The Dean of the School of Engineering of the University of Minho yesterday guaranteed that all research centers are available and committed to helping entrepreneurs of Guimarães to overcome the challenges and problems caused by the pandemic. Pedro Arezes argues that strengthening cooperation must be the strategy for the future.
The “great reinforcement of cooperation” was the best antidote aimed at helping companies in Guimarães to overcome the challenges and problems caused by the action of the new coronavirus, according to the participants in the videoconference “…da Escola de Engenharia para o tecido produtivo”, promoted by the Office of Crisis and Economic Transition of the Municipality of Guimarães. The session aimed at helping to mitigate the negative economic impact caused by covid-19. The main responsible were unanimous in pointing out the reinforcement of the union of efforts between industry and the university as a strategy to be followed.
“The School of Engineering of UMinho was designed to have a close relationship with the business community and, without false modesty, I think we are recognized for it. This relationship has always been particularly cherished, but now it has to be reinforced and assumed to be particularly strategic for us in the current context of uncertainty and disruption ”, underlined Pedro Arezes, in that videoconference. The Dean of EEUM emphasized that at a time when the industry is experiencing very significant changes and induced by technological changes combined with the new challenges of the pandemic crisis “more than ever we need to put all possible efforts of the School of Engineering, and all the people present here today, in a quick and effective recovery ”.
The session aimed discussing the interaction between the R&D centers and the productive fabric of the municipality of Guimarães, having as partner institution the School of Engineering and was carried out within the scope of the initiative plan that the Office of Crisis and Economic Transition of the Municipality of Guimarães. The entrepreneurs participating in the debate also shared the need to “accelerate and strengthen the proximity and the transfer of knowledge between the university and the companies”. The main objective of the relationship desired by all stakeholders is to quickly overcome the harmful effects caused by the pandemic and to create economic and social value.
The initiative also made it clear that there are already new innovative projects underway, active contacts and partnerships, in addition to a “very proactive” action by the Office of Crisis and Economic Transition of the Municipality of Guimarães.in the construction of new structuring projects. “More than the pleasure of this webinar, we have to roll up our sleeves, strengthen partnerships and set to work. There are already very concrete and attractive projects to complete, ”concluded Pedro Arezes.
News published in “Diário do Minho” on May 22nd, 2020
The contents of the Workshop are already available on the GCTE page (PDF of the presentations and videos of the interventions). Access can be made at https://www.cm-guimaraes.pt/pages/1757
