Search Results

BIGhub, Europe’s first sales accelerator, raises $10 million - Portugal Business News Portugal news - BIGhub, Europe’s first sales accelerator, raises $10 million.   BlueCrow Capital has invested two million euros in Portuguese tech startup BIGhub in order to expand its global presence. This investment also includes an additional financing of 8 million euros for the development of BIGcash, which will allow merchants to receive payments from sales on the same day, eliminating the long payment cycles that penalize cash flows and the ability for companies to expand.   Founded by Rúben Lamy, whose entrepreneurial background includes sports and e-commerce in Europe, BIGhub is at the forefront of integrating physical and online stores in the largest European marketplaces.   This new investment is a turning point for BIGhub, which is already transforming digital commerce, since it is the first sales accelerator in Europe that is capable of placing clients' products on the main European marketplaces and working on them to make them stand out.   BIGhub has already opened 400 stores and has generated revenue of more than five million euros through its operations on the Portuguese, Spanish, German, Italian and French markets. The sales accelerator has 41 employees and plans to hire another 25 people.   Portuguese ecommerce startup BIGhub promises to revolutionize the way retailers manage their global online marketplace transactions.

Video of Madeira Island Holidays in Summer 2025 - Portugal Business News Tourism News Europe – Here is the video of what going to Madeira Island for the holidays in Summer 2025 looks like:   ·      Going on holiday to stay in the shade or to walk around for hours in the heat? ·      Spending the day choosing a wine? ·      Wake up at dawn and spend the entire morning contemplating the past and spend afternoons doing nothing. ·      Yes, Madeira is everything you're into!   This is the appetizer from the new Madeira Island promotional video for Summer 2025.   This summer, you can explore everything this Portuguese archipelago has to offer: From breathtaking natural scenery, crystal-clear waters, centuries-old traditions, genuine flavors and a great willingness to welcome you. What will you want to do first?   See the Video of Madeira Island Holidays in Summer 2025: Video of Madeira Island holidays in Summer 2025

The EU invests 11 billion euros to develop Quantum Internet - Portugal Business News EU Tech News - The EU is investing 11 billion euros in Quantum Internet, where quantum computers, simulators and sensors are interconnected via quantum communication networks. Here is what is the EU’s Quantum Internet project, the main advantages of Quantum Internet, and the types of quantum computers provided by companies in different countries in Europe: 1 - What is the EU Quantum Internet strategy? The EU intends to be at the forefront of quantum technologies to power the next technological revolution. With this in mind, the EU has invested more than 11 billion euros in public and national funding in Quantum Technologies over the last five years, out of which 2 billion euros were funded by the European Commission alone. The EU’s Quantum Internet project will transform Europe into a quantum industrial powerhouse, since its Quantum Strategy is expected to turn Europe into a global leader in Quantum technologies by 2030. The EU Quantum Technologies Flagship project is a long-term research and innovation initiative that aims to place Europe at the forefront of the second quantum revolution which includes four application sectors: • Quantum computing • Quantum simulation • Quantum communication • Quantum sensing and metrology 2 - When will the EU’s Quantum Internet law be enacted? The European Commission’s Quantum Act is expected to be enacted in 2026 to strengthen the foundations for European leadership in Quantum Internet. 3 - What is the EU’s Quantum Internet project? Approximately one third of all quantum companies worldwide are based in the EU, and EU vendors supply nearly half of the hardware and software components used in quantum computers, according to the European Investment Bank report “A Quantum Leap in Finance” (2022). The EU’s Quantum computers will be able to solve tasks that are beyond the reach of even the most powerful high-performance computing (HPC) systems available today. The EU’s Quantum Internet will transform and revolutionize areas from computing, healthcare, cybersecurity, and mobility, to climate forecasting. Quantum tech will make it possible to enable earlier diagnosis through imaging sensors, accelerate drug development, advance quantum cryptography for data security and ultra-secure communications, optimize logistics, and transport, enhance navigation systems, and offer earthquake early warning through subsurface mapping. Quantum tech has a strong dual-use potential, making it a vital domain for Defence and national security applications, that will integrate secure, sovereign quantum capabilities into Europe's space, security, and Defence strategies. The EU’s Quantum Technology Roadmap in Space will be developed with the European Space Agency and will contribute to the European Armament Technological Roadmap. 4 - What are the main advantages of Quantum Internet? Quantum sensors offer significantly improved performance and accuracy in fields such as gravimetry , magnetometry, and inertial navigation. Quantum gravimeters, both fixed and mounted on moving carriers like drones or ships, can monitor underground and underwater resources, volcanic activity, and carry out Earth observation tasks, among other applications. The EU Quantum network will link to a planned European space gravimetry infrastructure, enabling even more precise measurements with the support of space-based technologies. The European Commission will also soon launch additional initiatives, such as continued investments in deploying quantum computing facilities through the EuroHPC JU, a secure quantum communication infrastructure under the European Union's IRIS² program and new quantum sensing systems, such as Quantum magnetic resonance imaging devices to be installed in European hospitals for accelerating the detection of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. By 2040, the EU’s Quantum Internet project is expected to create thousands of highly skilled jobs across the EU and to exceed a global value of 155 billion euros. 5 - What are the types of quantum computers provided by companies in different countries in Europe? EU Quantum Computers include: • 17 Superconducting Quantum computer suppliers, namely in Finland, France, and Germany . • 6 ion traps Quantum computer suppliers, namely in Austria. • 8 cold atoms Quantum computer suppliers, namely in France, and Germany. • 5 photonics Quantum computer suppliers, namely in Italy, and France. • 3 spin qubits Quantum computer suppliers, namely in France, Germany, and Netherlands. Read more: The European Commission invests €10 million to fund a quantum computer that runs at room temperature

The European Investment Fund invests 200 million euros in Portugal’s Agricultural sector - Portugal Business News EU Business News – The European Investment Fund (EIF) has invested 200 million euros in Portugal’s Agricultural sector. Here are the latest European Investment Fund Success Stories in Portugal’s Agricultural sector and how to obtain funding from The EIF AGRI Portugal project in 2025:   The European Investment Fund launched AGRI Portugal in collaboration with the Government of Portugal and the Agri Managing Authority, with the aim of helping young farmers and agri-businesses grow – “Because keeping agriculture strong means welcoming the next generation into the field.”   AGRI Portugal has already invested 200 million euros in Portugal’s agricultural sector, providing support to over 300 businesses.   The European Investment Fund Success Stories in Portugal’s Agricultural sector are a reminder that access to finance is key to resilient rural communities.     1 - Here are the latest European Investment Fund Success Stories in Portugal’s Agricultural sector:     a – Sociedade Agrícola Quinta de Vilar Portuguese agri-business Sociedade Agrícola Quinta de Vilar specializes in Beira Alta apples. Through AGRI Portugal, the European Investment Fund funded a loan amounting to 700,000 euros to finance new packaging, storage and refrigeration equipment for the agro-industrial unit in Satão.     b – PLURIORT   Portuguese agri-business PLURIORT is a producer of fresh vegetables in Lourinhã, Portugal. Through AGRI Portugal, the European Investment Fund funded a loan amounting to 250,000 euros to build two new greenhouses and an innovative irrigation system to increase productivity by 30%.     2 - How to obtain funding from The European Investment Fund AGRI Portugal project in 2025?   Funding from The European Investment Fund AGRI Portugal project may be obtained by sending applications by December 31 st , 2025, to one of the following four Portuguese banks, namely, Banco BPI, Crédito Agricola, Caixa Geral de Depósitos and Santander.     3 - What are the advantages of obtaining funding from the European Investment Fund under the AGRI Portugal project?   The advantages of obtaining funding under the AGRI Portugal project include:   ·      Longer term loans at reduced interest rates ·      Lower collateral requirements and no guarantee fees ·      Larger loans are available ·      Loans can be combined with PEPAC grants ·      More working capital is covered ·      New types of investments are eligible

