The Ireland Portugal Business Network (IPBN) is delighted to announce a new and exciting partnership with UC Business, the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) of the University of Coimbra (UC). The protocol was formally signed at the IPBN networking event hosted by Edmundo Alarcão and João Alarcão at the stunning Casa de São Bento in Coimbra on October 2.

Representing the University of Coimbra at the signing was its Vice-Rector, Dr. Nuno Ricardo Furtado Dias Mendonça, who oversees innovation at UC. Also present were Luís Saraiva da Silva, Head of UC Business, and Luís Andrade dos Santos, Innovation Manager. A special thank you also goes to IPBN Board Members Sharon Dehmel and Mário Gago for their presence and support in initiating this partnership.

According to IPBN General Manager Arnold Delville, “I am delighted to announce a new partnership with UC Business, which I officially signed on behalf of the IPBN. This partnership marks an important step forward in connecting our network with one of Portugal’s leading universities and its innovation ecosystem.”

UC Business serves as the university’s bridge between academic research and the business world. The office is dedicated to commercializing knowledge, fostering innovation, managing intellectual property, and supporting entrepreneurship. In practice, UC Business helps bring groundbreaking ideas from the lab to the marketplace, building partnerships that drive growth and technological advancement in Portugal and beyond.

One of the key highlights of the newly signed protocol identifies several specific areas of collaboration between UC and the IPBN. These include:

• Developing specialized services in fields such as healthcare, digital and space mobility, sustainability, energy, and tourism.
• Preparing joint research proposals in these strategic sectors.
• Co-submitting applications to investment funds to support innovative ventures.
• Promoting knowledge transfer and innovation activities that link academic discovery to real-world application.

Arnold emphasized the practical nature of the partnership, noting, “We already spoke of some concrete initiatives for 2026 such as a visit and joint event at the Blue Hub in the new Figueira da Foz Campus as part of our Sustainability Conference in March 2026, the IPBN 3rd Edition of our Innovation Conference in Dublin in June 2026, and the new IPBN Roadshow ‘Doing Business in Portugal’ in Ireland, which will include stops in Belfast, Galway, Cork, and Dublin.”

The IPBN also encourages members and partners to take note of key upcoming events organized by UC Business and the University of Coimbra that align closely with the network’s goals of innovation, sustainability, and international collaboration.

Save the Dates:

• October 8, 2025 – Inovação@UC at Convento S. Francisco – A showcase of remarkable R&D projects from UC and partner institutions.
• November 5–6, 2025 – Feira de Emprego UC & AAC – UC’s annual employment fair, held in collaboration with the Students’ Association.
• April 2026 – Acelera@UC – Demo Day for UC’s Business Acceleration and Valorisation Program.
• April 2026 – Arrisca C – A nationwide contest for innovative ideas, now in its 13th edition.
• June 3, 2026 – Startup Capital Summit – Portugal’s largest national event for Venture Capital, Innovation, and Tech Transfer.

Arnold added, “I am really excited about this new partnership and all the partners who have joined the IPBN and are here to help our members stay informed and expand their business and management skills.”

This collaboration marks another milestone in the IPBN’s ongoing mission to connect Ireland and Portugal through innovation, education, and business partnerships.

To learn more about UC Business and our growing network of educational partners, visit the IPBN Partners Page here.