Meet our National Lead for Portugal!
Who we are:
UPTEC
UPTEC supports the creation and development of business projects in the arts, sciences and technologies and hosts innovation centres for both national and international companies. Following a shared resources strategy, UPTEC provides projects with specialized support, connecting them to a wide and broad network of partners. In addition, UPTEC offers a propitious environment for innovation and the creation of companies, as it assumes itself as a valuable role in bridging the gap between the knowledge generated at the University and the market.
UPTEC has been organising ClimateLaunchpad in Portugal since 2016, where we supported almost 50 teams within more than 90 applications in total. Besides, Portugal had two international winners. Pavnext was awarded in 2017 in the “Urban Transitions” category, whereas Eco2Blocks won the Global Grand Final of ClimateLaunchpad in 2018.
Ordem dos Engenheiros
The Ordem dos Engenheiros (Professional Association of Portuguese Engineers) is a professional association governed by public law which represents engineers in Portugal and which exclusively awards the professional title of Engineer, being obligatory to be registered in order to practice the profession.
Created on November 24, 1936, the Order is independent of the State and has administrative, financial, scientific, disciplinary and regulatory autonomy. The Order of Engineers is organized territorially into Regions, ensuring national coverage through a network of District Delegations, providing proximity services to its members.
The Order of Engineers represents all areas of knowledge in Engineering and is organized into 17 Specialty Colleges, including Environmental Engineering, and 25 Specializations.
PRIO
Aware of the growing trend towards sustainable mobility, and seeing low-carbon energy as a viable alternative, Prio Energy integrates the key links in the value chain, from primary logistics and production to the distribution of fuels.
In this area, Prio Energy has focused its strategy on investing in high-quality human capital, and leverages access to primary logistics through direct operations and the ease of building relationships with partners who share common interests. Completing the value chain, Prio Energy aims to be a major player in the energy distribution market for mobility in Portugal, covering both the large-scale consumer market and the retail market.
Prio Biocombustíveis currently operates a biodiesel plant in Portugal at the Port of Aveiro, with an installed capacity of 113,880 tonnes of biodiesel per year. It utilises world-class technology, which is characterised by its ability to process any type of plant-based raw material, enabling the final product to incorporate blends that ensure a balance between quality, price and environmental impact.
MEXT
MEXT is the innovation orchestrator, venture builder, and venture capital investment arm of the Mota-Engil Group, accelerating new solutions in construction, infrastructure, and sustainability by connecting industry, technology, and people. It operates as a strategic platform that fosters collaboration, creativity, and the development of new businesses, contributing to a more sustainable and technological future across areas such as construction, mobility, energy, and smart cities.
Fundação Santander Portugal
The Fundação Santander Portugal is a private, non-profit entity linked to Banco Santander, established with the aim of generating social and economic impact in Portugal. Its mission is to support the development of society, with a particular focus on areas such as education, employability, innovation, social inclusion, and sustainability. The foundation operates as a platform that funds and promotes projects, scholarships, and training programs — ranging from digital literacy initiatives and programming education to support for students, researchers, and SMEs.
Its goal is to contribute to a fairer, more inclusive, and future-ready society by promoting social mobility and the development of skills among individuals and organizations.