Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, has been named the European Capital of Innovation 2023 by the European Commission. This prestigious title was awarded to Lisbon, after beating five other finalists, namely Istanbul (Turkey), Kyiv (Ukraine), Lviv (Ukraine), Warsaw (Poland), and Basaksehir (Turkey). As the winner, the city will receive a prize of €1 million to support its innovation activities and projects.

The European Capital of Innovation Awards, also known as iCapital, recognizes cities that promote inclusive and dynamic innovation ecosystems. These cities use innovation to improve the lives of their citizens and communities. The awards are supported by the European Innovation Council under Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation program.

Lisbon impressed the jury with its vision of becoming a “Unicorn Factory”. It aims to be a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship that attracts and nurtures talent, startups, and investors from all over the world. The city has demonstrated its ability to use innovation to address the challenges of urban mobility, sustainability, social inclusion, culture, and education.

Some of the initiatives that contributed to Lisbon’s success include:

• The Lisbon Green Capital 2023 program, which aims to make the city carbon-neutral by 2050. This program promotes renewable energy, green transport, circular economy, and urban agriculture.

• The Lisbon City Lab, which is a platform for co-creation and experimentation of innovative solutions for urban challenges. The platform involves citizens, researchers, companies, and public authorities.

• The Lisbon Digital School, which is a network of public schools that offer digital education and skills to students and teachers. The schools use cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, coding, and gamification.

• The Lisbon Startup City, which is a strategy to support the growth and internationalization of the local startup ecosystem. It provides access to funding, mentoring, networking, incubation, and acceleration programs. Lisbon also hosts major events such as the Web Summit and the Lisbon Investment Summit.

The mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, expressed his gratitude and pride for the recognition. He said that the city will continue to pursue its ambition of being a global leader in innovation. “We are capable of being the best in the world at many things. We have to tell people that we can. We can have an innovation capital for the world here. These unicorns that I speak of are that ambition”, he said.

The European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Iliana Ivanova, congratulated Lisbon and the other finalists. She highlighted the role of cities in driving innovation and transforming society. “The iCapital awards recognize cities that excel in promoting their innovation ecosystems. These cities put the citizens and their well-being at the center of their innovative projects. They use innovation to positively transform people’s lives,” she said.

The other finalists of the iCapital awards also received prizes for their achievements. The European Rising Innovative City category, which addresses cities with a population of fewer than 250,000 inhabitants, was won by Cork (Ireland). The runners-up of the European Capital of Innovation category were Warsaw (Poland) and Lviv (Ukraine).

The iCapital awards ceremony took place on 27 November 2023 in Marseille (France) – the winner of the previous edition of the awards. The ceremony was part of the European Innovation Council Forum, a major event that brought together innovators, investors, policymakers, and stakeholders from the European innovation ecosystem.

Sources:  eiturbanmobility.eu, bing.com, theportugalnews.com, eic.ec.europa.eu eic.ec.europa.eu, eic.ec.europa.eu, theportugalnews.com, euronews.com

Lisbon, Portugal – A massive operation to crack down on pickpocketing gangs in Lisbon has resulted in the recovery of millions of euros in cash and valuables, and the arrest of around 500 suspects, according to the police.

The operation, dubbed “Operation Pickpocket”, was launched in September 2023, after a surge in complaints from tourists and locals about being robbed by organized groups of thieves in the city’s most popular areas, such as Baixa, Chiado, Alfama, and Belém.

The police said that the pickpockets, who often operated in teams of two or three, used various techniques to distract and rob their victims, such as bumping into them, asking for directions, offering fake services, or pretending to be tourists themselves.

The police also said that the pickpockets were mostly foreigners, mainly from Eastern Europe, North Africa, and South America, who came to Portugal with the sole purpose of stealing. Some of them had criminal records in other countries, and some were even wanted by Interpol.

The police estimated that the pickpockets stole an average of 10,000 euros per day, amounting to more than 3 million euros in the last year. The stolen money and valuables, such as wallets, phones, watches, and jewelry, were either sent back to their countries of origin, or sold in the black market.

The operation involved more than 200 police officers, who conducted raids, searches, and arrests in various locations across the city, with the support of the judicial authorities and the immigration services. The police also used undercover agents, surveillance cameras, and informants to identify and track down the pickpockets.

The police said that the operation was a success, as it managed to dismantle several pickpocketing networks, and recover a large amount of cash and valuables, as well as weapons, drugs, and fake documents. The police also said that the operation had a positive impact on the security and tourism of the city, as it reduced the number of robberies and increased the confidence of the visitors.

