Portugal, the qualified workforce, the opportunity cost and thestability of the infrastructure continue to be the factors that make thenational economy more attractive. The ranking of the most competitive countriesin the world continues to be led by Singapore, with an increase of Denmark andSwitzerland, to the second and third places respectively.]]> Afterclosing 2019 with an occupancy of 64,918 m², the office market in Porto had avery dynamic start to the year. On a growth path, in the 1st quarter theactivity grew 43% year on year, reaching 21,013 m². The resultswere presented by the Prime Porto Index (PPI), which accounted for 17operations between January and April 2020, less two than in the same periodlast year. Even so, the area absorbed grew 43% compared to the 14,736 m²transacted over the first four months of last year.Anotherhighlight of the activity in the first four months of 2020 is the fact that 81%of the occupation was generated by expansion needs or the entry of newcompanies in the market, meaning that only 19% of the activity resulted from companiesrelocation.Looking atthe market map, in the first third of 2020 there was still a preference forprime location, CBD Boavista (zone 1), which traded 6,713 m², equivalent to 32%of the total, being the stage for the largest operation carried out on [...]]]> There are more than seven billion euros available from investors to buy commercial real estate on the Portuguese market. Investors also have close to three billion euros in assets to sell in the "near future", reveals a survey carried out by Cushman & Wakefield. According to a survey by the real estate consultant with 53 investors, including investment funds, "family offices", real estate managers, and insurance companies, investment intentions in the national market remain high.Within commercial real estate, student offices and homes remain attractive assets, but the biggest increases in demand are in logistics, residential income, and the health sector. These are the sectors where the majority of respondents anticipate that occupational activity will return within three months. In the remaining sectors, investors' forecasts are for a slower recovery, particularly in retail and hospitality.The vast majority of respondents (83%) predict that the investment market will resume pre-COVID-19 [...]]]> A study launched by ScaleUp Porto, which depicts the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Porto and its Region, concluded that the city's startups represent an annual turnover of more than 126 million euros. This strong economic impact may, however, be at risk, as by a COVID-19 impact preliminary assessment on these young companies, it was found that 3 out of 10 are at risk of closing doors in the next three months if the context does not change. "Re: think | Re: build | Re: load: Characterization of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in the region of Porto" was a study produced by Associação Porto Digital, in collaboration with EY.He analyzed a region that represents one of the fastest-growing tech hubs in Europe, comprising more than 350 startups and scaleups, more than 50 incubators and workspaces, and aggregating more than 30 technological communities. Among the main conclusions of the investigation in the field of sales and internationalization, it should be noted that, between 2015 and 2018, the [...]]]> KLM resumes the air route between Porto and Amsterdam-Schiphol in July, handling two weekly flights, starting on July 5th. The recovery plan by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which will step flights up next month, includes the city of Porto from the onset, like other airlines, namely Air France, Ryanair, easyJet, Transavia, Iberia, Luxair and Lufthansa. In the coming month of July, and in comparison, with June, the number of flights will increase by 60% at a global level, with KLM operating circa 25 to 30% of the pre-pandemic number of flights, the airline announces in a statement.In total, the European flight operation by KLM will include 73 destinations in July, way above the 30 flights operated in May, and the 45 scheduled flights for this month of July. In addition, Air France, the French company of Air France-KLM Group is to announce its operations for July. In the meantime, starting on 6th June, the company resumes the air link Porto - Paris-Charles de Gaulle, with three weekly flights, [...]]]> InvestPorto is committed to ensuring the success of Porto companies and investors in responding to the challenges and opportunities posed by Covid-19.The "Porto Business Continuity Survey" questionnaire is essential to build the next steps of our action. Completing it is confidential and takes only 2 minutes.> Participate through the image link or QR Code.Contact InvestPorto for more information and personalized support, safely and free of charge.]]> The Portuguese hotel brand Stay Hotels is preparing to open a hotel next to Porto airport, adding 102 beds to the chain, it will be the 10th unit of this Portuguese hotel chain.The Stay Hotel Porto Aeroporto will be located next to Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport and will open in a few weeks. It will have 102 rooms and is being developed with a promoting partner - Boaviagem. This company, which is totally dedicated to real estate leasing, did not want to reveal the value of its investment in this project, where the one assumed by the Stay Hotels group "was around 600 thousand euros?.Meanwhile, this hotel chain, which is owned by the venture capitals Inter-Risco and Menlo, decided to reopen, on June 4, only half of its units. "We opted to reopen, in a first phase, the units located in the main cities of the country?, contemplating the opening of the Stay Hotel Porto Centro Trindade.With the "Clean & Safe? seal of Turismo de Portugal, they guarantee that they will follow the hygiene and safety [...]]]> EasyJet announced on Tuesday that it will resume three-quarters of its operation in July and August, starting with about 50 destinations from Portugal, including Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport.The general director of the airline for Portugal, José Lopes, explained that the goal is to try to stimulate demand, with a balance between the launch of a promotional tariff for trips between July 1st and October 31st, 2020 but also with the implementation of security measures that will be put in place.EasyJet it will fly around 78% and 92% of the routes that serve Portugal during these two summer months, stating that it will continue to work with all relevant national authorities to assess, review and adopt necessary measures in the long term. ]]> Transavia France, the low-cost airline of the Air France/KLM Group, will resume its first flights to Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in two weeks, on the 15th. In the first phase, with routes connecting Porto to Lyon and Nantes, and from June 26th, extending the range of departures and landings to Paris-Orly and Montpellier airports."From June 15th, the low-cost airline of the Air France-KLM Group will open its first connections to Portugal (Faro, Lisbon, and Porto) from Lyon and Nantes and, from June 26th, from Paris-Orly and Montpellier", can be read in the statement issued by the air carrier.The airline also says that the resumption of flights, as well as the opening of new destinations and increased frequencies, is dependent on "the lifting of restrictions imposed by countries and the demand for passengers", so "the progressive and cautious expansion of its flight program is subject to the evolution of the epidemic in each country".The resumption of operations should cover about 25% of the Transavia [...]]]> The Municipality of Porto continues, during the month of June, with two projects aimed at city merchants and with totally free access. In addition to an online training plan, with various topics of interest, there are also a series of sessions scheduled with an online consultant, which will dispel doubts regarding the resumption of commercial activities in the current context, among other topics. Participation in both projects is free but requires prior registration.Started in April, the "Online Training" and "Online Consultant" projects will continue next month and there are sessions that start on June 1st, Monday. Online trainingThese actions are aimed at entrepreneurs and employees in the commerce sector with commercial establishments in Porto and aim to promote training and the development of technical and personal skills, capable of appealing to the spirit of mutual help and reinforcing the capacity to adapt to it. new scenario of abrupt changes.Get to know the themes of the online  Iberia will gradually resume its short and medium-haul flight program, with the flexibility to reschedule for all customers, as of July 1st. In the recovery plan, the Spanish flag carrier includes Porto’s Airport, the month when it definitively begins a new phase, abandoning its almost exclusive operation in the domestic market.The airline indicates that it is also prepared to "resume long-haul flights as soon as conditions allow it, and quarantine and travel restrictions are lifted in countries served by Iberia".For its part, Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, announced on Thursday, May 28th, the opening of 21 new routes departing from Milan Airport (Malpensa), in northern Italy. The flight schedule covers 19 European cities, including Porto. Flights to Porto will start on July 19th, with five weekly flights (Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays). ]]> Tomorrow the cycle of five webinars "Economy of the city of Porto", promoted by the municipality, will end. In the closing session, scheduled for 10 am on Friday, the invited speakers will identify the new challenges facing the local economy, which will necessarily have to be reinvented in the post-pandemic. The Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, spoke at the beginning of the session. But today the penultimate webinar, dedicated to the trade sector, still takes place at 6.30 pm. Participation is free, but requires prior registration.In the last session of this cycle of online debates - which has already addressed topics such as fiscal and financing measures, the role of technology in this period of crisis, tourism and the positioning of Porto as a security destination, and which this Thursday looks at commerce sector and the future reality of business - the objective is to synthesize the concerns and challenges, transversal to all sectors of activity, in an empirical approach that promotes ways and solutions [...]]]> The areas of the riverside and sea axis, such as Lordelo do Ouro, Massarelos, Foz, Nevogilde are identified by the consultancy JLL as the most appealing for owners who place their houses on the residential rental market in Porto.The data are contained in a study called "Investing in the Rental Market?, which highlights the competitiveness of real estate vis-à-vis other asset classes, by presenting higher and more stable medium and long term returns, in addition to the behavior of investment profitability in residential assets, highlighting their stability and resilience, even in times of crisis.In Porto, an average absorption rate of less than 3 months is observed, which reveals an enormous demand. JLL also highlights an average profitability higher than Lisbon, situated above 4% in most of the territory. The area of ??the riverside and Foz are the most attractive for investment in rental, showing the highest prime rents in the city and also a higher average household income. "This study [...]]]> The North was the region that most contributed to increase labor productivity between 2000 and 2017, growing 20% ??compared to the Metropolitan Area of ??Lisbon, which rose 3.3% in the same period. However, despite this contribution, the Northern Region remains the one with lowest income per inhabitant. The conclusions are from a study by the Northern Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDRN)."The North, the region with the lowest income per capita in the country, was the one that most contributed to the increase in labor productivity in Portugal between 2000 and 2017. This is a unique circumstance in the European Union (EU), where the regions developed countries in the different Member States (border regions), most of them in their capitals, were the main drivers of this growth", describes the CCDRN referring to the report.In a "special edition" in which the analysis is not limited to the region but is compared with other national and European areas, the document states that, in 17 [...]]]> "How can Porto position itself as a trusted destination?" is the subject of the webinar that this Tuesday will bring together representatives from the hospitality, Local Lodgment and city catering sectors, starting at 6.30 pm. Registrations are free and still running. Registrations are also open for the next session, dedicated to the trade sector, which will take place on Thursday, also at 6.30 pm.Confidence in destinations will be a decisive factor in the decision-making of visitors, which is why the adoption of transversal measures by all agents of the tourism ecosystem is essential, allowing them to elevate Porto to a safer and more sustainable destination.In order to gather practical points of view, the Municipality of Porto invited (the full program is HERE) a group of entities representing the various links in the value chain and entrepreneurs, including the president of IVDP, Gilberto Igrejas, the vice [...]]]> Providing high-quality data to voice recognition devices yielded an investment of $ 50.5 million in DefinedCrowd. In the B series of financing, the Portuguese artificial intelligence startup won new investors and set new records. This capital injection will be used to develop new products in the international market and also help to double the team to 500 people by the end of this year.This operation involved several types of venture capital investors: the Portuguese Semana Next and the English Hermes GPE invested for the first time in DefinedCrowd; there was also space for several repeaters such as the Portuguese Portugal Ventures, Bynd Venture Capital and EDP Ventures and the international Evolution Equity Partners, Kibo Ventures and IronFire Ventures. Before that, there were investors like Amazon Alexa Fund, Sony Innovation Fund and Mastercard.Daniela Braga points out that DefinedCrowd has managed to increase revenues and profitability. "Closing the investment series B is an incredible validation [...]]]> Porto City Council is now proceeding with licensing processes at the fastest pace in the last 6 years, guarantees City Councillor Pedro Baganha.After a digitization process implemented in all municipal services, namely in urban planning, the dematerialization of the municipal processes today is complete. This change generated "some natural constraints, and that period of adjustment existed, but now we can assume that it was an outdated constraint?. Pedro Baganha spoke as a guest of the most recent webinar of the cycle "The Roadmap to Recovery?, organized by APPII, VI and Ci. "Today there is no paper processing? in the municipality, "since the beginning of this year we have stopped allowing the submission of physical processes, either through the citizen's office or at our virtual service desk?.The only exception remains the workbook, which the City Councillor believes will be digital until the end of August.Soon, Porto City Council should launch a new geographic portal, "dedicated exclusively [...]]]> The next webinar of the cycle "Economy of the city of Porto" is aimed at the tourism sector and will discuss "How can Porto position itself as a trusted destination?". It takes place on the 26th, Tuesday, at 6.30 pm, and counts on the intervention of businessmen from hospitality, local lodgment and catering sectors. Participation is free but requires prior registration.Confidence in destinations will be a decisive factor in the decision-making of visitors, which is why the adoption of transversal measures by all agents of the tourism ecosystem is essential, allowing them to elevate Porto to a safer and more sustainable destination.In order to gather practical points of view, the Municipality of Porto invited a set of entities representing the various links in the value chain to this online conference.Ricardo Valente, City Councilor for Economy, Tourism and Commerce and City Councilor for European Funds, opens the  This is a crisis like no other so far; most airliners, which have grounded almost entire fleets, start the recovery routes.According to Publituris, Air France resumes air connections between Paris and Porto on 6th June, "with three weekly flights that will go back to being daily starting 18th June, "without prejudice of adjustments according to the evolution of the current pandemic", as stated by the company.In addition, easyJet announced the restart of operations on 15th June, "with a short number of flights, mainly domestic flights", in circa 20 European Airports, including the route between Geneva and Porto.Flights will follow stringent measures to ensure "new biosafety measures", including "thorough disinfection and cleaning" of aircrafts, mandatory use of masks both for passengers and crew members, as well as no on-board food service.]]> Ryanair will fly daily between Lisbon and Porto from May 22nd, adding this connection to its minimum services, according to a statement issued by the company about two weeks ago.In addition to this new connection, in Portugal, Ryanair is currently flying between Lisbon and the cities of London (Stansted) and Dublin.Ensuring that it will comply with the "established restrictions” at all times, Ryanair adds that the airline's reduced flight schedule has been extended until May 28th and says it hopes that the company's scheduled flights can be reactivated in July.It is recalled that other airlines have also started the process of resuming flights after the pandemic, as is the case with Emirates and TAP. EasyJet announced on Thursday that it would fly back to some destinations in June.]]> Located on Rua de Gonçalo Cristóvão, near Trindade, in Porto, it will have about 150 rooms, gym, common spaces for work, restaurant, sky bar and a roof terrace with views over the city, accessible to guests and visitors.At a time when social distance will remain essential in the fight against coronavirus, a hotel that is highly technological and that does not require human-to-human contact for most functions can prove to be a competitive advantage. The YOTEL brand is mainly aimed at business travelers, who have a good relationship with technology, being present in cities such as New York, Istanbul or Singapore. "I believe that the concept, in terms of offering what the customer needs and technologically advanced, is what people are looking for today, whatever their nationality. I believe that first there will be some interest in curiosity, I admit that yes. But installing the concept, I predict that the same phenomenon that we had in the USA will happen?, added the general director of UIP. After [...]]]> Luxembourg National carrier, Luxair resumes flights to Porto, starting on 30th May. The airliner had suspended flights due to the Covid-19 pandemic.Flights to Porto will be daily and flying on Boeing 737-700. This will also be the only air link between the Invicta and Luxembourg, as TAP route was cancelled from Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport.The first flight to Porto Airport is set to happen on 30th May, according to the timetables available on the company's website."These are good news to Portuguese emigrants in Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, after TAP announced flight suspension between Porto and Luxembourg", as the Jornal do Luxemburgo says.Joe Schroeder, Luxair spokesperson, affirms that returning to operations "is extremely important to reconnect both countries, mainly because of the broader Portuguese community living in Luxembourg".Luxair, legally Luxair S.A., [...]]]> 5th edition of Plug-In internship program, from Farfetch, has 40 vacancies for young graduates in the areas of technology, date and product and with up to two years of professional experience. The recruitment process takes place for the company's offices in Lisbon, Porto and Braga. Applications can be made here, until the end of August, and the internships are scheduled to start in October.Due to the pandemic, recruitment and onboarding processes are expected to take place 100% remotely. If conditions permit, the company has already confirmed that the reception process may be in person. The selected interns will have the possibility to integrate international teams and "work on projects that are revolutionizing the fashion and retail industry", guarantees the company."Even at this time of greater uncertainty caused by Covid-19, we wanted to reinforce our commitment to talent once again. Of course, the current situation contains uncertainties, so we do not know what restrictions may be in place in [...]]]> The results of the most recent Savills report titled "Lisbon and Porto Office Market? prove that "Porto has not lost attractiveness, as it has been gaining it quite significantly over the past few years. The retraction felt in the allocation of offices is temporary and expectable for the current moment. Note that in Lisbon and other European cities, the behavior has been in line with that of Portuguese cities, with no cause for alarm?, says Rodrigo Canas, Associate at Savills.The balance for the first four months of the year remains very positive, with an increase of 43% to the total volume of office area transacted compared to the same period last year, now standing at 21,013 sq. mt.The "CBD Boavista? market area remains in the lead, with a total of 6,713 sq. mt., 42% more than in 2019, having been the only area, alongside other locations outside the city of Porto, which registered an increase in the area traded compared to accumulated between January and April 2019.Another positive sign of the [...]]]> Critical Software will continue the summer internship program and has 15 vacancies for university students and recent graduates in the engineering fields who want to have their first contact with the dynamics of the job market. Due to the pandemic, the internships will take place in a 100% remote environment. Registration is open until June 5th and internships start on July 13th. Applications can be submitted here.During internships, participants will have the opportunity to develop technical and soft skills and explore the company's business areas: Java, C, C ++, Angular, React, Javascript, embedded systems and critical systems."The world is changing, and we still don't know if the old normality will be established again. In this sense, in the same way that the pandemic did not affect our operation, we understand that it should also not affect initiatives such as the summer internship program. We already have everything ready to provide full support to the interns, with whom we want, above [...]]]> In the second session of the webinar cycle "Economy of the city of Porto", scheduled for this Thursday, at 10 am, the focus will be on the role that technology had in the pandemic?s most acute phase and its relevance to now assist the economic sector in overcoming the crisis. In particular, we will look at #tech4COVID19 movement, which was born in Porto in March and which today brings together more than 5,300 people committed to finding solutions faster than the virus itself. Attendance is free. The webinar will be opened by the Porto City Council?s vice-president, Filipe Araújo, City Councillor for Innovation and Environment, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Porto Digital Association.In this clarification session on the tech4COVID19 platform, Felipe Ávila da Costa, spokesman for the technological movement created from the city of Porto but which quickly expanded throughout the country, will participate. Currently, the network that involves more than 5,300 volunteers, including [...]]]> Dear Investors, Managers and Entrepreneurs, InvestPorto reinforced its support services to companies in our city, in order to safeguard business activity, employment and investment in the Municipality of Porto in the current economic context. To help you make decisions, our investor support team launched the > Covid-19 Incentives page where you can follow systematic information on the most useful economic benefits and incentives for companies present in Porto.  In this context, information on Municipal Support for companies in Porto was updated. In particular, the latest information on the following incentives is available: > REURB 2020 ? Special Regime for Urban Management > Porto com Sentido Program > Municipal fund supporting investment and economic development for startups, micro-enterprises, and SMEs > Consultancy services [...]]]> Porto ranks as one of Europe's most talked-about cities, since it gained digital visibility, as stated by ING's Europe'sTop 50 cities, especially regarding technology, business and culture. Portoscores a top position in the ranking, moving from 38th to 13th in the ranking,just after Barcelona.Porto ranks as one of Europe's most talkedabout cities, which has gained digital visibility, as stated by ING, based onexisting global city indices that are reordered according to their share of theonline conversation.ING second year research provides insight intothe impact digital messaging is having on cities as brands. Porto is one of thebest examples of digital visibility (the amount people are talking about thecity online) impacting on its global city ranking.Smaller cities are starting to gain profile,while London, Paris, Madrid and Barcelona retain their position. Porto is oneof those cities, as it is leveraging the network potential of [...]]]> Savills analyzed the main trends to determine the future of global property investment in a series of articles and interviews released under the Impacts research program. The international real estate consultant studied the various critical aspects in social, environmental, demographic and technological terms that the global real estate sector faces in a more immediate way. The conclusions were:? Trade conflicts between the US and China will influence cross-border activities for many years, regardless of the leadership of the US, thus strengthening real estate investment opportunities in markets such as India, Vietnam and continental Europe.? According to Savills, the global life sciences sector received $ 2.5 billion in investments in the five years to 2019; this sector is expected to grow following Covid-19, with potential opportunities in new markets such as India, Spain, Australia and Austria.? Low long-term interest rates will ensure that the real estate sector continues to be sought after as [...]]]> WeChangers, a social startup from Porto that created a "LinkedIn for the social area", announces that it raised an investment of one million euros through an investment round financed by the Fund for Social Innovation, Regenerative Investment, BOMA Investments, and the FCR Common Fund.Bernardo Janson, one of the founders, says that this amount will allow the business to grow "not only in Portugal, but also worldwide". The founders' goal was to help organizations with social purposes. As a result, the company created an online messaging platform "that aims to connect people and organizations whose main purpose is to solve social and environmental problems". In practice, WeChangers joins this contact network and provides them with tools and "collaboration opportunities", explains Bernardo Janson. It works as "a LinkedIn for the social area", he says. Currently, the "global and open" platform brings together several projects and updated data on "social organizations, foundations, investors [...]]]> Porto Business School launched "The DigitalMBA?, a pioneering programme in Portugal that responds to new training needs,designed to easily adapt to each student?s lifestyle and to give them greaterfreedom of choice, in an increasingly digital context.At a time when technological growth and digitalinnovations have gained additional weight in society, The Digital MBA offers anexclusive solution for those who want to lead companies with a focus in thefuture.It was with the motto "What if the futuregives us more choices?" that the Business School of the University of Portohas thought of this programme, which aims to give more options in terms oftime, mobility, flexibility and comfort to those looking to increase theirskills in this area.This will be a unique learning experience,where each one will be able to design their MBA according to their professionallife in balance with their personal life.Participants will thus have the opportunity tocustomize their [...]]]> The programme "Porto com Sentido",which aims at including Local Housing property within the lease market, wasapproved 18th May, by the Municipal Assembly, convened via videoconference, ina private session. This initiative by Porto City Hall seeks tointroduce in the lease market two types of real estate: property under theLocal Housing market or available property in the sales and rental market,respecting the competitive mechanisms operating in an integrated andliberalised market and safeguarding public interest.Through "Porto com Sentido", aninvestment worth 4.3 million euros is estimated till 2022, in a total of onethousand lease contracts extending over three to five years.Among the measures included in this programme,it is important to enhance total IMI exemption of building apartments thatconclude lease contracts with the Municipality of Porto, under this initiative.Prior to the signing of a lease, an inspectionis stipulated, to ensure that the necessary [...]]]> The Municipal Assembly of Porto approved, on May 18th, the first amendment to the Tourist Tax Regulation, which contemplates the exemption of payment to people in situations of eviction who resort to tourist accommodation. In addition to, the extension of the exemption for the second companion in stays to perform medical acts in the city.It should be recalled that these amendments had already been discussed and approved in January, having subsequently been subject to a period of public consultation, whose period elapsed between January 22nd and March 3rd, when the Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection (DECO) was consulted.This review appears two years after the entry into force of the Regulation of the Municipal Tourist Tax of Porto (TMTP), allowing the adaptation of the document to legislative changes that have occurred in the meantime, as well as better defining some rules related to aspects such as inspection and administrative offenses.As part of this review, the Municipal Tourist Tax, [...]]]> The Municipality of Porto will organize, a setof webinars (online conferences) on topics relevant to the city's economy,especially for economic agents who, following the effects caused by COVID-19,prepare to resume their business activities. The first session, dedicated tofiscal measures and financing, is scheduled for Tuesday, the 19th, at 10 a.m.The access is open and free.The initiative aims to discuss a series ofissues of interest to the city's economic agents, namely tax and businessfinancing measures, the role of technology, how can Porto position itself as atrusted destination in tourism, the reality "future" of business incommerce and the new challenges and reinvention that the local economy faces.The first webinar is dedicated to "Tax andFinancing Measures" to support economic activity. In this session,participants will have the opportunity to learn about the main tax andfinancing measures available, support mechanisms, eligibility conditions andmain [...]]]> Farfetch managed to escape the effects of the new coronavirus, at least in the first quarter. The luxury fashion sales platform founded by José Neves practically doubled revenues until March, to 331.4 million dollars, without aggravating losses, which reached 79.2 million dollars (+ 1.9% than in the same period of 2019). The company has also reinforced liquidity in recent weeks. "When I founded Farfetch 12 years ago, I never imagined that the global platform I built for the luxury industry would be tested in such a devastating crisis", says José Neves, quoted in the earnings release published on Thursday night on the New York stock exchange."The investments being made to build a global platform are paying off, with tools such as global logistics capacity, a diversified network of suppliers at a geographical level and localized services for a global consumer base, allowing us to continue our operations", adds the leader of this unicorn (a company valued at more than $ 1 billion).The [...]]]> FairJourney Biologics, a biotechnology company from Porto, has just announced the merger with the English counterpart Iontas, based in Cambridge (United Kingdom). The synergy between the two main clinical research organizations for the discovery and manufacture of antibodies will allow us to create a world-leading international platform in this sector of biopharmaceuticals.The two laboratories, which recently announced a collaboration to expedite the identification of effective antibodies in a therapy for the treatment of patients with COVID-19, are now no longer officially competitors, to become business partners.Acquired by the company from Porto that brought the capital for the merger, Iontas now joins the FairJourney Group to offer engineering and antibody discovery services. The Group thus incorporates the knowledge and previous experience of the two [...]]]> The European Patent Office (EPO) annual reportreinforces the status of U.Porto - including Colleges and Associated Institutes- as one of the main drivers of innovation in Portugal, as well as theUniversity that submits more patents in Europe.U.Porto registered 18 new invention communications,coming from the faculties of Architecture, Sciences, Engineering, Pharmacy,Letters and ICBAS. 67 international applications were also submitted interritories such as Europe, the United States, Canada or China.These figures led the University of Porto toreach, the mark of 700 patents submitted both nationally and internationallylast year. U.Porto ended 2019 with 339 patents and active patent applicationsin its portfolio.Of the 17 patents submitted, and whose firstholder is the University of Porto or an Associated Institute, six were managedby U.Porto Inovação - the knowledge transfer office of the University of Porto- and are inventions developed by researchers from [...]]]> ScaleUp Porto, jointly with UPTEC, promotes circa 250 meetings, gathering established organisations and startups on 14th May. This event is held under the Doing Business initiative by Porto City Hall, in the framework of the ScaleUp Porto strategy 5th edition. Established organisations are in a perfect position to transform new ideas into concrete and value-creating projects. Together with startups, these companies are well positioned to establish innovation. Over 250 meetings, the doing Business initiative fosters such value-creating, boosting both customer service and innovative projects.The number of companies that are part of this initiative are a record number this edition, with 33 established companies from the fields of Health, Mobility, Bank sector, [...]]]> Lufthansa will extend its operations to Porto starting 18th May. The German airliner will operate three weekly flights between Frankfurt and Porto.Flight restrictions due to the current pandemic, namely passenger occupation are in place. The German Flagship Company flies with only 1/3 passengers per plane and preventive measures on board.Information published by the international press confirms that the increase in Lufthansa's flight plan involves resuming operations in 34 destinations, including Porto, and the strengthening of aerial connections to Munich.It is worth mentioning that Lufthansa strengthened its air service route to Porto in 2014 and two years later it established the LGSP - Lufthansa Ground Services Portugal, and hired 200 workers.Lufthansa, which for several years has been providing a real airlift between Porto and its main hub (Frankfurt), started the Porto - Munich route in April 2017 with low-cost flights. Germanwings was rebranded to Eurowings and are owned by Lufthansa.

