European Enterprise Promotion Awards
Montepio Acredita Portugal wins the Entrepreneurship Promotion category at the European Enterprise Promotion Awards with the organization of the largest entrepreneurship competition in Portugal and the subsequent incubation of the best projects in the north. The award is an initiative of the European Commission to distinguish projects identified as good practices in enterprise promotion.
The Montepio Acredita Portugal entrepreneurship contest was the national winner of the European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) in the "Promoting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship" category. This award is an initiative of the European Commission aligned with the priorities of the Europe 2020 strategy and coordinated in Portugal by IAPMEI, and aims to distinguish good business promotion practices in various areas, depending on their contribution to the economic development and employment of the regions.
Throughout its 10 editions, the Montepio Acredita Portugal entrepreneurship contest has actively contributed to economic growth through innovation. As the largest entrepreneurship competition in the country and the second largest in the world, it has supported around 90,000 projects from different sectors and areas of activity, such as social entrepreneurship, mobility, technology and sustainability. In addition, the association with various specialized partners makes it possible to boost companies or projects at an early stage, offering mentoring and training, among other things.
The award also recognizes the support given to entrepreneurs located in the north of the country. The Acredita Incubação project, which opened in 2019, is the result of a partnership between the Acredita Portugal association and Vila Nova de Gaia City Council, with the aim of providing incubation spaces, support and tools for local entrepreneurs in the creative industries, technological entrepreneurship and the social economy.
For Fernando Fraga, Innovation Director at Acredita Portugal, "this award is recognition of the work we have been doing over the last decade to support Portuguese entrepreneurs and the launch of new projects. Our work has evolved, supported by the experience and know-how we have accumulated and the strategic and fundamental partnerships we have secured. Today we are an even more active agent in the ongoing support of entrepreneurs, providing specialized consultancy and mentoring, tools and networking for them to succeed and have an impact. We believe that our role can only grow and become more relevant, contributing to the promotion of entrepreneurship and a more dynamic business ecosystem.".
The EEPA prize was awarded to Acredita Portugal in partnership with Banco Montepio, Vila Nova de Gaia City Council, Águas de Gaia, SayU Consulting, KCS IT, CRON.STUDIO and Inventa International, with the collaboration of several other organizations including Brisa, the Altice Foundation, Media Invest and the National Innovation Agency.
About Acredita Portugal
Acredita Portugal is a non-profit organization focused on the development and promotion of national entrepreneurship. It was born in 2008 with the mission of fostering a culture of possibility to unleash the entrepreneurial potential of the Portuguese, seeking to develop the entrepreneurial spirit and perseverance of the Portuguese who believe in their projects but who lack the opportunity to realize them. Additional information at https://acreditaportugal.pt/