Two Portuguese Founders Share Their Silicon Valley Success Stories - Portugal Business News Startup News - Two Portuguese founders share their Silicon Valley Success Stories: while Silicon Valley continues to dominate startup headlines, some of the most innovative companies are being built thousands of miles away by founders who've mastered the art of global thinking with local execution. From a Physics PhD to a startup with $14M Funding - This is how Micael Oliveira and João Mota built global companies from Portugal while bridging European talent with American ambition - according to a June 21st, 2025 report by Andreas Mueller , Managing Director of US company Bloofusion Digital Agency as well as Venture Growth Partner and Startup Mentor, reporting on the RedBridge Lisbon Summit at SHACK15. Micael, co-founder of Amplemarket , and João, co-founder of VOID Software , shared their journeys from Portugal to Silicon Valley success, and back again, in a fascinating conversation with Jonathan Littman . Their stories offer invaluable insights for entrepreneurs navigating today's interconnected startup ecosystem - especially between two cultures. The Unconventional Path to Entrepreneurship From Academic Excellence to Startup Uncertainty Micael's journey began in Coimbra, Portugal's historic university city, home to one of Europe's oldest universities dating back to the 1200s. After pursuing physics through his Master's degree and starting a PhD in high energy physics, he made a decision that shocked his family: taking a sabbatical to pursue startups. "When I told my mom that I was taking a sabbatical from my PhD, she was like, 'Are you sure? Are you crazy? Don't do that,'" Micael recalls. This reaction perfectly captures the risk-averse mindset that many European entrepreneurs must overcome. In 2014 - 2015, when startups weren't yet "a thing" in Lisbon, Micael and his two co-founders (all physicists and computer scientists from Portugal) decided to take the ultimate leap: applying to Y Combinator in Silicon Valley. They flew to San Francisco on their own dime for interviews and got accepted. The Childhood Coder Who Never Stopped Building João's path was different but equally compelling. Born in Leiria (which he proudly calls "the third best city" in Portugal), he received a ZX Spectrum computer at age six or seven. With no games available, he had to learn coding just to use it. "I became the IT guy in my neighborhood," João explains. "My family thought I was some kind of wizard." His first paid software project came during summer holidays when a neighbor asked him to build delivery management software for a small company. Getting paid for coding "blew my mind," he says. After a detour into wind energy that took him across Europe building greenfield projects, João eventually joined VOID Software, founded by a childhood friend. The serendipity? His friend had only made a handful of Facebook posts in his life, and João happened to catch the one about starting Void. The Dual-Market Strategy That Changed Everything Why Micael Chose Both Silicon Valley and Portugal Amplemarket's funding strategy was unconventional: instead of choosing between American or European investors, they chose both. Micael and his team raised $14 million with Comcast Ventures as their main US VC and Armilar Venture Partners in Portugal. "We knew there was a lot of untapped, really good engineering talent in Portugal," Micael explains. "In 2016 - 2018, the best students were going to McKinsey or Bain, not startups. We wanted to change that." This dual presence strategy proved prescient. Today, Amplemarket employs 110 people globally, with the majority of engineers in Portugal, plus teams in Spain, Brazil, and the US. The financial impact is striking: their first Portuguese engineer, who was making $7,000 when hired at a $17,000 salary (considered "amazing" at the time), now earns $100,000. João's American Market Focus While Micael built bridges between markets, João focused laser-sharp on the US market from Portugal. His reasoning was simple: "American companies would recognize the value of our deep technology work and be willing to pay more than in Portugal or Europe." Their first major client was in Los Angeles, working with Hollywood studios, and they're still clients today, "almost family" due to their intertwined history. When asked to be in LA in two days for a meeting, João immediately booked a flight. "Proximity is always very important," he says. "When someone asks you that, you see it as an opportunity, not as a challenge." Innovation Models That Scale The "MVP for Equity" Revolution Void Software developed a breakthrough strategy for early-stage startups stuck in the classic catch-22: no funding to build an MVP, no MVP to get funding. Their solution? Build MVPs in exchange for equity stakes, becoming the "first investor" in promising ideas. Two success stories illustrate this model's power: Bout - The Boxing Bag with a Brain: Starting with just an idea, Void built a proof of concept for a "boxing bag with a brain"—adding internal sensors, cameras, and using sensor fusion with computer vision to gamify boxing. Result? Bout raised 10.7 million euros in their seed round, setting a record in Portugal. The White-Tailed Deer Hunting App : Perhaps the most surprising success came from North Carolina founders with a niche idea: using AI to predict where white-tailed deer would appear for hunters. Built in three months for hunting season, the app gained 20,000 paid subscriptions ($60/year each) in its first month. Today, it's highly profitable with an estimated 200,000+ users and gained national attention when rescue teams used it during Hurricane Allen. "I thought it was too niche," João admits about missing the equity opportunity. "It taught me never to underestimate market potential." Building Ecosystems Beyond Major Cities The "First in Village, Second in Rome" Philosophy While most startups flock to major tech hubs, João chose a different path: building Void in Leiria, a city one hour north of Lisbon. His motto: "It's better to be first in the village and second in Rome." This strategy paid off brilliantly. Void became the "top of mind place to work for any software engineer" in the local area, partnering closely with the university and avoiding the intense competition of Lisbon and Porto. The ecosystem impact has been remarkable: Co-founded Startup Leiria with the municipality Now recognized as one of Portugal's top three innovation ecosystems Supports over 120 startups annually Attracts foreign entrepreneurs who recognize the local talent pool Located strategically: one hour from Lisbon airport, 20 minutes from the beach The Human Side of Scaling When Growth Requires Difficult Decisions Success brings complex challenges. Micael learned this when Amplemarket's growth required making one of the toughest decisions of his entrepreneurial journey: letting go of four VPs (Success, Sales, Product, and Engineering) on the same day to flatten the company structure. "We read all the books that told us to hire lots of people and give them power," Micael reflects. "But at some point, you look back and realize the company doesn't represent your values anymore, and you're losing speed." The decision to have founders return to direct management roles was painful but ultimately successful, realigning the company with its core vision. Innovative Employee Well-being Post-pandemic, Void noticed emerging mental health issues and employee turnover. Their solution was uniquely thoughtful: creating a "PsyOps" department by hiring a full-time psychologist with 20 years of experience. The psychologist conducts one-on-one sessions with employees and created the "Workation" program—a quarterly lottery sending groups of six employees to work from destinations like New