Portugal is at a defining moment in its innovation journey. No longer aspiring to copy Silicon Valley, or any other model, the country is confidently shaping its own path as a global tech hub. With a rich mix of talent, quality of life, institutional support, and a culture of collaboration, Portugal has the ingredients not just to succeed, but to lead.

While comparisons are inevitable, and yes, some may call it the “European Silicon Valley”, Portugal's true strength lies in being something different. Something authentic. Its growing tech ecosystem doesn’t need to replicate California; it needs to embrace its own DNA and expand from there.

We are witnessing an exciting evolution: a local innovation scene with global reach, rooted in Portuguese values but fueled by international ambition. This isn’t just about startups; it’s about a broader shift, one that brings together academia, business, public institutions, and global investors in a shared mission to create meaningful, sustainable innovation.

Take, for example, programs like Empowered Startups, which partner with Portuguese universities such as those in Leiria and Coimbra. These initiatives prove how research-driven ideas can evolve into high-impact startups, often drawing interest from international backers. The value created in these partnerships is tangible, not just in funding, but in knowledge, mentorship, and market access.

Portugal also enjoys a reputation that goes far beyond tech: it’s admired for its lifestyle, safety, and openness. In a world searching for more human-centric innovation, these "soft" advantages become powerful tools for attracting founders, digital nomads, and global talent. The result? A country that’s not only a wonderful place to live, but a strategic base for launching products and companies across the European market.

Being increasingly seen as the gateway to Europe, Portugal is now aligned with major European Commission initiatives like the EU Startup Strategy and measures such as the Regime 28º, a unified business framework across member states, or the European Business Wallet, designed to simplify digital licensing and certifications. Add fast-track visas for founders, smarter tax policies for stock options, and you have a highly appealing environment for scaling a business.

But all this progress will only go so far if we don’t address the single most important factor in any innovation ecosystem: mindset.

Portugal has talent; our universities, engineers, and creative thinkers are already world-class. Capital, too, will follow opportunity, and we're starting to see more of that, both from Europe and beyond. What we must continue to develop is the mentality of boldness, to embrace risk, to accept that failure is part of growth, and to reward ambition rather than penalize it.

We need to move beyond a culture of dependency on subsidies. While public support can catalyze, it cannot replace responsibility and ownership. Entrepreneurs must feel empowered to act, not just wait. Showing up at global events, seeking mentorship, and forming international partnerships are not luxuries; they are essentials.

Portugal’s recent success stories, companies like Sword Health, Tekever, and Critical Software, are proof that when vision, talent, and resilience align, world-class companies can emerge. But these stories must become the norm, not the exception. That means fostering an environment where high expectations are the standard, and where innovation is not just allowed but encouraged at every level, from city halls to national policy, from classrooms to boardrooms.

We’re not just building companies. We’re building a future economy, one that is inclusive, competitive, and globally respected. Portugal doesn’t need to be a copy of anything. It is, and can continue to be, a tech ecosystem with its own unique identity: collaborative, ambitious, and ready to lead.

The world is watching, not because we are following someone else's footsteps, but because we are confidently walking our own.

Author

Paulo Lopes is a multi-talent Portuguese citizen who made his Master of Economics in Switzerland and studied law at Lusófona in Lisbon - CEO of Casaiberia in Lisbon and Algarve.

Paulo Lopes