At the Mercado Municipal de Matosinhos, one of the most renown places of the city, a new space is going to open: [Quadra – Design Incubator][1], an innovative concept that gathers in the same structure a business incubator, a start up of future companies and a co-working space.
The Câmara Municipal de Matosinhos, in partnership with ESAD – Escola Superior de Artes e Design de Matosinhos, offers an innovative incubation structure, with the intent of welcoming, supporting and promoting companies and projects that can meet the challenge of coming up with solutions and ideas, in the design area, which stand out for its innovation, boldness and for the sustainability of its proposals.
Several projects will be present at the Quadra – Design Incubator, as the communication design atelier Drop, fashion designer Maria Gambina, Arquitectos Anónimos, among others. But its main focus is to create an incubator of excellence, which is able to integrate and promote synergies between renowned companies, new companies and experimental projects.
With the creation of the Quadra – Design Incubator, the Câmara Municipal de Matosinhos found a new and important use for on of its facilities, through which the Mercado Municipal de Matosinhos will be more than a simple market, with more people, more ideas and more business.
The creation of the Incubator at the Market also created a challenge. It invests in the creativity, the importance of social innovation, the design’s potential to create new business and services and, at last, a challenge that will certainly be met with a good response.
Because in Matosinhos good ideas are appreciated and risks are taken when it comes to good business, which is why this Incubator of excellence was created, notice is hereby given of the launch of a call for applications to companies and projects in all areas of design.
APPLICATION
Deadline for the submission of applications
The period for the submission of the business proposals to be incubated is from the 1st to the 10th of September 2013.
Identification of the Business
The applications to new business cover the comprehensive field of design and art. In addition to a great idea, we look for innovative projects in the areas of art and design (communication, fashion, product, environments, web, services), which also have an economic and financial viability and which also has appositive effect in the visibility of the Portuguese creativity and innovation in the national and international markets.
Characterization of the proponents?
All Portuguese citizens with an interest in these fields can apply, as long as they are over 18 years old (individually or in groups), as well as small and micro companies in their expansion phase, with head office in Portuguese territory. The ideas and concepts presented should be original and come from the applicant.
Submission of the proposals?
The proposals must be submitted according to the model present on the electronic platform appointed for that purpose.
The examination of the proposals by the juri?
The panel of judges will be announced shortly. The examination of the proposals by the jury will take place between 11 and 16 of September 2013. After this period a meeting will be scheduled, only with the projects that were pre-selected for the personal presentation.
The jury’s decision
The results will be announced in the 20th of September and the selected applicants will be notified.
The beginning of the incubation process
The selected projects will be supported in the process of elaborating the business plans and will participate in a workshop of ideas’ acceleration, in order to better define and structure the business models. The workshop will take place in a location to be designated, on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of October.
For more information: quadra@esad.pt | quadradesign.pt