Microsoft, Startup Portugal and Beta-i launch “Portugal de Startup in Startup” program – News Center
AN Microsoft Portugal, an Startup Portugal and the beta-i launch today, with the support of Ministry of Economy and Digital Transition, the program Portugal from Startup to Startup, an initiative aimed at Portuguese technology-based and B2B startups. This initiative aims to promote and support the decentralization of innovation, as well as entrepreneurship in the interior of the country and in the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira.
The launch of the project took place this morning, at Castelo de Leiria, in a ceremony attended by André de Aragão de Azevedo, Secretary of State for the Digital Transition, Paula Panarra, General Manager of Microsoft Portugal, António Dias Martins from Startup Portugal, Pedro Rocha Vieira from Beta-i and the five program partners: BA Glass, Corticeira Amorim, Delta Cafés, Electricity of the Azores and PRIO.
The initiative comes within the scope of the Memorandum of Understanding established between Microsoft and the Portuguese Government, in November 2020, and comprises an investment of up to 1 million euros, which will translate into free access to the technology a cloud of Microsoft Azure and o project development opportunities with technology partners.
For André de Aragão Azevedo, Secretary of State for the Digital Transition: “This is an important contribution to the Portuguese entrepreneurial ecosystem by promoting a partnership between leading technology companies in the market, startup accelerators and Startup Portugal. The investment in the interior of the country also allows to enhance the role of entrepreneurship and digitally-based innovation for territorial cohesion. ”
According to Paula Panarra, Director General of Microsoft Portugal: “There is still a lot of talent to discover and invest in Portugal, and this is one of the reasons that motivated the creation of the Portugal de Startup em Startup program. We want to give voice and opportunity to startups that are approved for large metropolitan areas and that share the desire to create disruption and achieve more. ”
For António Dias Martins from Startup Portugal: “The approximation between all players in the Portuguese entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem is essential for the growth of the economy and for the country’s affirmation in the international context. Initiatives like this one, which challenge Startups to solve concrete problems of large companies – not only bring new business opportunities to the first ones, but also promote interaction between them. ”
Second Pedro Rocha Vieira, co-founder and CEO of collaborative innovation consultancy Beta-i, “We are excited to be responsible for the open innovation management of a program that intends to fill a real need in the country. If we want Portugal to continue to be an example of innovation at a European level, it is essential to accelerate the digital transformation across the country, increasingly inserting as large industries in more global innovation ecosystems and promoting the incorporation of new startups with more up-to-date players . In essence, promoting a decentralization of national innovation ecosystems and promoting best practices among different industries. ”
For more information about the Portugal de Startup in Startup program, see the link https://portugal-ses.pt.