‘We couldn’t be in a more appropriate place for this event. This place was born out of a dream of Técnico, which was to build a new space where we could maximise the transformation of knowledge into innovation, and transfer it to society. Potentiating research and scientific development into economic development and wealth’, said Rogério Colaço, president of Instituto Superior Técnico, at the closing event of the Lisboa 2020 Programme, held on 12 November at the Técnico Innovation Center powered by Fidelidade, in Lisbon.

This building is one of the 3453 projects approved under this European funding programme, which has just ended, representing a total investment of 857 million euros. ‘This was an enormous challenge that the Lisbon region was tasked with’, said Teresa Almeida, president of the Regional Coordination and Development Commission of Lisbon and Tagus Valley / Lisboa 2030. Cláudia Joaquim, President of the Agency for Development and Cohesion, emphasised that ‘the importance of European funds for the country cannot be overstated’, in the economy, productivity and employment, among other sectors. ‘It sounds easy, but sometimes we forget how demanding the implementation period was (namely the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic), which forced successive adaptations’, she recalled.

The data shared by Teresa Almeida also include support for 20 technological infrastructures, 3 technology-based incubation centres, 27 scientific infrastructures, 79 health facilities (44 of which are in Family Health Units), 17 hospital units, 6 long-term care units and 12 nurseries. Among the projects allocated to the region, which is ‘the country’s innovation and development hub’, 41% fell within the scope of innovation and competitiveness. In order to make the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region ‘smarter, more sustainable and more inclusive’, various supports were made available: hiring (690), professional internships (11,300), job creation and self-employment (340).

Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, participated in the session remotely and considered this assessment ‘a clear expression of the efforts made together to face current challenges while thinking about the future’. She emphasised the importance of national territorial cohesion, recognising that the quality of life in the Lisbon region also depends on the country’s ability to maintain its balance. To this end, it is important to ‘maximise competitive advantages and avoid economies of concentration that create pressure in areas’ such as Lisbon.

Manuel Castro Almeida, Portugal’s Deputy Minister for Territorial Cohesion, emphasised the importance of the country ‘fighting with great firmness for cohesion policy, which is at the foundations of the European Union’. ‘European funds are much more than a cheque. They are allocated by whether or not they can change the country and prepare it for the challenges ahead,’ he added. He proposed two goals for the country: the productivity challenge – ‘it has to be our permanent objective and the only way we can put more money in people’s pockets’; and taking advantage of the ‘more than 10 billion euros of European funds that Portugal will have in 2025’. ‘It’s a great opportunity and responsibility. It’s society as a whole that has to mobilise to meet this objective: to make the most of these resources at our disposal’, he said.

The closing event of the Lisbon 2020 Programme also included the panel discussions ‘Dialogue between science and the economy’, with Miguel Miranda (Faculty of Sciences, Universidade de Lisboa) and Augusto Mateus (Lisbon School of Economics and Management, Universidade de Lisboa) and ‘Future of cohesion policy’, with Sérgio Barroso (Centre for Studies and Urban Regional Development), Eduarda Marques da Costa (Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning, Universidade de Lisboa) and Duarte Rodrigues (Agency for Development and Cohesion).

Teresa Almeida also had the opportunity to present the ‘Lisboa 2030: Acceleration and future’ programme, including the National Investment Plan (PNI 2030), the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and the Horizon Europe programme. Hélder Reis, Secretary of State for Planning and Regional Development, delivered the closing remarks.

Técnico Innovation Center: a meeting point for young talent, companies, scientists and entrepreneurs

Since its public presentation in October 2023, the Técnico Innovation Center has hosted more than 8,000 hours of study or collaborative work offered to around 50,000 ULisboa students in its 24-hour study room. ‘We have built a space here for these young people that is in no way inferior to the equivalent spaces we know from the best universities in the world’, said Rogério Colaço, president of Instituto Superior Técnico. “But it was also here that, in this first year, more than two dozen events took place, promoting talent, science and technology, from job fairs to the presentation of RRP agendas, including the entry in the Guinness Book of Records with the world’s largest computer programming lesson”, he added.

‘More than three hundred companies have passed through this space promoting new initiatives, new research and development projects, contacting with research centres, students’ organisations, professors and researchers, which is necessary for our country’s economic growth, job creation and increasing exports,’ he shared.

This building, which represents an investment of 12 million euros and has received funding from Fidelidade Seguros and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), under the Lisboa 2020 programme, was also praised by those present at the event. ‘The technological and scientific infrastructures were the challenge we wanted to take on, and also serving students, education and scientific ecosystems, which have impacted and involved us. We built this together. We have always worked hand in hand with you’, said Teresa Almeida, president of the Regional Coordination and Development Commission of Lisbon and Tagus Valley / Lisboa 2030. She referred to a ‘building that is not only technological, but has also ensured urban regeneration in a Lisbon central area’. ‘The venue for this event is an excellent example of a type of investment that suits Lisbon. That is, it’s forward-looking,’ added Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms. ‘I’m glad the dream came true’, said Cláudia Joaquim, President of the Agency for Development and Cohesion.

‘To make this dream come true, we needed someone with the courage to help us build this unique building here, in Lisbon’s city centre, in record time. To do this, we had the support of CCDR LTV, which believed from the start that Técnico was able to carry out this project all the way and that it was in line with the broad strategic lines of the Lisboa 2020 Programme’, praised Rogério Colaço. ’In the coming years, we will further accelerate the opening up of science and technology to society.’