]]> Reduced scheduled flights by Ryanair include the Porto-London Stansted route, starting on 22nd May. There will be one daily flight.This daily flight is part of Ryanair's reduced operations, which will be in place til 28th May.In a statement, the airliner recalls that as the majority of EU countries have imposed air travel restriction, "over 99% of its fleet is on ground and will stay that way for the coming weeks". "Ryanair will comply with such restrictions".In the meantime, the company states it is working with EU governments "to try and maintain certain routes operating for emergency reasons, even if passenger occupancy is really low".The goal is that passengers and respective families can face urgent matters and travel during the next days. All aircrafts are disinfected daily and the airliner requests that "all passengers cooperate with the crews that are doing their best in truly hard times".Ryanair hopes that regular [...]]]> Financial Times mentions that as Chinese investors are considering returning to the international property markets, Portugal is among the most sought-after destinations. According to the British newspaper, Sodichan, a property portal for Chinese buyers looking for properties worldwide, saw a 300% increase in inquiries compared to the previous six-week period. In this research there are some most sought after destinations, such as the USA, Canada and Australia, with good economies and attractive educational systems. On a second level, there are cheaper destinations, but off the radar for Chinese buyers, such as Estonia, Romania and Morocco. And third are the countries that offer investment programs entitled to citizenship, including Greece, Spain and Portugal.The Financial Times also writes that in the first three months of the year, the SnowOnly property portal registered an increase of 100% in relation to the previous quarter in queries on the Chinese market.In addition, since early March, [...]]]> Tax incentives, speedy licensing and maintenance of gold visas are, in addition to public investment, the major aid that the construction sector needs, says the general director of GesConsult.The new coronavirus did not stop the construction sector, but if several works that were already on the ground continued to advance, those that were in the design or decision phase were in "stand by", which for Nuno Garcia, general director from GesConsult, a company specialized in management and supervision of works, means that the impact of the pandemic on works "will be felt at the end of this year". He explains, "architects and designers are feeling the effect of covid-19 because there were many postponements", that is, "when there was supposed to be a regeneration of works, we run the risk that it will not happen".The official guarantees that "Portugal continues to be on the investment radar? but calls for conditions to be given to those who want to invest. "With low interest rates and an unstable capital [...]]]> "Southern European Stars 2020?, an online pitching session, is receiving applications from entrepreneurs until this Wednesday, May 13th.The venture builder studio Bright Pixel and the venture capital companies Samaipata and Kibo Ventures brought together more than 20 investors from southern Europe for an online pitch session open to any startup. The Portuguese Armilar Venture Partners, BiG Start Ventures, Bynd Venture Capital, Faber Ventures, Indico Capital Partners, Sonae IM, Startup Lisboa and Shilling Capital Partners will be part of the investor panel."Southern European Stars 2020" is receiving applications from entrepreneurs until this Wednesday, May 13th. Then, the 15 chosen startups will have to prepare their presentation speech for the event scheduled for next week, on May 20th.David Alonso, an analyst at Samaipata, explains that "this event is not meant to give credit to specific investors, but to involve all VCs in the same project and help the main players in the ecosystem, the founders." [...]]]> After the merger between The Stars Group and Flutter Entertainment, Blip will start producing software for the largest betting brand conglomerate. Technological Blip, based in Porto, will start producing software for what will be the largest online betting conglomerate in the world, after the merger between The Stars Group and Flutter Entertainment.The Porto company already developed software for brands such as Paddy Power, Betfair, or Fanduel, brands integrated into the Flutter Entertainment group. After the merger, Tecnológica believes that "new business and growth possibilities for Blip can be opened".As stated by Ângelo Valente, senior employer brand manager, in a statement, "it is an honor and a great responsibility to work for an organization of this size?, reinforcing also being confident that Blip has a team prepared and capable of responding to this new challenge "To do so, you just need to continue to strive with the same energy and deliver with the same high-quality standards as the [...]]]> Sonae IM's most recent investment is focused on a company specialized in product information management. Besides the Portuguese company, the investment round included two more investors.Sonae's investment arm, Sonae IM, invested in Sales Layer, a Spanish company specializing in product information management. This investment, led by Sonae, allows the Valencian company to "scale international operations, invest in sales and marketing?, as well as "adapt its infrastructure to the estimated growth and strengthen its customer support teams?, informs the joint statement.The investment round at Sales Layer, worth 3.5 million euros, was led by the Portuguese company, but also counted with other investors, such as the Spanish and Israeli venture capital company Swanlaab Venture Factory and the corporate venture investor Global Omnium.Sales Layer is a catalog management company, which uses product information systems. The SaaS platform centralizes information in catalogs, "replacing the use of outdated [...]]]> 2nd edition of Disrupt Retail challenges national and international startups that want to test retail ideas in a real environment.The second edition of Disrupt Retail is open, an acceleration program for technological startups that are developing ideas and solutions for retail and that want to test them in a real environment. The initiative, created by Sonae MC, is looking for Portuguese and foreign startups that are developing or already have "solutions that significantly impact the retail value chain, with emphasis on e-commerce, logistics, health and wellness services, store operations and sustainability?.Another aspect is "new concepts that help to create synergies and that promote co-creation, and that take Sonae MC brands such as Continente, Go Natural or Well?s, for example, to the next level?."With Disrupt Retail, we want to increase our proximity to the technological ecosystem and learn about solutions that can transform our value proposition. We realized that startups and R&D centers, [...]]]> Companies bet more on benefits to attract talent. The home office is a growing trend and project managers are the most requested professionals, reveals an Aon survey.The benefits are increasingly important to attract and retain talent in organizations, but there seems to be an inequality in the bet on promoting physical and mental well-being. In many cases, benefit plans are still out of step with workers' real needs and life contexts, although more flexible programs, such as the home office, are beginning to emerge. These are some of the conclusions of the study "Nearshore in Portugal: Trends in talent management?, developed by Aon, in partnership with the Association for the Development of Communications and Experis. The survey included 30 "nearshore? companies in Portugal - representing a universe of 40,000 employees - to reveal the main challenges in people management and how they look to the future of talent, recruitment, retention, and compensation in their organizations. Unflexible [...]]]> The proposal of the "Porto com Sentido" program, which advocates for the inclusion in the rental market of properties that are currently destined to Local Accommodation, was approved today by the Municipal Executive.In the project presentation, Rui Moreira pointed out that it is a "program identical to the one being created in Lisbon and that is being coordinated by the Government", in the sense that there may be "funds from the Central State that allow to broaden the scope of this program", something that should not, however, inhibit the Municipality's action right now, according to the Mayor of Porto."Porto com Sentido" aims to introduce in the housing rental market, properties of two types: housing currently in the local housing market or housing available in the property purchase and sale and rental market, with respect for the competitive mechanisms and full safeguard public interest.Among the measures included in this proposal, emphasis is placed on the total exemption from the Municipal [...]]]> Rui Moreira's proposal to create a Municipal Fund to support investment and economic development has been unanimously approved by the Municipal Executive. It is aimed at startups, micro-enterprises, and SMEs in the city, and also foresees the granting of tax benefits and exemption from the payment of municipal fees to traders and other economic agents. These measures, estimated at around 315 thousand euros, reinforce the action of the Municipality of Porto in supporting the economic, business, and commercial sectors of the city affected by the crisis. This package joins other measures, such as the emergency support line for associations, or those that were applied by the municipal companies Domus Social, Porto Vivo, SRU or Águas do Porto.The first of these concerns the creation of a municipal fund that supports startups, micro-enterprises, and SMEs in the city as a means to respond to the current challenges of the economy, and that contributes, through access to capital or reinforcement of [...]]]> Porto Business School rose again in the Financial Times? Executive Education ranking, which evaluates the best executive training in the world, climbing six positions in the category custom programs (Customized Training for Executives), to 58th, and reaching the 75th position in open programs (open training). In the ranking since 2011, the Business School of the University of Porto has climbed nine positions in this list from 2018 to 2019.

