On April 2, the Oeiras delegation visited the Hartnett Enterprise Acceleration Centre, a benchmark infrastructure for promoting entrepreneurship and supporting the acceleration of companies in the early stages of growth.
Located on the campus of the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), the Hartnett Centre is a joint initiative between the University and Enterprise Ireland, and part of the New Frontiers program – the main national support program for entrepreneurs in Ireland. The center is an incubator and accelerator for innovative technology-driven companies, providing workspaces, specialized mentoring, access to funding, connections with investors, and close collaboration with academic institutions.
During their visit, the members of the Oeiras delegation had the opportunity to closely examine the center’s operating model, the criteria used for selecting incubated start-ups, and the results achieved in terms of job creation, internationalization, and the enhancement of local talent.
The experience provided a concrete opportunity to get in touch with an entrepreneurial ecosystem that is strongly geared towards innovation, with strong involvement of universities and alignment with the strategic priorities of national economic policy.
For OVIA and the Oeiras City Council, this visit was a significant opportunity to reflect on the role of higher education institutions and acceleration centers in strengthening the local economy. The Hartnett Centre’s integrated and collaborative approach serves as a model for implementing similar strategies in Oeiras, fostering the growth of innovative and globally competitive companies.
