Promoted by the Municipality of Almada in Portugal, which brought together a multidisciplinary consortium in a common territorial development goal, the Almada Innovation District: A New Lifestyle & Knowledge City in Portugal, with an estimated investment of over 800 million euros, and an area of 400 hectares, of which 110 hectares are green areas intends to contribute to the post-pandemic economic recovery of the municipality and to develop it from the perspective of innovation, sustainability, and inclusion.
The "Innovation District" will bring a new centrality to Almada in an integrated way with the historical centers of the areas of Monte de Caparica and Porto Brandão, dedicated to knowledge, technology, qualified talent, and innovation as a driver of development and urban transformation, having as a central point the requalification of the Campus of the NOVA School of Science & Technology (FCT) being this one of the three largest and most prestigious schools of Engineering and Sciences in Portugal, attracting new young residents.
These objectives will be achieved through a joint project of several public and private entities, such asAid, Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Almada, DomusReHabita, Catch, SouthShore Investments, Transtejo, SMAS, and the renowned academic and scientific dedicated to transforming health and science community knowledge into a real positive impact, Egas Moniz - Higher Education Cooperative.
Besides the creation of touristic and public infrastructures such as the rehabilitation of Porto Brandão and the extension of the Metro Sul do Tejo to Costa da Caparica, the "Almada Innovation District" also foresees the creation of 1000 new housing units and the development of economic activities that will contribute to the creation of 17000 new jobs. These actions will contribute to the growth trajectory of the number of inhabitants of the municipality, which, is the eighth most populous municipality in Portugal with approximately 177,238 inhabitants.
In this way, the "Innovation District" will be a new city, modern, and sustainable, and designed following the objectives defined by sustainable development until 2030 and carbon neutrality in 2050, integrating a set of innovative environmental solutions. Additionally, the project foresees the creation of an energy community with its production, sustainable in the field of soft mobility and carbon neutral, structuring the urban development around green parks and also integrating ecological and sustainable construction methods and solutions.
In line with the context of the growing affirmation of Lisbon's international position as a privileged inclusive location to live, study and work, the development of an innovation district is a unique opportunity to consolidate this position through a sustainable urban growth model capable of creating employment and promoting quality of life in the same place. Thus, Almada gathers the essential key factors for the success of the project to be developed.
In that sense, we are looking for Transfer Partners that could be interested in replicating the results obtained in our Project. We are looking for a city, of any size, that has a similar strategic objective - the development of an innovation district incomparable in a European context.
Interested cities are asked to contact us at the following e-mail address: immpereira@cma.m-almada.pt and joana.pereira@unl.pt
We accept applications until January 6th, 2023.