Among the criteria in which Porto Business School achieved a better score, "the use of contemporary and adapted teaching methods stands out, the quality of the teaching staff, as well as customer satisfaction and the probability that the customer will reuse the same school for other personalized programs in the future ?, justifies the institution.In the last ranking, released in December 2019, referring to the best European schools, Porto Business School added new achievements, with the rise registered in its Executive MBA program."Despite the new [...]]]> The creation of a Municipal Fund to support investment and economic development, aimed at startups, micro-enterprises and SMEs in the city, and the granting of tax benefits and exemption from the payment of municipal fees to merchants and other economic agents, estimated at 315 thousand euros, are the main measures to strengthen the Municipality of Porto in supporting the economic, business and commercial sectors of the city affected by the crisis. The proposal will be discussed in the City Council meeting next Monday. This is yet another set of municipal measures to combat the economic effects caused by the pandemic. After the approval of the first package of measures, and others in the meantime adopted by the Municipality, whether of a more specific nature, as is the case with the 
Claranet is looking for professionals with experience in information technologies and in the relationship with medium and large companies. Claranet Portugal, a provider of cloud, hosting, networking, security and workplace solutions in an "as a service? model, wants to recruit ten senior account managers for the offices in Porto. This recruitment aims to respond to the increase in demand for cloud and workplace solutions in recent months in Portugal, due to the growing needs for remote work in companies and the trend towards accelerating the digital transition to the cloud. The technology forecasts a high demand for this type of services in the coming years, and, despite the adverse economic context and the short-term impact of the pandemic, the company continues to grow, underlines in a statement. According to António Miguel Ferreira, general director for Iberia and Latin America at Claranet, "the objective is to hire, during the next three months, about 10 senior account [...]]]>
The 100 million euro-fund provided by the EIF and the Fund for Internationalization Funds aims to mobilize 300 million euros (and no longer 500) to finance Portuguese SMEs. The fund to stimulate the growth of more mature companies and promote mergers and internationalization will go ahead without private companies. The Portugal Growth Capital Initiative, a fund of funds, will start with 100 million euros and intends to mobilize around 300 million to finance Portuguese SMEs. This is a revised downturn in view of the effects of the pandemic on the economy. This fund of funds will invest in SMEs and midcaps, that is, companies that have up to three thousand workers. And this is the big difference compared to Portugal Tech, the investment program of 100 million euros that invests in startups in the area of ??technology. Just as Portugal Tech does not provide support directly to Portuguese companies, the Portugal Growth Capital Initiative will also choose venture capital that has more [...]]]> The proposal of the recently announced programme "Porto com Sentido", will be discussed by the Municipal Executive next Monday. The initiative of the independent majority, fundamentally, the inclusion in the rental market of properties that are currently destined to Local Accommodation, capturing private housing hitherto unavailable, through municipal intervention, in an investment of more than 4.3 million euros. The owners of the buildings that adhere to the programme will receive total exemption from IMI taxation. "Porto com Sentido? is created with the objective of introducing two types of properties to the housing rental market: dwellings currently on the local housing market or houses available on the property purchase and sale and rental market, with respect for competitive mechanisms and safeguarding the public interest. In the proposal signed by [...]]]> Porto has a new "Office Park?. The buildings provide 31,500 sq. mt. of offices, with a sustainability certificate and a wide range of equipment. Engexpor is monitoring the installation of tenants. The Porto Office Park (POP) office project, promoted by the Violas Ferreira group in the Boavista area, in Porto, is nearing completion. The project and construction management was carried out by Engexpor, which, over the last 25 months, followed the construction work, with the execution of the works being carried out by Mota-Engil. Engexpor was also selected by Violas Ferreira group to coordinate and supervise the fit-out works required to install tenants, and work on several floors is already underway. 31 500 sq. mt. in two buildings with 9 floors above ground Located in the main business area of ??Porto and one of the most central in this city, POP consists of two buildings, each with 9 floors above ground, which in total provide 31,500 sq. mt. of offices. There was also a concern to [...]]]> Concrete plans for the recovery do not yet exist, but TAP has been advancing little by little with information about the reopening of some routes already this month. The "jet bridge” between Lisbon and Porto is one of the routes to be resumed, but for now only with 3 flights a week.The 3 weekly flights with which the "jet bridge” will be resumed will be operated from the next 18th and until the end of May, and from then on the situation will have to be assessed again.On flights to Europe, TAP maintains 2 weekly flights from Lisbon to London-Heathrow and Paris, with the cities of Brussels (Belgium), Geneva (Switzerland), Frankfurt (Germany) and Amsterdam (Netherlands) continuing without flights. ]]> APD, in partnership with Aicep Portugal Global,Garrigues, Oracle, Atrevia and DHL, will host a digital meeting on theChallenges of e-Commerce that will take place on May 7th, at 5 p.m.Classic business models and the nature of salesare changing. New business models are replacing established ones, at anunprecedented rate. In this sense, APD Portugal brought together a group ofexperts to address the main topics related to E-Commerce, such as Legality,Software, Marketing, Means of Payment and Logistics.Sign up for free through the link: https://lnkd.in/d7dw6-T
]]> The Municipality of Porto has prepared a document to support merchants in this new phase. "Porto, Comércio com Segurança" [Porto, Commerce with Safety] compiles all the measures and recommendations that come into effect as of this Monday, the 4th. It is available online and will also be available to street merchants during next week.The Economy, Tourism and Commerce Department, under the responsibility of councillor Ricardo Valente, produced "Porto, Comércio com Segurança", a manual with the guidelines and norms directed to the city's street commerce, with the objective of helping merchants to adapt their commercial spaces and ensure that this process of returning to the new normality is governed by a set of rules and guidelines, which mitigate the possible contagion of Covid-19 in the scope of this activity.In the document, the Municipality seeks to anticipate and prevent risky behavior by citizens, [...]]]> Critical Techworks also needs 160 technological professionals to fulfill the goal of closing the year with a staff of one thousand employees. The company, with offices in Porto, is especially interested in recruiting senior profiles with experience in software development for embedded systems, mobility, production, logistics, sales and after-sales, reveals Rui Cordeiro, chief of purpose at Critical TechWorks. Although all teams are working remotely, the recruitment process does not stop.The only difference in the selection of candidates - more than 500 interested parties appear each month - is in the interview phase, which is now all done remotely. At this stage, a technical assessment of the professional is carried out, but that is not what is decisive. To work at Critical Techworks it is important to understand that the objective is "to build a company that does not depend on anyone in particular, but that depends on everyone, which means that individual knowledge, which is limited, is not as [...]]]> Investment in commercial real estate practically tripled in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period last year, in a total of 1,470 million euros.This is what highlights the JLL Market Pulse, now released, according to which the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic in March did not affect the figures for the quarter.During this period, several operations were completed, which were already in an advanced stage of completion when the virus appeared in Europe, at the end of February. Retail accounted for 55% of the total volume invested, and hospitality for 26%, with emphasis on the sale of 50% in the Sierra Prime position in a portfolio of 6 shopping centers, or the sale of the Real Hotels portfolio.The office segment accounted for a 17% share, with an emphasis on the sale of the PREOF portfolio, with 52,000 sq. mt.Pedro Lancastre, general director of JLL Portugal, explains that "the real estate market started the year with such robustness that the slowdown in activity in the last 15 days of [...]]]> Natixis has just launched a recruitment programto expand the teams it has at the innovation center in Porto, in which it wantsto integrate non-technological profiles.The name of the recruitment program is PurpleScan and the goal is to fill around 30 vacancies by the end of the year. Thecompany seeks recent graduates from the areas of Law, Management andInternational Relations."In addition to completing the degree,candidates must be fluent in English, have a predisposition to learn, agile andinnovative thinking, a proactive attitude and a collaborative and multiculturalmindset. They must also be available to join our team starting in July2020", explains the human resources director of Natixis in Portugal,Maurício Marques.On the Natixis side, the offer includes anopen-ended contract. As for the work environment, the company promises aflexible and modern space, in the center of Porto and multicultural. Careeropportunities include the possibility of internal and [...]]]> Porto City Council decided to revoke thecreation of the Local Lodging Establishments Regulation, suspended the ban on newestablishment registrations, in addition to the creation of containment areasin the historic center and Bonfim area.This is due to the radical stop in tourismrelated activities, during the pandemic crisis. The proposal signed by thecouncillor for Economy and Tourism, Ricardo Valente, was approved this Mondayat the executive's meeting, with the votes in favor of the majority thatsupports Rui Moreira's executive.Thus, the decision taken in July last year,when the Porto City Council determined that all new registrations of LocalAccommodation in the historic center and Bonfim area, will be revoked. Themeasure was approved for 6 months and extended in the same period last January,or until the conclusion of the Local Lodging Establishments Regime, not yet finalized.In the approved proposal, Ricardo Valentejustifies that «in several cities in the [...]]]> "Joãodas Regras" and "Paraíso 49" are the names of the two new realestate projects that the Israeli group Taga-Urbanic is going to promote in thecity of Porto, having awarded the construction of both to Gabriel Couto,builder of Famalicão.Sinceentering Portugal two years ago, the Taga-Urbanic group guarantees that"it has already carried out more than a dozen real estate acquisitions,including land and properties to build and/or rehabilitate", with theintention of investing around 100 million euros in the two largest Portuguesecities, in the first five years of its activity in our country."TheIsraeli group aims to create, in these five years, a portfolio of about 700rehabilitated apartments, both in Porto and in Lisbon", advances GabrielCouto.Thefirst real estate development to be built by the Famalicão construction companyfor the Israeli group in Porto is located at Rua João das Regras and willconsist of two buildings, one of which is high and the other is [...]]]> FairJourneyBiologics, leading global antibodydiscovery companies, founded in Porto, announced a partnership with Iontas, one of the main healthcare manufacturingsolutions Company in Cambridge, UK.The aim is to bring togethercomplementary services and technology to enable faster identification ofeffective antibodies that will be the most successful in the development phase.FairJourney's premier globaltechnical expertise and extensive immune antibody libraries and Iontas' nextgeneration Mammalian Display technology will allow scientists from bothcompanies to join forces in the race to identify antibodies and ultimately inthe development of safe and effective treatments.Parties that would normally becompetitors, combine forces to isolate highly specific, neutralizing SARS-CoV-2antibodies displaying high affinity and preferential [...]]]> The Municipal Executive approved the proposalfor a Regulation to Reduce Urban Fees - REURB 2020 - a Special Regime thatprovides for the allocation of tax benefits and, simultaneously, aims toaccelerate the appreciation of urban processes, by allowing, even in 2020, toavoid the postponement of scheduled or planned private property investments.Under this Regime, all projects are eligiblefor fees, and may benefit from a 50% reduction for works, whose completionperiod does not exceed two years. The benefits also have an impact on thereduction of processing times, reduced by half, and for this purpose, allprojects whose investment is equal to or greater than 1 million euros areconsidered.It should be noted that REURB 2020 covers urbanplanning processes for licensing or prior communication of building works,urbanization works and some subdivisions (excluding PIPs, authorization foruse, among others), whose payment of fees and collection of the (s) respectivepermit (s) to [...]]]> The final step towards the conversion of the former IndustrialSlaughterhouse into a business, cultural and social hub is taken. Porto CityHall has just won the action before the Court of Auditors (Tribunal de Contas). The works will beperformed by Mota-Engil and the project is by famous Japanese architect KengoKuma, in partnership with the Portuguese by Ooda. The Court of Auditors had denied ante visa to the above mentioned projecton 4th February 2019, that is, 14 months ago, when the Municipality of Portohad tem days to lodge an appeal, which it did.Over one year later, Porto City Hall won the appeal and has received theante visa. This was the last step so that works can start.The former Industrial Slaughterhouse is terminated for twenty years now; itwas on sale on public auctions but the former Mayor of Porto never sold it. Itis located in the parish of Campanhã.Now, it will undergo a 40 million euros investment, fully supported byMota-Engil, the company in [...]]]> The Municipality of Portolaunched a microsite on COVID-19 thatbrings together the measures agreed to control the pandemic, both at municipaland national level. In addition, it sharesinformation of interest for citizens and companies. Refer to the platform viacovid19.porto.pt to know how Porto City Hall and the city are facing this unprecedentedcrisis, as the microsite is designed to be intuitive and easy to operate.The microsite provides fulldetails of municipal services and digital channels and those consideredessential for the proper running of the city that are provided city incompliance with the recommendations of the health authorities.At the municipality's level,the microsite also provides useful information regarding the municipal supportmeasures to companies and families, complimentary to the measures issued by theGovernment and that form the first package of measures approved by [...]]]> According to the Savills' analysis, 16transactions were recorded in this period, 23% more than in the same periodlast year.The CBD Boavista zone recorded the bestperformance in the quarter, with a total absorption volume of 6,713 sq. mt.37% of the absorption volume was related toplacements between 3,000 and 5,000 sq. mt.Rodrigo Canas, Associate Director of theSavills Portugal Office Department, comments "Porto continues to demonstrate thatit is an attractive city in attracting new companies, as exemplified by thesignificant growth in the volume of absorption. Also linked to the fact thatthere are new projects for quality offices that arouse the interest ofmultinationals to settle in these buildings».]]> With its eyes set on boosting the city's economicactivity, the Porto City Council presents REURB 2020, a Special Regime thatpromotes the attribution of tax benefits and, simultaneously, aims toaccelerate the appreciation of the processes by allowing, even in 2020, toavoid the postponement of private real estate investments already planned or underway.In general terms, all processes are eligiblefor fees and may benefit from a 50% reduction for works, whose completionperiod does not exceed two years. In the case of the reduction of processingtimes, these are also reduced by half, and for this purpose, all projects whoseinvestment is equal to or greater than 1 million euros of work are considered.REURB 2020 covers urban planning processes forlicensing or prior communication of building works, urbanization works and somesubdivisions (excluding requests for prior information (PIPs), usageauthorizations, among others), whose payment of fees and collection of therespective [...]]]> The fourth edition of the ScaleUp Porto OpenCall brings news and guarantees a total of 70 thousand euros to support newactivities in the areas of innovation, technology and entrepreneurship.Applications are open until April 26th.The Câmara do Porto, through the ScaleUp Portostrategy, challenges the innovators of the ecosystem, the technological,innovation and entrepreneurship communities of the city, for the fourthconsecutive year.Among the novelties of this Open Call, ScaleUpPorto highlights the invitation launched to entities to boost activities infour different areas: education initiatives for technology-basedentrepreneurship and ideation; development of studies, mapping and assessmentsof the ecosystem; initiatives to share knowledge and train startups teams; andinitiatives to promote and boost technological communities.Moreover, the collaboration between the agentsof the ecosystem and the promotion of actions that promote opportunities are,at this stage, of [...]]]> Tourism of Porto and Northern Portugal (TPNP)and Porto Tourism Association (ATP) joined forces in providing support toentrepreneurs and employees of tourism companies in the Region. Under the motto"Stronger North?, a microsite and a campaign with the motto "At home, but neveralone? are officially online.?This microsite is a tool that aimsto simplify, clarify, support, in short, to help our private partners indestiny to find the best solutions to be able to fight this serious crisis,including supporting the preparation of applications for support created by theGovernment, and the think strategically about the future. The microsite is bornout of a need, expressed by many entrepreneurs, namely micro-companies, to haveconsultancy at this time so difficult, that otherwise it would be impossible toguarantee ?, says TPNP president, Luís Pedro Martins.For the President of ATP, Ricardo Valente "thisis another step in the process of bringing the two entities together, at a [...]]]> Extending the domestic market to Spain is theshort-term strategy of the hospitality sector in Portugal. Cristina Siza Vieira,executive director of the Portuguese Hospitality Association (AHP), says thatthe Covid-19 pandemic will lead countries to turn inward to encourage domesticconsumption."Portugal is more than 90% dependent on airtransport and, at the moment, the biggest concern until the end of the year isthe resumption of tourism. But with airlines stopped, we will be facing theextended domestic market that is Portugal and Spain, because it is right next doorand the fact that people can come by car?, says the head of AHP. However, inthe "medium and long term, we will continue to invest in other destinations aswas already the case?, stressing that the national average for Portuguesetourism is around 40% and that "making it grow more will be vital?.So that this growth can be made, Cristina SizaVieira assumes that the concern of the hotel industry is to align itself [...]]]> The 4th edition of the SWitCH program is on its way and the calendarof applications can already be seen in https://portotechhub.com/switch/Just like last year, the newedition of the course will have 60 vacancies, since we’ll have two classesagain.The first school year of theprogram, alongside ISEP (Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto), will takeplace at this institution, with classes happening for 35h/week. In the secondphase of the program, students will have access to a paid internship in one ofPTH’s associated companies.If you have a bachelor degreein any area, and are interested in making a switch in your career, this may bethe opportunity to do so.]]