Mobilising Agendas: a trip to the country’s future

There are 53 Mobilising Agendas, involving 959 companies and corporate associations, and 112 research centres, with estimated investment of 7.7 billion euros by 2026. An investment in research and technology and the joint work of companies and the country’s scientific and technological universe that intends to transform the Portuguese economy.

This Wednesday, the José Lúcio da Silva theatre in Leiria was the stage for the Frist Annual Conference on Mobilising and Green Agendas for Corporate Innovation. From textiles to automotive industry, from new hydrogen technologies to sustainable farming, including the energy and digital transition, the initiative counted on the Prime Minister’s participation throughout the day. At the end, António Costa called this "a trip to the future" and "an outstanding tonic for our confidence". 

What lies here at stake, the Prime Minister noted, is not just the investments, rather "hundreds of new processes, services, and products to be incorporated in the Portuguese economy to add value to the Portuguese economy" – 18 thousand jobs, 11 thousand of which are highly qualified. 

Yet the "most important part is the work methodology" based on bringing companies closer to the scientific and technological system - "great practice for the future ", António Costa underlined, proposing that these conferences could be held every six months in order to foster the exchange of experience and knowledge. 

Partnerships that transform the economy. Additive Manufacturing what is that?

Several projects were presented throughout the day in different areas and places, spread throughout national soil. Here are two examples, which have in common the fact they are based in the Leiria region, which hosted the first annual conference on Mobilising Agendas.

Additive manufacturing is an industrial application that enables items to be manufactured using 3D printing by adding successive layers. This is the focus of the INOV.AM Agenda, a Consortium that stems from a company based in Leiria, bringing together 61 corporate entities and 12 non-corporate, to a total of 73 entities, among large and small and medium-sized enterprises throughout the country. 

The aim includes placing innovative and added-value products, processes, and services on the market by 2026, using the advantages and potential of additive manufacturing, with the goal of reducing imports, given that a great part of the technology systems and manufacturing materials are currently imported – a paradigm that this consortium wishes to revert. 

Given that this is a sector that requires highly qualified human resources, the aim also includes setting up an Academy for training in this field. 

A sustainable future for natural stones 

Susteinable Stone Portugal is a Mobilsing Agenda focusing on enhancing natural stones for a digital, sustainable, and qualified future, also based in the Leiria region. It is a Consortium with 52 bodies and expected investment of 55.8 million euros with the aim of setting up new five new products, among which are robotised solutions for extracting and processing stones. The goals of this Agenda are to cut by 30% the emission of GHGs, ensure 60% more of incorporation of renewables, and foster a circular economy to come closer to the zero-waste target. 

It is expected to create 200 jobs.

Economy may take "a highly significant leap"

He offered examples such as this and right at the start of the meeting, the Minister of Economy and Maritime Affairs, António Costa Silva, underlined that this is the "most transforming" programme under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, adding that the Portuguese economy can take a "highly significant leap" in terms of growth until 2026. 

At the core of the Mobilising Agendas lies the "dissemination of innovation and know-how", a set that generates economic growth and which needs to come together with another factor: "We must improve our collective efficiency". 

In this sense, the Mobilising Agendas are also "a shift of this paradigm on which the economy operates, and Portuguese society", getting companies "to talk to one another, to talk to the scientific system, to Public Administration" in a "highly significant interaction for the future".

In his speech, António Costa Silva set a challenge: "we will face difficulties. We will face obstacles, it’s up to all of us to overcome them". With clear goals: "transform the production chains, set them up to be more competitive, gain efficiency in each link and compete on the international market".