York, Miami, Copenhagen, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Greece for a week. The next destination: Malta! The Portuguese Advantage Resourcefulness as a Competitive Edge Both founders emphasized a key Portuguese trait: resourcefulness. "Portuguese people have a 'figure it out' mentality," Micael explains. "You're in a tough situation, you'll figure it out with whatever you have at hand. You don't give up." This quality proved invaluable when Void faced an "almost impossible" challenge: delivering a demo for a major Hollywood studio by Monday morning when it was already Friday. The demo required special search functionality for "a few terabytes" of blockbuster movie assets. Their solution? An internal hackathon mobilizing 40 engineers to work 24 hours straight through the weekend. They delivered a functional proof of concept on Monday, demonstrating the kind of resourcefulness that makes Portuguese engineers valuable globally. The English Language Advantage Portugal ranks 7th globally in English proficiency, thanks to a historical decision during the dictatorship not to dub movies. This linguistic advantage, combined with strong technical education, creates a powerful combination for global business. Cross-Cultural Lessons for Global Entrepreneurs What Portuguese Startups Can Learn from Silicon Valley: Embrace Risk : Portuguese culture tends toward risk aversion, even for job changes. Silicon Valley's risk-embracing mindset is crucial for startup success. Scale Experience: Engineers in Silicon Valley have experienced "true scale problems" that Portugal's young ecosystem (only 10 years old) is still developing. What Silicon Valley Can Learn from Portugal: Science Before Business: European and Portuguese focus on deep scientific research before commercialization can lead to breakthrough innovations, as demonstrated by the AlphaFold team winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry while staying in London instead of moving to San Francisco. Deep-rooted Creativity: The Portuguese have this amazing knack to be able to create something out of nothing. A rare gift, especially compared to Silicon Valley. [I added this bullet point. Please indulge me.) The Future of Global Entrepreneurship Expanding Horizons Both companies continue expanding globally. Void is making a strategic bet on the defense sector, applying fail-fast innovation approaches to traditionally conservative industries. They're also establishing subsidiaries in Switzerland and the UK, adding to their existing New York presence. Micael continues growing Amplemarket while balancing entrepreneurship with raising five-year-old twin daughters in San Francisco's Hayes Valley, and maintaining his passion for science through Vermont's Library, a platform for sharing and annotating scientific papers that has generated 40 million impressions. The AI Revolution in Science Both founders are excited about AI's potential in scientific research. "AI is amazing for science," Micael notes. "You can have an AI that knows everything happening right now in the world from all the most recent papers. That's going to help research tremendously." The recent Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to the AlphaFold team exemplifies this potential, showing how AI can accelerate scientific breakthroughs. Key Takeaways for Modern Entrepreneurs 1. Geographic arbitrage works: Building in lower-cost locations while serving premium markets can create sustainable competitive advantages. 2. Dual-market strategies reduce risk: Instead of choosing between markets, consider serving both with tailored approaches. 3. Resourcefulness trumps resources: The ability to "figure it out" with limited resources often matters more than abundant funding. 4. Ecosystem building pays long-term dividends: Investing in local talent development and startup ecosystems creates sustainable competitive moats. 5. Cultural diversity drives innovation: Multilingual, multicultural experiences provide crucial empathy and perspective for global business. 6. Employee well-being is a competitive advantage: Innovative approaches to mental health and work-life balance attract and retain top talent. The stories of Micael and João prove that in today's interconnected world, successful startups can emerge from anywhere. But they require founders who think globally while executing locally, who embrace both scientific rigor and business pragmatism, and who never stop figuring things out. What aspects of their journey resonate most with your entrepreneurial experience? Email us to share your Success Stories! Author: Andreas Mueller - Founder of Bloofusion Digital Agency

The EU will spend 2.8 billion euros on Green Mobility projects across Europe - Portugal Business News Green Mobility News Europe - The EU will spend 2.8 billion euros on Green Mobility projects across Europe. Here is what is included in the EU Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and the list of sectors that will receive funding under the EU Green Mobility projects:   The European Commission selected 94 transport projects across Europe to receive nearly €2.8 billion in EU grants under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).   This includes modernizing railways, inland waterways and maritime routes across the trans-European transport network (TEN-T).     What is the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T)?   The EU Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) includes the following criteria:   1 - Rail travel speed:   By 2040, passenger railway lines on the core and extended core network must support trains traveling at speeds of 160 km/h or faster.   2 - European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS): The single European signaling system will be deployed across the entire TEN-T network, enhancing rail safety and efficiency, while national systems will be phased out.   3 - Airport connectivity:   Major airports with over 12 million passengers annually will be connected by long-distance rail, making rail a competitive alternative to domestic feeder flights.   4 - Freight terminals:   The number and capacity of trans-shipment terminals will be expanded to meet traffic demands. This includes accommodating 740-meter-long trains, promoting the shift to sustainable transport modes, and boosting Europe's combined transport sector.   5 - Urban mobility:   All major cities along the TEN-T network will develop sustainable urban mobility plans to promote zero and low-emission mobility.   6 - Alternative fuels: The TEN-T project is the basis for the deployment of recharging points and refueling points for alternative fuels, such as hydrogen. It complements the requirements of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation for urban nodes and terminals.   7 – Military Mobility: Military Mobility is an EU initiative to ensure swift and seamless movement of military personnel, materiel and assets – including at short notice and at large scale – within and beyond the EU.     What are the sectors that will receive funding under the EU Green Mobility projects?   The four main sectors that will receive funding under the EU green mobility projects are:   1 - Rail transport Rail transport will receive the largest share of the funding with 77% of total investments across Europe. This includes the construction of Rail Baltica in the Baltic region and Poland, and improvements in Greece and Slovakia. High-speed rail lines will also be developed in the Czechia and Poland.   2 - Ports The EU is investing in a range of projects to reduce the environmental impact of maritime and inland waterway transport. This includes upgrading ports in Ireland, Cyprus, Malta, Croatia, and Poland with shore-side electricity to reduce emissions from ships at berth. Support will also go to the construction and upgrading of multi-purpose icebreakers in Estonia, Finland and Sweden to strengthen the security and resilience of submarine cables. In France and Spain, digital traffic management systems will be deployed to improve the safety and efficiency of short sea shipping and reduce congestion.   3 – Transport networks Transport networks include road transport with the roll-out of Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) in urban areas, while air traffic management projects will continue to contribute to the development of the Single European Sky, as well as multimodal passenger hubs in cities.   4 - Solidarity investments The EU Solidarity investments include strengthening the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes, with projects to improve rail connectivity and border crossing points between Slovakia and Ukraine, and between Romania and Moldova.

