The steady stream of start-ups partnering with higher education institutions through Empowered Startups HQA Visa Program continues to flow in Portugal. The Polytechnic Institute of Santarém (IP Santarém) and Doctor Roxanne Stockwell have signed an agreement to collaborate on an innovative research project that will investigate the emerging impact of Artificial Intelligence on the future of creative workers within the creative industries. The project marks the first foray into Portugal for Dr Stockwell, whose rich scholastic background has seen her work and study at several prestigious academic institutions on different continents.
Powering Portugal through the HQA Visa Program
IP Santarém, a successful polytechnic located in the city of Santarém, is part of the growing network of Portuguese universities and polytechnics that have partnered with Empowered Startups to facilitate the HQA Visa Program. By pairing accomplished international businesspeople with leading research and development institutions throughout Portugal, Empowered Startups is furthering the country’s stated goals of fostering innovation and improving territorial cohesion. Delivering tangible results to contribute to this shared vision has resulted in Empowered Startups becoming the only HQA Visa Program delivery partner endorsed by the Government of Portugal.
“Our entrepreneurs recognize the world-class R&D facilities and professionals that institutions like IP Santarém have to offer. Much like other recent projects we’ve publicized, this collaboration demonstrates an important aspect of our HQA Visa Program: strengthening communities outside of Portugal’s major urban centres,” explained Chris Lennon, President of Empowered Startups.
Chris Lennon – President of Empowered Startups“By stimulating economic activity while providing increased opportunities for PhD and Master’s students at these universities and polytechnics, the HQA Visa Program is keeping talented young people in Portugal, thereby reinforcing the government’s commitment to territorial cohesion.”
With Spain’s recent announcement that it will end the real estate component of its Golden Visa program, it appears as though more countries will follow Portugal’s lead and increase their focus on research-backed entrepreneurial business immigration. Empowered Startups is a global leader in this category, currently offering programs in Portugal, Canada, and the United States.
More Projects on the Horizon
In the coming months, IP Santarém will welcome more entrepreneurs to collaborate on innovative projects via Empowered Startups’ HQA Visa Program, as will many other Portuguese schools in Empowered’s network.
Empowered Startups has already delivered 70 entrepreneurs and close to €4 million of investment to Portugal as part of its three-year commitment to bring 250 internationally funded projects to at least 10 universities and polytechnics through its HQA Visa Program.
