Portugal has the capacity for leadership

This project is in its early stages in Portugal, but is intended for the long term and aims to create an impact on the business sector, civil society and the country in general. Ricardo Marvão, co-founder of Beta-i, a company that promotes entrepreneurism and innovation, believes that SingularityU will enable Portugal to achieve a leading position in both Europe and the world in areas in which it has the potential to stand out. However, he warns, “we are providing the tools for change, but we need to create the awareness that, above all, mentalities need to be changed”.

SingularityU arose in the bustling technology hub of Silicon Valley with the aim of educating, inspiring and training leaders to use technology in dealing with the major challenges of humanity. Rob Nail, the CEO of Singularity University, recently explained that the starting point for this path of transformation is the recognition of exponential technologies, which can be rapidly democratized in the hands of our future leaders and entrepreneurs, wherever they may be. Portugal has just become the fourth country in the world to register as a partner in the initiative and the third in Europe, after the Nordic countries, which joined as a single project, Holland and Canada.

A COUNTRY WITH A UNIQUE DNA

Ricardo Marvão travelled to California around a year ago to study the feasibility of introducing the project to Portugal, and acknowledges that the idea was extremely well received by those in charge at SingularityU. Moreover, in an interview given to a national newspaper, the CEO, Rob Nail, emphasised that Portugal fit the project´s goals perfectly, due to the fact it “is a unique community that is different to other areas of the European Union”. One of the most noteworthy advantages pointed out by the American was the acknowledgment that Portugal has an “interesting community of start-ups in highly specific industries”, as well as “interesting technological expertise”.

The SingularityU project will have a global impact on society, businesses and the economy that is both visible and scalable

Aware of the country's potential, Ricardo Marvão passed on the challenge to Nova SBE, the partner selected to execute the training activities, which immediately accepted the task of creating and designing the courses to be administered. Cascais Town Council has also joined the project, which, according to Ricardo Marvão, is “a town of the right size and with the correct mentality and attitude to act as a pilot”. Hence, the founder of Beta-i believes the formula for success has been created. “This project features an interesting combination, as it involves an innovation company, a university and a town with the right characteristics.”

SingularityU Portugal is now striving to absorb that which the countries with more experience in the project do best and to adapt this knowledge to the specific characteristics of the Portuguese business fabric. Galp, Ageas Seguros and Semapa have also signed up for the project as founding partners.

CHANGING MENTALITIES IS A PRIORITY

The first SingularityU Portugal course commenced in early October, immediately after the SingularityU Portugal Summit, which was held on 08 and 09 October. This was when the project was consolidated and the idea and goals were presented to a wider community. “We want to hold one or two courses a month”, explains Ricardo Marvão, adding that some courses are already being prepared in partnership with companies that have shown an interest in going ahead with the project, with the aim of starting in January 2019.

The topics involved are wide-reaching and depend largely on what each organisation intends to address and work on, ranging from strategy to leadership, innovation and other specific areas of any organisation. “The courses are tailor-made in accordance with needs and goals”, emphasises Ricardo Marvão.

And while the topics are varied, the target audience for the training activities is also expansive. “They can be geared to young leaders, frontline leaders or a differentiated group of people. Each couse is personalised. The aim is to achieve the best possible result”, he explains.

With regard to the companies that are already involved, he believes they fit the pre-established profile: “These companies are thinking in the long-term, not only about their organisation, but also about the society in which they operate and the manner in which the country can take advantage of this.”

The long-term goal also consists of ensuring the engagement of civil society, due to the fact, as this director admits, “above all, we are talking about a change in mentalities, particularly with regard to leaders, but with a global impact on society, businesses and the economy that is both visible and scalable”.