> The office segment has been running high in thePorto region, having recorded a total occupancy of 15,297 sq. mt. in the firstquarter of 2020, a figure three times higher than in the same period last year.Despite the current uncertainty, following the new coronavirus pandemic, thereare signs of optimism and the interest of multinationals in Invicta remains."The year 2020 began with the office marketregistering a moment of strong dynamism in the city of Porto, with a growingdemand from multinational companies, which find human resources in the citywith the appropriate know-how, labor costs competitive, combined with a goodquality of life and attractive values ??for investment in the region?, says thereal estate consultant Predibisa, relying on data from (her) OnOffice report,which analyzes the office market in Greater Porto.According to the company, about 13 operationswere carried out between January and March, similarly to what happened in thesame period last year. [...]]]> The municipal executive met on Monday morning,once again through a video call, to approve the first set of measures to facethe hardships of families and companies in this pandemic scenario.In general terms, the Municipality has plannedto reschedule cancelled shows and events, so that they can contribute to the"hard work to recover the dynamics of the City and its national andinternational (re)projection", thus ensuring the cultural offer city ??assoon as the situation is normalized.In the case of social housing, three measureswere approved today: the adoption of flexibility mechanisms for thereassessment of the value of supported rents, the possibility of phased paymentof rents and the suspension of tax enforcement of debts.In the business field, some measures were alsoapproved in this session, namely the total suspension of rent payments tomerchants who are municipal tenants.This support will consist, on the one hand, ofexemption from the total payment of rent [...]]]> Sharing his perspective on the crisis that has takenplace in the sector and the world, the official says that, with the newcontext, "quickly, service companies discover that, through remote work, theyare able to occupy a different space without changing their productivity. It issomething that we will have to pay attention to?. If this trend is confirmed,"we will have much more spacious office spaces. The existing offer, which wasalready scarce, may become more adequate and allow companies to relocate spaces?.On the other hand, co-working can also change: "fromthe moment that spaces start to be more abundant, the profile of occupationchanges. This business model is likely to suffer. And companies can also thinkabout relocating?, says the specialist.In relation to the industrial and logistics market,the specialist notes that "spaces rented for very short periods may no longermake sense. And chains should want to have their supply spaces closer, andthere may be an attempt [...]]]> The tenders for the presentation of designproposals for affordable housing in Lordelo do Ouro area, estimated at morethan 300 dwellings, were published this Wednesday, April 1st, in Diário daRepública, about a week after the meetingof the City Council Executive who voted unanimously on the proposal.The urban study foresees interventions in landsin the municipal domain, which include, in addition to the intervention inpublic space, the construction of five housing blocks, with the provision ofmore than 300 dwellings for the accessible housing market.In total, there are three tenders, one for thedesign of urbanization works, public space and landscaping, which contemplatesthe renaturation of the section of the Ribeira da Granja, rehabilitation andconstruction of new streets; and the two remaining tenders, second and third,for the construction [...]]]> It is through the design of the Ferreira deAlmeida architecture firm that we learn about the rehabilitation project of theold Rosa Mota Pavilion, today Super Bock Arena - Rosa Mota Pavilion, a workcarried out by Lucios Engineering and Construction.The rehabilitation of the iconic building is apromotion of the Círculo de Cristal consortium, formed by Lucios and PEV Entertainment,which won the international public tender launched by the Porto City Council in2014.From the old structure, a Congress Center wasborn, composed of an auditorium and four multipurpose rooms that can be unitedor subdivided, organized around a large semicircle foyer, which can be used asa support space, as a space for exhibition or for an isolated event. Theconstruction of this auditorium required a great structural reinforcement, inaddition to a very difficult excavation, in rock, to obtain the necessaryceiling height in the auditorium.Equipped with the most modern technologies,today the Super [...]]]> The Government notified the European Commission this Monday to launchnew lines of credit. At stake are seven billion euros that will be madeavailable as needed, revealed the Minister of Economy. Trade and services, butalso some industrial sectors will be the priority, he said.This new set of credit lines is modeled on the three billion euro linethat has already been announced, but which is not yet available at bankbranches. This line has an associated cost of 3%, because companies will haveto bear a spread of 1% to 1.5%, even though the interest rate is negative(normally six-month Euribor -0.3%), plus a mutual guarantee commission that cango up to 1%, values ??to which is added a commission for the management of the0.5% dossier that the bank can charge."We made a notification yesterday to the European Commission to beable to approve new lines of credit that the State will manage as needed,"said Pedro Siza Vieira. "The notification we made was seven billion euros?,added [...]]]> It's technological. It's digital. And, for thisreason, Nuno Sebastião, co-founder and CEO of Feedzai, believes that thePortuguese startup is "well protected from the economic effects that thispandemic may have?. "The truth is that we are part of a group of companies thatwere born global and digital. This means that we are not just dependent on aparticular region of the world and that our entire business is conducted usingdigital platforms and tools. Our company, both from the technological point ofview and from the point of view of mindset, was all built to be operated inremote environments?."Feedzai was born a global company and highlydistributed all over the world?, begins by telling Nuno Sebastião. At the time,and as soon as it gained its first major customers in the United States, thecompany had "people working from Portugal and supporting these veryimportant projects that were starting". "This dynamic has been maintainedand the reality is that we have more [...]]]> Portuguese fintech Ebankit has rented a floorin Porto Office Park (POP) with a total area of ??1,726 square meters and acapacity for 210 employees. In addition to this novelty, the company informed thatit is recruiting and plans to hire 40 more consultants in the areas of softwaredevelopment and security. Applications can be made through the company's website."We are already at the limit of capacity in ourcurrent facilities and we need to have a space that is attractive. Given thejob offers in the technology area, today we have to offer excellent workingconditions to retain people in this area?, says Renato Oliveira, founder andpresident of Ebankit.Loyalty of employees "is one of the greatchallenges of technology companies in Portugal. For that, it is necessary to innovatein terms of spaces, have cultural zones and leisure spaces?: in POP, thestartup found the perfect match."POP is one of the most [...]]]> Challenges, strategies and opportunities related to the challenges thattechnological companies face in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic were atthe center of the online debate, promoted by ScaleUp Porto. The session,conducted by renowned city entrepreneurs, is available in full here.The ScaleUp Portomunicipal initiative, dedicated to boosting the city's entrepreneurialecosystem, promoted a discussion session aimed at professionals fromtechnology-based companies, this time in a webinar format.Under the theme "Trying to maintain normality andperformance", the session was attended by Rui Marques, CEO of 7Graus,Sofia Matos, responsible for Human Resources and Culture at Infraspeak, andLuís Neves, president of the Porto Tech Hub Association.For an hour, guests discussed the challenges, but also strategies theyhave in place to overcome this critical time and were [...]]]> According to the consultant, the office market "can and should take advantage of this phase to change its point of view and discover opportunities in periods of contention", at a time when, even after the crisis, the remote working trend "will be adopted by some companies when they realize that it works?.
"Future projects will have to be rethought to offer alternatives to medium-sized businesses seeking, not just large. A company that initially would look for an area of ??1000 sq. mt. may realize that it needs only 800 sq. mt., since it will choose to have part of the employees working remotely, bringing all employees physically together in the same space only sporadically ?, explains Worx.
The consultant believes that at this stage it is expected that the number of searches on the internet will increase, which will later translate into contacts and business deals, "compensating for the breakdown period. We will continue to close the few assets available since demand will remain active, [...]]]> The new programme aims to be a "regulatoryintervention" in the housing market, minimizing the difficulties that middleclass encounters. It foresees "the inclusion in the rental market of propertiesthat are currently in local lodging?.Fixing the resident population and attractingsome of the many citizens who, in recent years, have not found housing optionsin the current rental market in the city, were the main concerns that were atthe origin of this initiative.According to Público, the City Council is goingto open a tender for the lease of an as yet undefined number of dwellings for abase price, by typology, which works as a "brake-rent?. Proposals below thisamount will be chosen, and the owners may enter into contracts with themunicipality with completion between 2 and 5 years.The rents to be paid to the owner can even beadvanced, in the case of the existence of bank commitments to be settled, andthe price can be increased up to 10% if the house is furnished. In [...]]]> Rui Moreira, in addition to frequent contactswith the Government of the Republic, has maintained a permanent relationshipwith the city?s councillors, through digital media and held several more formalmeetings with all of them in order to start the conception of a package ofeconomic measures and social support motivated by the pandemic crisis ofCOVID-19.The set of municipal measures will take intoaccount the measures already announced by the Government and will always becomplementary to those determined by the Council of Ministers, and should notoverlap. The executive is therefore studying the foreseeable impacts onmunicipal revenue, which will depend on the time in which economic activity isconditioned. Based on budget availability, measures are being planned to reducefixed costs to trade and other economic activity, as well as the adaptation ofsome projects in progress or that were already in preparation, adapting them tothe new reality.Important is the intention of [...]]]> When technology meets public health, a newworld of possibilities opens up without having to leave home. The technological movement Tech4Covid19 wasborn by the hand of entrepreneurs and startups in Porto last Saturday and justsix days later it already brings together 120 companies and more than 2,500people, working on about 20 autonomous projects to fight the new coronavirus.They have already raised more than 100,000 euros for hospital supplies, providedelivery services to family and friends, provide online medical consultationsand are working on an application that identifies the Covid-19 contagionnetworks, in cooperation with health authorities.The Whatsapp conversation started last weekendbetween a small group of founders of startups in Porto, brought together thefriend of his friend, co-workers, entrepreneurs from different areas oftraining - from technology and digital to marketing, going through law ,medicine, engineering, [...]]]> In the city of Porto, investment in officesreached a "record? value at the end of 2019, of 118 million euros. The most recentCBRE data, also show that it represents 11% of total investment in the sectorin Portugal.To achieve this value, the transactions of Burgoand Urbo buildings highly contributed, since they represent about 76% of it.The Burgo office building was purchased by Värde Partners from Dos Puntos AM inthe middle of last year, representing an investment of 42.5 million euros. TheUrbo building was traded at the end of the year for 49.4 million and isincluded today in the portfolio of the insurance company Fidelidade.The expectation remains positive for the year2020, despite the setbacks generated by the current Covid-19 pandemic. CBREpoints out in the report "MarketView Offices Porto 2019? that "taking intoaccount the assets that are currently under negotiation, it is expected that in2020 investment in office buildings located in Porto will exceed the [...]]]> The government announced a new package of exceptional measures to combat the new coronavirus in Portugal, taking into account the State of Emergency. Announcing a set of credit lines to support the treasury of companies in the total amount of 3,000 million euros, destined for the sectors most affected by the pandemic.
The 200 million euro credit line for the economy in general - which hadalready been announced last week, will be "reviewed and made moreflexible" in terms of access, namely that there is no longer any referenceto a drop in turnover in 20%.These credit lines have a grace period until the end of the year and canbe repaid in four years, said the Minister of Economy and Digital Transition,Pedro Siza Vieira.RestaurantsFor the catering and similar sectors, the executive creates a creditline of 600 million euros, of which 270 million euros are intended for microand small companies.According to data from the Ministry of Economy, 321 million euros [...]]]> Pedro Baganha, City Councillor for Urbanism, Public Space and Public Property, declares that "we want to increase the housing supply in the city, and at the same time give an answer to the many micro-entrepreneurs of local lodging who were left without their source of income, and with the support of the Municipality find a way to bring these properties to the affordable rental market», in the words of the councillor.The current state is of emergency and Porto City Council is betting on support for employment and families, considering that "this is the time to find new solutions that are opportunities in effective support to overcome this difficult moment", adds Pedro Baganha. The concrete news and the way to operationalize these supports should be made public in the coming days.Municipal licensing with suspended deadlinesThe deadlines that are taking place in the municipal licensing process are currently suspended, as follows from the emergency legislation approved in the context of Covid-19, Pedro [...]]]> International entrepreneurs are beginning to give Porto a prominent place in the championship of the best destinations to invest in technology and in the European study Startup Heatmap the city appears in second place in the rankings of available talent and in the cost-benefit ratio.The distinctions follow. It already was the most welcoming city for startups at the World Excelence Awards (2018) and the third fastest growing technological hub in Europe (Atomico 2018). Now (2019/2020), it is the best European city in supporting startup and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the fifth best European medium city in investment strategy, says the FDI Intelligence ("Financial Times?). And it is ?European City of the Year? at The Urbanism Awards 2020, "another important distinction because urbanism and quality of life are fundamental criteria for multinationals to choose where they invest?, highlights Ricardo Valente, city councillor for economy.If investment projects in Porto soared 150% in three [...]]]> The American multinational, Concentrix,specialized in outsourcing, technical support and customer interactionservices, rented four floors in Porto Office Park (POP) - with a total area of??7,600 square meters and with a capacity for 630 employees - and it will beone of the first companies to settle, said Tiago Violas, executive president ofthe holding Violas Ferreira."This new location is related to the company'sgrowth and expansion strategy and POP fits perfectly with Concentrix's needs.It was the best decision both in terms of location and state-of-the-artinfrastructure?, says Concentrix country leader Ahmed Aboulezz.With this expansion in our country, Concentrixwill hire around 500 people for the new POP office, starting in May. AhmedAboulezz explains that there is a wide range of opportunities, mainly for theback office and call center areas. Speaking other languages ??such as English,German, Italian, French and Spanish is a must. The vacancies are [...]]]> The Canadian airline Air Canada announced forMarch 29th the beginning of the between the city of Porto and the provincial capitalof Ontario, thus entering into a strategy of investing in Porto that has beenfollowed by several other carriers.The connection from Francisco Sá CarneiroAirport to Toronto, the largest Canadian city and financial capital of thecountry, will feature four weekly flights.The operation will be carried out by Boeing767-300ER from the carrier's low-cost subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge, with atotal capacity for 282 passengers, 24 of which in Premium Economy and 258 inEconomy Class.]]> The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has simplifiedthe procedures for visa applications to Portugal. Foreign citizens can nowcomplete the entire process over the internet, on the new e-Visa platform,available in Portuguese, English, French, Ukrainian and Russian."With the introduction of e-Visa, visaapplications and the submission of the necessary documents for processing theapplication are now able to be made electronically,? announced in a statement theSecretary of State for Portuguese Communities.Among the new features is the possibility forapplicants to check the status of applications at any time. The various phasesinclude "registered application?, "application under analysis?, "applicationgranted or rejected? and "visa issued?.This way the Government centralizes visaapplications and the submission of documents on a platform, which "willcontinue to be developed with a view to including, in the future, thepossibility of paying the administrative fee for processing the [...]]]> The Porto Prime Index was presented on March 3rd,in Porto, by Confidencial Imobiliário with the support of the main real estateconsultants that operate in the national market but also with the collaborationof the Porto City Council in this event. This is the first index of offices inPorto and will monitor the occupation of space in office buildings. Aninformation tool that provides greater transparency to the market and thatsupports the numerous research studies developed by international consultants witha presence in the City of Porto.According to the first results of thisanalysis, in 2019, around 55 thousand square meters were occupied in the Portoregion. The main occupants were the TMT´s & Utilities companies, followedby the financial services, pharmaceutical, health and consumer productscompanies.The areas that registered the highest values??were the CBD of Baixa and Boavista, with average values ??close to 14 € / m2.The highest prime rent was located in [...]]]> At a time when the Tax Incentive for Research and Development (R&D),SIFIDE II, has an extended validity period until 2025, Ayming launches theupdated version for 2020 of The Benchmark Survey. The Benchmark Survey is acomparative study carried out by Ayming, which addresses the tax incentives toR&D in 15 countries, including Portugal, analyzing them in a uniquereference in terms of easy access to the incentive and generosity of it.Existing in Portugal since 1997, SIFIDE (Tax Incentive System for BusinessR&D) saw its second generation - SIFIDE II - come into force in 2011, whichmeans that we are facing a mechanism that has a high degree of maturity andthat has certainly contributed to the reinforcement of business investment inResearch and Development.In 2018, SIFIDE started to include, in addition to the expenses incurred bycompanies in their R&D projects, the contributions they make towards funds inwhich they will invest if the companies the R&D [...]]]> Porto Airport continues to increase new direct routes operated as it is a viable and competitive airport. As stated previously by TAP, Emirates, Finnair and Ryanair.

