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Braga hosts the official launch of the European Capital of Innovation Awards 2026
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After being distinguished as a “Rising Innovative City” in the 10th edition of the European Capital of Innovation Awards 2024, the City of Braga hosted the official launch of the iCapital Awards 2026, with two days dedicated to demonstrating its ecosystem and its ability to attract investment and international talent.
This Friday, March 21, the medieval hall of the Rectory of the University of Minho served as the stage for the official launch of the iCapital Awards 2026, underlining Braga's commitment to innovation, hope in future talents and pride in its roots.
At the start of the session, Ricardo Rio, the Mayor of Braga, considered it a prestigious title. Since the award was given, “its impact on a global scale has already been noted, with several international inquiries to understand the model applied in Braga,” he said.
The opening session was attended by Rui Vieira de Castro, Rector of the University of Minho, Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga, Jean-David Malo, Director of the European Innovation Council and Executive Agency for SMEs (EISMEA), and Sofia Moreira, European Commission Representative in Portugal.
Rui Vieira de Castro, Rector of the University of Minho, stressed his pride in the territory of Braga, “a place where innovation, as well as being welcomed with open arms, is put into practice”, in a shared responsibility with the Minho academy. A city where “innovation is not just a slogan, but a lived reality”, he said.
For his part, Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga, sees innovation as a “state of mind” and also believes that, in Braga, the knowledge generated is translated into practice. A reality that is reflected in the current management of the territory, the synergies created and the mobilization of stakeholders.
Jean-David Malo, Director of the European Innovation Council and Executive Agency for SMEs (EISMEA), also took to the stage to congratulate Braga on its distinction. During his visit to the city, he noted that Braga is an excellent example of innovation, a city with a “clear vision - strong, inclusive, sustainable, competitive and concerned about the well-being of its inhabitants”.
He also challenged cities like Braga - with ambition and concerned about the future - to apply for the iCapital Awards 2026, by June 18, 2025. “Let's make Europe even more powerful - the leader of innovation,” he concluded.
This was followed by Sofia Moreira, European Commission Representative in Portugal, who congratulated all those who work every day for “innovation that serves people”. As well as recognition, she pointed out that the prize awarded should be seen as a responsibility, the responsibility to “make the Future the Present”.
After the speeches, the panel discussion “Leveraging Innovation Labels for Territorial Competitiveness and Growth” took place. Moderated by Luís Rodrigues, Director of Startup Braga, it was attended by Ricardo Simões, Director of Innovation at the Northern Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR NORTE), Ado Jorio de Vasconcelos, Deputy Director-General of the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), and Anabela Carvalho, Director of European R&I Programs at the National Innovation Agency (ANI).
According to Luís Rodrigues, now, “more than ever, cities and regions are looking for ways to differentiate themselves, attract investment and create sustainable, innovation-oriented ecosystems”. This is where innovation labels - such as the iCapital Awards - play a key role. “These recognitions go beyond their symbology; they function as strategic tools that help regions increase their visibility, attract talent and funding and promote long-term economic transformation.”
Anabela Carvalho, Director of European R&I Programs at ANI, shares the same opinion - “these labels represent going beyond the frontier” - stressing that, as well as major milestones, they are processes that are not finite in themselves. “In addition to the numbers achieved, it's important to make them felt in the City,” and only then will stakeholders be interested in investing in the territory, she stressed.
Similarly, Ricardo Simões, Director of Innovation at (CCDR NORTE), sees the labels, such as the iCapital Awards, as the necessary funding for cities to achieve the goals set. If he had to leave a piece of advice, he would stress the need to create a continuous narrative.
For Ado Jorio de Vasconcelos, Deputy Director General of INL, these labels are essential for attracting talent. He sees himself as an example of this attraction, having found a home for his innovations in Braga.
Also as part of the launch of the iCapital Awards 2026, Startup Braga hosted the session “Braga's Innovation Ecosystem: A Gateway to European Deep Tech”.
The event brought together entrepreneurs, investors and institutional representatives to discuss Braga's growing role in innovation and deep tech. Participants debated the future of innovation and technology in the city and how the region's startups can take advantage of European resources to grow in the global market.
The event was chaired by Luís Rodrigues, Director of Startup Braga, and featured a speech by Jean-David Malo, Director of EISMEA. Malo described the various funding opportunities available to startups and SMEs under the European Innovation Council (EIC).
The session ended with a panel discussion, moderated by Sofia Bravo, from the National Innovation Agency (ANI), on the challenges and opportunities for startups on the European scene. The panel featured prominent Braga-based founders: Lorena Diéguez (RUBYnanomed), João Pedro Ribeiro (PeekMed), Sónia Ferreira (BestHealth4U) and Adriano Pinto (AI4CMR).
As well as hearing about the growing urgency of defense issues, they discussed the growing importance of innovation in healthcare and how European startups - and Portuguese ones in particular - are positioning themselves in the face of global competition. Despite the expansion, an imbalance was pointed out, especially with regard to Portugal.
Precisely for this reason, Startup Braga, in conjunction with the Municipality of Braga, InvestBraga, the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) and the Braga Academic Clinical Center (2CA-Braga), developed the “Global Health Accelerator” Acceleration Program, which will start on April 10.
In 2024, Startup Braga also coordinated the preparation of the Expression of Interest for the installation of a new technological infrastructure in the DeepTech BioHub thematic area, which received a favorable opinion from the panel of expert evaluators. On December 30, the notice for submitting applications in this area was published.
Thus, in 2025, the innovation hub plans to start work on setting up a new Center for the Valorization and Transfer of Technologies (CVTT), with the aim of filling a market gap in the region and responding to the growing need for laboratory validation of startups.