Portugal at TechArena 2025: SPOT Nordic and Partners Drive Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Northern Europe

SPOT Nordic, in collaboration with STARTUP Portugal and AICEP Portugal Global, took part in TechArena 2025, held on February 20–21 at Strawberry Arena, Stockholm.

This major event brought together 12,000 business leaders, founders, investors, and decision-makers, providing a powerful platform for innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. Keynote speeches were delivered by renowned figures such as Sir Richard Branson (Founder of Virgin Group), Sanna Marin (former Prime Minister of Finland), Ulf Kristersson (Swedish Prime Minister), and Steven Bartlett (creator of The Diary of a CEO podcast).

In addition, the event featured over 100 side events, offering rich opportunities for networking and collaboration among attendees.

SPOT Nordic’s participation at TechArena 2025 reinforced the association’s mission to promote scientific diplomacy and innovation, while strengthening connections between Portuguese professionals and the Nordic ecosystem.

Portuguese Highlights at TechArena 2025:

• Keynote by António Dias Martins: STARTUP Portugal’s CEO, António Dias Martins, presented the success formula of the Portuguese innovation ecosystem, emphasizing the strategies that have positioned Portugal as a key innovation hub in Europe.

  
  

• Panel on Startup Regulation in Europe: João Silva moderated a session titled “How can we build a stronger and more competitive regulatory framework for startups in Europe?”, featuring Anne Lidgard (Vinnova & ESNA), Ellinor Bokedal (SISP), and Vasco Pereira da Silva (Allied For Startups). The panel stressed the need to simplify EU regulations and eliminate redundancies, a concern also echoed by attending policymakers.

  
  

• Ana Catarina Silva of SPOT Nordic participated in a side panel co-organized by SISP and Allied For Startups. This session brought together founders, investors, and policymakers to discuss the EU’s Startup and Scaleup Strategy. Moderated by Stina Lantz (SISP), the panel included: MEP Arba Kokalari (European Parliament); Dan Zethraeus (Elonroad); Salla Franzén (Navigare Ventures); Olivia Nestius (Graphmatech).

  
  

  Key takeaways included:

  • Expanding access to venture capital and patient funding

  • Opening up public procurement opportunities to startups

  • Improving data access and reducing regulatory barriers

  • Developing harmonized and transparent EU-wide policies

  • Supporting startups from early-stage innovation to scaleup success

Inspiring Reflections

Steven Bartlett (The Diary of a CEO) emphasized the importance of hiring exceptional talent and fostering a culture of experimentation, even suggesting the creation of roles dedicated to testing and learning from failure.

Sir Richard Branson shared his entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the need for courage, risk-taking, and continuous innovation. His story shows how passion and persistence can turn visionary ideas into successful ventures—from music to space travel.

Sanna Marin, former Finnish Prime Minister, addressed the intersection of technology and international policy, underlining the need for public policies that evolve with rapid tech advances to ensure broad societal benefit.

Ulf Kristersson, Sweden’s Prime Minister, discussed the challenges of regulating emerging technologies like AI, stressing the need for collaborative policymaking to craft flexible and effective regulatory frameworks.

Conclusion

SPOT Nordic’s participation in TechArena 2025 reaffirmed Portugal’s active role in Europe’s technology and innovation landscape. The discussions and partnerships forged during the event underscored the importance of integrated policies and a strong startup ecosystem to foster sustainable growth and global innovation leadership.