CONTEXT
Poliempreende is Portugal’s largest national entrepreneurship network within polytechnic higher education, currently integrating 22 institutions. The initiative promotes an entrepreneurial culture, stimulates creativity and innovation, supports applied research, and strengthens collaboration between academia, industry, and the regional ecosystem.

The 6th Regional Edition at the University of Madeira is designed as a structured learning pathway preceding the competitive phase. It provides participants with conceptual, strategic, and operational tools to develop projects with economic value-creation potential and social impact.

The winning team will represent the University of Madeira in the national final hosted by the University of Algarve, taking place from 31 August to 4 September 2026.

OPENING SESSION
24 February 2026 | 10:30
Room 25, Floor 1

Institutional Address
Prof. Dr. Mara Franco - President, School of Technology and Management (ESTG)

WORKSHOP PROGRAMME

Workshop 1: Leadership and the Entrepreneurial Mindset: Legitimacy, Decision-Making and Action Under Uncertainty
24 February 2026 | 10:30 | Room 25, Floor 1

Speakers

• Prof. Dr. Elin Merethe Oftedal — University of Stavanger (Norway)
• Prof. Dr. Tatiana Aleksandrovna Iakovleva — University of Stavanger (Norway)

Format
A two-part session combining:

1. Mini-lecture (leadership and legitimacy)
2. Interactive workshop (entrepreneurial mindset and action)

Learning objectives
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Understand leadership challenges in contexts of high uncertainty and pressure.
• Identify how legitimacy (credibility, trust, and authority) is built within entrepreneurial teams and ecosystems.
• Recognise cognitive patterns and barriers that shape entrepreneurial behaviour.
• Apply practical approaches to opportunity recognition, risk management, and learning from errors.
• Translate these insights into their Poliempreende project ideas and team strategies.

Key topics

• Leadership under pressure: responsibility, judgement, and influence
• Legitimacy and trust in entrepreneurial teams and networks
• Entrepreneurial mindset and learning mechanisms
• Risk, error, and “near-failures” as strategic learning assets

Workshop 2: Cultural Intelligence and International Entrepreneurship (with the Tomáš Baťa Case)
25 February 2026 | 10:00 | Amphitheatre 7, Floor 3

Speaker
Assoc. Prof. Denisa Čiderová — University of Economics in Bratislava (Slovakia)

Learning objectives

• Develop cultural intelligence skills for international business contexts.
• Understand cross-cultural communication and negotiation dynamics.
• Prepare market-entry and positioning strategies for external markets.
• Apply the concepts through the Tomáš Baťa case, analysing international expansion, organisational culture, and strategic decisions.

Format
Interactive session combining conceptual framing with guided case discussion.

Workshop 3: From Lab to Market: Science-Based Entrepreneurship, MVP Development and Competitive Funding
2 March 2026 | 10:00 | Classroom 2, Floor -3

Speaker
Yasmine Challouf — PhD Researcher (Biology, Industrial PhD), University of Madeira
Founder (ECARMIN) | CEO (Portisia, 2022–2025)

Overview
Applied session on how to translate research and technology into a value proposition, a testable product (MVP), and competitive funding applications—drawing on real examples from biotechnology and the circular economy.

Learning objectives

• Understand the lab-to-market pathway (from science-based idea to product).
• Identify critical stages: problem → value proposition → validation → MVP → scale.
• Translate scientific work into market language (benefit, differentiation, adoption, and regulatory aspects).
• Build a practical approach to competitive calls and external validation (e.g., innovation and venture programmes).
• Recognise common pitfalls and good practices in early-stage science-based ventures.

Key topics (with examples)

• What changes when the base is science: risk, timelines, validation, and intellectual property
• MVP development in biotechnology: from lab work to prototype
• Sustainable product development and circular economy as competitive advantage
• Competitive funding: reading calls, structuring applications, and evidencing traction
• Lessons learned: ECARMIN (natural colourants) and international cooperation (Portisia)

Format
Practical session with short exercises, discussion moments, and Q&A oriented to Poliempreende teams.

Workshop 4: Applied Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship: Aviation Lessons for Scaling High-Risk Solutions
10 March 2026 | 09:00 | Room 3, Floor -2

Speaker
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tamer Saraçyakupoğlu — Yildiz Technical University (Türkiye)
(Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; international teaching and research experience; private pilot)

Overview
Aviation is one of the most demanding sectors in terms of safety, certification, and performance. It therefore serves as a powerful “laboratory” for understanding how technology becomes scalable innovation. This workshop explores how technological projects evolve from prototype to market adoption by aligning engineering, validation, regulation, and business models.

Learning objectives

• Explore how technology/engineering integrates with business models.
• Understand how innovation is validated and scaled in critical systems (e.g., aviation and regulated sectors).
• Analyse key drivers of scalability: technical robustness, standardisation, certification, cost structures, and adoption.
• Discuss knowledge transfer and interdisciplinary innovation (university–industry).
• Identify positioning strategies for technology-based ventures: from prototype to industrial partner.

Key topics (examples and application)

• Advanced materials and applied innovation: how engineering creates competitive advantage
• Prototyping, testing, and validation: what changes in high-risk sectors
• Regulation and certification as a barrier—and how it can become an advantage
• Technical scalability vs. commercial scalability
• Partnerships, pilot projects, and routes to market (go-to-market for technology)

Format
Lecture-based session with aviation-sector examples, followed by discussion applied to participant project ideas.

APPLICATION TIMELINE

• 30 April 2026 (by 23:59) — Online submission deadline for Regional Competition applications
• 20 May 2026 | 11:00 — Regional Final Pitch Session (Room 25, Floor 1)

JURY

• Prof. Dr. José de Sousa Câmara — Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation, and Internationalisation
• Prof. Dr. Susana Teles — Pro-Rector for Polytechnic Education
• Prof. Dr. Mara Franco — President, ESTG
• Dr. Carlos Lopes — CEO, Startup Madeira

COORDINATION
Prof. Dr. Eduardo Leite
Vice-President, ESTG
Poliempreende Regional Coordinator 2026
Contact: eduardo.leite@staff.uma.pt

NOTE
The programme may be subject to adjustments due to unforeseen changes in speaker availability. Any updates will be communicated in due time