Portugal news - Portuguese space startup Connected just won the title of Champion at the Competition on Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Tech Enterprises from Brazil and Portugal in Macau.
Connected is an aerospace component manufacturing startup based in Porto, founded in 2023, that aims to affordably connect humankind with a new wave of IoT-based business models. Connected has developed communication modules between objects and devices via the 5G network which can be integrated into Earth observation satellites.
The technology developed by Connected was tested in space in 2022 and the Portuguese startup secured a contract with the European Space Agency in 2023. Connected also raised a total investment of two million euros in 2023.
The award comes with a USD 19,000 prize and provides strategic growth opportunities since it opens doors to key opportunities in the Greater Bay Area, including connections with potential partners and suppliers.
The prize includes fostering exchange and collaboration on innovation and entrepreneurship between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is a Beijing project to integrate Hong Kong, Macau and nine cities in Guangdong province into a region with more than 86 million inhabitants, that represents a market that was worth over one trillion euros in 2023.
The winners of the seven award-winning projects will be able to participate in exchanges, exhibitions and negotiations on mainland China, to promote the joint development of technological innovation industries between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
Challenged by UPTEC – Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, 17 leading tech companies from Brazil and Portugal competed to win the Tech Championship. The companies were evaluated on criteria such as innovation, feasibility, profitability, market competitiveness, and the strength of the team.
The Tech Championship was organized by the Macau Economic and Technological Development Bureau and promoted by the Macao Young Entrepreneur Incubation Center (MYEIC).