  TAGUSPARK - Lisbon Science and Technology Park
Taguspark is a Science and Technology Park located in Greater Lisbon, municipality of Oeiras. Taguspark is the main component of the Science and Technology Park' integrated plan, which covers science, technology, housing and leisure activities involving approximately 360 hectares, 200 hectares of which are occupied by the Park.
Taguspark was set up in 1992, by a Government initiative, as a private company (Taguspark, S.A.) with mixed capitals (44% private and 56% public) that amounts to 21 700 000 EURO. It has 16 shareholders from the banking sector (31%), University and R&D Institutions (26%), Enterprise sector (17%), Local authorities (17%), Central Government Agencies (7%) and others (2%). All shareholders are also very active partners of the Park as they are all interested in reinforcing the regional innovation system in the Lisbon Region.
Until 1999 the investment made by the managing company of the Park to create an environment that favours innovation amounts to about 70 000 000 EURO. Total investment made in the Park in the same period amounts to a total of about 254 000 000 EURO.
A total of 5000 people are working in the Park. Among the actual tenants the Park has three universities (two in the installation phase), five R&D Institutions, three large companies and one Business and Innovation Centre with two incubators and a space for mature companies. In this Innovation Centre are working 1700 people in about 120 small and medium size technology based companies (50% started in the Park), mainly (88%) in Information and Communications Technology.
Activities - Services
Incubator of Ideas: One Idea, one Reality
The Park is running an "Incubator of Ideas", promoting and supporting the spirit of entrepreneurship among managers of existing companies and university students.
The entrepreneur will find in this organisation a support structure, which will provide:
- The technical support specialised in management to help him in the preparation of his business plan and related components, in the legal incorporation of his company and in the preparation of the formal application for installation in Taguspark;
- The means for him to materialise his idea, namely, giving him access to a working site, meeting rooms, communication services and secretariat, library, etc, in an environment that is favourable to innovation;
- Financial support, advice and follow-up on the best solution in financing sources, provision of training in management technologies and important information.
Office for the promotion of Industrial Property
This project has the support of the national Patent Office with the objective of promotion and disseminates the industrial property rights between the tenants of the Park.
Business Mentoring - Parrainage: A business mentor, a source of experience
Taguspark is actually leading the project so called Business Mentoring - Parrainage. This project consists in identifying the entrepreneurs who are beginning their activities and looking for a mentor for the establishment of an entrepreneur/mentor partnership, with advantages for both intervening parties.
Training Programs
Training programs have already been launched by the Park, focused on giving the potential entrepreneurs the appropriate tools to develop their ideas and their firms. The courses given were in management, financial and marketing areas.
Competence Centre: Co-operation advantage
Another initiative of Taguspark is the set up of a "Competencies Centre". This Centre acts as an interface to promote the commercialisation of technology and technological services of the park tenants.
Taguspark is considered a diversified, up to date Competence Centre located in an exquisite environment, managed and oriented to enhance the use of synergies arising from the proximity that exists among its tenants. In fact, Taguspark is closely linked to the critical technologies of our present time, namely to the information technologies, telecommunications, electronics and multimedia, being able to offer the basic competencies for the support and development of the Business innovation.
Consultancy on Business Management: Your nearest solution
The Consultacy on Business Management is a service of attendance and follow-up in the field of first level management consultancy designed for the companies installed in Taguspark in order to reinforce their competitiveness.
The aim of this Consultancy on Business Management is to gather all the necessary support for the solution of some key issues for the development of these companies.
Taguslink: The innovation by means of the relationship among members
Taguspark sponsored the creation of a North-South network of companies with a significant technological content, the Portuguese component of which is referred to as Taguslink - Innovation Network of Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region.
This network was approved by DG XIII of the European Commission within the scope of the INNOVATION program, and is open to the participation of Smells (industries and services), larger sized innovative companies, research and development institutions, universities, public agencies that support the business innovation and technological development, at company and regional level, as well as to other organisations interested in the subjects of management innovation, technologies and its operation.
Listart: to encourage the regional innovation system
Taguspark is involved and engaged in the project referred to as Listart - Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region Technology and Innovation Strategies through the participation of its Directors in the Steering Committee of the project.
This project, supported by the RITTS action of the INNOVATION program of the European Commission, is an initiative promoted by the CCRLVT - Coordination Committee of Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region together with ITEC - Technological Institute for the European Community, Innovation Agency and DGI - Industry General Office, with the main objective of preparing, implementing and following-up a regional innovation strategy for Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region, aiming at a correct adjustment between supply and demand of technological and innovation services.
Venture Capital: the solution for growing
Taguspark is also developing partnerships agreements with Risk Capital Funds and facilitating the allocation of seed and venture capital to the selected projects attracted by the Park initiatives.
The 5th Framework Program 1999-2002:Your contact point
The aim of this is to support and facilitate the participation of companies in this Program, through the disclosure of up to date information on:
- The contents of the thematic and horizontal programs, per key actions and per generic activities, respective budgets, and opening dates for applications,
- The rules for the financial participation by the Community,
- The internet sites with information about the Program, with partners identification services, application forms as well as other institutions related to the Program,
- The relevant news that will come up on the TRD 5th Framework Program.
Taguspark Library
Taguspark, aiming at providing its entrepreneurs with access to some specific literature about the business activity, has created the Taguspark Library. The physical library will be complemented with the virtual library where the users will be able to access other libraries available in the Internet.
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