While there are several paths to innovation and economic development, one of the fastest runs from universities to businesses. In Portugal, this link between academic knowledge and the emergence of innovative companies has been steadily strengthening. The ranking of the most entrepreneurial Portuguese universities, released by Startup Portugal during the latest edition of Web Summit in November, is led by the University of Lisbon and shows that 5,204 students and alumni from the 10 most entrepreneurial Portuguese universities decided to found a startup.
Universities are places of teaching, research and knowledge production. However, their role as engines of economic growth has become increasingly relevant. Several studies indicate that university-originated innovation is being transformed into new solutions for industry and giving rise to companies that cross borders in a wide range of fields.
The university entrepreneurship ranking presented by Startup Portugal in November places the University of Lisbon in first position, with 1,292 students or alumni founding startups, followed by the Catholic University, with 807, and NOVA University Lisbon, with 760, completing the top three. Among universities with more than 400 students or alumni creating startups are also the University of Porto (662) and the University of Coimbra (431). The ranking also includes ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon, with 316 student founders, the University of Minho (309), the University of Aveiro (256), the Polytechnic of Porto (212) and the Polytechnic of Leiria (159).
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