Vila Nova de Famalicão will be European Entrepreneurial Region 2024. The European Committee of the Regions awarded the distinction this morning to the Mayor, Mário Passos, in Brussels, during the 156th plenary session of this consultative body composed by elected representatives of regional and local authorities of the 27 EU countries.
"The attribution to Vila Nova de Famalicão of the status of 'European Entrepreneurial Region 2024' is the best testimony of the economic vitality of our territory and the recognition of the merit of our public policies, namely the stimulus to entrepreneurship", said the Mayor in his speech at the European Parliament, where the ceremony took place.
Vila Nova de Famalicão thus becomes the first territory of the Northern region of Portugal to join the group of European cities and regions to be awarded this prize and will be the only Portuguese city/region to bear this distinction in 2024.
"This prize, being awarded now, is the corollary of decades of work, dedication and perseverance, and which had several protagonists, namely the entrepreneurs, the workers, the local authorities, schools, professional schools, technological and research centres", mentioned the mayor, taking the opportunity "to thank on behalf of the municipality all the economic agents of the county for the driving force they employ to our territory."
"The European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) is a project that identifies and rewards regions and municipalities in the EU that show an extraordinarily entrepreneurial and innovative policy strategy, regardless of their size, wealth and skills. The regions or cities with the most credible, innovative and promising vision plan are awarded the label of "European Entrepreneurial Region" (EER) for a specific year", explains the Committee of the Regions in the presentation of the award.
The dynamics of Famalicão Made IN and Famalicão Created In, the internationalisation process of the municipality, the actions developed in the area of governance and institutional partnerships, namely in the preparation and development of the Famalicão.30 Strategic Plan, the exporting and producing strength of the municipality and the growth of technological centres and universities present in the territory were some of the arguments that earned Famalicão this distinction.
"The status of "European Entrepreneurial Region 2024" brings to Famalicão new seeds to an already fertile land, enhancing an entrepreneurial DNA, an ecosystem conducive to innovation and a collective vision of the future", Mário Passos also said, assuming the commitment "to strengthen our entrepreneurial matrix through future-oriented strategies, boosting and strengthening industry, technology centres, universities, schools and supporting startups and Small and Medium Enterprises to position themselves in the major global transformations, benefiting from European funding".
