SCEMAI and Savearth, incubated at UPTEC – Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, have secured a place amongst the 26 international startups selected for the Startup Welcome Package, an acceleration programme for technology start-ups created with the aim of promoting the innovation ecosystem in the Stuttgart region of Germany.

SCEMAI has created an Intelligent Industrial Virtual Assistant, Sophia, which is capable of integrating and correlating data from different sources in real time, improving operational efficiency and resource optimisation in companies within the industrial sector. “What most attracted us to participating in this programme was the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the German industrial ecosystem and to see how SCEMAI can create value in a highly industrialised and demanding market such as Stuttgart’s,” explains Hugo Trindade, founder and CEO of SCEMAI.

João Machado, founder and CEO of Savearth, highlights the value in this ecosystem: “Germany is a strategic and highly interesting market, with great potential and values aligned with those of Savearth”. The technology developed by the startup enables the hospitality sector to measure water consumption in real time through intelligent analysis of shower sounds. Through a smart interface and initiatives to encourage ‘eco showers’, hotels can engage guests in reducing water consumption without the need for building works, plumbing alterations or the installation of invasive sensors.

In the first phase, both startups took part in the remote stage of the initiative, where they had the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the ecosystem, investment opportunities and trends in the region. “Exploring the German market whilst interacting with mentors and participants who already have in-depth knowledge of the sector allows us to understand local habits, dynamics and opportunities,” adds João Machado.

Startup Welcome Package: SCEMAI in the final phase

Next comes the second and final phase, in which just nine startups, including SCEMAI, have been selected to embark on a trip to Stuttgart to take part in an intensive programme where, over ten days, they will be able to connect with local stakeholders, visit innovation centres and join collaboration networks. “For an industrial startup, it is extremely important to understand how different markets view issues such as digitalisation, artificial intelligence and operational efficiency. More than immediate results, we seek to build relationships, learn from the market and understand how to adapt our value proposition to different industrial realities,” highlights Hugo Trindade.

For the remainder of 2026, SCEMAI plans to consolidate its platform and accelerate the development of new modules and features, as well as strengthen its presence within the Portuguese industry and continue its internationalisation process, focusing on strategic industrial markets such as Germany.

Similarly, Savearth aims to strengthen its position in Portugal by the end of the year — reaching around 8,000 rooms in operation — and to grow significantly in the Spanish market. International expansion is also a goal, through programmes and strategic partnerships that will accelerate the adoption of its technology.

25 May 2026