HQA® Visa Program Delivers “Green-ovation” to IP Santarém

Motivating the masses to adopt more sustainable energy habits is at the heart of an innovative project being launched at the Polytechnic Institute of Santarém (IP Santarém) via the HQA® Visa Program. Led by accomplished entrepreneur, Rupa Santosh, this collaborative endeavour aims to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to engage energy users and incentivize Green behaviours to lessen the environmental impact of energy consumption on the planet.

Gaming Goes Green

The project is geared toward developing a viable module or app that gamifies sustainable actions to help consumers and companies collectively reduce emissions and improve their energy behaviours. Existing solutions often lack personalized engagement and real-time feedback, making it difficult to sustain user participation in green practices.

Portugal is an ideal environment in which to conduct research for this initiative as the country continues to integrate smart meters and AI technologies into the systemic reduction of its carbon footprint while simultaneously increasing energy efficiency. Various interactive opportunities such as challenges, points and reward systems, and real-time feedback mechanisms will be tested as means of promoting sustainable behaviours.

Empowering Sustainability

With an extensive professional background in engineering and business development, Santosh brings more than 25 years of experience to this project. Having successfully worked in major roles for companies such as Samsung and Nokia, Santosh sought a partner that was extremely detailed, accomplished, and innovative, all of which she found in Empowered Startups.

“The intake process was thorough and demonstrated a deep understanding of qualifications and experience, which gave me confidence in moving forward with the program,” expressed Santosh when asked about her journey with Empowered Startups.

“In November, I had the pleasure of visiting Portugal to complete the signing of the agreement with the university. Rogério and the team at the university, along with the city council, were incredibly warm and welcoming, making the experience even more memorable. I look forward to beginning the research and next steps with the Instituto Politécnico de Santarém.”

Milestone Approaching

Santosh is among the growing population of transnational entrepreneurs who have seeded their futures in Portugal via the HQA® Visa Program. As a result of significant growth of the program in 2024, Empowered Startups is poised to celebrate the 100^th university research project funded by foreign direct investment through the HQA® Visa Program in the very near future.   

The program’s trajectory aligns with the pledge the company made to Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Monténegro earlier this year to deliver over 50 million euros of foreign direct investment to the country by the end of 2027.  

Learn more about the HQA® Visa Program