News Porto.

The ClimateLaunchpad awarded winners will have the possibility to represent Portugal at the European final, scheduled for September 2021, and will also have access to a 4 month free incubation period at the UPTEC, to one thousand euros in engineering training with the Engineer Association of the Northern Region, as well as one thousand euros by Grosvenor Investments for training and capacity building in such areas as marketing, sustainability and impact. Winners will also be able to visit the So

Porto City Hall approved, on 26 July, during the Executive Meeting, the allocation of another eight grants, in the scope of the 2021 Shuttle municipal programme. The outline goal is to promote Porto’s artistic scene at international level, namely projects by artists and cultural agents based in the city of Porto, who are granted stipends between 1500 and 7500 euros.

A hybrid car that upon entering low or zero emissions areas automatically runs as an electric vehicle: this type of technology is called BMW eDriveZones and was developed by Critical Techworks, a joint venture by BMW and Portuguese company Critical Software. This technology reaches Porto, Braga and Lisbon in July.

Porto City Hall did it again! Like in previous years, the Municipality is promoting a campaign that engages customers and local businesses in Porto; that means that any customer who buys in a local store is gifted a sweet summer treat to help celebrate summer days. The Municipality will provide wrapping paper, stickers and sticky tapes and fans to the traders that adhere to this initiative.

The exhibition themed 'Intertwine', by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei features was specifically conceived to be on display at the Serralves Park and at the Museum‘s central room. It raises awareness on the dangers of extinction and will be on show from 23 July 2021 to 9 July 2022.

The Municipal Executive unanimously aproved a proposal to support the return of traders to the ancient and now fully renovated Bolhão Market. The amount of 2.13 million euros has been approved for adaptation works and rearrangement of business spaces.

Summer vacations and the respective school break can bring some constraints for those who do not have the much needed family background or that are in need of keeping meal services even during the academic pause for vacations. Thus, students can still have access to meals – lunches and snacks – under the initiative “Escola Solidária” (Solidarity School”, free translation], by the Municipality of Porto, which ensures in-person or take-away services.

The Animal Assembly Centre (CROA - Centro de Recolha Oficial de Animais), located in the parish of Campanhã, in Porto, opened doors in April last year. Ever since, over 443 cats and dogs have found a home. In addition to raising awareness on the importance of a responsible adoption, the Centre also targets public awareness on an impulsive decision, as holidays are often periods when animals are abandoned.

How about spending some free time getting to know bats better? The fourth out of the seven organised evenings to watch up close how these mammals live happens on 6 August at the Parque Oriental. This initiative marks the 30th anniversary of the years of the Agreement for the Conservation of Bats in Europe, under the Bonn Convention.

WOMEX 2021, the World Music Expo, which takes to Porto between 27th and 31st October, is one of the most relevant music support and development projects in the global music scene. Some of the confirmed national artists and bands are Vitorino, Miroca Paris, the duo Lina_Raül Refree and O Gajo, and the Palco Lusofónica also welcomes the Brazilian work by Ayom and Lucas Santtana, the French Lucia de Carvalho, the Sapnish Tanxugueiras and, from Guinea Bissau, the Bandé-Gamboa.