This time round it is the airliner EasyJet that has announced that it will strengthen flight connections to Porto Airport starting this summer. According to Publituris, the information was released by the low cost airline and it represents a 15% enhancement.
"The most frequently sought routes from Porto will have added capacity, namely destinations as Ibiza, increased in 53%, Luxemburg will have an increased capacity of 47%, Zurich routes will expand as far as 76% and Funchal with an increase of over 40% capacity", reads the statement released by EasyJet.
Also, summer destinations will see an increase in flight frequencies as much as six flights per week to Funchal and EasyJet will fly to Ibiza also in the shoulder season.
As stated by Publituris, José [...]]]> Readiness IT, the company based in Campanhã, which specializes in digital transformation services, will expand to NorthAmerica and hire more employees, through a partnership establishedwith the company Vlocity/Salesforce, from San Francisco.Recognized as one of the 10 best in the worldin the segment of digital transformation by the international magazine APAC CIOOutlook, Readiness IT explains that the partnership established with Vlocity -"one of the largest information technology companies in the world" -will allow its expansion to North America."We estimate that, in the next threeyears, Readiness IT will earn more than 10 million euros, only under this newpartnership", said Readiness IT executive director, Adérito Ferreira. Thecompany will deepen its knowledge in the North American solutions for the Cloudand will also be responsible for the integration of systems throughout SouthAmerica, for the areas of Telecommunications and Media.Founded in 2015, the [...]]]> The Frenchinvestment bank, which chose Porto tosettle here about three years ago, will once again increase its portfolioof services and, consequently, has already opened the recruitment of another130 employees for the areas of Law, Management, Economy and Finance.The novelty wasrevealed by the director of the bank in Portugal, Nathalie Risacher, who told thatamong the priorities to extend the work in Porto to finance and bankingactivities, giving now even more priority to innovation. Until now, the workdeveloped in Porto was oriented towards the technological area of ??thefinancial group.The fact that itcombines agility and flexibility, typical of a startup, with the investmentcapacity that a small company has difficulty obtaining, leads the manager tolook very optimistically at the success of the operation, in the perspective [...]]]> The company Voltalia, which has its solar hubin Porto, was selected by Smartenergy to build three solar parks. This choicerepresents an investment of 80 million euros in Voltalia, which is alsoresponsible for the operation and maintenance of the new parks for a period ofaround 10 years.The French renewable energy multinationalVoltalia, listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, has established a partnershipwith the Swiss renewable energy group Smartenergy / Edisun Power for theconstruction of three solar parks, which will correspond to a total of 134Megawatts.According to a statement sent by Voltalia to"Porto.", the partnership provides that the company with facilitiesin Porto will provide all its "know-how" and turnkey service in termsof construction, operation and maintenance of solar parks, which will belocated in Lisbon - South Bank and will be equipped with high efficiencyphotovoltaic panels and solar trackers.The construction of the first projects willbegin in the [...]]]> fDi - Intelligence Magazine, a renownedpublication of Financial Times and a reference in the area of ??Foreign DirectInvestment (FDI), announced the "EuropeanCities and Regions of the Future 2020/21" Awards, placing Porto in the5th position in the FDI Strategy category in the ranking of Mid-Sized EuropeanCities of the Future.For this ranking, fDi considered 505 locations,between regions and cities, organizing them in five categories to reach the"European Cities and Regions of the Future" ranking. In theimplemented methodology, indicators were considered in categories that includeeconomic potential, human capital and lifestyle, cost efficiency, connectivityand business environment.The award ceremony of the prestigious fDi/FinancialTimes awards will take place during MIPIM, the largest Real Estate InvestmentFair in Europe, in Cannes, on [...]]]> eDreams, the Spanish online travel agency andone of the largest online travel groups in Europe is recruiting engineers andprogrammers for its new office in Porto, which has been identified by eDreamsas the "high promising epicentre for technology".The giant eDreams ODIGEO, also commonlyreferred to as eDreams, is about to open two new technologic hubs, in Porto andin Milan, during the first quarter of 2020. The goal is to "enrich thecompany's team with talents and to attain the recognition of the brand atglobal level, as the third biggest online flight travel company, which deals inregular and charter flights and low-cost airlines".The office at the Invicta will start to operate"immediately", through a highly qualified team of iOS and Androidprogrammers, as well as "front" and "back-end" engineers,to work in the 261 platforms of the group, jointly with the technological teambased in Madrid and the software team at the company's headquarters, inBarcelona."The [...]]]> Local economiesare being called to address urgently the enormous skills challenge in thecontext of the digital transformation. Facing a new paradigm of unprecedentedchange, uncertain and unpredictable, several initiatives to bridge the skillsgap are being developed by local governments in Europe, and around the world.Despite the efforts, skills shortage and skills mismatch persist, as severalrecent studies and reports predicting a pessimistic future have shown.Given thecurrent role of local authorities in this new context, the workshop on Jobs andSkills in the Local Economy intends to explore innovative solutions that havebeen developed in some European cities to meet these challenges. The workshopwill take place on the 31st January, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.in the Noble Hall of Alfândega do Porto within CITIES Forum 2020.The event willbegin at 10:30 a.m. with a Welcome Session titled "Porto.ForTalent initiative?given by Mr. Ricardo Valente, City Councillor for [...]]]> Farfetch, the luxury clothing startup founded by José Neves that is valuedat more than one billion dollars, raised 250 million investment from Tencentand Dragoneer.Farfetch, the first startup withPortuguese DNA to become a unicorn (a company with a valuation of more than onebillion dollars), raised an additional 250 million dollars (about 226.7 millioneuros) of investment. The Chinese technological group Tencent and the NorthAmerican investment fund Dragonner are both responsible for the bet on thecompany, having each entered with 125 million dollars."I am pleased to haveTencent and Dragoneer as part of Farfetch's investor base. Tencent's deeptechnology experience and ongoing relationship with Farfetch, combined withDragoneer's experience in supporting growth-oriented technology companies, makethe two investors excellent partners to support Farfetch's next growth chapter?,says José Neves.The amount raised will reinforce [...]]]> Porto hosts the"CITIES Forum 2020", under the motto "together we shape asustainable urban future", on 30th and 31st January. This event is jointlyorganized by the European Commission, the Directorate-General for Regional andUrban Policy and the City of Porto.Key stakeholdersfrom European, national and local levels will meet at the Invicta to make themost of mutual accomplishments and to take into consideration a broaderreflection on the future of urban development, in view of the future of theUrban Agenda for the EU, as far as Cohesion Policy is concerned.Day one includestwo workshops in Porto, to showcase the city's achievements regardingtechnology solutions and climate and environmental issues at specific locationsin the city. Also, there will be a CityLab to debate territorial developmentwithin the renewal of the Leipzig Charter.Moreover, [...]]]> The GlobalTalent Competitiveness Index released the report on the most competitivecountries in the world in talent management in 2020. European countries continueto lead the GTCI ranking - the world index which analyzes how countriesattract, manage and retain their professionals - with many highly economically developedcountries in the first thirty.In thegeneral ranking, which includes 132 countries, Portugal takes 28th place withan evaluation of 57.8 points, and belongs to the group of countries with thehighest results.Within thesix competencies that are analyzed in the Index, our country performs well interms of new opportunities, occupying the 29th place. With regard to marketattractiveness and global growth skills, it is in the 26th and 32nd position,respectively. In terms of professional and technical competence, it ranks 43rdand in terms of global knowledge, 35th. Finally, as for the retention rate, itoccupies a good position, standing out in the 25th [...]]]> Airliner Wizz Air will strengthen itsoperations in Porto, with three weekly flights from Porto to Vienna, startingthis summer. The Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air, headquartered inBudapest, which serves many cities across Europe, is betting in Porto for thecompany's network expansion.  Following the Porto-London route, which startedin July 2019, the airline offers three flights per week, connecting Porto toVienna.]]> In the market for university residences inPortugal, Porto stands out for its strong dynamism, with 10 to 14 projects fornew accommodation units for students under development. Some of these alsoinclude the concept of coliving, the majority of which are located next to theCampus da Asprela and in the city center.The survey is carried out by the maininternational consultants - CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, Predibisa, Savillsand JLL -, who represent the investors and promoters who are developing theprojects at hand.Andreia Almeida, Associate and ResearchDirector at Cushman & Wakefield, points out that "the private offer isresponsible for 43% of beds, a weight that will increase over the next threeyears, as 5,400 new beds are expected to be distributed by 14 projects?.Cristina Arouca, Research Director, at CBREPortugal, is aware of "more than 10 projects under development or still understudy which total more than 5,000 beds", considering that "there is amarket to [...]]]> This is it, thisis the bucket list of the best small cities to catch up with in 2020, accordingto Monocle, and Porto ranks 9 out of 20.Monocle's global network ofcorrespondents delivered the shortlist of the world's best small cities. Thekey words are "rich cultural experiences" and "space tobreathe".This is a fairquestion: a new decade, a new city? Monocle raises the issues of "allthings possible" regarding jobs, social life, family, a well-connectedairport, and has presented a shortlist of cities to consider, Porto beingranked 9 out of 20.Porto changedand it managed to surface from a dull fate to full speed innovation andentrepreneurship city of the future. And now Porto echoes life quality in allits quadrants; from housing to infrastructure, from tourism to trade, fromculture to economy.The "shiftin priorities - restoring the historic cobbled and tiled centre, spending oninfrastructure and opening up to foreign investment - has propelled [...]]]> "Hello? Here is Pardal!But painting, who paints? Only those who paint with brushes from the Pardalbrand can paint well. The brushwork with full guarantee". It was with thisradio announcement from Parodiantes de Lisboa - who also made famous theadvertising campaigns of J. Pimenta, Chaves do Areeiro, Polilon or Dr. Bayardsweets - that this Porto company gained national fame and profit in the late1960s.Half a century later,the historic company continues to manufacture brushes and paint rollers in the2,000 square meter factory on the side of Estrada da Circunvalação, where 80people worked in the 1980s and today employs 24. The trend is towards reducing thisnumber to two dozen within three years, continuing industrial automation"as people retire".With "less laborforce incorporation" and the objective of "increasing productivityand reducing waste of materials", the manager, José António Monteiro,reports a new investment of almost half a million euros for this year. [...]]]> Ryanair to operate the Porto-Grenoble route,starting 30 March 2020, with two direct weekly flights, announced the low costairliner. The airliner will operate Boeing 738 aircrafts, departure from Portoat 1.30pm and arrival in Grenoble at 5pm. This is the third route operated by the lowcost airline between Porto and the French region of de Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,adding to the existing connections between Lyon and Clermont-Ferrand.Tickets are already available on the company'swebsite.]]> In Porto you'll discover sights, culture, foodscenes, accommodation options and value for the money, and according to Forbesmagazine, you'll find it is also among The Best European Cities to Invest in for2020.Amy Dobson, Forbes's Senior Contributor in theReal Estate area, reached out to LeadingRE, a global consortium of 565 realestate brokerages across 70 countries, and came out with a list of cities that"were showing signs of real estate growth but hadn't yet surpassed thethreshold for turning a profit".This year's list spotlights Porto as a goodplace to invest in a second home, "where home prices are still 30% lowerthan Lisbon despite seeing a 15% increase in closed sales", according toRita Ribeiro at INS Portugal.And because Portugal is also one of the morelower-priced places to get a Golden Visa for EU citizenship, "home salesto foreigners has grown over the past three years from one out of ten buyers toone out of three", according to Rita [...]]]> Valeo Management Europe, which specializes inthe student housing market has just strengthened the assets of the VStudentAulis fund through a new project in Porto, whose construction work has just started.In a statement, Valeo Management Europe revealsthat "construction work has just begun on the construction of a newstudent residence in Porto, after the acquisition of the corresponding land andthe development of the necessary projects.""With the development of the project on theland in Porto, we entered a tremendously attractive market that is thePortuguese. Porto is the second-largest student city in Portugal, and almosthalf of them come from other cities, so we are confident that the LIV Studentresidences we are going to promote will be very popular”, says Ignacio Bilbao,Chief Executive Officer for Spain and Portugal of Valeo Management Europe.]]> The European Space Agency in collaboration withCritical Software will launch a new solar observation satellite into space inFebruary. It will be the first observation satellite to get so close to thesun.Critical Software, which has been active in thespace sector since its inception, is about to mark a milestone in its path. Itwill launch into space next February, a new solar observation satellite, entitled"Solar Orbiter". The project was developed by the European SpaceAgency (ESA) with the collaboration of Portuguese Critical Software."We brought over 20 years of experience in thespace industry to this project. Even though it is the first observation satelliteto get so close to the sun, we are confident that ESA will be able to gatherimportant information to better understand how this star works?, says RicardoArmas, Critical Software's space manager.The technology multinational has played a keyrole in the development of various software systems such as the [...]]]> Didimo is a Porto startup that is attractingmarket attention because it can create digital versions of any high fidelityhuman being. It has just raised an investment of 4.4 million euros fromPortuguese partners. After proving that this technology works, 2020 will be theyear when the company founded by Verónica Orvalho will start selling anddoubling the team to over 40 people. At the end of next year, Didimo will alsobet on the health market. "Themain objective is to start selling this technology to the international digitaland retail entertainment market,? said Verónica Orvalho, Didimo's leader andfounder, in an interview with Dinheiro Vivo. Capital injection is also crucialto funding talent hiring, "which in the area where we work, high-tech, forcesus to look for the best, very expensive professionals."Portugal Ventures, Farfetch, Bynd VentureCapital, Beta-i and LC Ventures were the Portuguese entities that participatedin this operation, in a deliberate bet [...]]]> Porto is, indeed, a hot start-up city. The newestexample is the HypeLabs Company, established in the Invicta in 2016. Thecompany has completed an investment round of circa three million dollars, whichwill enable it to hire more employees and also to grow even more atinternational level.Hypelabs creates peer-to-peer mesh networksbetween nearby devices, even without Internet. The company's headquarters is inPorto and it has offices in San Francisco, USA, in London, United Kingdom, andalso in Krakow, Poland.The major investors to this investment roundare Innogy Innovation Hub, EDP Ventures, Deutsche Telekom, AngelPad, CaixaCapital, NovaBase Capital and Mustard Seed.Currently, HypeLabs employs circa 2.500developers, and grew 3.9 percent in the last quarter.It is worth mentioning that HypeLabs hasrecently initiated projects with world leaders in the areas of energy, space,entertainment and NGOs; in fact, at present, there is a community connected tothe Internet [...]]]> Investment in commercial real estate within thePorto Metropolitan Area is over 150 million euros in the first nine months ofthis year alone. The city of Porto concentrates 89% of this investment.Based on a report by real estate consultantCushman & Wakefield, which recently opened premises in Porto, it isconcluded that 74% of the amount invested comes from foreign capital, whichcorresponds to about 112 million euros.The study, released this week, points out that"the attractiveness of the Region continues to grow", but theexpansion margin falls short of what is desired because there is still ashortage of supply in the market, especially of large spaces for the installationof new companies.The report's conclusions also highlight Porto'spreponderance in this equation, "well above the average weight of 53%between 2015 and 2019", underlines the Jornal de Negócios.Between January and September 2019, the officesector captured the largest share of the [...]]]> International consultant Cushman &Wakefield has opened a new office in Porto, which in itself represents astatement of confidence in the city's potential for business and investment.The inauguration of the new office, in theBurgo Building, provided an occasion for the mayor to underline the dynamismthat the city has been showing. As evidenced by the latest bets of airlines oninternational connections to Porto’s Airport and the decisions of majormultinationals to settle directly in the city.This inauguration of Cushman & Wakefield istherefore all the more significant as the consultant acts especially inbusiness intermediation between companies and in the selection of facilities whenthey intend to settle in a new location, in this case in Porto. That is to say,that the opening of a new office in the city demonstrates that Cushman &Wakefield knows that the market is very keen on Porto.]]> Portugal comes 3rd out of 64 destinations inthe Expat Insider 2019 survey, making it the best country for expats in Europe.Expats are particularly happy with the outstanding quality of life (1st), theease of settling in (4th), and the low cost of living (8th).For the sixth year, InterNations, the world’slargest expat community with 3.6 million members, publishes its Expat Insidersurvey. With more than 20,000 respondents, it is one of the most extensivesurveys about living and working abroad, sharing insights into expat life in 64destinations. The survey offers in-depth information about expats’ satisfactionwith the quality of life, ease of settling in, working life, personal finance,cost of living, and family life in their respective country of residence. ]]> Porto has just been elected European City ofthe year, on the occasion of "The Urbanism Awards 2020", which washeld in London yesterday, 27th November. There were 15 finalists and three madeto podium places: Porto, Portugal; Sheffield, England; and Utrecht,Netherlands, on that order."This year's Awards are particularlyfocused on places that have been through transformation from a past basedpredominantly on industries to a new basis for their present and future",as stated by the organisation.The Academy of Urbanism annual event"Urbanism Awards" recognize exemplary placemaking by local governmentand others engaged in revitalizing and creating coherent cities andmetropolitan regions.The city of Porto embodies the principles of asustainable European city, one that makes a difference in people's lives.During the ceremony, Councillor for Urbanism,architect Pedro Baganha shared Porto's best example of urban rehabilitation toan expert audience, made up of [...]]]> The city of Porto was chosen to host the 2ndedition of CPLP (Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries) Economic MarketConference, which takes place on 3rd December and has as its priorities toeffectively advance a single market that brings together the 274 million peoplefrom the nine Lusophone countries.The meeting will take place at therehabilitated Super Bock Arena - Rosa Mota Pavilion, accommodating delegateswho will discuss such important and diverse issues as mobility and visaissuance within the CPLP, increased air and sea connections between the MemberStates or greater integration of women and youth in institutions.Thus, the conference - organized by CE-CPLP(CPLP Business Confederation), which is celebrating its 15th anniversary -wants to position itself as the reference event of Lusophone countries andintends to progress from Porto with the creation of workgroups specific totopics, such as Mobility, Emigration and Diaspora, Coordination and Liaisonbetween [...]]]> The SiliconReview magazine, published in Silicon Valley, California, selected Portuguesefintech ITSCREDIT as one of the "50 most admired companies of the year2019".The USpublication highlights ITSCREDIT, a Porto-based software company focused ondeveloping and implementing credit solutions, for its "constant effort toimprove the credit process from simulation to disbursement.""Therecognition of The Silicon Review is a source of pride for the entire ITSCREDITteam and reinforces the ambition we have from day one", says João LimaPinto, CEO of ITSCREDIT.Founded in2018 as an ITSector spin-off, ITSCREDIT operates exclusively in the creditarea, with products covering the areas of credit origination, creditsimulators, credit recovery and corporate credit risk management.At the sametime, ITSCREDIT was also selected to appear in the Top 30 of the "PortugalFintech Report 2019", the largest study on the sector in Portugal.Recently presented in Lisbon, this annual report [...]]]> Velocidi, a customer data software companywith Portuguese technology and leadership, has been elected the best CustomerData Platform by Digiday Technology Awards. The company, founded by PauloCunha, is headquartered in New York City and has offices in Porto, Portugal.The Digiday Technology Awards recognize thebest technology modernizing media and marketing and they have highlightedVelocidi as the best customer data platform and machine learning solutions fordirect-to-consumer (DTC) brands, particularly by their work with Barkyn, adirect-to-consumer (DTC) pet food brand, and the case study "How Barkyndoubled revenue from retargeting with Velocidi".Paulo Cunha has over 10 years' experience inbuilding products for the online advertising industry. After working as atechnology consultant in London, Paulo returned to Portugal and establishedShiftForward, a first-party state-of-the-art [...]]]> Blip is a technology company located in Portothat produces bespoke web and mobile software, and was one of the companiesawarded the Overseas Direct Investment Award, promoted by the UK Department forInternational Trade (DIT).The award, which recognizes and values ??thepromotion of good business and investment relations between Portugal and theUnited Kingdom, was awarded at the 11th edition of the DIT Business Awards."We are honored with this recognition, which isa reflection of the effort and dedication our team delivers to work. It is alsothe result of a close relationship that Porto-born and raised Blip has with itsUK parent and many other markets around the world?, says Hélder Costa, Head ofTechnology at Blip.The Overseas Direct Investment Award highlightsthe work done by companies headquartered in one country, but whose activity andinvestment focuses on other markets, such as Blip.The company, founded in Portugal, employsaround 310 people, and is [...]]]> Milestone Porto Asprela is Milestone's firstuniversity residence in Porto, and is inaugurated today. The Austrian companyproject guarantees the city a building that meets the highest internationalstudent housing standards and was made possible by a partnership with two Portuguesecompanies in site selection and construction.Predibisa, a real estate consulting companyspecializing in the northern real estate market, was responsible for choosingthe construction site and was also involved in various stages of the process.The choice of Garcia Garcia for the construction closed this tripartitepartnership whose end result is a venture aimed at college students, but withfeatures that make it a unique space in terms of housing.The residence is located in a prime locationnear the Asprela area, within walking distance to the metro station and otherpublic transport and with easy access to Via de Cintura Interna.In terms of construction, the building has acontemporary [...]]]