A new project at the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (IPS) has the potential to enhance Portugal’s business relations with the rest of the world while simultaneously improving territorial cohesion within the country. Through its novel HQA® Visa Program, Empowered Startups has facilitated a partnership between IPS and investor Burak Yilmaz, whose project, Portuconnect, aims to increase the levels of both intercultural competence and intercultural communication within the Portuguese business community.
Yilmaz, who has studied and worked in several distinct cultural environments around the world, has witnessed firsthand the direct benefits of intercultural competence in individuals and organizations. This collaborative project will thoroughly assess the current state of intercultural competence within the Portuguese business community while establishing Portuconnect, an online platform that will provide resources for improving intercultural competence in order to improve business relations between Portugal and the rest of the world.
Intercultural competence refers to the ability to communicate effectively and collaborate well with people from different cultural backgrounds. It plays a crucial role in international business due to the increasing globalization of the business environment.
Like every project facilitated by Empowered Startups’ HQA® Visa Program, this endeavour brings foreign direct investment to a Portuguese institution of higher education and creates research opportunities for PhD and master’s students. By partnering with universities and polytechnics outside of Portugal’s major urban centres, Empowered Startups is infusing smaller communities with both investment and opportunity, thus improving territorial cohesion throughout the country.
