1. Patent and Invention Filings Increase in Portugal: Trade War Could Reshape the Innovation Protection Landscape
Patent and invention filings in Portugal surged 19.3% in the first quarter of 2025, with national inventions reaching 241, reflecting a growing awareness among companies and universities of the need to safeguard intangible assets and secure competitive advantages. Note that IP protection is seen as a key pillar in internationalization processes, ensuring exclusivity and enhancing the value of products and services. At the same time, 73 national inventions were granted rights (up 55.3%) and trademark filings totaled 6,193, increasing 4.5% compared to the previous year.
Despite this growth, experts caution that the increase is still quite limited and dominated by trademarks, while patents (true indicators of innovation and competitiveness) remain less expressive. The lack of effective tools for protecting trade secrets, and misconceptions like relying solely on confidentiality clauses, highlight ongoing vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, validations of European patents in Portugal dropped 23.5%, likely due to the shift toward the unitary patent system, which, despite higher costs, offers protection across 18 countries.
Globally, the U.S.’s protectionist stance under the “America First” agenda is reshaping the strategic environment, diverting Chinese patent filings away from the U.S. toward the EU. This shift may lead to a drop in average patent quality and cuts to R&D investment, while increasing cross-border IP disputes and raising innovation costs. As World Intellectual Property Day 2025 focuses on music in the era of streaming and AI, the evolving landscape of IP highlights the urgency of adapting to geopolitical, technological, and economic transformations.
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2. Portugal Ranked Sixth Among NATO Countries for Least Defense Investment in 2024
Portugal, in 2024, invested 1.46% of its GDP in military expenses, falling below the NATO target of 2%. It ranked sixth among NATO countries for the least defense investment, surpassing only Canada, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Spain. The majority of this spending, 58.6%, went toward personnel, with the largest expenditure since 2014. However, it is relevant to consider that this share allocated to personnel is now smaller than a decade ago, when it reached over 81%, reflecting a reduction in military personnel numbers.
The spending also focused on equipment, accounting for 19.5% of the total investment, which was a notable increase from 8.4% in 2014. However, despite this, Portugal still ranked low in equipment investment compared to other NATO countries, with only Canada and Belgium spending less in relative terms. Additionally, nearly 18% of the defense budget covered operations and maintenance, marking a significant rise from 2014 figures. The remaining funds were allocated to infrastructure, which saw a drastic increase from 0.1% to 3.9%.
Given the context, Portugal’s Ministry of Finance announced plans to request the activation of an escape clause from the European Commission. Note that this clause would allow defense-related expenses, up to 1.5% of GDP, to be excluded from the fiscal limits defined in the national budgetary plan for 2025-2028. Moreover, the government also confirmed that these costs would not be considered in the deficit evaluation, a decision reached in consensus with the largest opposition party.
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3. Portugal Takes 28 Startups to Web Summit Rio
Portugal is sending 28 startups to Web Summit Rio 2025, a key technology summit in Brazil taking place from April 27 to 30. Supported by Startup Portugal and Unicorn Factory Lisboa, the delegation aims to forge partnerships and investment opportunities, with a strong focus on building bridges between the entrepreneurial ecosystems of Brazil and Portugal. Gil Azevedo of Unicorn Factory Lisboa highlights the importance of these connections, aiming to help Portuguese startups access specialized opportunities in Brazil and vice versa.
The collaboration has led to strategic partnerships with major Brazilian incubators, including Instituto Caldeira and Sai do Papel, with discussions for joint programs to support scaleups. The delegation’s presence at the summit follows successful participation in the South Summit in Porto Alegre, reinforcing the goal of fostering closer ties between the two countries. Gil Azevedo notes that these initiatives help Brazilian startups expand into Europe, and Startup Portugal’s Scaling Up program has already facilitated numerous Brazilian companies seeking growth in the European market.
In addition to the 28 startups attending, Startup Portugal is sending 11 more startups via its Business Abroad program, which has already helped raise over seven million euros in investment. The program also focuses on creating business opportunities in Brazil and Latin America. At the summit’s opening, Startup Portugal will organize an event at the Consulate of Portugal in Rio de Janeiro to foster connections between Portuguese startups and key players in the Brazilian ecosystem.
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4. Cascais and Oeiras Design an Alternative Route to the A5
Cascais and Oeiras are planning to implement a new mobility corridor parallel to the A5 highway, aimed at alleviating traffic congestion caused by the heavily trafficked route. Isaltino Morais, Mayor of Oeiras, and Carlos Carreiras, Mayor of Cascais, are working on complementary projects to provide a real alternative for populations and businesses in the area. Oeiras’ plan starts from the EN117 highway, stretching west through key municipalities, while Cascais aims to connect a new expressway to the A5 near the Tires aerodrome, eventually reaching the Autódromo do Estoril and connecting to the A16.
The new routes, which will run north of the A5, have already seen significant negotiations between the two municipalities and Brisa, the company that operates the A5. The implementation of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is central to the project, as it could help fund the new infrastructure, with Brisa potentially covering the full investment if the BRT is approved. If not, the municipalities will share the cost. Isaltino Morais has been vocal in criticizing Brisa and sees the new road as a necessary step to develop Oeiras, even considering tolls to create competition for the A5.
