The new centers of QRIAR (the first Creative Incubator in the Algarve) that were created in Tôr, in Querença and Alcoutim, want to be a stage for «creativity» and «networking» so that more people choose the interior.
The new centers, officially inaugurated last Friday, October 20th, by the QRER cooperative, were built within the scope of the Magallanes_ICC project, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) at 75% and the remainder with private participation ensured by the Municipalities from Loulé and Alcoutim.
«What we want is to bring people to the interior, to settle, or, even if they don't come to settle directly, to develop activities and projects here and also get to know the territory, because that is the starting point so that later can get involved at another level", he explained to Sul Informação Susana Calado, president of the Board of Directors of QRER – Cooperative for the Development of Low Density Territories, responsible for QRIAR.
Friday afternoon began with a visit to the Tôr hub, in the interior of the municipality of Loulé. Installed in a space provided by the Union of Parishes of Querença Tôr and Benafim, its objective is to welcome entrepreneurs who want to develop their manual work or simply those who want to use the place to be at the computer. In addition, it will be suitable for hosting meetings, training or creative and educational activities.
«It is, basically, a multifunctional space for cowork, associated with the incubator, but independent and open to anyone who wanted to work in the territory», explains Susana Calado.
For Margarida Correia, president of the Union of Parishes of Querença Tôr and Benafim, «it is a privilege for the territory to have this project installed here».
«Despite the limitations and constraints, with a lot of effort and good will from the team we managed to adapt this, which is a garage. With works, it became a workshop ready to welcome anyone who chooses the interior», something necessary for these low-density territories.
Also in Querença, where QRER has its headquarters, there were renovations, so that the space became more welcoming for employees, incubators or other visitors.
As QRER's objective, from the beginning, was to «work for the development of interior and low-density territories», Susana Calado could not be happier with this «important step, so that from now on others can be taken».
«We are talking about nine projects that have now finished incubation and the idea is that, from now on, there may be more», said the president of QRER, reinforcing that now is the time to «take the opportunity to define some issues that were not yet stipulated at the launch of the incubator».
Reaching “the end of this chapter”, Susana Calado gives “a very positive assessment, above all, taking into account all the learning that now allows us to have another capacity to execute and boost other projects”.
«We supported several promoters, who developed their businesses and are working. The impact is greater than the nine incubated projects, because we developed many courses and residencies, which had other people from the region's cultural and creative community as participants», he continued.
In the words of Vitor Aleixo, mayor of Loulé, «it is necessary to avoid the decline of interior territories» and projects like this have contributed to this.
«This is yet another attempt to boost the interior, through microprojects that capture resources that are here and need to be valued. They also need us to continue to believe that it is possible to invest in the interior and fight for a future in the interior. We believe that someday we will begin a new cycle of life, activity, economy, rejuvenation and revitalization of the interior and this work by QRER is a good example of that", said the Mayor of the Municipality who has, from the beginning, supported the projects of this cooperative.
Now, with the new centers installed here, the interior is expected to gain even more life.
In an interview with our newspaper, Susana Calado explained that, for now, the regulations for the use of spaces are still being finalized. Anyone who wants to take advantage of them should initiate contact via email, so that, after registration, schedules and distribution can be made.
«We haven't disclosed much yet because everything isn't ready yet, but we already know people who are interested in using the spaces. In fact, one of our incubated projects, the Digital Rural Nomads, you will be a regular user. They were our incubators, we helped launch the business and we are currently working on a partnership. It is a relationship of mutual interest: they need it, taking into account the focus and objective of the project developed, and we need to bring people and make them interact with the territory».
TO QRIAR is the first creative incubator in the interior of the Algarve. Launched in 2020, it supports the creation of business projects in the area of cultural and creative industries, mainly linked to creative tourism activities and nature experiences, locally based food products, traditional and innovative crafts and construction with sustainable materials and techniques.
Of the nine incubated projects graduated in 2023, they include Engenharia da Taipa, Boca de Mata, Southern Sweets, Laivos, “Reuse” Movement, Munai Ki, Rêverie, Rural Digital Nomads e Two Dogs.
Photos: Mariana Sedge | Sul Informação
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