The creation of an innovation hub, one of the two objectives of Porto Digital Europa, “will only be successful if it is anchored in venture capital financing”, said José Eduardo Carvalho, president of AIP, during his intervention at the seminar held by Porto Digital Europa, on October 2nd, in Aveiro, which brought together more of 120 Portuguese and Brazilian companies, as part of the Brasil Tech Days initiative.
“Venture capital is the heart of the innovation system, and is fundamental to expanding the entrepreneurial spirit, innovation and technological companies”, highlighted the president of AIP, who made an appeal for the “Porto Digital Europa strategy and the its value proposition is associated with the arrival of Brazilian venture capital funds”.
On the occasion, the president of AIP made an appeal for “Porto Digital Europa's strategy and its value proposition to be associated with the arrival of Brazilian venture capital funds”.
“The denser the risk capital network in the country, the greater the contribution to the growth of innovation”, he highlighted, addressing the leaders of that Brazilian associative structure that designated this day to inaugurate, in the city of Aveiro, the new facilities.
At the opening of the event, aimed at presenting technological solutions from Brazilian companies for Portuguese industry and investment opportunities in Brazil, which also featured speeches by Ribau Esteves, mayor of Aveiro (CMA), and Pierre Lucena, president of Porto Digital Europa, José Eduardo Carvalho also explained the reasons why AIP decided to open a small delegation in Aveiro.
Responding to a challenge from the moderator, he briefly described the five factors that have conditioned the business fabric, noting that “the evolution of the economy's external competitiveness was the greatest success of the Portuguese economy in the last 15 years”.
After making a short analysis of trade and investment relations between the two countries, he ended his speech with a very assertive comment about the number of doctors produced by universities in Portugal, the number of patents and the transfer of knowledge to the market and to the economy: “The Kpi's of subsidized investors should not end in the registration of patents, but rather in their transfer to the market”.
Ribau Esteves, in turn, highlighted the “importance and availability of institutional support to strengthen cooperation between Portugal and Brazil, based on respect for the values and culture of both countries”.
“This is a happy marriage, but with challenges”, said the president of CMA, when mentioning the trajectory of the association promoting Aveiro Tech Week: “It started as Porto Digital Aveiro, quickly became Porto Digital Portugal, and now it is Porto Digital Europe."
The objective of Porto Digital Europa – an international extension of Porto Digital Recife and a private non-profit association – is to work on creating a Brazilian technology and innovation ecosystem for the European market, boosting strategic partnerships and promoting the internationalization of Brazilian companies and the attraction of Portuguese business to Brazil.
Brasil Tech Days is an annual event held in Aveiro by Porto Digital Europa and sponsored by the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), which promotes the connection between Brazil's innovation and technology ecosystem with the European market. Held between September 30th and October 6th, 2024, this year's edition brings together businesspeople, investors and technology leaders from both continents.
According to Pierre Lucena, president of Porto Digital Europa, “opening the new Porto Digital Europa building in the heart of Aveiro symbolizes more than a physical expansion, it represents the continuous growth of a Brazilian innovation ecosystem, which has consolidated itself as a reference in technology and entrepreneurship": "Here we reinforce our commitment to sustainable development, in addition to generating new business, technology and education opportunities.”
João Barbosa, country manager of Porto Digital Europa, highlights that “installing Porto Digital Europa in Portugal, especially in Aveiro, was possible thanks to partnerships between the government, companies and Brazilian and Portuguese institutions": "Based on these associations and connections, Let’s work together as an engine of progress and growth, business, industrial, economic, technology and innovation.”