Digital marketing advice to rank despite Google updates & the emergence of AI 8 Tips on how to use SEO to boost your brand - Portugal Business News/BrilliantSEO Portugal news – Here are 8 tips on how to use SEO to boost your brand, according to the expert advice of Mariana Franco, the founder of BrilliantSEO:   The frequent updates of Google’s algorithm as well as its growing understanding of published content, have made Marketing efforts change the focus of their traditional strategies towards Branding (Brand Boost).  This change still raises doubts in most companies: How to change what has worked so well in the last 20 years?   Although there is resistance to this change, the truth is that with the advent of Artificial Intelligence, LLMs (Great Language Models), and learning assistants (such as ChatGPT, Google AIOverview or Bing Copilot), if this change in focus of action is not implemented, the high marks of today will not be there tomorrow.     How to adjust your SEO strategies to keep your brand relevant in the future? Creating content that serves all stages of the sales funnel is a good first step towards making your company safe for future updates. However, there are other factors that have been occupying space on the podium and that are fundamental for ranking and not only there. On the other hand, some important factors in the past (such as page speed) have started to lose relevance.     1 - Serve all the steps of the sales funnel correctly   The sales funnel in SEO is increasingly important and, although unconsciously, many companies already create content that serves all stages of the funnel, now it is necessary to think about strategies to make the architecture and structure of these pages suitable, for both users and machines.     2 - Keep topics relevant and useful   One of the main focuses of Google has been trying to understand what kind of content is useful and introduces new information. Creating pages with high keyword density no longer guarantees a high ranking on the results page (SERP).   Quite the contrary, a page with only 400 words and with one keyword only in the title and an h-tag may well appear first! How? -       The page responds to the user’s question directly. -       The page justifies the answer in a comprehensible way. -       The page introduces new information. -  By choosing to use artificial intelligence tools to create new pages without human input, companies simply reuse information already present on other pages, creating duplicate content and without originality. -   It is for this reason that many companies have been seeing their traffic decrease drastically after the last updates from Google.     3 - Create strategies for each stage of the funnel   It’s easy to create keyword-based pages with high search volumes. But without a strategy, these pages can become just a weight on the website of companies.   Divide the different steps of the funnel by types of pages: -       If you have a small or relatively new website, start at the top of the funnel, define your company and its services. -       Create case studies and use testimonials to prove the effectiveness of your product/service. -       Answer users' questions on the most basic topics thus creating your audience. -       The idea is to always have at the bottom of the funnel, informative pages like blogs or generalist articles that are relevant to your business but not directly linked to your product/service. By proving useful in the information you give to users, you are creating a stable base audience that you can later convert. -       You can then introduce articles that already refer to your products, explain their advantages over other competitors and how they can meet the needs of potential customers. -       Finally, at the top of the funnel, you should have the pages that help the user to make the decision: these are the pages where the potential customer can check the case studies and learn more about your company, in order to make the conscious decision to override your brand over others.     4 - Make the transition between different steps of the funnel easy   Regardless of whether your service or product has a long or short sales cycle, both human users and Google need to feel that they have constant access to all the information whenever they need it.   While the main navigation should be simple, but complete, you don’t need to put all the pages of the website there. Ensure you have the proper interlinking and navigation so that your potential customers always find answers to what they are looking for.   Important note: Don’t forget that users have found your website because of a certain keyword, and it’s most likely they will start the journey on a page other than the main one. In this way, think about the experience you should give on each page created.   Example:  Suppose your company is in the medical industry and that your potential customers are hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. When creating a blog (funnel background) on how to ensure the safety of patients with dementia, you should give human information with advice that can be applied to any institution. However, this does not prevent you from suggesting an electronic tracking bracelet and including a link to your product page.   Now that you have your website organized with all the information properly structured, it’s time to boost your brand.     5 - Boost the Brand off your Website   If we think of Branded keywords (or keywords that contain the brand) and think of various websites as a web of partnerships that support each other, we can realize the importance of extending your influence beyond your website.   Please do not confuse this section with backlinks. With or without blue links, your brand will always benefit from mentions in third parties.     6 - Use Social Networks Although the use of social networks is already part of most companies' strategies, the truth is that many brands use them wrongly.   Here are the points of reference: -       Start by describing your brand or company in each of your profiles exactly the same way you did on the company page. -       Choose the Social Networks you will use - not all products make sense on all social networks: focus on the social networks that can most boost your business and forget about the rest -       Creating profiles on all kinds of platforms is not the solution. Create only the necessary profiles on the most relevant platforms in your industry. Keep the description true to your website. -       Finally, try to publish useful content: this is the difference between marketing and advertising. Only putting images with few words does not offer value to the consumer. Share articles, blogs, texts with which your audience will identify. Try to become a reference in your environment.     7 - Partnerships with websites of journalistic or specialized articles   Writing about informational topics related to your product/service on external entities, such as news sites or industry-specific ones, gives extra credibility to your company.   More than buying backlinks (which I highly advise against), it’s important to create content on platforms that really give value. It has much more impact creating two excellent articles on external sites than buying 7,000 backlinks on dubious sites.     8 - Keep the consistency on your brand   Already mentioned earlier, but worthy of a section of its own is this point: always keep the message of your brand coherent on all platforms where you are present.   The best way to get Google to understand your brand, services and products is by repeating your main message. Only then will Google be able to gather all the points and clearly understand who it is and what it does.     The above suggestions are the starting point for building a healthy brand online. By applying these strategies, you will have the fundamental basis to apply future measures that are more complicated and demanding, but that are essential and extremely effective for those who want to survive not only the Google updates, but also the emergence of artificial intelligence. Author:  Founder of BrilliantSEO - Maryanna Franco #portugalnews #newsportugal #SEOtips #howtouseSEOtoboostmybrand #howtoboostmygooglerankings #digitalmarketingadvicetorankdespitegoogleupdates # BrilliantSEO #howtoadjustmySEOstrategytokeepmybrandrelevantinthefuture

