Porto Study Visit – Portugal

Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 to Thursday, April 23, 2015
Venue: University of Porto - Portugal

TEJ partners have participated in 3 days training workshop during a study visit to the University of Porto in which many topics were discussed. The aim of this workshop comes to introduce the entrepreneurial aspects and creative knowledge of Porto University and much more important the policies and incentives for entrepreneurship and innovation. Such an advanced level yielded by the optimal nexus between academic world and industry is the envisioned model that Jordanian universities try to customize and mimic on the long run.

The first day started with a welcome speech delivered by the rector of University of Porto Prof. Sebastião Feyo de Azevedo, then an introduction to TEJ project was presented by Prof. Walid Salameh.

Day 1 of the workshop included the following topics:

  •     U.Porto Innovation overview, by Maria Oliveira, U.Porto Innovation Coordinator
  •     The importance of promoting student base entrepreneurship, by Bernardo Pequito, Startup Buzz co-founder
  •     IJUP Enterprises, by Elisa Keating, IJUP Empresas project coordinator
  •     Q&A / Discussion / Sharing of experiences
  •     Case Study: Start-up pirates, by Daniela Monteiro, Start-up pirates co-founder
  •     Case-study: iUP25k – business idea competition of the University of Porto, by Filipe Castro, U.Porto Innovation
  •     Q&A / Discussion / Sharing of experience

Day 2 of the workshop included the following topics:

  •     The entrepreneurship ecosystem of the University of Porto, by Carlos Brito, Pro-Rector for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at U.Porto.
  •     Portugal Ventures: venture capital for portuguese start-ups, by Epifânio da Franca, Board Director at Portugal Ventures
  •     The Business Ignition Programme: a technology validator, by Maria Oliveira, U.Porto Innovation
  •     Q&A / Discussion / Sharing of experience
  •     +E+I programme: promoting entrepreneurship and innovation, by João Fernandes, Strategic programme for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Coordinator.
  •     RedEmprendia – Ibero-American universities network for responsible innovation and entrepreneurship, by María Bobillo Varela, RedEmprendia.
  •     Act by COTEC, by Pedro Vilarinho, COTEC Portugal.
  •     Q&A / Discussion / Sharing of experience.
  •     UTEN – US Global Start up Programme, by José Mendonça, UTEN – University Technology Enterprise Network (TBC).
  •     CMU Portugal Entrepreneurial Research Initiatives, by Sara Brandão, Executive Director of Carnegie Mellon Portugal Program.
  •     EU Funding to Support Entrepreneurs and SMEs, by Sónia Pereira, U.Porto international projects unit.
  •     Q&A / Discussion / Sharing of experience.

 

And day 3 of the workshop included the following topics:

  •     UPTEC – Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, Welcome – José Novais Barbosa, President of Direction UPTEC, Clara Gonçalves, Executive Director UPTEC.
  •     Visit and presentation of selected spin-off companies + Fraunhofer Portugal TBD, UPTEC.
  •     Visit to INESC TEC (ICT), José Mendonça, INESC TEC (ICT).
  •     Visit at ANJE – National Association for Young Entrepreneurs, José Fontes, ANJE.

 

See the full report along with the participants’ names in the PDF file