The Nuvem project aims to promote public policies and private practices that allow for better market conditions for all players. In just a few months, more than a dozen organizations in Portugal have joined the Nuvem initiative. In Spain, the movement has over 50 participants.
The 351 Portuguese Startup Community Association (351), an organization with the mission of boosting the Portuguese entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting startups, companies, investors, accelerators, and new business ideas, has teamed up with the Portuguese Open Source Software Companies Association (ESOP) to lead the Nuvem project in Portugal. This initiative is a social and business movement, open to all stakeholders, aiming to create a more favorable and fair environment for the cloud ecosystem in the country.
Cloud technology has played a crucial role in Portugal’s digital transformation. However, despite progress, according to the 2022 Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), Portugal is five percentage points below (29%) the European average (34%) in the adoption of digital technologies. To address this gap, 351 and ESOP have joined forces to ensure that more entrepreneurs have access to the right tools to take their projects further.
Elisa Tarzia, a member of the initiative’s promotion team and Vice-President of 351, states that “351’s mission is to support entrepreneurs in achieving their business goals. In this regard, cloud technology is increasingly becoming an essential work tool, forming the basis of many new ideas and digital projects. Therefore, we strongly support democratized access to this technology.”
The movement also advocates that the public sector should play a key role in developing a dynamic digital industry, particularly a competitive cloud ecosystem with growth potential. As such, the initiative has also issued a manifesto that outlines five fundamental principles and objectives to be achieved: more and better clouds, as well as clouds that are safer, more competitive, more transparent, and more sustainable. Additionally, the project plays a crucial role in establishing a public procurement model aligned with best practices that promote fair and free competition.
Gerardo Lisboa, a member of the initiative’s promotion team and President of ESOP’s Board of Directors, emphasizes, “ESOP’s mission is to promote and stimulate the national industry of Open Source technologies and, consequently, the entire national industry of cloud services. The recognition of a national cloud ecosystem in the IT market is a factor for leveraging the Portuguese economy and for digital sovereignty and autonomy.”
Together, 351 and ESOP aim to promote public policies and private practices that improve market performance and benefit all actors within the value chain, from technology providers to the end consumer.
About 351 – Portuguese Startup Association
Founded in 2019 as an informal support body for the Portuguese startup ecosystem, the 351 Portuguese Startup Association became a Non-Profit Association in 2022. In just four years, it has grown into the largest and most active startup community in the country, with 1,300 members, over 10 supported initiatives, and 60 registered volunteers.
About the Portuguese Open Source Software Companies Association (ESOP)
ESOP is a business association that represents Portuguese companies dedicated to developing software and providing services based on Open Source technologies. It represents the most important global Open Source organizations in Portugal.
