Innovation - Why? - InvestPorto

Porto is a remarkable place for innovation.

In Porto you can find world-class scientific and academic institutions, high levels of investment in research and development (R&D), generous R&D tax incentives for businesses, a modern telecommunication infrastructure and access to the best talent and R&D infrastructure.

Increase on R&D Investment

Porto’s R&D investment as percentage of GDP growth from 0,84% in 2003 to 2,01% in 2012.
Porto can now provide a new generation of scientists and engineers, from new doctorates to other researchers.

Portugal claims one of the most dynamic developments in Europe with respect to innovation - one of top 10 countries in terms of innovation growth in the EU in the period of 2006-2015 - the annual average growth rate of innovation performance reached 0,9%.

Innovative companies - excellent performance on in-house innovation capacity and in the development of product/process or marketing/organizational innovations.

Portugal ranks 30^th in the world when it comes to global innovation performance.

Portuguese scientists are among the best in a wide range of areas - engineering, materials sciences, medical sciences, physics, aerospace sciences - developing cutting-edge research and regularly publish their findings in many of the world’s most cited publications.

Sources: FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia); European Comission - European Innovation Scoreboard 2016; Cornell University, INSEAD & WIPO - The Global Innovation Index 2016.

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Prestigious R&D and Technology Institutions

The quality of Portuguese research institutions is among the best in the world - 25th out of 138 countries in the Global Competitiveness Report.

Porto is home to some first class research institutions that bring together universities and industry.
Fraunhofer Institute - the largest organization for applied research in Europe - has chosen Porto to open its first subsidiary outside Germany.

Sources: World Economic Forum - The Global Competitiveness Report 2016-2017.

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International R&D Partnerships

Partnerships for the Future Programme brings together Portuguese entities and international institutions of excellence - Carnegie Mellon University, Harvard Medical School, University of Texas in Austin and MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
Portuguese performance on international scientific production improved significantly - performs considerably better than the EU average - index of 173 against EU 100 in the European Innovation Scoreboard.

Sources: European Comission - European Innovation Scoreboard 2016.

Innovation. Did you know that...

a world class research institute in health sciences is emerging in Porto?

I3S consortium, headed by the University of Porto, brings together four research institutions, researchers from several schools and three hospitals.

With more than 800 workers, of which 250 are doctorate researchers, I3S provides a vibrant environment for new scientific discoveries and translation into improvements in health care.

I3S focuses its activity on developing solutions to some of the greatest health challenges - cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases and regenerative medicine. It has a vast network of international partnerships with world-leading entities in the it's field of activity. It also provides consulting services in several countries.
Porto is home of a company that invests 20% of its turnover in R&D?

BIAL, a Portuguese international pharmaceutical Group, invests 20% of its turnover in research of innovative pharmaceuticals.

BIAL products are present in more than 50 countries spread over 4 continents - Europe, America, Africa and Asia – and the company has 6 worldwide patented molecules.
the first GPS in the world with aerial photography was created in Porto?

We’re innovators in mobile software solutions. Ndrive, a company from Porto, introduced the first GPS in the world with aerial photography.

The company had between 2005 and 2008 a growth of 750%. Nowadays, the company is a business accelerator for Telcos, OEM and manufacturers with sales in over 50 countries and international offices in San Francisco, São Paulo and Shenzhen.
Porto has technology on the European Agency’s space lab and provides cutting-edge technology for electric vehicles?

EFACEC is the largest Portuguese solutions provider for the electrical and electromechanical industries developing technologic advance solutions in energy, mobility, engineering and environment.

Present in various countries around the world, it has developed and manufactured the first electronic instrument recognized by the European Space Agency and by NASA.

EuTEMP is an automatic register of temperatures in space and began flying in the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

EFACEC is also one of the leading electric vehicle supply equipment manufacturers and was one of the first companies in the world to provide quick chargers for electric vehicles.
Porto has the largest network of buses with Wi-Fi in the world?

Built by the tech startup called Veniam, a spin-off from the University of Porto, it is the largest and most sophisticated vehicle-based network in the world. More than 600 buses and taxis are equipped with routers that serve as mobile Wi-Fi hotspots.

The network currently serves 70.000 people a month and has already caught the interest of cities like San Francisco, in the USA, and Barcelona, in Spain.
in Porto we are at the forefront of the waves?

The OceanScan Marine Systems and Technology company is one of the main sources of the robotic submarine in Europe and an excellent example of Porto’s best know-how in the sea research field.
the future aircraft interiors are being developed in Porto?

The Life (Lighter, Friendly and Eco-efficient Aircraft Cabin) project is developing innovative solutions for aircraft interiors combining eco-efficient, lightweight and comfort in an integrated and innovative design.

The project is being developed with the involvement of suppliers in the aviation and transport industry, design companies and R&D institutions.