The main results of four projects financed by Algarve 21 – Algarve Operational Program 2007-2013, were presented on the 17th of July, at NERA – Associação Empresarial do Algarve, in Loulé. Three of these projects were coordinated by the University of Algarve.
The opening session was attended by representatives of the entities involved in the development of these projects: António Branco, Rector of the University of Algarve, Vítor Aleixo, Mayor of Loulé, Vítor Neto, President of NERA – Business Association of the Algarve Region , and David Santos, president of the CCDR – Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission.
Undertake and innovate more:
“Algarve 2015 – Empreender e Inovar +” was the first featured project. According to Hugo Barros, coordinator of CRIA – UAlg's Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer Division, the streamlined actions resulted in the realization of diagnoses to 52 companies, the promotion of 55 bilateral meetings, the development of 30 R&DT proposals for the solution of business needs, and in the submission of six collaboration projects to CRESC Algarve.
The project also resulted in the organization of six Focus Groups, which resulted in 24 innovation communities.
The project also included the launch of the contest «Ideias em Caixa», which received 161 applications, more than double the number that had been planned.
Experience more and better in new and renewed infrastructures:
Also in the “UAlg Business Lab” project stood out initiatives such as the construction of laboratory spaces for the UAlg medical course, the requalification of the Ramalhete experimental station, and the requalification of the incubation space pavilions, namely pre-laboratory and office spaces.
In immaterial terms, highlight the updating of UAlg's skills catalog, in the actions of matching between the University and the business fabric.
The results achieved result in greater training for the University of Algarve as an agent of innovation and territorial competitiveness, in cooperation with other economic and social agents.
"The business is in the area":
Promoted by the Municipality of Loulé and by NERA, the AEL – Loulé Business Area project was also under analysis.
This project included the creation of a brand, with the slogan “the business is in the area”, an image and various communication materials and supports, namely the website www.aeloule.pt.
Within the scope of the AEL, training activities were also carried out for established companies, works, one of which on the EN396 section, and initiatives to promote business exchange.
A support line was also created to welcome new companies, which provided consultancy to 14 entrepreneurs.
Joining companies from different sectors gives rise to new projects:
The Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation event ended with the presentation of the results of the INTERSETOR project – Promotion of Related Variety in the Algarve.
One of INTERSETOR's activities consisted of holding 16 workshops for the creation of local and regional cooperation networks, between entities from different sectors of activity, which had around 200 participants.
During the execution period of the INTERSETOR project, bilateral meetings were also held and actions were developed to mature and select projects of a related variety and others to support the preparation and submission of applications to CRESC – Algarve 2020.
So far, six applications have been submitted for this new community funding program, with 11 intersectoral projects being prepared.
During the seminar, the testimonies of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs who were granted support to develop business ideas were also presented.
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