Lisbon has long been a hub for Europe’s tech scene, with its outstanding international connectivity, abundant conference venues and affordability making it the ideal place to host tech sector events. Now, it’s not just for events that the global community of bright young things are flocking to Lisbon – they’re coming to stay.

For workers who aren’t tied to the office, relocating to Lisbon makes a lot of sense. The city itself is stunning, with lush parks, a beautiful urban waterfront and an impressive range of shops, restaurants and leisure facilities.

Lisbon also ticks all the right boxes when it comes to living sustainably, having scooped the European Green Capital Award for 2020. The city was hailed as a role model in the way it has demonstrated how sustainability and economic growth can go hand-in-hand. It reduced CO2 emissions by 50 percent between 2002 and 2014, and energy consumption by 23 percent and water consumption by 17 percent between 2007 and 2013.

Top transport

In transportation terms, Lisbon has one of the largest networks of electric vehicle charging points in the world. It has a bike-sharing scheme, including electric bikes for navigating the city’s hills, with cycling and walking prioritised. This has resulted in a 138 percent increase in bicycle use in Lisbon between 2017 and 2020. 30 percent of journeys in the city are now made by bike or on foot.

For workers, Portugal boasts the seventh greatest high-speed internet coverage of any EU member state, with 90.5 percent of homes covered. Practicalities aside, it is the energy that the Lisbon community exudes that is a major part of the city’s appeal.

“Lisbon is home to a rapidly growing international community of young entrepreneurs, start-up founders and tech and sustainability innovators. It’s an incredibly energising and exciting environment to be part of, and a substantial draw for those considering making the city their home,” said Christina Hippisley, General Manager of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK

Moving to Portugal

For those currently based in the UK but looking to relocate to Lisbon, the Moving to Portugal Show & Seminars on 20 October 2022 will share detailed insights into life in the Portuguese capital. Hosted by the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK and free to attend, the event will run from 11 am to 8 pm at the Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel in London.

The Moving to Portugal show includes a mix of seminar presentations and panel discussions, along with over 20 exhibitors, meaning that attendees have a huge range of information at their fingertips. Experts will be on hand to cover visa, residency and tax options, as well as how daily life works in terms of business, jobs, schools, health, the cost of living and more.

“Many of those who attend our Moving to Portugal shows do so with a specific purpose or query in mind. They find not only the answer to that query but a whole host of other useful information that will support them to make a success of their business or lifestyle move to Portugal,” said Christina Hippisley, General Manager of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK

The versatile nature of the available expertise at the Moving to Portugal Show encourages would-be movers to consider their relocation from all angles, as attendee Sheila Perera[LT1] recalls: “Being here at this event and listening to the various experts speak gave me an opportunity to think a lot deeper. There is a lot of planning involved, so I’m very glad that the different speakers, by virtue of their expertise, shared what they had.”

Smart city

Lisbon’s ‘Smart City’ prowess has been years in the making. It’s also something that has been baked into the city’s business and education communities, laying the foundations for even more impressive innovation over the years ahead.

Lisbon is using technology to put the needs of its citizens first and building this into the city’s infrastructure as part of its smart city strategy. This saw Japanese tech giant NEC appointed back in 2017 to use its Cloud City Operation Center to integrate 10 services (such as refuse collection) that are managed by Lisbon’s government with 30 external services (such as Lisbon’s firefighters), which are managed by partner agencies within the city. NEC will enable the coordinated management of all these services through one centre of operations. The system uses artificial intelligence, Internet of Things technology and real-time data analysis to enable city services to respond to situations as they arise.

Innovation, creativity and sustainability are working in harmony in Lisbon, driving the capital forward to supercharge its smart city credentials and lead Europe as an example of what can be achieved. Those looking to be part of the future are invited to register to attend the free Moving to Portugal show on 20th October 2022.

For more information, please contact the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK: www.portuguese-chamber.org.uk or www.movingtoportugal.org.uk, or call 00 44 207 201 6638 / 00 44 7463 689666.