SPOT Nordic Delegation Received at the Embassy of Portugal in Sweden

SPOT Nordic met on Tuesday, March 31th, with the Ambassador of Portugal to Sweden, Francisco Alegre Duarte, at the Official Residence in Stockholm, in an institutional meeting aimed at strengthening relations between Portugal and the Nordic countries, with a particular focus on Sweden.

Institutional presentation and strategic priorities

The meeting began with an institutional presentation of SPOT Nordic to Ambassador Francisco Alegre Duarte, enabling an alignment of perspectives and priorities. During the meeting, ongoing projects and strategic priorities of SPOT Nordic were discussed, with a focus on initiatives in scientific diplomacy, innovation, and cross-ecosystem collaboration.

Among the projects presented, particular emphasis was given to the Science to Industry project, which aims to accelerate the transformation of scientific knowledge into economic and industrial value through transnational collaboration between academia, industry, and investors.

In this context, opportunities were also explored for the development of joint initiatives with the Embassy of Portugal in Sweden, including the organization of collaborative events and the strengthening of links between science, industry, and innovation.

These initiatives reflect SPOT Nordic’s approach as a connector platform, facilitating collaboration between different actors, from researchers and universities to companies and public entities, and promoting an integrated, collaborative, and impact-oriented ecosystem.

From left to right: Patrícia Vilhena, Miguel Fontoura, Ana Catarina Silva, David Pereira de Castro, Francisco Alegre Duarte, Paula da Silva, Duarte Ferreira, Gabriel Campos

The SPOT Nordic delegation was composed of David Pereira de Castro (President), Ana Catarina Silva (Vice-President), Duarte Ferreira (President of the Scientific Council), and Gabriel Campos (SPOT Nordic representative in Sweden). The meeting also included Miguel Fontoura (Director of AICEP for the Nordic countries), Paula da Silva (Sweden representative at the Portuguese Diaspora Council and Board Member of Svensk Exportkredit), and Patrícia Vilhena (Political Affairs Officer at the Embassy of Portugal in Sweden).

Diaspora, collaboration and new cooperation structures

The meeting also included members of the Portuguese Diaspora Council, including David Pereira de Castro and Paula da Silva, reinforcing the role of the highly qualified Portuguese community as a key element in building bridges between countries.

The discussion also addressed the potential creation of a Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the Nordic countries, as a mechanism to strengthen connections between business ecosystems and promote greater economic integration between Portugal and the region.

Conclusion

The meeting took place in a constructive and forward-looking environment, enabling the identification of concrete areas for future cooperation, including the development of joint initiatives and events between SPOT Nordic and the Embassy of Portugal in Sweden.

This engagement reinforces SPOT Nordic’s role as a strategic platform connecting Portugal and the Nordic countries, contributing to the promotion of scientific diplomacy, the development of institutional partnerships, and the strengthening of economic and innovation ties between both contexts.