Portugal to have a new technology centre

In statements to the Lusa news agency, the municipality says the acquisition aims to strengthen its capacity to host projects in innovation, entrepreneurship, and associations, "contributing simultaneously to the economic and urban revitalisation of that area of ​​the city."

The proposal was approved by the municipal executive at the last City Council meeting and, according to mayor João Leite, is part of the strategy for acquiring and rehabilitating properties in the historic centre defined for the current term.

"We are achieving our goal even faster," said the mayor during the executive meeting, highlighting that this is the third acquisition made by the municipality in the historic centre since the beginning of his term.

Previously, he recalled, the city hall acquired a property near the train station, where 21 apartments for affordable rental are planned, and the former Military Prison, for which the municipality has already defined a future hotel use.

João Leite added that the building will be renovated with funding from Portugal 2030 and should house a business incubator and the future headquarters of a technology and innovation centre being developed in partnership with several entities in the region.

Presentation at the Web Summit in Lisbon

The mayor also said the technology centre will be publicly presented at the next edition of the Web Summit in Lisbon, with partners such as the Polytechnic of Santarém, ISLA Santarém, the National Exhibition Centre (CNEMA), the National Institute of Agrarian and Veterinary Research, and the City Council.

"We want to bring life, businesses, people, everything that is essential to the revitalisation of our commerce and the historic centre in particular to that area of ​​the city's territory," he said.

In addition to installing new activities related to innovation, the municipality anticipates that using the building will free up currently occupied municipal spaces, creating conditions for the development of new cultural and museological projects.

Before the acquisition, an independent appraisal set the market value of the property at approximately €607,800.

Thus, the agreed price of €607,000 was slightly below this amount, "having been considered compatible with the public interest and with the good management of municipal resources," the municipality informed Lusa.

The appraisal report, however, identifies the need for rehabilitation works, given the condition of the building's interior.

The financing for the purchase of the former Escala 4 shopping centre is part of a credit operation intended for municipal investment, which has already obtained prior approval from the competent supervisory body.