By the founder of SEO agency BrilliantSEO - Maryanna Franco Business Trust Elements: How to please Google and your users at the same time - By the founder of SEO agency BrilliantSEO - Maryanna Franco 1 - Get Google and users to trust your company with on-page and off-page solutions that boost your credibility Trust elements are essential to get your users’ trust but they impact how Google sees you as well. Trusted websites by users get higher rankings and impressions on Google. But how to use the right trust elements and why should you care about both on-page and off-page trust elements? This article will dive into the differences, specificities and benefits of on-page and off-page trust elements. We will also go over the most important factors to take into account when building Trust for your business and how the right trust elements can help you. 2 - Trust Elements for users or for Google as well? With the surge of AI and the ease of building websites, getting trust, credibility and loyalty from your users can become a growing hassle. But why is this important for Google? As we know, Google considers factors such as the bounce rate, checkout process and overall user experience to rank websites and show them in SERP (impressions). We can then say that Google will be also paying attention to: How you transmit the right message about your company across the internet since that will affect the users’ trust and behaviour (before the click) How well you provide trusted sources and proof of quality as that will keep clients engaged and trusting (after the click) 3 - On-page vs off-page Trust Elements: What are the differences As mentioned above, your trust begins off-page, when the user actually Googles your Brand or the name of your company. Off-page trust elements are therefore anything that will make the user “impressed” or confident before even clicking your link. As for Google, these elements can be seen as properly made connections between all your profiles and sources that sign to the Search Engine the value and importance of what you offer. After the user clicks your link, we move on to on-page trust elements that will make sure the user confirms the confidence they felt before, grows their trust, stays on the page and ultimately converts. Should all this be done correctly, Google will pick up the signals, showing you more often and improving your ranking. SEO - On-page vs off-page Trust Elements - Portugal Business News 4 - Off-page Trust Elements: Getting the impressions and the clicks Your off-page trust elements can be categorized in: Reviews: This can include Trustpilot, Google Reviews and even blog posts or videos of influencers talking about your products. Mentions: Whenever your Brand, CEO or Founder is mentioned in an article, gives an interview or participates in a podcast. Brand Amplification: this includes your Social Media Channels, Podcasts and media elements (indexed videos and images). Each of these elements will create an idea of your Brand in the users’ minds even before they click the page. It’s the difference between looking: Like this: in Image 1 - A rich SERP, with both useful and eye-catching elements. … or like this: in Image 2 - A SERP showing negative reviews and questions about the trustworthiness of the business. SEO: Off-page Trust Elements: Getting the impressions and the clicks - Portugal Business News 5 - From Trustpilot to Youtube review videos and everything else in between: Platforms such as Trustpilot, Google reviews, Youtube, Tiktok and even Reddit are enormously trusted sources for users especially if you are a new player in the market or are introducing a new product or service. And even though the external reviews are something you cannot control, there are always actions you can take to minimize some possible damage: Answer the comments with kindness and try to solve the source of the issue Use the review to turn the situation around: North Face is an excellent example of how to turn a bad review into a promotional stunt. Work on solving the issue (is it bad customer support, pricing, service?) and launch a campaign to directly address your improvements. Working directly with influencers and blog writers is an excellent tool not only for promoting your products and services but also to do some damage control when something negative happens unexpectedly. 6 - Get your CEO, Founder or charismatic worker out there We know the importance of showing your face and your employees on your website. But if users get a first glimpse of your human side before they even click, you already earned their trust. Giving a face to your business increases the credibility amongst users enormously. Clients like to know they are buying from real people and when you get out there with great charisma, advice or humour, you get 10 steps ahead of your competitors. This can mean actively participating in interviews, external articles or events but can also mean creating your own podcast or webinar. 7 - Amplify your brand with the right campaigns We all know the power of Social Media these days. However not all types of channels are suited for all products and brands. When you decide to drive online campaigns, make sure to study your audience, choose the right channel and prepare proper posts/adverts. Let me give you an example: Ryanair is known for selling cheap flights so they often tease their own clients on Social Media. For Ryanair this is completely acceptable: their audience relates and laughs at their posts. Many times they even repost them. I personally think they are geniuses and I too fly with them. Amplify your brand with the right campaigns - Portugal Business News This company tried to imitate Ryanair’s strategy on Linkedin, but what they failed to see is that the product they are promoting is: premium, expensive and directed to a high-level business audience. Not to even mention the low quality of the image! Amplify your brand with the right campaigns - Portugal Business News These are some of the most important off-page trust elements you can actively work on, and that can make a big difference between having just impressions or actual clicks! 8 - Connecting the off-page trust elements to Google We talked about users a lot over the last points so let’s see now the connection to Google. Just like the user, Google sees everything your company has online and it too will classify the quality of your presence: Google primarily shows reviews with images for instance, so get your happy users to post some. It will understand your company better when your online information is properly connected: make sure your YouTube channel, Social Media profiles and articles all point to you. Always opt for high-quality media content: post real images with proper markup and ask your interviewers or hosts to do the same. 9 - On-page Trust Elements: do you have what it takes to get the conversion? Your client saw your link and clicked on it. Now it’s up to you to keep them going down the funnel until they finish their purchase. Your on-page trust elements can be categorised in: Numbers, Advantages and Testimonials: Include information about how many years you are in business, how many happy clients you have, or how good your customer support is. Media Elements: Add videos about your company, products, and testimonials; add high-quality images of what you offer, your processes and show your company as well! Overall Quality: Build a simple, well-performing and organised website where users feel compelled to read, engage and buy. 10 - Show the numbers, advantages and testimonials Numbers, advantages and testimonials are a great way to build trust: 10+ Years in Business 1.000+ Happy Clients 24/7 Customer Support “We used it and it’s even better than expected” And your designer will definitely know how to make them pop and where exactly to place them. But the usage of this type of trust element shouldn't stop there! Giving context to Google will help you gain trust and credibility: You can choose to use numbers in chunks of text on your About-us page and even on some service/product pages. The trick is: to do it naturally ( NLP ), making it relevant to the context and useful for the users and Google. Some advantages can have their own page: do you offer customer support in 20 languages? Make a short page stating these languages and while doing that, mention how diverse your company is and add a link to the about-us page. Use your comments from Trustpilot and Google reviews to build on: export them and find out what pieces of information you never thought of that you can now use on blogs, case studies, or product descriptions to inspire trust. 11 - Video and Images are a must to grow the trust in your Brand Stock photos are practical and easy to get but you risk having the same sales agent as 10 other companies out there. So here’s how you will succeed in building trust for your users and Search Engines: Have real people pose for your photos, Use your actual office (or even home office), Give context to the images, Add names and descriptions. While the first 2 points are working on getting the users’ trust the last 2 focus on Google and other Search Engines. This is one of many simple techniques you can implement to push your Brand up, creating understanding (in Google’s brain) and empathy on your users. Video is the other must-have element of the 20s in the XXI century. We know the search in videos is increasing every year, and that for certain topics it already dominates when compared to written content. Of course, not all content can be done in video but there are some videos every company should have: Introduction to the Brand: this is the video you include on your homepage, presenting your company or brand and sharing how you differentiate yourself in the market: Product or Service Presentation: typically these are videos featuring a certain product where, in under a minute, you introduce the product, the features and advantages. You can opt to have short-form and long-form videos for certain products, but make sure you feature them in the right place. Case Studies and Testimonials: getting clients and partners to share their experiences with you on video is the cherry on top of the cake. This is the best trust element you can give to both users and Google. 12 - Quality of your Website: Performance, and Usefulness The on-page trust starts the moment the user clicks on your link and can be defined by: How long the page takes to render and interact: If you have many competitors in the market, the user will feel compelled to bounce off a lazy page and jump to another company’s link selling a similar product. How well the content is written, displayed and available: Make your text unique, short and compelling. But always make sure you provide all the information the user needs to get convinced you are the right choice. Include proper interlinking and give your clients the option to always check your about-us page, delivery information or product features. How easy the navigation and the conversion process is : Users don’t like to spend time searching around for answers. Allow your users to navigate easily on your website, add a search bar, FAQ page links and make the conversion process as fast and simple as possible. 13 - Take Control Over Your Trust Elements and Dominate Any brand, small or big, needs to have the trust of its users and Google. While small brands may consider on-page elements to be the only work they need to do, the truth is that off-page trust elements are easy to build and the ROI may be huge. Connecting your on-page and off-page trust elements gives Google the signals your Brand needs to be relevant, credible and most of all trustable. Author:   Maryanna Franco - Founder of  SEO agency BrilliantSEO   #portugalnews   #newsportugal   #SEOtips   #howtouseSEO   #howtoboostmygooglerankings   #howtorankongoogle   # BrilliantSEO #SEO BusinessTrustElements

