Fifteen bright and hopeful fledgling and maturing companies already have been signed up for a new science park in Evora. This is a huge vote of confidence in the Alentejo’s ability to attract new businesses and to provide the necessary skilled and specialist workforce to ensure success.
Many of the companies to date work in the area of energy and IT and are moving into the new Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia do Alentejo (PCTA) when it is complete. In fact the park has yet to be started but there is money in place to build a tailor made park to house these, and to attract more sunrise businesses.
The science park is one of the successes of the Regional Technology Transfer scheme (SRTT) which involves 21 local partners, including businesses and educational establishments in the region. A rare example of cooperation but the results look to be worthwhile.
The project has EU funds and a ‘business incubator’ scheme hosted by Évora council soon will grow into a fully fledged science park environment. The knock on affects will be substantial with workers moving to an area that is struggling to staunch the flow of emigration.
The building tenders for the park are soon to come in for a total investment of €3.6 million, paid for by the EU and approved in late 2012.
The 15 companies have signed up for the obvious advantages of working in the Alentejo in the areas of energy, photovoltaic and energy efficiency. There are also IT companies basing their operations in the calm of the interior, and foreign companies already have agreed to relocate.There is a company in the food industry and another newcomer, linked to biotechnology, according to the diretor-general of the PCTA, João Mateu.
The science park project is aimed at seven areas, energy, IT, mechatronics (automotive and aerospace wizardry), materials, food processing, biotechnology, and environment and sustainability.
The contract for the construction of the first phase, which includes a central building for administration, co-working rooms, pre-incubation and business support services, should be released "early next year," said Mateu.
"The goal is to help in the creation, development and expansion of new businesses, and to attract investment to the region," said the Director-General, adding that the PCTA will be able to welcome 40 companies to start with.
In the next funding period starting in 2014, the project will provides another building for medium-sized companies, and also has an unused plot of 20 hectares to expand into.
"This could be a great anchor for the entire region. There are lots of industrial parks where companies can go to, but the PCTA introduces a degree of specialization and contributes to the connection between business and universities, polytechnics and research centers," said a delighted Mateu.
The Algarve appears to have only dreams for such exciting ventures which provide long term jobs, investment and taxable profits.