But there is an important difference between training qualified professionals and being able to transform this knowledge into companies capable of competing in the market. Fortunately, more and more examples of the second reality are beginning to emerge.

That is why I was struck by the news of TAPSi, a TVDE platform created by doctoral students at the University of Coimbra that decided to enter a market dominated by international giants through a simple but differentiating approach: operating exclusively with electric vehicles from day one.

At first glance, it may seem like just another mobility app. In fact, it represents something more interesting. While many international platforms continue to manage transition processes to electric fleets, this Portuguese startup decided to be born already prepared for what many consider to be the future of the sector.

This way of thinking reveals something that I consider increasingly important for Portugal. Innovation does not arise only from the size of companies or millionaire investments. It is often born from the ability to look at an existing market and identify a different way of doing things.

What is also worth mentioning is the fact that this project arises within the academic ecosystem of Coimbra. For years, we have heard about the need to bring universities and companies closer together, to transform research into economic activity and to create more bridges between knowledge and the market. Projects like this demonstrate that this path is finally producing results.

At the same time, this initiative fits into a trend that I have observed in several areas of the Portuguese economy. Whether in electric mobility, artificial intelligence, data centres, or renewable energies, national companies are beginning to appear that are not only looking to keep up with global trends, but to position themselves at the forefront of innovation from the outset.

The entry of international investment in this project is also a positive sign. When foreign investors choose to support Portuguese technology companies, they are recognising the value of the talent, the ability to execute and the ideas that are being developed in our country.

Of course, not all startups will succeed. It is part of the risk of innovating. But what really matters is that Portugal is creating more and more companies that are born with ambition, their own technology and a clear vision of the future.

And perhaps this is the best news of all. For a long time, we have exported talent. Today, we are also starting to export innovation.