The Tech Foundry Portugal – Deep Tech Edition acceleration programme has launched with 31 scientific and technological projects selected from 98 applicants. Promoted by Startup Portugal in partnership with the French consultancy Hello Tomorrow and Porto Business School, with support from the Porto City Council, the programme aims to accelerate the transformation of Portuguese scientific and technological knowledge into solutions with market potential.
The selected projects cover diverse areas: six in health, six in biotechnology, five in artificial intelligence and five in climate and energy transition. The remaining areas include advanced materials, nanotechnology, defence technologies, robotics, drones, space and aeronautics. Almost half of the projects are still in the proof-of-concept stage, although 39% have already tested the technology in environments close to real-world application.
Over three months, the chosen teams will benefit from intensive acceleration in technological validation, business models, market preparation and access to investors and business partners. The connection to Hello Tomorrow's global network, based in Paris, will allow participants to access an international community of more than 5,000 startups and approximately 1,300 investors specialised in deep tech.
For the Secretary of State for the Economy, João Rui Ferreira, the programme should contribute to a cultural change in universities and research institutions, promoting a culture in which scientists and academics view the market as a way for science to serve society. The programme concludes on 15 December in Porto with a Demo Day.
