On the 16th of December, one of my last events as the vice rector for Research and Transfer matters, I had the pleasure of inaugurating the seminar which launched the entrepreneurial INTERREG POCTEC UNI+i project between Spain and Portugal, together with María Helena Rodrigues Moreira, professor from the University from Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro and the coordinator of the project.  The intention of this Project is to create and develop innovative businesses in strategic sectors in the North of Portugal and in Castile and Leon. It has been financed by the European cross-border funds.

Entrepreurship is becoming the main axis of cooperation between the two countries. The plan is to obtain an integral program as a result of the project, for Support to Innovative Entrepreneurship and an escort service which will boost the competitiveness of already operating innovative businesses. This porject will also set the basis for designing a plan of action that will foster entrepreneurship and innovation between Spain and Portugal.

Numerous representatives from the two countries have attended the event. During the seminar a session was conducted by a startup called Waywook, there were diverse cases of entrepreneurs’ success (Neathea and Noesis Formación from Spain and ArtinVitro and Spawnfoam from Portugal), as well as a professional meeting. This event will facilitate future Spanish-Portuguese collaboration in aspects related to entrepreneurship and to innovation, sectors of special interest and relevance. In my opinion, for the University of Salamanca, this type of collaboration fosters international prestige for the University of Salamanca and imply a very valuable strengthening of our institution. I believe we should continue to take great care of these aspects.