Famalicão's Innovation and Science Week kicked off this Monday with a meeting of the Strategic Council for Science, Technology and Higher Education, which brought together the municipality of Famalicão, the Northern Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N), Universities and Technology Centres in the region, at the TMG Group premises in Vale S. Cosme.
"It was a very productive meeting in which we brought together all those who have been working with us in the areas of knowledge, research and innovation and who have given us so many contributions so that Famalicão is also recognised in these areas," said Mayor Mário Passos. The mayor also emphasised the role that the municipality has played in "promoting public policies that stimulate the development of innovation and technology and contribute to the entrepreneurial success of the area".
At this morning's meeting, Ricardo Simões, director of Innovation at CCDR-N, emphasised the strategic importance of science and technology for the future and, in particular, for a municipality like Famalicão, which has a strong export vocation. "The data is clear: exports are localised where there is knowledge. And if the science strategy is national, innovation must be territorial because it must be close to companies."
The meeting took place at the premises of the TMG Group, which has its historical roots in textiles, but where today "more than ever" it is committed to developing solutions that improve processes and products, with a strong focus on digital transformation.
The Innovation and Science Week is organised by the Vila Nova de Famalicão municipality in cooperation with COTEC, ANI - National Innovation Agency and CCDR-Norte, and is part of the "Famalicão European Entrepreneurial Region 2024" actions.
After the Strategic Council meeting, today was also marked by an Open Days visit to TMG and tomorrow, Tuesday, there will be an Innovation Mission to various companies in the municipality that bring innovation to their production processes, such as the Celoplás Group, Inovafil, Porminho, Pafil, Primor and VLB.
On Wednesday 19th, the highlight will be the presentation of the COTEC-BPI SME Innovation Award, which will take place at the Camilo Castelo Branco Municipal Library from 17h00.
Thursday will be marked by the conference "Innovation Strategies and Funding Opportunities for Companies", starting at 4pm at CITEVE, with speeches by Ricardo Simões, Director of Innovation at CCDR-NORTE, Paulo Santos, Head of the Strategic Planning and Regional Development Division at CCDR-NORTE, Mafalda Dourado, International Affairs Coordinator at ANI - Agência Nacional de Inovação Júlio Pereira, Managing Authority of NORTE2030, Braz Costa, Director General of CITEVE, Liliana Ferreira, Director of Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS, Pedro Oliveira, Director of LEICA and Jorge Laranjeira, Innovation Manager, MoldIT Industries. Registration for the session is free and can be done at www.famalicaomadein.pt.
It should be remembered that the municipality of Famalicense, which is renowned for its industrial fabric that is markedly export-oriented, entrepreneurial, with a strong technological and innovation component, has invested in a strategy that is aligned with regional, national and European innovation policies, such as the new Industrial Strategy for Europe, the Technological and Business Innovation Strategy for Portugal or the Smart Specialisation Strategy for the Northern Region.