Lisbon, Nov. 13, 2024 (Lusa) - A seven-storey ‘hub’ for startups, born out of an initiative by Unicorn Factory Lisboa and Lisbon city council, has officially been inaugurated in Lisbon's Alvalade district and promises to be an innovation centre with acceleration activities.

"AIhub, an initiative by Unicorn Factory Lisbon and Lisbon city council (CML) in collaboration with Microsoft, which launched the AI Innovation Factory, Google as a strategic partner, the Centre for Responsible AI as an ecosystem partner, MEO (telecoms operator) as a support partner and SITIO as an installation partner, was officially inaugurated," it said in a statement.

This workspace for startups (companies with rapid economic growth potential) is located in Alvalade and is divided into seven floors with 27 private offices and 30 flex desk coworking spaces, totalling 234 places.

The building has an auditorium for 140 people and a workshop room for 34.

One of the floors is dedicated to the AI Innovation Factory, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation centre run by Microsoft in collaboration with Accenture, Avanade and Unicorn Factory Lisboa.

The AIhub was inaugurated by the mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, and aims to create an innovation centre based on its own workspaces, with acceleration and incubation activities.

"Innovation is increasingly present in the lives of Lisbon residents. In addition to Beato and Baixa, we now have two innovation centres in Alvalade, one in Saldanha and another in Entrecampos, all launched this year. It's proof that Unicorn Factory Lisboa is growing and working as an engine for our local economy," said Carlos Moedas, quoted in the same press release.

Through the Unicorn Factory, Lisbon currently supports more than 250 start-ups a year and has welcomed 70 new technology hubs, including 14 international unicorns, which have announced the creation of 15,000 jobs.

PE/AYLS // AYLS

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