UAlg TEC Campus - Aceleradora de Empresas "is the best example of the application of European funds" guaranteed Ana Abrunhosa, Minister of Territorial Cohesion, in the ceremony to start the construction of the project, which took place on December 16, at 10:30 am, at Penha Campus of the University of Algarve.
The main objective of UAlg Tec Campus is to stimulate and expand the capacity of every player in the technological ecosystem of the region, at a national and international level, focused on ICT and Electronics, driving a favorable change in the economy and regional and national society. It is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union, through the Algarve Regional Operational Program 2014-2020 (CRESC ALGARVE 2020).
The total investment amount of the Technological Park, which includes UAlg TEC Campus and UAlg TEC Health, is 6 645 515.42 Euros, with co-financing by the ERDF of 4 651 860.79 Euros and self-financing of 1 993 654.63 Euros .
On the occasion of the 41st anniversary of the Algarve Academy, Ana Abrunhosa pointed out the extraordinary change that the University symbolizes for the development of the Algarve, highlighting “the great responsibility” and the “important role” that UAlg will have in the necessary process of change for the Algarve, a region that is particularly suffering from the pandemic.
For the dean of UAlg, Paulo Águas, this will be a decisive project for the development of the University and with a strong impact on the regional economy, contributing to its much-needed diversification and internationalization. Regarding the future, Paulo Águas assures that when the work is finished, nothing will be as before. “First and foremost the life on campus. The flexibility of the project, in terms of architectural solution, will allow more than 300 people to work on UAlg TEC Campus, the overwhelming majority of whom, if not all, with higher education. ” But, for the rector, "the main benefit for the University will be the interaction with established companies, whether in educational or in research projects". This way, “the UAlg TEC Campus will contribute to the creation of wealth, to the increase of qualified employment, to the diversification of the regional economic fabric, to internationalization, to pedagogical innovation and to the creation of knowledge”.
Paulo Águas argues that the Algarve needs more funding for science and technology transfer, concluding: “count on us for implementation”.
Ualg TEC Campus is an action of the proposed Algarve Science and Technology Park, one of the reference projects supported by the Algarve Operational Program, boosted and accompanied under the scope of INTRA, regarding the implementation period of 2019 – 2021.
