Set.Up Guimarães and Guimarães Marca took part in the Inova Planalto Summit in Brazil, where they presented best practices, discussed the future of territories, and strengthened international connections in the fields of innovation and economic development.
The event took place from May 27 to 29 in São Bento do Sul, bringing together experts, companies, universities, and civil society representatives to jointly address the challenges of regional development.
Guimarães was represented by Flávio Freitas, Advisor to the Mayor for economic affairs, who participated in the panel “Current challenges and opportunities in training and retaining young talent.” Marta Mota Prego, Head of the Economic Development Division at the Municipality and coordinator of the Guimarães Marca project and the Set.Up Guimarães incubator network, joined the panel “Incubation in Industry: creating a high-impact innovation ecosystem in Planalto Norte,” where she presented the Set.Up In(dustry) industrial incubation project.
The Guimarães innovation ecosystem also included the participation of Raúl Fangueiro, President of Fibrenamics, Vice-President of the School of Engineering at the University of Minho, and mentor of Set.Up Guimarães, who spoke in the panel “Business Internationalisation: strategies for companies in Planalto Norte,” sharing practical cases developed by Fibrenamics. Sandra Vasconcelos, Executive Administrator of OPT, presented the case of the city of Porto in the panel “How innovations in mobility will transform the future of cities and business.”
Key topics discussed included talent training and retention, particularly in industry, creating more attractive and inclusive cities with high quality of life, and cooperation among companies, governments, and civil society. Digital transformation also played a central role in the discussions, being identified as a fundamental axis for organizational competitiveness and sustainability, highlighting the importance of innovative leadership, technological capacity building, and strategic use of data.
During the visit to Brazil, the Guimarães delegation also had the opportunity to visit two leading examples in innovation and economic development: Ágora Tech Park, a technology park recognized for its focus on applied research and sustainable solutions, and Condor, one of Brazil’s largest companies in the household and personal care sector, known for its innovation, design, and environmental responsibility.
This participation is part of Guimarães’ internationalization strategy as an innovative territory, strengthening networks of collaboration and knowledge that drive the region’s economic, technological, and sustainable development.