UAlg Tec Campus will be accelerating companies a year from now

UAlg Tec Campus is «an example» in the application of European funds. The space, which in a year's time will already be operating as an accelerator for companies in the technology area, is being created at the Penha Campus, and was visited today by Ana Abrunhosa, Minister of Territorial Cohesion, for a ceremony that marked the beginning of the works.

In all, the UAlg Tec Campus will make it possible to receive 300 to 350 “highly qualified” people. We are going to have companies here, which are not new companies. These are companies that are already on the market, but need to grow. In this space, collaborative and creative dynamics can be created between companies and, naturally, also between the University of Algarve. Companies that will come here must interact with the University, “stressed Paulo Águas, dean of the University of Algarve.

Paulo Águas – Photo: Nuno Costa|Sul Informação

According to the dean of the Algarve academy, “at the very best”, the expectation is that, “in a year, we will be here with a space with companies alive, working, producing and creating wealth. This is what we want».

And are there companies interested in occupying the space? Paulo Águas is authoritative: «Yes. We have a great deal of interaction with the Algarve Evolution association and, a year ago, we signed a set of protocols, which are protocols of intent, in which around 30 companies expressed interest in being able to come to this space. I would say that we do not have enough space for all companies and those will come that, in fact, have certain characteristics and that we believe will be able to interact with UAlg».

Paulo Águas also emphasizes that «companies come here, but it is not for life. There will be a set of goals, a set of indicators, and there will be a renewal of these same companies».

The UAlg Tec Campus, which is being built in the building where the Penha Campus Pedagogical Complex used to function, and the UALG TEC Health, which is a clinical research center, which is also under construction, will cost a total of 6,6 million with 70% Community funding.

«There are 4,2 million community funds, of which 3 million will be applied in the UAlg Tec Campus and about 1,1 million in the space of Gambelas, the UAlg Tech Health, which is a space for medical simulation» which must be concluded within a month, explained Paulo Águas.

Ana Abrunhosa, Minister of Territorial Cohesion, who took office a year ago as the “ambassador” in the Government of the Algarve Tech Hub (project that is at the genesis of this UAlg Tec Campus), considers that this project is «the best example of the application of European funds. It is a project that will welcome companies, which will give them conditions to develop their business model and find sources of financing».

Ana Abrunhosa - Photo: Nuno Costa|Sul Informação

For the government official, “this is the type of project that makes a difference and this is the mission of community funds. We, Portugal, are net beneficiaries of community funds. And this solidarity means making available to the country funds to make a difference, for us to change. More and more, we have to remember that we only face the problems and that we only change our community and our economy with knowledge», he stressed.

UAlg Tec Campus is born for companies and Vanessa Nascimento, who represented the Algarve Evolution association at the ceremony, which brings together several technology companies in the region, told our newspaper that she hopes this will be «the first of many buildings. We want a technology region, we don't just want Faro technological'.

To achieve this goal, Vanessa Nascimento delivered to Ana Abrunhosa an «invitation letter for a document that we drafted between Algarve STP and Algarve Evolution, the University and other strategic partners, which shows our vision of technology for the Algarve for the next 10 years».

One of the areas being worked on is the promotion of “quality of life. It is our asset, our calling card, even at the tourist level, to bring here entrepreneurs, digital nomads and create a parallel economy here, also creating conditions for the digitization of local companies», he concluded.