Porto innovation ecosystem is awarded the "Smart City Innovator" prize in Dubai

"The Smart City Innovator Award" was granted to the city of Porto, under the Annual Investment Meeting Conference, for its innovation ecosystem. The ceremony was held in Dubai today. In addition, the support by InvestPorto to Critical TechWorks was also acknowledged with second best place in the Investment Promotion category. 

The Annual Investment Meeting, which is one of the main world platforms for the global investors' community, only takes the online format this year, owing to the pandemic.

Porto Innovation Hub was the project that enabled the city to conquer the Smart City Innovator Award, in the Future Cities" category. The project, established in 2016, includes a global vision on innovation as a fundamental factor for progress in Porto.
(see the video of the ceremony HERE).

The deputy Mayor of Porto, Filipe Araújo welcomed the distinction, in a message sent to the ceremony, saying that "the city of Porto is deeply honoured and proud for receiving this award. Thank you very much. It is the acknowledgment of our work and our strategy towards making innovation the catalyser of development in the city".

"Porto. Innovation as a City Catalyst" project is a fundamental long term strategy, of the city, based on innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, which includes initiatives such as "Municipality Innovation Day", "Guide towards Innovation", Innovation Toolbox and the ScaleUp Porto strategy.

The same event acknowledged the support by InvestPorto to the alliance between the Portuguese company Critical Software and the multinational BMW, which resulted in the establishment of Critical TechWorks, settled in the Invicta, in the category Investment Promotion, which was granted second place.

"This is a remarkable project for the city of Porto. It is a global project, and thanks to this project we will have the first autonomous car by BMW, which would have been created, in large part, in Porto", highlighted councillor for Economy, Tourism and Trade, Ricardo Valente.

The topic of the Annual Investment Meeting conference was "Reimagining economies: Transition towards a digital, sustainable and resilient future", organised by the Ministry of Economy of United Arab Emirates. Ministries government agencies, regional and international entities, investment promotion agencies, private entities, investors, start-ups, business incubators, technological partners from over 170 countries have attended the conference.