> The French multinational is hiring 40 employeesfor engineering, renewable energy, marketing, communication, and financialservices by the end of the year, mostly for the technology center in Porto.Applications are already open and those interested can apply through thecompany's website.Voltalia has been in Portugal since 2016, at anearly stage it has settled in Oliveira de Frades and since May this year it hasexpanded to the city of Porto for strategic positioning."For the Voltalia Group, Portugal representsthe support base of all the group's activity in the solar area. The companydecided to install the solar competence center in Portugal - Solar Hub, givingfull support to engineering, project management, monitoring, supervision andcontrol of solar assets spread across four continents and over 20 countries?,says the Voltalia Group Marketing and Communication Officer, José CarlosAmador.The Voltalia group has about 700 employees andis present in over 20 [...]]]> The second edition of the ScaleUp Porto Toolkitfor startup investment was launched in November. This manual is a tooldeveloped by Porto City Council, through the ScaleUp Porto strategy, inpartnership with Porto Business School.The toolkit results of an exhaustive survey tothe entire entrepreneurial landscape of Porto. On nearly 200 pages startups,technology and innovative companies that are scaling are identified, andinvestment opportunities, especially facing international business angels.In addition to promoting the start-up andscale-up ecosystem, the guide also features a socio-economic characterizationof the city, with a directory of investment companies and entities, anddescribes some successful start-ups and investor companies that invested inPorto.This investment guide for the city of Porto andthe Northern region communicates opportunities and provides guidance on thecity's ecosystem and is available both in paper and digital formats.]]> The Macanese group KNJ, owner of 40.5% ofGlobal Media is preparing to invest around 70 million euros in new projects inPorto. The most significant will be the transformation of the formerheadquarters of Jornal de Notícias into a new Marriott hotel, which will costup to 40 million euros.Hotel Journal should be the name of the newMarriott Autograph Collection 213-room luxury hotel, located in GonçaloCristóvão Street. The information was provided by Global Media owner Kevin Hoto the Macao News Agency.In addition to this project, KNJ also intendsto build a new luxury residential gated community in the Foz do Douro area. TheMiramar Tower will have 16 floors and will be located in Diogo Botelho Street.Also in the pipeline for Portugal are otherunspecified projects, which should create 1,500 new jobs in the next 5 years'.To the Macao news agency, the businessman said that "it is not only tourismthat is growing in Portugal, it is the economy as a whole, and it is one of [...]]]> The city of Porto was once again chosen forinvestment by a foreign company. This time, it was the German tire group,Continental, that decided to set up the CES - Continental Engineering Servicestechnology development center here and to continue to expand beyond the tirebusiness.The center to be set up in Porto "couldemploy about 300 engineers," said the newspaper Negócios, based on astatement from Continental, which plans to develop new products, integrationservices and consulting in the city."After almost six years of informationexchange, studies, analysis and negotiations, it is with great pleasure that wesee the installation of this new company in Portugal. This is anothersignificant step of what has been our strategy of recent years: to bring toPortugal, other business areas of the Continental group, such as this one",said Continental Mabor president, Pedro Carreira.The creation of the new company in the citymeets the dynamism of recent years, which has allowed [...]]]> BNP Paribas Portugal?s new offices at the URBOBusiness Center complex in Matosinhos have been inaugurated. This is where thebank's business center for the north of Portugal will be located.With capacity for around 1,500 workers, URBOBusiness Center hosts BNP Paribas Corporate & Institutional Banking, BNPParibas Factor, BNP Paribas Personal Finance and International Trade Partners.Fabrice Segui, CEO of BNP Paribas Portugal,commented during the opening of the space that "the inauguration of the URBOBusiness Center is the reaffirmation of a commitment. A long-term commitmentthat BNP Paribas made over three decades ago when it established its firstbranch in Lisbon and began a journey that would make Portugal a strategiclocation for the Group in Europe.?With a total construction area of ??over 25,600sq. mt., URBO Business Center is a project promoted by dst real estate, whichcombines innovative architecture and design, with technology and the mostmodern energy [...]]]> The Global Ranking of Countries and Regions by EFEnglish Proficiency Index lists Portugal as a country of "very High" English skills.Portugal ranks 12nd best, out of 100 countries, ahead of Belgium and Croatia.Our neighbour, Spain only makes it to the "moderate" English skillslist, ranking 35th place. The Netherlands take number one in this list. Porto andLisbon speak better English than Faro or the Island of Madeira, which registerthe lower level of English proficiency. It is worthmentioning that there has been a continuousrise of students in search for an international experience in the University ofPorto, and also international researchers, due to the quality of studenthosting in the U.Porto, as well as the safe, cosmopolitan and livelyenvironment of the city. Moreover,the University of Porto has been selected by the European Commission to createone of the first 17 alliances of European universities. [...]]]> The UrbanRehabilitation Week will take place from 11th to 15th November at Palácio daBolsa and has the theme "REPORTO: Rehabilitate, regenerate and reuse",organized by Vida Imobiliária and Promevi, with the support of Porto CityCouncil and the Porto Commercial Association.In its 7thedition, the event launches a new perspective on the urban evolution of thecity, taking into account the moment in which Porto is going through a new dynamicin investment, tourism and, consequently, in real estate. That is, a new look atthis transformative movement is proposed with a broader focus, touching notonly rehabilitation, but also regeneration and reuse.Maintainingits multidisciplinary and multifaceted character, the event consists of anintense program of conferences, workshops, gatherings and exhibitions, as wellas a tour of rehabilitation works in downtown Porto. In all, there are 15sessions involving more than 125 participants, highlighting central themes suchas affordable [...]]]> A "Porto." stand is helping to bringcompanies and jobseekers closer at FINDE.U - International UniversityEmployment Fair, which is taking place at Exponor from 29th to 30thOctober. The Municipality is present at the event which is promoted by theuniversities of Porto, Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro and Vigo with the supportof the City Council of Porto.Represented by InvestPorto and Cidade dasProfissões, Porto organized a speed networking session between 25 participant companieslocated in the city and a set of jobseekers that wish to be part of their teams.The initiative "Porto." intended tostrengthen the link between reference companies and future jobseekers, withinthe scope of the strategy developed by the Municipality of Porto to capture,retrain and retain talent, as well as, promoting employability.FINDE.U is open to students and alumni,providing an opportunity to contact, online and in person, with variousemployers, in order to, understand the current labor market [...]]]> The supermarket chain, Mercadona, which alreadyhas 1,100 Portuguese employees, took another step towards the goal of closingthe year with 10 establishments in the country by opening the first store inPorto. The city that was chosen by the Spanish retailer in 2016 to locate thecentral offices and headquarters for Irmãdona, the society created by Mercadonain Portuguese lands.The establishment, whose opening has generated85 new open-ended jobs from day one, has a sales area of ​​1,900 m2 and 150parking spaces.Since 2016, in Greater Porto, Mercadona, hasinvested 260 million euros in its expansion (60 of which last year). The Spanishcompany already had stores in Vila Nova de Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia and Gondomar,as well as Barcelos. The Spanish food retailer's plans point to between 150 and200 stores in Portugal, 70 of which will be located in the north, where theinvestment began.]]> The bet on the economic revitalization of thecity, through activities to attract foreign investment, together with a programof attraction and retention of talent, set the strategic axes of the economy,framed in the Porto Budget for 2020, which brings new tax benefits for the establishmentof technology companies. Without neglecting tourism as a sector capable ofcreating jobs and also qualification of traditional commerce.1.5 million euros are allocated to the economicdynamism of the city as it is strongly correlated with its social developmentand cultural energy. In this context, next year will reinforce the investmentattraction associated with the cooperation and the reinforcement ofinternational economic relations, as a way of economically capitalizing theimage of Porto as one of the most attractive cities to invest in Europe.In fact, investment attraction continues to bea strategic driver for boosting the city's economy, increasingly associatedwith private [...]]]> The World Luxury Hotel Awards have justdistinguished Porto Palácio Hotel as a "Luxury Hotel & ConferenceCenter" for excellence in hotel service and a reference position in theMICE segment (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions/Fairs).In its 13th edition, the award gala, held atthe Arctic TreeHouse Hotel and SantaPark in Rovaniemi, Finland, featured over300 guests from a wide range of countries. Among the distinctions awarded tothe best hotels in the world in different categories, Portugal was representedin the "Luxury Hotel" prize collected by Porto Palácio.The World Luxury Hotel Awards recognize hotelunits that are the benchmark for excellence in world-class service. Winners areselected through online public voting as a result of the recognition of its´hosting and guidance for maximum customer satisfaction.]]> Readiness IT, a one hundred percentPortuguese-owned Company, active in Digital Transformation and SystemsIntegration was recently recognized by APAC CIO Outlook. As one of the top 10best "Customer Experience Management? companies in this internationalpublication, Readiness IT is the only national company.Headquartered in Porto with new facilities inCampanhã area, the company, which now employs over 300 people, works onprojects around the world. It is one of the leading companies working in theDigital Transformation area, and, in the scope of this award, in UserExperience.The award is especially important as ConsumerExperience and Omnichannel services nowadays are one of the most importantmarket trends, with countless companies in the process of digitaltransformation considering it the centerpiece for their success.The APAC CIO Outlook recognition comes fromprojects already done by the company in countries such as Chile, Peru, and NewZealand and its services have [...]]]> Explaining the potential of Porto and theopportunities it has to attract foreign investment to the city was the bet thatled Porto to be present for the first time with its own pavilion at Expo Real,the largest real estate fair in Europe.The event annually attracts thousands ofparticipants from all over the world and from different sectors linked to thereal estate industry.Given that last year's edition brought together2,095 exhibitors from 41 countries and attracted 45,058 participants from 72countries, this Porto debut at Expo Real was an opportunity that the mayor, RuiMoreira, took advantage of with his councilors for, Economy, Tourism andCommerce, Ricardo Valente, and Urbanism, Pedro Baganha, to promote the city.Porto's participation in the German fair was also attended by representativesof some important companies that are present at Invicta, such as CCA Law Firm,CIVILRIA, Lucios, PLMJ, Predibisa, Sonae Capital, Telles Advogados and VPM RealEstate.The [...]]]> Portuguese technology company Talkdesk, aleader in cloud-based contact center software development with one of its majoroperating centers in Porto, ranks among the 100 best in the world in its area,according to a ranking published by the prestigious Forbes magazine.Technology companies that have chosen Porto toinvest and look for skilled labor are once again featured in the "Forbes2019 Cloud 100", which is published in partnership with Bessemer VenturePartners and Salesforce Ventures, two large groups of investors worldwide.This time, the distinction goes directly to theTalkdesk Enterprise Cloud Contact Center, which empowers companies to make thecustomer experience their greatest competitive advantage.The analysis process involved theclassification of companies taking into account four main factors: marketleadership (35%), estimated assessment (30%), operational metrics (20%) andpeople and culture (15%)."We feel very honored and proud to beincluded in [...]]]> As simple:investors invest in a city if there are opportunities to make money. Porto is amagnet for new business investment, drawing in people and investors fromdifferent parts of the globe.The onlinenewspaper ECO has published an article where multinational companies, such asNatixis and Critical TechWorks explain why they were drawn to invest in Porto.According to a pioneer study that Porto City Hall ordered to EY-Parthenon, onthe attractiveness of Porto and the Northern Region regarding FDI, there was anincrease of 2.754 new jobs in 2018 as a result of foreign companiesestablishing in Porto.That said,Porto features a wide range of characteristics that make the city attractive toinvestors. In the past five years, technological and industrial investment inthe city of Porto have soared, with a rising number of investments by foreignventure capital or private equity firms and tech businesses that make more than1,600 skilled jobs and several million euros pumped into [...]]]> TheEnglish-language Arabic daily newspaper "Gulf Today", based inSharjah, UAE, published an article presenting Porto as a tourist destinationand a city to invest in.The articlewas written in the context of the Dubai-Porto route inauguration by theEmirates airline last week, and following the presentation made yesterday inthe city of Dubai by the Councilor for Economy, Tourism and Commerce of PortoCity Council, Ricardo Valente.Theprestigious Arab newspaper points out that Emirates has decided that it is timeto act and establish the direct flight Dubai-Porto. According to Gulf Today,Amiruddin Thanawala, President of the Ismaili Community in the UAE, says that"Porto is recognized as a global city, having been named European Capitalof Culture in 2001, a leading industrial center, recognized for its rich culturalheritage, leisure, arts, architecture and gastronomy"."Thepeople of Porto are very authentic. They openly speak of theirconvictions," said Joaquim Moreira [...]]]> TECH inPORTO's third edition happens on 13 and 14 June in Porto, at Casa das Artes,and gathers enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, innovators in the field of technology.This event first started with Jumia's will "to share and promote Porto'sstate of the art Information Technologies". Jumia isthe biggest online services ecosystem in Africa and it chose Porto to establishits tech center of excellence as of 2012. Thecompany's teaming up with great technology partners makes it possible "tobring the best from the tech community to our blooming city, learn together anddeliver a kickass experience". "Thevast majority of the speakers are young engineers and scientists, Portuguese orforeigners, who will share their expertise and knowledge in a very practicalway, hands-on, like we call it", the organisation stated. Also,"TECHinPORTO stands out due to its key content, and participants gain realknowledge and experience, as this conference is not a mere commercial [...]]]> ]]> An area of1.300 square meters located at Marechal Gomes da Costa Avenue that will be keyto "Portugal becoming the operational basis of Voltalia's photovoltaicenergy", according to the company's CEO, Sébastien Clerc.Founded in2005, Voltalia is a power producer and service provider in renewableelectricity production from solar, wind, hydro and biomass energies.The Groupis active in 20 countries and is able to offer services to its clientsworldwide. It emplyes circa 500 people, 153 of which work in Portugal. Now,with the inauguration of the centre for Solar energy in Porto, the company hascreated another 120 jobs.As ofDecember 31, 2018, Voltalia has developed and sold more than 1.8 GW and builtmore than 1.3 GW. It operates more than 1 GW and owns more than 0.5 GW ofconsolidated installed capacity. ]]> Porto wasacknowledged for its capability to attract and retain the top-talent by BloomConsulting. Filipe Roquette, Director-General of Bloom Consulting for Portugalwas at Porto City Hall on 23 May to present the award to Mayor Rui Moreira andto formalise the credit of the work carried out by the municipality of Porto inthese past years, in a survey that included all 308 municipalities of Portugal.BloomConsulting assesses urbanite's quality of life through four indicators: realdemand for tourism, trade, investment and talent.Porto'sperformance regarding the capability to attract and retain the top-talent hasset the city in the official listing of the best cities, according to the BloomConsulting Ranking.Porto issecond only to Lisbon, in the Business and Visit categories.FilipeRoquette affirmed that the issue of the territorial brand has seen "greatchanges over the last few years and the municipal paradigm has shifted; notonly it is linked to strategic [...]]]> Talkdeskcontinues to grow in Porto and opens new facilities, providing another 250high-skilled jobs.Thecloud-based software provider call centre, headquartered in San Francisco, CAmoved to UPTEC in Porto in 2017. Two years past, this fast growing businesswith a "unicorn status", inaugurated its new premises at the Invicta,located at Rua de Anselmo Brancaamp, boosting employment creation.Thededicated attention to the urban environment, as far as urban transport andrelated eco-strategies are concerned (eco bus), the level of education (PortoUniversity is included in the major higher education rankings), as well as theinnovation ecosystem are main drivers to attract potential investors, bothnational and international, to the city of Porto.Talkdesk'sCEO, Tiago Paiva, stated "this is key to the company's success" and"we are thrilled to grow in a city as vibrant as Porto regarding theinnovation and technological ecosystem".This investmentin Porto results [...]]]> "Aninvestment of fifteen million euros will enable the expansion of Francisco SáCarneiro Airport", as announced by ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal CEOThierry Ligonnière, to meet the rapid growth that has already made PortoAirport the best in Europe in 2018, in the category of five to 15 millionpassengers by Airports Council International.PortoAirport will have the capacity to receive up to 20 million passengers per year.Expansionworks have already began. The airport will be widened and new approach roadswill be built, as announced by Thierry Ligonnière, "with the goal ofmeeting traffic demands", as quoted by Lusa.Theannouncement was released on 26 April, with the presence of severalstakeholders of the Northern Region of Portugal, namely the Mayor of Porto, RuiMoreira.As aresult, Porto Airport will be able to handle 32 aircraft movements per hour,instead of the current 20.]]> Porto'sthriving tech scene, and one of Europe's fastest growing tech hubs isattracting a wealth of software developer talent. The next company to set up asoftware innovation centre at UPTEC - Science and Technology Park of Universityof Porto is Exterity.The FifeChamber of Commerce awarded Exterity as the Best Performing Company with over50 Employees at the Fife Business Awards 2019.Exteritywas recognised for its ability to successfully execute on its global strategyto deliver the best professional IP video and digital signage solutions to itsclients worldwide, while maximising their operating and financial excellence.Headquarteredin Scotland UK, and with offices in London, New York, Paris, Johannesburg,Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney, the company wants to extend its globalreach and will set up a software innovation centre at UPTEC (Science andTechnology Park of University of Porto) in Porto, Portugal, to expand and complementits core technical [...]]]> Accordingto the 2019 Global Property Handbook from BARNES, Porto is the second city onthe top destinations for the greatest investors in luxury estate, second onlyto another Portuguese city, Lisbon.Porto ishighlighted as an attractive destination, the "city to keep a close eyeon" and "a city that should be discovered as of now so as to find thebest opportunities to invest or live in", as "it is a city that isvery active and features a very dynamic economy and sound growth".Porto isfor the first time listed in the "Top 50 cities index" of 2018 thathave recorded exponential growth in this sector during 2018.The Invictaattracts a new international and haut de game clientele, and excellence-driveninvestors. The clientele is still mainly Portuguese, but the French areincreasingly interested in investing in Porto, and the English and the NorthernEuropeans are more into the Invicta. They are after the cultural richness ofPorto and the centennial azulejos (tiles) and [...]]]> The "Porto Talent Landing Office" is the new "Porto. for Talent" municipal platform lever, which provides detailed information on laws or bureaucratic matters associated to Human resources and job mobility, in the framework of national and international companies settled in Porto. This innovative support service is mediated by InvestPorto, in a personalised way at the Gabinete do Munícipe [Citizen Bureau], and relies on a team of experts in bureaucracy and processes of delocalisation.This service provides essential clarifications, via e-mail, via phone or even Skype or in-person on the necessary procedures to take in such professional mobility.
The main goal is to promote Porto as a destination of excellence regarding both professional and personal goals, under the principles of "Land", "Live" and "Work" in Porto. ]]> Cities are not immune to occasional crisis and setbacks, be it of natural, political or economic nature. Porto's economic troubles first began in the 1990s, when the trade industry lost ground to its Asian competitor, causing the deflation of Northern production lines. Journalist Sebastian Shehadi, of the FDi Magazine, a Financial Times supplement, takes a look at Porto to show that the city has "bounced back" and is now "a very competitive location in the tech scene", on the basis of its own efforts, to a huge extent. While reading the article, especially focusing on Mayor Rui Moreira's interview and the testimony of many investors and managers in the city, one can better understand the "secret" behind the thriving of this unique city; there are a number of key factors that contribute to this momentum (which will linger), namely the simple [...]]]> fDi Intelligence Strategy Awards 2018 ranked Câmara Municipal do Porto (Porto City Hall) as a top fDi performer both in the "Incentives" and "Project Wins" category, the latter regarding the Vestas Wind investment in the city of Porto. Winners were announced last December and Porto City Hall was granted highlight at the level of Foreign Direct Investment, which spotlights Porto as an important destination for investors.The Foreign Direct Investment Awards "bring together and celebrate the achievements of the broad community and ecosystem of players in the business of foreign direct investment", as stated by the organisation.Porto City Hall has established a team to create a strategy to increase the level of Foreign Direct Investment occurring in the city; as such, InvestPorto was created to study key requirements, namely economic potential and business friendliness [...]]]> "Talent was the number one reason for vestas to settle in Portugal", specifically in Porto and the Northern Region of the country, as stated on 21 January by Vestas's Vice-Chairman Jorge Magalhães to Lusa News Agency, in the context of his participation in the Conference Investment, innovation and Digitalisation: the Portuguese case, which took place in Lisbon.
Other contributing factors to establishing in the outskirts of Porto are the collaboration with universities, as well as research centres and technological partners. "It is not possible to innovate without having access to talent. One has to have talent but be able to retain it", declared Jorge Magalhães.
Vestas's Vice-Chairman also referred to the "excellency of Portuguese technical universities", despite the fact that "they don't always have the incentive to undertake the necessary investments in laboratories and scientific equipment", because "those who work there are highly skilled", he added.
Other reasons [...]]]> For the first time, Porto Airport reached the 11,939 million passenger mark for the year 2018, which is an increase of 10.7% compared to 2017.
According to PressTur, data from ANA/Vinci, the concession company for Portuguese airports shows that Porto was the airport that grew more strongly in 2018, which is an increase of 10.7% compared to 2017.
Porto airport had already achieved several milestones in the aviation market, having handled 6.900.000 passengers in 2014, eight million in 2015 and 9.300 million in 2016. Porto Airport had clearly surpassed this threshold in 2017, with a traffic of more than 10 million passengers per year.
For 2018, the result of a fast passenger traffic growth in just one year is the 11,939 million passenger mark in commercial flights, representing an increase of 22% in take-off and landings.
Air traffic continues to grow in Porto due to increased visibility of the city in a level more commensurate with the growing global interest in Porto as a [...]]]> On June 14th Casa da Música welcomed the Conference Cycle "Challenges of the New Economy in the City? under the theme "Employer Branding ? How to capture and retain talent".

