GOVERNMENTS & UNIVERSITIES
Advancing National Innovation
and R&D Commercialization
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An exciting new MOU was signed on November 11, 2025 between Empowered Startups and the Municipality of Santarém. Represented here are Pedro Camões Gouveia, Councilman for the municipality of Santarém, Élise Racicot, Ambassador of Canada to Portugal, Chris Lennon, President of Empowered Startups, and João Moutao, President of Instituto Politécnico de Santarém
Designing Global Innovation Programs
Empowered Startups partners with governments, universities, and regional authorities to build innovation and talent attraction programs, foster technology clusters, and stimulate economic growth through foreign direct investment.
As a designated incubator of the Government of Canada, a designated agency of the Government of Alberta, and the exclusive delivery partner for Portugal’s HQA® Program, we help governments and universities transform discoveries into real-world solutions while building vibrant innovation ecosystems in their regions.
Our mission is to accelerate the journey from lab to marketplace while fostering the growth of breakthrough technologies that drive real-world impact and simultaneously stimulate local economies and innovation ecosystems.
$37M
Foreign direct
Investment in Innovation
650+
innovation
Projects
70+
international research
university relationships
500+
student
research placements
For Governments
Supporting Policy and Economic Development
Empowered Startups partners with governments and regional authorities to develop programs that attract high human capital, advance R&D, and create innovation clusters. Our expertise spans policy alignment, program delivery, and international talent attraction.
What we do for Governments
- Design and deliver innovation-led immigration programs.
- Facilitate foreign direct investment in applied research.
- Support the development of regional innovation clusters.
- Provide strategic advice on innovation and talent attraction initiatives.
Why Partner with Empowered Startups
- We are a designated incubator of the Government of Canada and a designated agency of the Government of Alberta.
- Exclusive delivery partner for Portugal’s HQA® Program and endorsed by the Portuguese Government.
- Offices and programs in Canada, the U.S.A., Portugal, and Australia that allow us to leverage global networks.
- Proven track record of attracting high human capital and promoting territorial cohesion.
For universities
Driving Innovation through Research & Development
Empowered Startups partners with universities and research institutions to transform discoveries into market-ready solutions. We help institutions build programs that attract global talent, foster entrepreneurship, and generate real-world impact.
Empowered Startups currently partners with over 70 international universities, fostering over 650 innovation projects, and providing over 500 students with research placements.
What we do for Universities
- Build programs, in conjunction with governments, to attract high human capital and global entrepreneurs.
- Provide access to international networks, funding, and mentorship.
- Attract foreign direct investment through innovative R&D projects undertaken at the university.
- We deliver industry-funded research and commercialization projects to institutions.
Why partner with Empowered Startups
- Recognized programs in Canada, Portugal, the U.S.A., and Australia.
- Expertise in designing and delivering programs that connect research to market demand.
- Exclusive partnerships with governments to leverage talent attraction and Foreign Direct Investment.
- We accelerate lab-to-market journeys while stimulating local economies and innovation ecosystems.
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