By the founder of SEO agency BrilliantSEO - Maryanna Franco How to use SEO to h How to use SEO to help your Brand conquer AI? - Portugal Business News help your Brand conquer AI? elp your Brand conquer AI? Digital marketing news - AI seems to be on the headlines of all Marketing and Business articles nowadays. And as the worry from both companies and high-level business people and entrepreneurs increases, Marketing strategies are being changed left and right with no real final goal. I Conquering AI and the future of SEARCH with Digital Marketing and SEO As you can spot from the introduction to this article, I will not be delving into tools and AI strategies to ease your work and processes. Instead, I will be focusing on one single question: How will you survive when all searches will be made using AI chatbots? A recent study by Ignite Visibility shows that over 60% of people are using ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot to search for products or services. Are your products or companies appearing in their replies? If you haven’t thought about this question or pondered about the answer yet, the time to do it is NOW! Will ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot take over SEARCH? It’s hard to make a definite guess, but in my opinion, we will be seeing a very hard shift from the usual search to AI-powered assistive engines very soon (as soon as by the end of 2025). This does not mean that Google will die, but simply that it will have to adjust. Very soon, we will be seeing the following on LLMs’ answers: Suggested images and videos; Suggested Products that are clickable; Deep dive suggestions (already available in the US) And when this happens, think about what may happen to your Brand if your products are not known to CHatGPT, for instance. You may sell a very high-end stove, but if AI machines don’t know you exist, they will be suggesting other Brands to your potential customers. The good news is that AI engines are still learning, and it’s in our hands to make sure they learn what we want them to know. Why should you actively make sure to optimize for AI? Many companies and business owners are still reluctant to optimise for AI. During SEO training, I frequently get the question: if ChatGPT will answer with knowledge acquired from my content, what do I gain? The truth is that Consumers will keep asking questions to LLM’s and and LLM’s will just become increasingly part of search. So the only way is to adapt! But fear not, here’s why you shouldn’t be afraid of optimising for AI: For now, most queries asked in AI are still informational, creating awareness about problems and solutions. If your content includes this, your company will be mentioned, creating awareness for potential future conversions. When searching for a service or product, AIs will make suggestions and if you want your company to show up there, you need to optimize! When the time comes to make a conversion, the consumer will look more into your company - at this point, you want ChatGPT and other LLMs to give them good feedback about you. In a recent research from Terakeet, they found that top-ranked pages for transactional queries saw 3.2x more clicks when included in AI Overviews compared to those excluded. How to make sure your Brand is optimized for AI? Brand optimisation always needs to start from Search, meaning you still need to do SEO and add some PR to it. The learned knowledge in LLMs comes from the web, which means that if your online presence is not clean and well organised, they will not pick up your Brand. Here are some simple things you should do to optimise your Brand for AI: Keep your website well-structured: this goes for everything from how you write your content (in a clear and useful way) to the HTML behind it. Tables should be tables, h-tags should have a proper hierarchy, and content should be organised and properly marked. Invest in Case studies, build your online portfolio and get reviews and testimonials. This will show trust in your brand and expertise. Get confirmation, i.e., do some PR: Search Engines need to verify that you are telling the truth and therefore, they count on external parties to do so. It can be a podcast appearance, article contributions or interviews - make sure you get others to confirm that you are indeed … YOU! To sum up: How to prepare your Brand for the Future of AI? Ranking for keywords will not be enough to keep your business running as users and search engines keep moving from traditional search to AI-driven search experiences. Treating ChatGPT and other LLMs as part of your visibility strategy is essential to keep your business growing. Think of AI optimization as the natural next step for SEO — you’re not just optimizing for Google anymore; you’re optimizing for every AI assistant, chatbot, and search engine your customers use. Author:   Maryanna Franco   - Founder of  SEO agency  BrilliantSEO

The Future of Google’s Revenue Depends on AI and So Does Your Brand Visibility - Maryanna Franco of BrilliantSEO SEO Tips to rank with AI - Clicks are shifting and ROIs are more incertain than ever. How will Google leverage their income and what does it mean for companies. Here are SEO Tips to rank with AI by SEO expert Maryanna Franco, the founder of SEO agency BrilliantSEO: 1 - AI Search Is Changing Google’s Business Model. Here’s What It Means for Yours AI Overviews are creeping into more and more queries, summarizing the answer before you even scroll. And if fewer users are clicking, what happens to the system that’s built on those clicks? We’re already seeing ripple effects. GrowbyData reported that Amazon, usually a dominant force in Google Shopping ads, has quietly stepped back, leaving entire product categories wide open. Competitors such as Target, SHEIN, and Wayfair are all filling the space. More than just a temporary pause, this can be a sign Amazon is betting on a new kind of visibility? Here’s the real question: If Google’s revenue depends on clicks, and AI Overviews are killing CTRs, how does this business model survive? And more importantly, how do we adapt before it fully flips? 2 - AI Overviews Don’t Work Like Ads (Yet) AI Overviews, are still primarily focused on generating answers, not showing ads. While Google has begun experimenting with ad placements inside these Overviews in select regions, the core visibility of your brand still depends on how well Google understands you and not on how much you’re spending. You can’t just bid your way into that box. Instead, AI Overviews pull from: Structured data (yes, your schema still matters) Entity recognition (make your brand a known and understood entity) Topical authority (claim your place by showing you are an expert Clear, structured content (LLMs don’t guess, they scan and summarize) It’s still SEO, but also brand and semantics rolled into one. 3 - Ads Are Starting to Sneak In, But You Don’t Control Them Google has begun testing ads inside AI Overviews; however, these are pulled automatically, mostly from Performance Max and Shopping campaigns you already run. Unfortunately, as of yet, you don’t get to say: “Place this ad inside an AI Overview.” In summary, when it comes to ads inside AI Overviews: You can’t target those placements. You can’t optimize for them. You can’t track performance directly. You can’t even request inclusion. Google decides what’s relevant, what fits the generated summary, and drops it in. Think of it like this: AI Overviews are borrowing your existing campaigns and repackaging them. You’re in the conversation, but you’re not leading it. Again, at least not yet. 4 - The CTR Collapse Is Real (and It's Just Getting Started) We’ve all felt it: your impressions look fine, maybe even better than usual, but your clicks are dropping hard. According to SEMrush , AI Overviews appeared in 6.5% of queries in January. By March, that doubled to 13.1%. And as we all know, those aren’t background features but they’re at the front and center, above the ad and above the organic results. Marketers on Reddit are reporting CTR drops of 30–40%, sometimes even higher, in categories where AI Overviews show up. One PPC manager called it “like watching your budget dissolve in real-time.” And it makes sense. Why would someone scroll or click, when the AI already answered their question at the top of the page? We are losing traffic and the entire real estate where that traffic used to live. 5 - But What Does Google Say? To be fair, Google isn’t ignoring the concerns. Their official position is that AI Overviews actually drive better traffic. They argue that while quick-answer queries might lead to fewer clicks overall, the users who do click through are often more serious, curious, or intent-driven. In their view, the AI Overview acts like a filter, handling the surface-level questions and sending the more engaged users deeper into your site. Google calls this “higher-quality traffic,” not lost opportunity. It’s a valid point, especially for brands that rely on long-tail or high-consideration journeys. But here’s the challenge: you still have to show up, and in the right way, for that deeper click to even happen. So while this doesn’t erase the CTR problem, it reframes it. The clicks may be fewer but possibly worth more. 6 - Google’s New Ad Game: Preparing for the AI Auction Of course, Google isn’t just going to walk away from its cash cow. Ads will remain central, but instead of bidding for blue links or carousel slots, we’re likely heading toward a new kind of auction powered by AI context. What we’re seeing in AI Overviews today is just the test phase. But imagine what happens when: The auction includes semantic relevance , not just keyword bids. Placement is decided by how well your brand fits the narrative the AI generates . Your Performance Max campaigns evolve into training material , not just ads, but data inputs into how Google understands and positions you. It’s like someone else is repackaging your ad for a new format, and you’re not even invited to the strategy meeting. 