On April 30, 2026, Empowered Startups signed a Memorandum of Understanding with KIPT CoLAB to strengthen Portugal’s innovation and collaborative ecosystems. The signing took place at KIPT CoLAB’s event in Faro, Portugal, which brought together partners to celebrate advances in the tourism and hospitality sector and highlighted the CoLAB’s new partnerships.
With the motto, “New Partners, New Measurement of Tourism and Hospitality,” the event marked an important step in strengthening KIPT CoLAB’s collaborative ecosystem.
Industry leaders, academics, and institutional partners gathered to mark the occasion. Key attendees included Antonia Correia (President of KIPT CoLAB), Hilal Akdemir (Scientific Director at KIPT CoLAB), Carlos Moura (President of AHRESP), Luis Serra (Professor, University of Algarve), Efigénio Rebelo (Professor, University of Algarve), and Pedro Sebastiã (Professor, ISCTE – the University Institute of Lisbon).
Bridging Research and Industry in Tourism
KIPT (Knowledge to Innovate Professions in Tourism) is a Portuguese non-profit CoLAB (Collaborative Laboratory) that connects academic research, industry expertise, and innovation. KIPT focuses on three strategic pillars: knowledge creation, employment improvement, and sustainable competitiveness.
KIPT is recognized by the Portuguese National Innovation Agency (ANI) and the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and brings together 20 entities involved in higher education, tourism governance, technology, and hotel/restaurant management. It is the first and only laboratory recognized by the Portuguese government specifically established to support the sustainable growth of the country’s tourism sector.
Expanding Portugal’s Innovation and Knowledge Network
Partnering with KIPT CoLAB is another way that Empowered Startups supports innovation and attracts global talent to Portugal. This collaboration reflects a growing connection between knowledge, innovation, and business implementation.
Empowered Startups is committed to creating strategic partnerships to expand its growing ecosystem that promotes research, innovation, and knowledge transfer in the country. These partnerships help support the HQA® Program by creating innovation clusters, enabling accomplished professionals to migrate and share their knowledge with purpose.
