The project is scheduled to be completed in the second half of 2024
The first stone has been laid for a new €7.2 million technology park at the Algarve International Racetrack (AIA) in Portimão.
Celerator, described as a “unique technology park” by CEO of AIA, Paulo Pinheiro, is being developed by the University of the Algarve and AIA, and is expected to be completed by the second half of 2024.
Its goal is to become a new European centre for research, development, and testing of technologies and solutions in the areas of mobility, energy, and sustainability.
The ceremony, held on Thursday, July 13, was attended by Paulo Pinheiro, President of Celerator and CEO of AIA; Paulo Águas, Rector of the University of Algarve (UAlg); José Apolinário, President of the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR), and Portimão Councillor Teresa Mendes.
The future technology hub, focused on the transportation and energy solutions sector, will be dedicated to renewable energies. It will also seek to contribute to the internationalisation of companies and facilitate their market entry by bringing together the phases of “creation, development, transfer, and adoption of decarbonisation solutions, climate change combat, and energy innovation.”
“Currently, the issue of sustainability must be approached from an engineering perspective, not a marketing one, and that is what we intend to do. We want to provide this knowledge to companies and entities because otherwise it doesn’t make sense; it’s not really sustainability,” Paulo Pinheiro told the Resident.
The project is part of AIA’s initial masterplan and has not undergone any changes, Pinheiro explained.
“Everything is in line with what we had planned, although not with the timing we wanted,” the CEO said, blaming the delay on a range of circumstances.
As he explained, AIA’s initial plan included the racetrack, go-karting track, a sports complex, technology park, hotel, and apartments, with Celerator being the only missing component so far.
“We have been prioritising and focusing on what was most urgent and important for the overall project. Now, to complement it, the technology park is essential because it brings a technological, innovative, and knowledgeable component in this phase where it is crucial for sustainability and new energies to be approached intelligently,” said Paulo Pinheiro.
Meanwhile, the president of CCDR Algarve has described the project as the “beginning of an ambitious process” focused on new technologies and climate transition, which will respond to “territorial cohesion challenges”.
José Apolinário believes that this investment should be seen as an “anchor to attract companies” to the Algarve, as it will allow the “demonstration and advancement of technologies”.
Once completed, the technology park will be part of a complex that includes facilities for motorsports, an off-road park, a go-karting track, a start-up incubator, a five-star hotel and resort, and 25Mw of solar panels providing green energy to the entire complex.
By Beatriz Maio
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