7 - Google’s Experiments Go Deeper Than We Think Behind the scenes, Google isn’t simply adjusting the layout of its results. It’s fundamentally reengineering how ads are matched to intent, moving beyond keywords toward a deeper, more contextual understanding of meaning: Their recent patents explore using user embeddings and contextual vectors to align ads with user intent, not just keywords. It’s part of a bigger move from literal keyword matching to semantic and intent-based ad targeting, mirroring how LLMs process language. Performance Max may eventually act as a training pipeline for future AI Ad placements: feed it enough signals, and Google figures out where your brand fits in generative responses. Google isn’t just matching words anymore—it’s comparing meaning. In a vector-based model, your content, brand, and user intent are turned into mathematical representations (embeddings). The closer those vectors are in meaning, the more likely your content is surfaced. Authority, then, isn’t just links or keywords, it’s semantic relevance across multiple dimensions. Google is comparing meaning. 8 - Which brings us back to Amazon They recently pulled back hard from Shopping ads: up to 93% less presence in some categories. In my opinion, that’s not a coincidence but a strategic pause instead. They’re watching, waiting, maybe even helping shift the auction dynamics by stepping out. And when the new AI ad formats are more stable and more measurable, they’ll step back in with a bigger budget and cheaper and smarter ads. 9 - Google is quietly retraining its auction system for an AI-first world The rules are changing: who gets visibility, what’s considered a conversion, where the click comes from. And if you're still optimizing for old-school SERPs, you’ll be bidding on yesterday while your competitors are showing up in tomorrow’s answers. 10 - You Can’t Buy Your Way Into AI, But You Can Train It If you want to show up in AI Overviews, whether through ads or organic mentions, it’s not just about bidding higher. It’s about being understood. Right now, smart marketers are already shifting their strategy by: Running structured Performance Max campaigns to align with Google’s new ad surfaces Cleaning up product feeds and reinforcing brand authority Making sure their content and schema clearly define who they are and what they offer Merging SEO and PPC efforts instead of running them in silos But here’s the deeper shift: AI Overviews and LLMs don’t just summarize search, they synthesize brand knowledge. ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and other LLMs don’t pull random links. They pull from what they’ve learned about you over time: they build an understanding of your brand through patterns, signals, and consistency across the web. That means visibility tomorrow depends on how well you're training the machines today. A few key factors influence how you’re interpreted: Schema types like Organization, Product, FAQ, and Author give structured signals about what you offer and who’s behind it. The clearer and more complete, the easier you are to “understand.” Named entity disambiguation matters. If your brand is called “Swift,” Google needs to know you’re not a Taylor Swift fan blog or a software framework. Clear, unique context in your content and metadata helps. Consistent mentions across platforms like LinkedIn, Crunchbase, industry directories, podcasts, and the press. Create strong, verifiable signals that reinforce your brand as a known entity. The better the model understands you, the more likely you are to appear in AI-generated answers, not because you paid for it, but because you made it easy to be included. 11 - What Does It Cost to Train the AI? Here’s the part we don’t talk about enough: training AI systems to understand your brand isn’t free. It takes time, strategy, and consistent execution. Structured data, content clarity, third-party validation, internal consistency: these all require effort. And not just from your SEO team. This is cross-functional: brand, content, dev, and PR all have to align. Compare that to the old model: throw budget at keywords and outbid your competitors. Less complex, but often less sustainable. The real shift here is in how marketing budgets are spent: Less on pure media (PPC) More on long-term content assets, technical SEO, and brand architecture That doesn’t mean one replaces the other, but it does mean your spend now builds equity in how machines perceive you. And that equity is what gets you shown, quoted, or ranked inside AI-driven results. So yes, it costs more up front (just like traditional SEO did). But you’re not just buying clicks anymore. You’re building visibility that scales with how LLMs think. 12 - The Revenue Model Is Shifting And So Should You Google’s business model has always been built on clicks and getting paid whether through SERP ads or AdSense. As AI Overviews take over the top of the page and start answering questions before users scroll, we’re watching the traditional search landscape dissolve in real time. And while Google experiments with ways to inject ads into these new formats, one thing is clear: we need to rethink how we earn visibility. You can’t rely on PPC alone. You can’t expect a higher bid to fix invisibility. And you definitely can’t afford to wait until AI Overviews are the default because by then, the brands that matter will already be trained into the system. Now is the time to adapt: To new ad formats A strategy based on brand visibility The idea that “meaning” will be everything The next evolution of Google Search will reward structure, clarity, consistency, and entity recognition, with and without pay-per-click. 13 - And While Google Experiments, Others Are Moving Faster It’s not just Google racing to reinvent search. Perplexity, ChatGPT (via plugins and browsing mode) , and other platforms are already letting brands integrate more directly. You can feed them structured sources, submit verified content, and in some cases, create your own plugin that acts as a branded knowledge layer. That means if you're only focusing on Google, you might be missing opportunities to shape how you're understood across other AI-driven discovery platforms. Visibility in the AI era is about integration. 14 - Conclusion: The Architecture of Modern Visibility Visibility in the AI era is built through alignment between paid media, structured content, technical precision, and brand strategy. PPC still plays a role, but it works best when it reinforces a brand identity that machines can recognize and trust. The brands that lead in this new reality will be those that invest in clarity, not just clicks, and approach visibility as a system to train, not just a space to buy. Author:   Maryanna Franco   - Founder of  SEO agency  BrilliantSEO

Portuguese drone manufacturer Tekever buys Cocoon Experience - Portugal Business News Defence News Europe - Portuguese drone manufacturer Tekever buys Cocoon Experience, a leading UX and service design company.   Portuguese company TEKEVER is Europe's new Unicorn with a valuation of above £1 billion. TEKEVER is investing £400 million to support RAF Defence in the UK Defence OVERMATCH program  that will complement the StormShroud program.   Cocoon’s team of behavioral scientists, design strategists and UX experts has been instrumental in some of TEKEVER’s most innovative projects. With the acquisition of UX company Cocoon Experience, TEKEVER is taking the natural next step in a partnership grounded in mutual trust, shared values, and a commitment to human-centred innovation.   TEKEVER’s acquisition of Portuguese company Cocoon will help the Portuguese Unicorn to scale and accelerate the next generation of autonomous, AI-powered systems that represent the Future of Defence in Europe.   From high-stakes operations in Ukraine to large-scale autonomous platforms, TEKEVER has long believed that the best technology must be not only powerful, but intuitive, adaptable, and designed around real operational needs. According to Ricardo Mendes, CEO of TEKEVER, this is why " Cocoon Experience’s entry into the TEKEVER universe confirms our commitment not only to creating the most innovative technologies, but to keeping users at the heart of everything we do. After years of fruitful collaboration, this is a step forward in a shared mission: helping our customers truly leverage the exponential pace of technological evolution. "   According to Anabela Fernandes, Managing Partner at Cocoon Experience, TEKEVER’s acquisition of Cocoon “ presents an incredible opportunity to apply our human-centric approach to mission-critical applications that enhance safety, security, and operational effectiveness on a global scale. "   TEKEVER is expected to invest around 100 million euros in Portugal in 2025, according to CEO Ricardo Mendes.

