Over the course of five editions of the European Innovation Academy (EIA), Porto has become an international hub for young entrepreneurs

Over the course of five editions of the European Innovation Academy (EIA), Porto has become an international hub for young entrepreneurs, welcoming more than 2,200 students of 74 nationalities from all five continents.

EIA brought talent, knowledge, and new ideas to Porto, connecting students from universities with companies, investors, mentors, and the city’s innovation ecosystem.

Over the course of its five editions, approximately 120 universities and higher education institutions participated in the program, which also featured more than 228 mentors, investors, and experts, as well as more than 255 institutional and local ecosystem partners.

More than 300 projects were developed and presented at Startup Expo, covering areas such as health, technology, sustainability, mobility, education, tourism, finance, and social impact.

In the 2026 edition, more than 300 students participated in an intensive three-week program, receiving training in entrepreneurship, technology, design, marketing, investment, leadership, and applied innovation.

The event culminated in the Startup Expo, one of the most iconic moments of EIA Porto 2026, and the Grand Pitch Final, which brought together the top 10 projects of the edition. Among them, SEIVA Forest—created exclusively by Portuguese students—stood out as the most awarded project of the edition, with an innovative technological solution for the prevention and early detection of forest fires.

In a year when Porto is the National Youth Capital, the 2026 edition brought to a close a five-year cycle marked by young talent, innovation, and international connections.

Five editions. More than 2,200 young people. More than 300 projects.

A legacy of talent, entrepreneurship, and innovation that remains in Porto.