UPTEC – Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto is among the 180 best start-up hubs in Europe for the first time. The Financial Times’ ‘Europe’s Leading Start-up Hubs’ ranking, in collaboration with Statista and Sifted, highlights the centres in the European ecosystem offering the best incubation and acceleration services. In addition to ranking 116th globally, UPTEC is among the 10 hubs with the best workspaces and laboratories in Europe.

Founded in 2007 as a meeting point between the University of Porto and the business world, UPTEC has supported more than 850 business projects in the arts, sciences and technologies, in an innovation ecosystem that integrates industry, investors and national and international partners.

In addition to supporting startups through incubation, UPTEC develops structured acceleration programmes, such as the School of Startups: Entrepreneurs, where entrepreneurs have access to specialised mentoring and training in key topics such as product strategy, market validation and business models.  Over 13 editions, UPTEC’s acceleration programme has already involved around 540 entrepreneurs and more than 240 business ideas, resulting in more than 80 companies.

In 2025, a remote pre-incubation programme was also launched, the School of Startups: Foundations, aimed at projects in the very early stages. This programme allows future entrepreneurs to validate ideas and avoid recurring mistakes in the embryonic stages, creating a solid foundation for future growth and eventual integration into additional UPTEC programmes.

“This recognition by the Financial Times is a sign of the maturity and quality of the ecosystem we have been building over almost two decades”, says Maria Oliveira, Executive Director for Business at UPTEC. “Above all, it reinforces our responsibility to continue raising the standard of support for entrepreneurship in Portugal and to position Porto and the country as territories of innovation with international relevance”, she concludes.

The third edition of the Financial Times ranking featured applications from 38 European countries. Through surveys of previously incubated companies, as well as former participants in the acceleration programmes offered by UPTEC, components such as mentoring and training offered, infrastructure, legal assistance, business development advice and networking opportunities were evaluated.

From this analysis, a total of 180 innovation hubs were recognised in a ranking led by the Germans: in first place is UnternehmerTUM, followed by Start2 Group and BayStartUP. In addition to UPTEC, 11 other Portuguese hubs were highlighted in the ranking.

19 February 2026