ARIES Incubator Entrepreneurship Virtual Networking Series #2 — “Building International Innovation Ecosystems: The Lusophone Example”
Theme: Impact on the Territories
Subtitle: Lessons from RIAL — Portuguese-Speaking International Academic Network
Date/Period: 14 October 2026, 12:00 CET
Meeting Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/319744070839572?p=xrfK6j1xjGUJB6xnWS
Organized by: Entrepreneurship Academy, ARIES Incubator / Santarém Polytechnic University
Proposed Format: Panel Discussion
Certificate of attendance included: No
This session will explore how universities can act as connectors between territories, innovation ecosystems and international networks, using the experience of RIAL — Portuguese-Speaking International Academic Network as a practical case. Central question: How can international university networks move from cooperation to real impact on territories?
This session will explore how universities can act as connectors between territories, innovation ecosystems and international networks, using the experience of RIAL — Portuguese-Speaking International Academic Network as a practical case. Rather than approaching internationalisation as an end in itself, the discussion will focus on how international academic cooperation can generate tangible territorial impact through entrepreneurship, innovation, talent development, knowledge exchange and connections between universities, companies, startups, innovation hubs and public institutions.
The RIAL experience shows how a network built around a shared linguistic and cultural space can evolve into a platform connecting Europe, Africa and Latin America. NGUZU will bring an external ecosystem perspective, sharing concrete experiences of cooperation and illustrating how university-led international networks can create value and impact beyond academia. The session will combine the RIAL journey with real examples, testimonies, moderated discussion and interaction with the ACE²-EU community.
In this session you will be able to:
- ✅ Understand how universities can connect territories, innovation ecosystems and international networks to generate tangible territorial impact.
- ✅ Explore RIAL as a practical example of a Lusophone network connecting Europe, Africa and Latin America through cooperation, entrepreneurship and innovation.
- ✅ Identify practical and transferable lessons for the ACE²-EU community on moving from international cooperation to ecosystem building and real impact on territories.
- Members of the ACE²-EU community interested in entrepreneurship, innovation, international cooperation and territorial impact, including academics, researchers, students and university innovation teams.
- University incubators, founders, startups, companies, innovation hubs, public institutions and ecosystem partners interested in building international connections with local and regional impact.
- Tiago Cardoso — CEO, NGUZU. Brings an external ecosystem perspective and concrete experiences of cooperation, illustrating how international university networks can create value beyond academia.
- Paula Barros — CEO, NGUZU. Contributes practical experiences and testimonies on connecting universities, innovation ecosystems and territories through international cooperation.
- Rogério Palmeiro — Santarém Polytechnic University / RIAL — Portuguese-Speaking International Academic Network. Presents the RIAL experience as a university-led platform connecting territories and innovation ecosystems across Europe, Africa and Latin America.
General & Program related: info.ariesincubator@e-ucb.ro