The police added that the operation was not over yet, and that they would continue to monitor and prevent pickpocketing activities in the city, as well as cooperate with other countries to extradite the arrested suspects.

Source: https://www.cm-tv.pt

Lisbon, November 24, 2023 – The Portuguese residential property market has been on an upward trajectory but is now facing potential challenges. Recent developments in housing credit, inflation, and monetary policy are signaling a crossroads for the market. Here’s what you need to know:

 1. Overvaluation and Pandemic Resilience:

Since 2018, the Portuguese residential market has shown signs of overvaluation, and even during the pandemic, house prices continued to surge, with a staggering 12.6% increase in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same period last year. However, this remarkable growth may be reaching its limits.

 2. The Bubble Trouble:

S&P Global Ratings issued a report in January, sounding the alarm for Portugal’s housing market. The prediction is a 4.4% decline in house prices in 2023, following a robust 6.8% rise in 2022. If this forecast holds, it will be the most significant fall compared to other European countries.

 3. Factors at Play:

Housing Credit Changes: The recent adjustments in housing credit, including increased interest rates and new age limits, pose a risk of reducing house prices in the country. As financing conditions evolve, demand may wane, leading to price corrections.

 Inflation and Real Income: High inflation and reduced real income are impacting borrowing capacity. Rising financing costs due to monetary policy normalization further dampen demand for residential real estate.

 Investor Attraction: Despite challenges, residential real estate remains attractive for portfolio diversification by investors.

 4. Moody’s Outlook:

Moody’s, the credit rating agency, suggests that house prices in Portugal could fall by as much as 3% in 2023. While this correction is less severe than in some EU countries, it underscores the need for vigilance.

 5. Stability Amidst Uncertainty:

The Portuguese market has demonstrated resilience throughout 2022, even amidst global uncertainties like the war in Ukraine. However, as interest rates rise, the risk of a price correction looms.

6. What Lies Ahead?

Moody’s experts anticipate that house prices will stabilize at 1% to 3%. The challenge lies in balancing market dynamics while ensuring affordability for buyers.

 In conclusion, Portugal’s housing market is at a crossroads. While the recent surge in prices has been impressive, caution is necessary to prevent a bubble burst. Investors, homeowners, and policymakers must navigate these shifting tides to maintain a healthy and sustainable real estate sector.

source:theportugalnews.com, portugalbusinessesnews.com, bing.com, idealista.pt 

The National Republican Guard (GNR) and the Public Security Police (PSP) recently conducted a selective inspection operation targeting road passenger transport under the TVDE regime, which includes Uber taxis. The operation took place between Monday and Friday, during which they inspected 1,444 drivers working for individual passenger transport platforms in unmarked vehicles (TVDE). As a result, they recorded 569 reports of administrative offenses.

The operation detected 61 cases of drivers who did not have a written contract proving their employment relationship with the TVDE operator and nine cases in which the TVDE operator did not have a license to operate. They also detected 89 infractions relating to the organization of work and the recording of driving and rest times. In addition, 19 cases were recorded where the vehicles did not have the mandatory TVDE identification badge affixed, and 11 of them did not even have this identifying element.

Background:

Uber has been operating in Portugal since 2014, initially limited to Lisbon and later expanding its services nationwide. This has led to increased competition with traditional taxi drivers, and tensions have escalated as Uber drivers faced accusations of flouting regulations and not adhering to the same tax rights and duties as taxi drivers.

The “Uber Law”:

In 2018, the Portuguese government introduced the “Uber law”, which mandates specific requirements for ride-hailing services. According to this law, vehicles used by companies providing smartphone-based booking services must display a TVDE plate. Additionally, all drivers must undergo adequate training to provide safe transportation services, and drivers must obtain authorization from the IMT (Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes) to operate.

Protests and Challenges:

Recently, TVDE drivers have protested the degradation of their sector due to pricing policies implemented by various TVDE companies. These policies have left drivers dissatisfied, especially considering rising fuel costs. The burden of these expenses falls squarely on the drivers, impacting their livelihoods.

Uber’s Response:

While Uber has not issued an official statement regarding the recent crackdown, the company has faced similar challenges globally. In other countries, Uber has been accused of flouting local laws and regulations, leading to ongoing tensions between innovative tech platforms and established transportation services.

Passenger Safety and Legal Compliance:

Passengers are advised to verify that their Uber driver is properly licensed and adheres to all legal requirements. The crackdown on illegal Uber drivers underscores the importance of maintaining public trust and safety in the transportation sector. As the investigation continues, Portuguese law enforcement agencies remain committed to ensuring safe and legal transportation options for residents and visitors alike.

Source: Illegal Uber drivers apprehended – The Portugal News