The meeting had as speakers Richard Mosley, vice-president for strategy at the company Universum, with vast experience in Human Resources and leadership of projects for brand development in entities and multinational companies, such as BP, Coca-Cola, European Commission, GSK, L'Oreal, PepsiCo, Santander, Unilever or World Food Program; Carlos Maia, regional director at Hays; and Telmo Fernandes, head of human resources at Natixis.

The cycle comprises two more conferences, which will be held in September and December, in two other iconic venues of the City: the Serralves Museum and the Rivoli Theatre. Of free entry, they result from a challenge posed by Councillor for Economy, Tourism and Commerce of the Porto City Council, Ricardo Valente, meant to "create a closer approximation of the whole ecosystem of [...]]]> On May 25th, Porto welcomed, at the Palácio da Bolsa, the event "InFocus Porto: Defining the Working Places of Tomorrow?; where the city presented the results of the work developed in collaboration with its local ecosystem and 9 other European cities.

Planning sustainable economic development, thinking about the attraction and retention of companies and talent, branding and territorial marketing, qualification of companies and human capital, and defining urban and spatial strategies coherent with this evolution - this was the challenge the city of Porto undertook with this project. InFocus Porto centres its intervention in the area of Asprela, the future Porto Innovation District and the Oriental area, which is undergoing a profound urban restructuring.

The Councillor for Economy, Tourism and Commerce, Ricardo Valente attended the event, as well as the Councillor for Urbanism, Pedro Baganha, among other experts in innovative urban policies, namely that of the international [...]]]> On May 16th, the Porto City Council welcomed the presentation "Challenges of the New Economy in the City?, organised by InvestPorto.

Ricardo Valente, Councillor for Economy, Tourism and Commerce, exposed, within the current economy, that companies "first select the place? where they intend to settle themselves; a choice weighed according to aspects such as "good quality of life, the presence of good infrastructures, a safe environment open to innovation, as well as the availability of talent and the strengthen of the ecosystem of innovation?.

The city is "culturally strong, with a solid commercial and touristic dynamic, with an acknowledged identity, which facilitates the attraction of talent and investment?. In this reality, stimulating the "diversification of economy? and the local and regional competitiveness, InvestPorto intends to increasingly turn the city into a "live laboratory of technologies and experiences, cosmopolitan and open to the world, to new communities of [...]]]> On April 19th and 20th, in Bilbau, the final conference for the Project in Focus ? Smart Specialisation at City Level took place, an event set within the URBACT III Programme.

The President of the Bilbau City Council, Juan María Aburto, the President of the Ostrava City Council, Tomas Macura, and the President of the Bordeaux City Council were present at the opening session. The key note speech was of the responsibility of Kevin Morgan, an expert in regional planning, at the University of Cardiff.

With the goal to share the results of the programme developed throughout 2 years, the conference gathered 10 cities belonging to the consortium of the European project: Bilbau (Spain), Bielsko-Biala (Poland), Bordeaux (France), Bucharest (Romania), Frankfurt (Germany), Grenoble-Alps (France), Ostrava (Czech Republic), Plasencia (Spain), Porto (Portugal) and Turin (Italy).

This consortium intends to contribute to the definition of the concept of strategy for [...]]]> The EUROCITIES Economic Development Forum took place in Braga, from the 26th to the 28th of March. The meeting gathered municipal officials and politicians from 43 cities of 19 European countries to discuss the role of cities on knowledge economy. Throughout three days, the participants were given the opportunity to get to know the work developed at StartUp Braga, INL, IBS-UMinho and leading companies of the municipality.

Tanja Wehsely, Chairwoman of the EUROCITIES Economic Development Forum and responsible for the Vienna Municipality, reminded that "for a city to be inclusive it must be a Smart City?. For her, the cooperation between the European cities is primordial in order for all of them to evolve. "We all have something to learn from each other and currently Europe has many challenges to face, so we must find, together, the best solutions and the best strategies for the good of people?, concluded Tanja Wehsely.

EUROCITIES was founded in 1986 by six big cities: [...]]]> On March 26th 2018 the 8th meeting of the Local Action Group for the Project In Focus took place within the URBACT III Programme, in the Porto City Council.

The Municipality of Porto, through InvestPorto, is one of the partners of the Project In Focus - Smart Specialisation at City Level, which has the goal to improve competitiveness in cities and their ability to create jobs, by means of a new positioning within the economic setting, according to the intelligent specialisation strategies created at a regional level.

The meeting, where 28 representatives of 15 entities took part, had the purpose of presenting some actions which are in the Integrated Action Plan. ]]> Cannes welcomed, on March 13th, the award ceremony of the prestigious fDi European Cities & Regions of the Future 2018/19. The event took place during the biggest Real Estate Investment Fair in Europe – MIPIM and it was attended by the Councillor for Economy, Tourism and Commerce, Ricardo Valente.

The prestigious award granted by fDi - Intelligence Magazine, reputable publication of the Financial Times and a reference in the domain of business and FDI (Foreign Direct Investment), placed Porto in the 8th position, for the category FDI Strategy in the ranking of the Mid-Sized European Cities of the Future 2018/19.

Still during the event, there was a debate panel for "Online Trends Economic Developers Can’t Ignore in 2018”, where reputed speakers took part, such as the Commercial Director of fDi Intelligence, Chris Knight, the Chief Editor of fDi Magazine, Courtney Fingar and the Founder and Head of GIS Planning, Anatalio Ubalde. ]]> The fDi - Intelligence Magazine, reputable publication of the Financial Times and a reference in the area of business and FDI (Foreign Direct Investment), has just announced the Awards for "European Cities and Regions for the Future 2018/19", placing Porto in the 8th position in the category FDI Strategy in the ranking for Mid-Sized European Cities of the Future 2018/19.

In this ranking, led by Bordeaux (France), Porto came before cities such as Newcastle (United Kingdom) and Brno (Czech Republic). The fDi considered 489 regions and 301 cities, organising them into six categories to come to the ranking "European Cities of the Future?. In the methodology implemented, quantitative and qualitative indicators were considered for categories which include infrastructures, cost efficiency, business environment, economic potential, work market and FDI strategy.

This acknowledgement follows the position Porto achieved in 2014/15 as 3rd Best City to Invest in Southern Europe - fDi [...]]]> The 4th meeting of the partnership "Jobs and Skills in the Local Economy" took place in Jelgava (Latvia), on February 8th and 9th. Just as in the previous meetings which took place in Brussels, Bucharest and Rotterdam, the City Council of Porto was represented by the Councillor for Economy, Tourism and Commerce, Ricardo Valente.

This partnership, both pioneering and innovative, emerges within the scope of the Urban Agenda for the European Union and works like a key-mechanism for the delivery of an action plan and its implementation, with the goal to contribute to improve the financing, the sharing of knowledge and the legislation in order to reach a sustainable growth in the economic, social and territorial areas.

Porto, as urban authority, is one of the 20 partners which comprise the partnership and which has been standing out, having been the partner chosen to accommodate the fifth meeting of the partnership "Jobs and Skills in the Local Economy", in the middle of May, [...]]]> On February 5th, the Vida Imobiliária returned to the organisation of the traditional Conference Lunches in the Invicta (Undefeated) City, with the debate "Porto in the European Competition for the Companies?. The initiative gathered some of the most relevant players of the real estate domain in a critical analysis to the growing dynamism of Porto, as a destination for corporate investment, within the national and international contexts.

"People are back in town and with them, business. We are living a new cycle!? confirmed Lisette van Doorn, CEO of ULI Europe, an organisation which has the mission of educating for the responsible use of territory and for the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities in the whole planet.

"How do the other European cities organise themselves to project their attractiveness with the companies? How does Porto place itself and which are the lessons it learned from the recent experience of the application to the location of the head [...]]]> On December 14th 2017, the 7th meeting of the Local Action Group for the Project In Focus took place in the Mira Forum building, within the URBACT III Programme.

The Porto Municipality, through InvestPorto, is one of the partners of the Project In Focus - Smart Specialisation at City Level, which has the goal to improve competitiveness in the cities and their ability to create employment, by means of a new positioning in the economic setting, according to the smart specialisation strategies created at a regional level.

The meeting, where 23 representatives of 10 entities took part, focused on the development of the Urban Rehabilitation Area of Campanhã and the Old Slaughterhouse. In this context, speakers were invited, such as Isabel Santos, Head of the Municipal Department for the Urban Planning of the Porto City Council and Cátia Meirinhos, Executive Director of Management and Works of Porto, Municipal Company. ]]> On November 21st 2017, the 6th meeting of the Local Action Group for the Project In Focus took place in the i3S – Institute for Research and Innovation in Health building, within the URBACT III Programme.

The Porto Municipality, through InvestPorto, is one of the partners of the Project In Focus - Smart Specialisation at City Level, which has the goal to improve competitiveness in the cities and their ability to create employment, by means of a new positioning in the economic setting, according to the smart specialisation strategies created at a regional level.

The meeting, where 33 representatives of 21 entities took part, focused on the development of the Asprela Campus. In this context, speakers were invited, such as, Luís Carvalho, consultant for the Porto Innovation District, and Carlos Oliveira, Community Manager of the Communication Forum of Asprela. ]]> The platform "Porto. For Talent”, a new platform to attract talent and qualified staff for the city and companies in the region, was launched on October 7th at the Web Summit.

The platform aims at promoting Porto as a city of choice for the development of successful professional careers and it was launched in the stand of the Municipality of Porto (Scale Up Porto), at the biggest event for technology, innovation and entrepreneurship in Europe. Any visitor can apply to any job offer available online, at www.portofortalent.com.

The Web Summit will take place between November 6th and 9th, at the Parque das Nações, in Lisbon, and 60.000 participants are expected, from 160 countries, over 20 thousand companies and 1000 speakers between the stages at Altice Arena and the pavilions of FIL – Lisbon International Fair.

www.porto.pt/noticias/porto--for-talent-foi-lancada-na-web-summit]]> On October 31st 2017, the 5th meeting of the Local Action Group for the Project In Focus took place in the facilities of the Founders Founders, within the URBACT III Programme.

The Porto Municipality, through InvestPorto, is one of the partners of the Project In Focus - Smart Specialisation at City Level, which has the goal to improve competitiveness in the cities and their ability to create employment, by means of a new positioning in the economic setting, according to the smart specialisation strategies created at a regional level.

The meeting, where 19 representatives of 11 entities took part, focused on territorial marketing and branding. In this context, speakers were invited, such as, Eduardo Aires from White Studio and Paulo Soeiro Carvalho, Municipal Director for Economy and Innovation at the Lisbon City Council. ]]> The City Council welcomed, on October 24th, the ICAK (International Contractors Association of Korea) Delegation, integrated by the President, Mr. Kee-poong Park, the Head of Office, Mr. Woon Joong Kim and the Head of the Europe America Division, Mr. Hyungjin Park.

The meeting had the goal to identify the opportunities for cooperation, investment and business in the city, the gathering of information on the market and the big existing projects.

The Delegation was received in the Council Chambers by the Councillor for Economy, Tourism and Commerce, Ricardo Valente. ]]> On October 17th, Porto welcomed the Seminar "Investir dans L?Immobilier au Portugal? organised by the Portuguese-French Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CCILF).

At the opening session, in addition to the CEO of CCILF, Laurent Marionnet, the Councillor for Economy, Tourism and Commerce, Ricardo Valente, intervened mentioning that Porto is ever more a destination "attractive for investments?, finding itself "Currently full of opportunities?. The works proceeded with several sessions dedicated to the theme and the participation of players from varied areas.

Among other goals, the meeting intended to characterise the real estate market in Portugal, especially on Porto, and to clarify potential French investors as far as the stages of the process of investment and implementation in the city are concerned.

Currently, the French are the foreigners who invest the most in the real estate sector in Portugal, with a market share of 26%. French companies, such as [...]]]> In the academic year of 2017/2018, the University of Porto is registering a higher number of students enrolled with an international statute (about 400), when compared to the previous academic year (about 200). This statute enables students to get their degree and the integrated Master?s at the university.

Also under the international mobility programmes, such as the European ERASMUS, in the first semester, 1452 international students will be entering from countries like South Africa, Argentina, Kazakhstan, China, Chile, Egypt or Japan. These students will be joined by the around 2000 students who are already attend the University and who intend to complete their degree

Until the end of the academic year, a total of 4000 students and international researchers is expected, representing a total of 14% of the total number of students at the institution.

On September 12th and 13th, a delegation of the Popular Assembly of Guangdong (Canton), China, visited Porto, accompanied by two businessmen from the Chinese tourism sector.

