“Event exceeded all expectations,” organisers say
The Algarve Tech Hub Summit, held for the first time in Albufeira from October 23 to 25, attracted a record number of over 400 participants.
Organisers say the event “exceeded all expectations”, hosting a panel of 100 speakers across 35 panels. Held at the Alísios Hotel and a special venue on Inatel beach, the event provided a platform for tech leaders, innovators and local government officials to connect.
Participants enjoyed sessions from influential speakers, including Ricardo Lima, Head of Startups & Investors at Web Summit; Ioannis Sagias from the European Commission; Helena Rosário da Costa from the National Innovation Agency; and Sandro Mendonça, President of the European Patent Institute. Discussions centred around emerging tech fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, and digital innovation in sectors like tourism, health, and agriculture.
“The event reaffirmed the Algarve’s potential to become a leading technological hub in Europe,” said Ricardo Calé, spokesperson for the board of Algarve STP, which organised the event alongside Algarve Evolution, the University of the Algarve and the municipal council of Albufeira. He also spoke of the importance of diversifying the Algarve’s economy, which continues to rely almost exclusively on the tourism industry. “We have tourism, which we are proud of and must continue investing in, but we also have to work on the technology sector and create infrastructures to get entrepreneurs to invest in and bring businesses here. The region is ready and has everything it needs to promote technology and innovation.”
Albufeira mayor José Carlos Rolo participated in the summit and highlighted the “extreme importance of organising these kinds of events”, as he said they help reduce seasonality, attract people from different parts of the world, and put the region on the global technology map.
Throughout the event, attendees were able to participate in workshops, a Startup Showcase, and industry sessions designed to foster connections and explore the latest trends in technology.
The Startup Showcase featured pitches from emerging entrepreneurs seeking feedback and support to develop their ideas. Among these was an Algarve-based company working on groundbreaking breast cancer tests, the first of their kind globally, and another developing innovative pain medications.
With the success of this year’s summit, organisers have already set dates for the next edition, scheduled for September 17-19, 2025.
