During the opening of the IPG Business Summit 2025, held on the institution's campus and concluding today, IPG President Joaquim Brigas emphasized that the arrival of these startups will significantly contribute to increasing the region’s business competitiveness.

Currently, the incubator hosts three companies with North American capital, one backed by Indian investment, and several others funded by Portuguese investors. These businesses are active in areas such as microcredit, human resources recruitment, and digital agriculture, among others.

Brigas reaffirmed IPG’s strong commitment to attracting more international startups. He highlighted the IPG Business Summit 2025 as a key platform for sharing knowledge and fostering collaboration between academia, the business community, and the startup ecosystem.

He also noted that innovation and competitiveness have become strategic priorities for the institution in recent years.

The summit brings together large companies, startups, researchers, professors, and incubators such as the Instituto Pedro Nunes (Coimbra), the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), research centers, and professional associations.

“The goal is to share experiences, expectations, and market signals, enabling IPG to further align its scientific output with the region’s innovation needs,” Brigas stated.

He added that IPG’s academic and scientific work is geared toward enhancing the regional economy, empowering students and faculty to generate innovation with direct local impact.

The event features discussion panels, case study presentations, and sessions focused on digital transformation, employability, internationalization, and youth entrepreneurship.

Brigas concluded, “This summit aims to guide IPG’s scientific production toward strengthening the region’s competitiveness and socioeconomic development.”