The visit by the delegation, led by one of the Vice-Presidents of the Permanent Committee of the Popular Assembly of Guangdong, Xu Shaohua, had the main goal of reinforcing mutual knowledge and the broadening of the opportunities for cooperation at varied levels, especially as far as Tourism is concerned.

The Porto City Council welcomed the delegation at the Council Chambers by Ricardo Valente, of the Economy, Tourism and Commerce directorate. ]]> In a raking of 65 countries, Portugal takes on the 1st position in the index for countries with best quality of life and the 5th for best countries to live in.

The 12.500 interviewed, of 166 nationalities, who work outside their countries, were questioned for categories such as leisure, transportation, health and well-being, safety and personal happiness. On all of them, Portugal appeared in the first 15 places.

The study reveals that the acknowledge good quality of life is mainly owed to the climate, classified as excellent and the widely available leisure activities. Generically speaking, happiness is associated to the sun and the relaxed attitude which is lived in the country.

https://www.internations.org/expat-insider/2017/top-expat-destinations-39220]]> This afternoon, at the inauguration of its offices in the PortoScience and Technology Park (UPTEC), Vestas presented the criteria for choosingPorto, where it found the "perfect combination" of four pillars:"access to the right talent" in the electrical, mechanical andsoftware engineering areas; proximity to universities and research centers"of a high standard"; a business-friendly environment; and localsupport.

For Rui Moreira, the choice of the city by Vestas, "a victoryfor Portugal", reflects, in fact, "almost everything about thepotential" that currently exists in the region. So much so that, from thepoint of view of attracting investment, "it's becoming normal for days tobe important" in Porto.
"We have a modern, comfortable, innovative, interesting, verysafe city to attract investment and, above all, we have knowledge" - saidRui Moreira at the Vestas offices in UPTEC, stressing that this favorableenvironment has translated into the location of [...]]]> MEFIC Capital, a financial services company registered in the Saudi Arabian Capital Market Authority, and Round Hill Capital, a UK real estate investment, development and asset management company, announced the joint acquisition, through subsidiaries, of a 7.8 ha plot adjacent to the Campus of the University of Porto in Paranhos, Porto.

The partnership's investment in the urban rehabilitation project reaches 100 million and will have various uses that include residential construction for students, apartments and a hotel, supported by commercial spaces such as a supermarket, a market and an office space. The plot will be included in Porto Innovation District, an initiative between Porto?s City Council and the universities, colleges, business schools, hospitals, institutes and research centers, in order to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and investment in Porto.

Regarding the transaction, Ibrahim A. Al Hedaithy, Executive Director of MEFIC Capital, said the [...]]]> The French multinational Webhelp will inaugurate its facilities in Porto on Wednesday, because it recognizes in the city "a very favourable ecosystem? to the implementation of its activity.

The office, located in the business park Hipercentro, in the Areosa area, already has a staff of 200 workers, with more than 90 percent being local citizens. By the end of the year, this team will have more 150 professionals. At national level, Webhelp - which opened two years ago in Lisbon - already employs 800 people.

About choosing Porto, Benoist Voldie, director of the local branch, said that the city presents a set of "above average? infrastructures and an offer of professionals of recognized quality, "such that a consumer in France doesn't notice the difference between a Frenchman or a Portuguese on the phone?.

Present in 21 countries, the company employs around 30 thousand workers worldwide. Specialized in customer service, the company recognizes [...]]]> The agency EY (Ernst and Young) says that Porto is the Portuguese city with the greatest number of investments and jobs created in the country. At national level, it highlights the sectors of consumer goods, real estate, construction and transport and car industry by investors not established in Portugal, and state that the sectors of ICT and tourism are seen by investors as the country's development engines.

According to the agency, Portugal managed to capture the highest value of foreign direct investment in the last 20 years, as stated in the Survey of Attractiveness of Portugal in 2017. In total, Portugal managed to capture in 2016 the record number of 59 Investments.

Since 2015, Porto has played an important role in attracting investment through the direct action of InvestPorto, established in 2015 by the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, in order to support the economic development of the city.

The EY Attractiveness Survey is a study promoted at European level, [...]]]> KW Business, the largest real estate group in the northern region, is preparing to open a market center, a pioneering real estate space in Portugal, with 1400 square meters and capacity for 300 consultants.

Offices for the teams, a large auditorium, a bar and restaurant with terrace, a car park and even a running track are some of the features of KW Business's new infrastructure in Porto, which aims to offer employees the best working conditions.

The opening, which is scheduled for this summer, will enable KW Business to create 150 jobs, thus reaching approximately 300 employees in the city of Porto. The real estate group is operating for 10 years now and has five branches - Vila Nova de Famalicão, Braga, Porto, Vila do Conde and Vizela - that represent a universe of more than 300 employees.

2015 and 2016 were successful years for KW Business: the team and revenue grew substantially and the Group got the recognition of PME Líder (SME [...]]]> Vestas, a wind industry giant present in 75 countries, has chosen Porto as the center of its expansion in Portugal, within a global strategy. To justify the choice is the "offer of talent and proximity to universities and reference research institutes?.

The multinational - dedicated to the manufacture, installation and maintenance of wind turbines - will open, until 2020, an engineering center, an investment ranging from 5 to 10 million euros and will employ hundreds of professionals. Until then, and until the end of this year, Vestas will employ 80 professionals which, as the location is not yet defined, will work in the facilities of UPTEC - Science and Technology Park of University of Porto.

According to the company, "Porto offers access to a wide range of skills in the areas in which Vestas is employing, namely electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and computer engineering. The proximity to important and excellent universities and research institutes were other [...]]]> On 4th May 2017, the fourth meeting of the Local Action Group of the In Focus Project, under the URBACT III Program, was held at UPTEC's facilities.

The Municipality of Porto, through InvestPorto, is one of the partners of the In Focus Project - Smart Specialization at City Level, which aims to improve the competitiveness of cities and their capacity to create jobs, through a new positioning in the economic scenario in accordance with the strategies of intelligent specialization created at the regional level.

The meeting, which was attended by 18 representatives from 9 entities, focused on the new work spaces and, in this context, Carlos Brito, Director of UPTEC, and José Sequeira, Consultant of InvestPorto, were invited as speakers. ]]> An exclusive survey by the consumer protection association DECO, published in the Proteste magazine, places Porto Airport as the best in Europe and the third best in the world. 178 airports were evaluated by thousands of passengers from eight countries.

The study was conducted in October 2016 and involved similar DECO associations in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Spain, France and Italy. From the 11,273 answers obtained, only 1,751 were from Portugal, which means that for the final results contributed an extensive universe.

In the overall assessment of the 178 airports, Porto Airport is in third place with 8.3 points (from 1 to 10), below only the large structures of Ghangi, Singapore (1st place with 8, 6 points) and Narita, in Tokyo (2nd place, with 8.3 points).

Regarding Porto Airport, Proteste's article states that "the feeling of security inside the airport, the information screens of departures and arrivals, the signs and the toilets are the criteria [...]]]> In first quarter of 2017, all the records of technological and industrial investment in the city of Porto were broken. Preliminary indicators show that in 2017 the exponential growth of companies in the city in the last three years skyrocketed, with the opening of important investments in the last two months, creating highly specialized jobs.

The most relevant technological investments made in the first quarter of the year, which together represent more than 1,600 specialized jobs created in Porto and many millions of euros in urban rehabilitation, include Bottlebooks, CRITICAL Software, Euronext, Hostelworld, Natixis and Talkdesk.

As far as industrial investment is concerned, Porto has awakened from decades of disinvestment with the future inauguration of Fábrica de Cerveja Portuense in the downtown, creating directly 50 jobs and a new brewery brand in the city.

It?s also worth mentioning the inauguration of Founders Founders, an important and innovative companies? [...]]]> Hostelworldwill settle in Porto, creating an office and 50 qualified jobs by the end ofthe spring. The city of Porto is, therefore, the Portuguese city chosen by thiscompany to invest in technological innovation and development, offeringqualified employment.

Accordingto John O'Donnell, Hostelworld?s CTO, "Porto was chosen primarily becauseof its transport infrastructure and offices, as well as for its availability ofskilled human resources and easy accessibility from Dublin or London?, where the two European offices ofthe platform are settled, also noting "the diligent support from InvestPorto and the City Council?.

The CTOadded that "the location ofPorto, on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, creates natural affinities with theIrish culture; we love the fact that Porto - and Portugal in general - is agreat destination for our customers, and has some of the best hostels in theworld?.

Adding tothis, Hostelworld group estimate the recruitment [...]]]> On March 20th, 2017, the 3rd meeting of the Local Action Group of the Project In Focus, under the URBACT III Program, was held at BLIP?s new facilities.

The City Council, through InvestPorto, is one of the partners of the Project In Focus - Smart Specialization at City Level, which aims to improve the competitiveness of cities and their capacity to create jobs, through a new positioning in the economic scenario according to the smart specialization strategies created at the regional level.

On 20th March 2017, the 3rd meeting of the Local Action Group of the In Focus Project, under the URBACT III Program, was held at the new BLIP facilities.The Municipality of Porto, through InvestPorto, is one of the partners of the In Focus Project - Smart Specialization at City Level, which aims to improve the competitiveness of cities and their capacity to create jobs, through a new positioning in the economic scenario in accordance with the strategies of intelligent [...]]]> Euronext, the pan-European stock exchange group, settled in the city of Porto, creating in Avenida da Boavista its new technology center that will serve as the basis for the trans-European stock exchange management platform of this important company. With the creation of these 140 highly qualified jobs, Portugal becomes the second European country in terms of number of employees, after France.
The center, in addition to the management and maintenance of the technological infrastructure, has security skills in the field of Information Technologies and works on the development of new solutions and financial services.
With the presence of the Prime Minister of Portugal, António Costa, of the CEO of the company, Stéphane Boujnah, and the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, Euronext Technology began operating in what the Mayor classified as "a different city".
Euronext is a prestigious entity that exemplarily manages stock exchange operations in Paris, Amsterdam, [...]]]> Two otherrelevant technology companies opted to settle in Porto, starting their activityon March 1st, both having chosen as the base UPTEC-Science and Technology Parkof the University of Porto.

Talkdesk, astartup of Portuguese origin, currently employs about 250 people, dividedbetween the Portuguese capital and the United States. Its business is currentlyvalued at around 500 million euros, being referred to as one of the next"unicorn" of Portuguese origin, as it is expected to reach a billiondollars soon. The technology developed by Talkdesk allows you to create a callcenter on the internet quickly. Although most of the customers are Americans(among them Dropbox), the bet is now in Portugal, leading to the opening ofthis new office in Porto, for which they have the objective of hiring 100 people.

In the case of Bottlebooks,since 2013 has been working with producers, importers, event planners and otherprofessionals in the wine industry, identifying the [...]]]> Porto Airport was elected the best in Europe in the category of 5 to 15 million passengers and the third best in the category of more than 2 million passengers by Airports Council International.

The election comes as part of a study that assesses passenger satisfaction in 34 indicators, namely, services offered by airports, service quality, waiting times, staff courtesy, cleanliness and comfort.

This is the ninth time, in the past ten years, that the Porto Airport is awarded by ACI - Airports Council International. It should be remembered that, between 2006 and 2011, the Airport ranked consecutively in the first three places of this study, having obtained also the first place in 2007.]]> The Spanish retail company plans to invest 25 million euros until 2019 in offices already in Porto and Lisbon, as well as in the construction of the four supermarkets that will open in the Greater Porto area. The first of these commercial areas will be opened in the municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia.

Mercadona has already hired around 85 managers in Portugal from a total of 350 workers that intends to have until 2019, when the first four supermarkets in the Greater Porto area opens.

According to data supplied by Mercadona, the company claims leadership in the food distribution and sales market in Spain, with a share of 22.9%, ahead of the Dia and Carrefour groups with 8.5%, and Lidl, with 4.1%.

Source: Notícias ao Minuto. ]]> In 2015, 1,722 companies were created in the city of Porto, 139 of which are industrial and 1,585 are services companies. These figures are included in the annual statistics of Statistics Portugal (INE, in Portuguese) and are aggregated in a study by Pordata, a database by António Manuel dos Santos Foundation. These figures (data for 2016 are yet to be included) show a 30% growth in relation to 2012.

The official statistics of the country show, moreover, that these figures represent a record for all the years presented in the study (1997, 2001 and from 2009 to 2015). In 2001, the number of companies created in Porto was, according to the same report, 1,389, that is higher than in 2012, before the current municipal executive took office. From there on the number of companies set up in the city skyrocketed.

According to another recent study, entitled "Portugal Rising: Mapping ICT Scaleups", published by the Startup Europe Partnership (SEP) together with CrESIT, with the support of [...]]]> The local tax related to business activities recorded a revenue of more than 20 million euros in 2016, in Porto, the highest of the last ten years, and more than twice than 2012, when it reached the lowest result of the century.
Porto?s City Council received in the last year a revenue of 20,860,133.32 euros, the highest of the decade. In 2006, the same tax, related to the income obtained by the companies based in Porto, was less than 14 million (13,930,350.35 euros), having grown until 2009, when it reached 18 million, and then fall successively to 10,346,661.84 euros in 2012. Since 2013, the year in which the executive of Rui Moreira took office, this revenue has been suffering from fluctuations between 11 million and 16 million euros, surpassing, in 2016, the 20 million for the first time.
As a comparison, it should be noted that this revenue was, at the beginning of the century, no more than 15 million euros. Rui Moreira has demanded a better knowledge about the tax [...]]]> The old Central Shopping will be occupied by Natixis, creating 600 new jobs and centralizing in Porto a large part of its operations.
The Oporto Center building will be finally reoccupied, having been vacant until now, and has now been fully leased to Natixis, a multinational company of French origin, for the installation of information technology services.
Natixis intends to locate in Portugal a large part of its IT services, starting to internally perform tasks that, until now, have been hired to external entities. The strategy involves the creation, in three years, of 600 jobs in the new operations center in Porto. ]]> CRITICAL Software, one of the most important softwarecompanies in the world, and that works with clients such as the British ArmedForces, NASA, the European (ESA), Chinese (CNSA) and Japanese (JAXA) spaceagencies, Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, EDP or the Bank of New York, hasinaugurated in February 15th, its new office in the heart of thecity of Porto.

The new facilities are located in Dr. Tito FontesSquare, in the historical center of the city of Porto, and are comprised byfive office floors that cover an area of 1,800 m2, and where 150highly qualified professionals work, in the areas of Information andCommunication Technologies and Engineering.

Thisnational technological company aims to contribute to the recognition of Porto ata global scale, as a hub of excel technological innovation, and to increase thevisibility of the city and of this knowledge area at national and internationallevel.


]]> Caetano Baviera, BMW's concessionaire of the Salvador Caetano group, invested six million euros in Porto in the opening of the largest showroom of the German brand in Portugal and in the set-up of the state-of-the-art repair shop.
The new showroom of the German brand is located in the Zona Industrial do Porto and results from the expansion and modernization of the space that Caetano Baviera already owned in Engenheiro Ferreira Dias street. The investment enabled the duplication of the existing area, now totalling 10 thousand square meters. Part of the space aims to the commercialization of used vehicles.To keep up with this growth, the group will strengthen the current team by around 30 percent, hiring around 40 more employees.
The opening of the new space was last Friday in a ceremony attended by, among others, the Mayor of Porto and the representatives of the Iberian BMW and BMW Portugal.

]]> The city of Porto once again surpasses the competition of 19 other destinations and conquers this important award for the third time and with a record of 138 thousand votes. In second and third place were, respectively, the cities of Milan (Italy) and Gdansk (Poland). Porto continues to be the only Portuguese city to win the award and the first to win it more than once.
This is a distinction that confirms the potential and attractiveness of the city, not only for Porto?s citizens but also for the Portuguese and tourists from all over the world. The city of Porto was the most voted destination in 85 countries, registering 58% of the vote outside Portugal. In the national territory, the vote for Porto surpassed 89%.
The campaign "Vote Porto." had several institutional partners such as the University of Porto, the Commercial Association of Porto, Torre dos Clérigos, Futebol Clube do Porto, Serralves Foundation, Casa da Música, São João National Theatre and Metro do Porto. A group of [...]]]> "Economic nationalism is on the rise, but the futureof trade lies with cities? is the name of the article published in the WorldEconomic Forum and that highlights the role of InvestPorto in the attraction ofinvestments for the city of Porto.The article addresses the importance and continuousexercise of cities and, consequently, their agencies, in attracting investment,going on to say that "in a world of global value chains and planetary capitalflows, it may sound paradoxical, and even reckless, that local governments arestretching their necks out to compete over foreign direct investments (FDI)?.The authors even pointed out that "for every national agency, we have indeedapproximately 50 at the local level promoting their economic interests internationally?.Accordingto the publication, while national investment agencies act superficially,local/municipal investment agencies perform their tasks more directly, focusingtheir actions on specific projects and investments. [...]]]> The initiative includes the following categories:

? EMEA Technology Fast 500  companies applying this year may also be partof the international ranking covering the Europe, Middle East, and Africaregions.


In addition to the general ranking, companies that donot meet the minimum criteria for years of operation or revenue can still applyfor additional categories:

? Rising Stars willbe awarded to a selected group of companies that lead through innovation withproven results. The winner of this award will be chosen in partnership with Startup Portugal.

? Market Catalyst this new category will distinguish a company thatexceptionally contributes to economic growth and development, [...]]]> 42, a programming school that arrived to Porto in 2022 and that already welcomed more than 1,300 students. What Rui Moreira and Ricardo Valente witnessed were not classes, but an innovative and gamified method that promotes learning without classrooms, without schedules, and without teachers.
A 2023 impact study showed that students who completed the school’s training programme were likely to increase their current salary threefold, with 100% employability rates six months following completion of the training.



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