From 9 to 11 January 2023, the E³UDRES² team of Work Package 5 "Innovators & Entrepreneurs" met in Portugal at Politechnic Institute of Setúbal. 15 members from the E³UDRES² institutions participated on-site, with more team members joining the work meetings online. The purpose of the meeting was mainly to reflect on the results obtained by the group since the last working meeting in Gödöllö (Hungary) in Autumn 2022, and on preparing the next activities such as the iResidency and the Bootcamp happening later this year.
Building connections to regional innovation ecosystems
Amongst various work meetings, the program of the visit included a visit to some spaces and companies in the Setúbal region, with the aim of better understanding the dynamics, difficulties and local potential in the areas of entrepreneurship, innovation and development, aligning the knowledge and technology capabilities of the E³UDRES² Alliance with the needs and economic structure of the region. Visits were made to the Mercado do Livramento, as an emblematic space in the city that welcomes several small producers and entrepreneurs in the region, to Casa Ermelinda de Freitas, a wine producer, due to its socioeconomic importance for the region and country, and to Humus Farm, a company which is dedicated to various activities in rural areas, including accommodation and a variety of events for individuals and companies, anchored in the principles of creativity and sustainability.
The meetings were not only successful in planning the next steps for future events and enhancing the outcomes of innovation and entrepreneurship activities, but also in reinforcing connections with the internal and external stakeholders of all institutions, aligning interests, needs and expectations for an effective contribution to the development of regions.
