Last week, Startup Valencia, alongside its strategic advisor Krloos Rivera, had the privilege of visiting the coastal city of Porto, Portugal, to get an up-close look at its promising innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology ecosystem. Porto, known for its rich history, has also emerged in recent years as a major innovation and tech hub in Europe. The city is undergoing a remarkable transformation, driven by a thriving ecosystem that blends local talent, strategic investment, and a strong focus on digitalization and entrepreneurship.
For Startup Valencia, this was a fascinating experience that revealed innovative initiatives and opened up potential opportunities for collaboration between emerging ecosystems, with the goal of building strategic relationships for the future.
Porto Innovation Hub: meeting point of Portugal’s innovative ecosystem
The first stop in Portugal was the Porto Innovation Hub, where the team met with Paulo Calçada, CEO and board member of Porto Digital. This visit offered a first-hand glimpse of the impressive work being done in the city in terms of digitalization and innovation. The initiatives presented underscored how Porto is taking a strategic approach to the digital future, with a clear commitment to driving technological transformation both locally and globally.
One of the highlights was the launch of The Innov.Club Porto, an exclusive community of business leaders and innovation professionals aimed at fostering networking and learning. Innov.Club provides a space for leaders to connect with renowned experts, refine key skills, and gain new insights to tackle the challenges facing their organizations. In a rapidly changing business landscape, communities like Innov.Club are essential to staying ahead and continuing to grow.
The event also showcased standout initiatives such as Infraspeak, led by Felipe Ávila Costa, and Didimo, spearheaded by Verónica Orvalho. Infraspeak focuses on maintenance and operations management, optimizing the efficiency and performance of facilities and equipment, while Didimo specializes in creating hyper-realistic 3D digital avatars.
Both companies leverage artificial intelligence as their core technology and are clear examples of the innovative energy flowing through Porto, focusing on disruptive tech solutions that are not only transforming their industries but have the potential to make a global impact.
Startup Valencia also had the chance to meet with the Porto Digital team, led by Filipe Araújo, Vice Mayor of Porto and head of the departments of Environment, Innovation, and Digital Transition. Porto Digital’s vision reinforces the city’s commitment to creating a favorable environment for technological development and sustainability.
Another key moment was the visit to the MEXT accelerator, which is driving the local and global transformation of Mota-Engil Group, one of Portugal’s leading infrastructure and construction companies. Their focus on innovation and digital transformation exemplifies how large corporations are embracing change to lead in the new economic landscape.
In the same vein, the team explored the Campanhã Industrial Slaughterhouse, a project undergoing transformation to become M-ODU, a multifunctional space that will host offices, art galleries, museums, restaurants, coworking spaces, and conference rooms. With more than 26,000 square meters dedicated to business, culture, and services, M-ODU will be a creative and innovative hub with capacity for over 2,300 people.
Other key innovation spaces
The visit also included stops at emblematic locations in Porto’s innovation ecosystem, such as Founders Founders, UPTE, and CEiiA. Each of these spaces plays a crucial role in supporting entrepreneurship and technological development, providing startups and innovative companies with the resources and environment they need to grow.
This trip to Porto was far more than just an exploration of its innovation ecosystem. It was an opportunity to discover new ideas, forge strategic partnerships, and envision a future where our collaborations can generate significant impact.
