News Highlights

AddVolt and Everythink mobile Power bank, developed by FEUP’s alumni, has been tested and received the seal of approval by GALP. Addvolt, a company incubated at UPTEC — Science and Technological Park of the University of Porto, developed a mobile car power bank, aka electric battery charging for electric and hybrid vehicles. Addvolt’s long-time business partner Everythink, a company also incubated at UPTEC, was in charge of the he product design.

Porto City Hall estimates that the Monte Pedral project, where it plans to build circa 330 dwellings, mostly at affordable prices, amounts to an investment that surpasses 63 million euros, in accordance with the plot-division that has been unanimously approved by the Municipal Executive, early this week. “This plot is the great opportunity for creating a new city centre in Porto”, highlighted councillor for Urbanism, Pedro Baganha, during the Executive Meeting, held on 11th January.

The ninth edition of the Municipal Programme “Porto Solidário” opens on 19th January. This programme was established in 2014 and it is essential to guarantee the right of housing to the most vulnerable households. This Social Emergency Fund by the Municipality of Porto has already supported 2.336 families. Applications should be submitted at the Domus Social site, which includes filling a form and attaching the required documentation.

The Municipality of Porto runs three solidarity restaurants and serves an average of 525 meals per day. At times like these, solidarity in the shape of free meals is crucial, as the pandemic outed the already existing social inequalities that are hardened by the pandemic constraints.

The Porto Municipal Tenant Office has undergone renovation works and it satisfies both comfort needs and operational goals as regards public facilities functional functions. The space has kept the annual average of 70 thousand consultations, despite the ongoing pandemic, much due to the digital attendance procedure, embraced by the Municipality of Porto to overcome constraints and to be able to cope with tenants needs.

The balustrade, the ramparts and the staircases of the landmark structure of the Pergola da Foz, facing the Atlantic, in Porto, will be rehabilitated. The works advance this coming Monday, and follow the renovation works the Municipality of Porto commenced a little less than two years ago, when the seaside covered walkway facing the Atlantic, in Porto, was restored by the Municipality. Works are estimated to conclude in the end of May.

The Municipality of Porto has activated its contingency plan for extreme weather conditions affecting the homeless and the most vulnerable population in the city of Porto. The plan is in place as of 30th December 2020 and the response is coordinated with the Emergency Temporary Shelters and the solidarity restaurants for the homeless. These measures are appropriate to the needs, and there is still availability to accommodate more people. These facilities house 23 people, for the time being.

“1820: Revolução Liberal do Porto”, a 500 page book catalogue, by José Manuel Lopes Cordeiro, published by Porto City Hall, under the celebrations of the Bicentennial of 1820 Liberal Revolution, was granted the “Best Book of the Year 2020” title, in the field of Portuguese Contemporary History, by the “Almanaque Republicano” blog.

Everyone can visit amazing spaces within the University of Porto, either in person or from one’s home; the building of the Rectory, the Porto Botanical Garden and the Casa-Museu Abel Salazar are now included in the UP’s virtual mapping project. This is an even more worthwhile project amid the ongoing pandemic, when the set of 3D tours by the U.Porto is available and invites everyone to enter spaces that aren’t normally visited by the community.

The tourism campaign themed ““Lá em Cima” [“Up There”, free translation], launched in July 2020, by the Porto Tourism Association (ATP) and the Tourism of Porto and Northern Portugal (TPNP), was granted awards in three categories of the Prémios Lusófonos da Criatividade (Lusophone Creativity Awards, free translation]: a Silver award for the copy, in the Production Category, and two Bronze awards in the Digital Category, for the efficacy, both for the digital campaign and the web video.