What are the housing rights in EU countries in 2025? - Portugal Business News Real Estate News EU - Here are the housing rights in 10 EU countries worth highlighting, including countries that have affordable housing models that could be reproduced, according to the Amnesty International 2024-2025 annual report. Here is also the required minimum living space in EU countries worth highlighting:   According to the 2024 Report on the right to housing as per European standards and good practices prepared by Mr Padraic Kenna, who is a consultant at the Council of Europe, the right to housing is mainly addressed in Articles 16 and 31 of the European Social Charter.   While the EU Pillar of Social Rights upholds that access to social housing of good quality shall be provided for those in need, affordable housing continues to be a serious and persistent problem in many EU countries, while a few other EU countries have models worth reproducing. The listing of housing rights in EU countries is in alphabetical order.     1)  What are the housing rights in EU countries in 2025? 1 – Austria Austria is one of the EU countries that have affordable housing models worth reproducing. Austria’s affordable and social housing model:  Austria’s funding approach relies on limited-profit housing associations that operate revolving funds under the supervision and management of the federal, regional and municipal governments. Projects developed by limited-profit housing associations are typically financed by multiple sources, including tenant contributions, housing associations’ own equity, and public and commercial loans.     2 - Denmark Denmark is also one of the EU countries that have affordable housing models worth reproducing. Denmark’s National Building Fund:  A dedicated, stand-alone, self-governing funding institution that was established by housing associations to promote the self-financing of construction, renovations, improvements and neighborhood improvements. Funding is based on a share of tenants’ rents and contributions from housing associations to mortgage loans.     3 - Finland Finland is among the EU countries that have affordable housing models worth reproducing. From the 2000s the Finnish government has funded programs to reduce and end homelessness. Unlike other supported housing models, in the Housing First program, individuals do not need to prove they are ‘ready’ for independent housing, or progress through a series of accommodation and treatment services. There are no conditions placed on them, other than a willingness to maintain a tenancy agreement, and Housing First is designed to provide long-term, open-ended support for their on-going needs.     4 - Ireland Ireland is one of the EU countries where the crisis of housing availability and affordability continues, with record numbers experiencing homelessness, including children.   In March, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights criticized the continued lack of culturally appropriate housing for Travelers and Roma. In May, the government-appointed Housing Commission’s review of housing policy underlined ineffective decision-making and high public expenditure relative to other European states. It recommended a radical strategic reset of their housing policy. It also proposed wording for the constitutional referendum on housing promised by the government but not held by the year’s end.     5 - Netherlands The Netherlands’ affordable and social housing model:  Housing associations have access to a guarantee fund (the Social Housing Guarantee Fund, or WSW). This system of housing associations operates as a sort of “revolving fund”, benefitting from lower interest rates thanks to the WSW and their mutual co-operation agreement to bail out housing associations. Furthermore, the Dutch State and municipalities act as guarantors of last resort for bank loans.   In April, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing noted that the right to housing was not guaranteed in domestic law, and expressed concerns about the acute housing crisis, homelessness and in particular the treatment of non-citizens who are homeless.     6 - Poland The CESCR expressed concern that a shortage of affordable housing had resulted in a significant proportion of the population living in substandard or overcrowded conditions. It recommended “prioritizing funding for the construction of new and affordable housing units and renovating and modernizing substandard housing”. The committee also recommended that Poland strengthen oversight and enforcement mechanisms to prevent exploitation by landlords and reduce the risk of homelessness. 7 - Portugal Housing rights in Portugal are a serious problem according to the Amnesty International Report which quotes that “in May and September, the government revoked measures introduced by the “More Housing” program to tackle affordable housing shortages.   The report added that the National Statistics Institute estimated In March that almost 13% of the whole population lived in overcrowded housing. Among people at risk of poverty, 27.7% live in overcrowded conditions. Data published in June by the General Inspectorate of Finance estimated that 60% of tenants did not enjoy security of tenure. Read also: Portugal's new real estate law reduces the price of new homes by 20%     8 - Slovakia The authorities’ failure to recognize housing as a human right caused a public rental housing crisis, affecting marginalized groups and other households struggling with excessive housing costs. Municipal housing stock was scarce, leaving thousands of low-income households without adequate access to public rental housing options. The strict eligibility criteria for public housing, including minimum income requirements, further limited access, leaving many ineligible to apply. Roma households faced systemic discrimination and segregation in the distribution of municipal housing. Emergency housing options, intended as short-term solutions, often became long-term substitutes due to the lack of affordable housing.     9 - Slovenia Slovenia is among the EU countries that have affordable housing models worth reproducing. Slovenia’s Housing Fund:  a dedicated fund for housing established to finance and implement the National Housing Program. The Housing Fund is a public finance and real estate fund that provides long-term loans with a favorable interest rate to public and private entities to purchase, maintain and renovate non-profit rental housing or owner-occupied dwellings. The fund also invests in construction and land for development and supports the construction, refurbishment and renovation of housing for vulnerable groups.     10 - Spain While measures to suspend evictions for people in economically vulnerable situations remained in force, the Housing Law fell short of the protections required under international standards, with 20,581 evictions in the first nine months of 2024. Only two autonomous communities applied the formula provided by the housing law to limit rental prices that commonly increased disproportionately compared to the average salary. In September the European Committee of Social Rights considered that Spain had failed to ensure adequate housing for over 4,500 people, including 1,800 children, affected by power cuts in the neighborhood of Cañada Real, in the capital, Madrid.     2)  What is the minimum living space in EU countries?   ·      In France , the minimum living space is 14 m2 & the minimum size for a studio apartment size is 28 m2. The minimum room heights are 2.2m. in France. The minimum room size for a single bedroom is 7 m2 in France.   ·      In Italy , the minimum living space is 14 m2 & the minimum size for a studio apartment size is 28 m2. The minimum room heights are 2.7m. in Italy. The minimum room size for a single bedroom is 9 m2 in Italy.   ·      In Spain , the minimum living space is 18 m2 & the minimum size for a studio apartment size is 20 m2. The minimum room heights are 2.5m. in Spain. The minimum room size for a single bedroom is 6m2 in Spain.   ·      In Portugal , the minimum size for a studio apartment size is 35 m2. The minimum room heights are 2.7m. in Portugal. The minimum room size for a single bedroom is 6m2 in Portugal.   ·      In Sweden , the minimum living space is 35 m2 & the minimum room heights are 2.4m.   ·      In Ireland , the minimum size for a studio apartment size is 37 m2. The minimum room size for a single bedroom is 7.1m2 in Ireland.   ·      In Germany , the minimum room heights are 2.4m. The minimum room size for a single bedroom is 6m2 in Germany. Read also: In which EU countries have house prices risen the most in 2024? Read also: Which EU countries have the lowest cost of living for first-time home buyers?