Note that the mayors’ proposals are part of a larger effort to address infrastructure challenges in the region, with discussions also focusing on the management of the Avenida Marginal. Isaltino Morais has expressed interest in transferring the responsibility for this key road from Infraestruturas de Portugal to Oeiras, arguing that the local municipality is better suited to manage the road. The mayor really wants to improve the mobility network. His future plans also involve the development of a new electric vehicle link between Paços de Arcos and Barcarena.
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5. Belém Tower Closes for One Year of Renovation
The Belém Tower in Lisbon has closed for one year to undergo conservation and restoration work as part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), with intermittent reopenings possible depending on progress. Built between 1514 and 1520 and classified as a World Heritage site since 1983, the Belém Tower is renowned for its Manueline architectural style, which features unique elements like armillary spheres and crosses from the Military Order of Christ. It is one of the most visited monuments in Portugal, having attracted more than 377,000 visitors in 2023.
The restoration project, valued at 1.05 million euros, aims to ensure the safety of visitors and workers while maintaining the monument’s integrity. Because of the tower’s cultural significance and historical value, the public company Museums and Monuments of Portugal (MMP) is overseeing the work and has committed to evaluating the possibility of opening the tower as each phase of restoration progresses.
Despite the importance of the restoration, the MMP president has expressed concern about the closure of multiple heritage sites in Lisbon in 2025, which coincides with a tourism campaign focused on promoting the country’s rich cultural heritage. As such, to fight the possible backlash, efforts are underway to develop communication strategies to guide tourists to other locations while addressing the temporary closures.
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6. “Vote, But Vote With Conscience.” Fifty Years After Portugal’s First Free Elections
Fifty years ago, Portugal entered a new chapter. On April 25, 1975, the people went to the polls for the first time under a new state of freedom. “The country woke up to democracy with a willingness to try it.” There was no playbook. Just curiosity, hope, and a hunger to be part of something larger. People were seeing the country change and wanted to be part of history. Witnesses say the air was filled with a certain innocence, less malice and cynicism, and a powerful sense that everyone has a right to an opinion.
Campaigns were raw and real. The country was armed to the teeth, and the risk of civil war was imminent. But the people showed up anyway. “The poetry was in the streets.” In packed rooms and tense cafés, speeches turned jeers into applause. A celebration of democracy unfolded against a backdrop of anxiety. Over 90% turned out to vote – the highest ever in a free Portuguese election. They voted not just with ballots, but with belief, because the people wanted to choose.
The Constituent Assembly began on June 2. The deputies embraced the historic mission entrusted to them. There was much oratory, shouting matches, improvisation, and the daily bargaining of politics. But little by little, they began drafting the constitutional text. Skeptics like Álvaro Cunhal became defenders, and, on April 2, 1976, the Constitution was approved. A document of recognized success that would endure, evolve, and guide the country for decades.
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7. Carmo Barracks Is Open for Visits Until May 10, Free of Charge
One of the most emblematic sites of the Carnation Revolution is once again open to the public this year, and the GNR (Portuguese National Republican Guard) invites everyone to visit the Carmo Barracks, located in Largo do Carmo, and learn about the history of this space as part of the celebrations for its 114th anniversary.
The visits take place from Monday to Saturday, including public holidays, with entry through the museum. From there, visitors will follow a route through areas such as the Noble Hall, the Command Offices, the Nun’ Álvares Pereira Corridor, and a balcony with a direct view of Rossio.
Entry is free, but the hours vary depending on the space being visited: the museum is open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (last entry at 5:30 PM), while the other spaces close one hour earlier, at 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM). On weekdays, access to the panoramic balcony is limited between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM.
Note that the Carmo Barracks was the location where, on April 25, 1974, Marcello Caetano sought refuge before surrendering to the Armed Forces Movement, marking the end of the dictatorship in Portugal.
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8. Pavilhão de Portugal Reopens with Free Concert
The Pavilhão de Portugal in Lisbon will reopen on April 30 with a free concert by Milhanas under the iconic canopy designed by Álvaro Siza for Expo ’98. This concert marks the first of the “Concerto à Pala” series, a new initiative featuring regular free concerts that aim to highlight young national musical talent in an important contemporary architectural space, as explained by the executive director of the University of Lisbon’s facility, Rita Tomé Rocha.
The official reopening on May 1 will include the exhibition “Meu matalote e amigo Luís de Camões,” held in the renovated Exhibition Center. This will feature sculptures by Simões de Almeida and Canto da Maya, as well as paintings by José Malhoa, Columbano, and others, alongside contemporary photography by artists like Candida Höfer and Jorge Molder. The works that will be displayed are on loan from renowned institutions such as the National Museum of Ancient Art and the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum.
Note that the month of May also brings the inauguration of the 24-hour Study Room, accessible to all students, and the Mega Ferreira Library, along with the Interpretation Center of Parque das Nações. Additionally, on May 10 and 11, the Pavilhão de Portugal will participate in Open House Lisbon, offering free visits to the public.
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9. Free Light and Color Installation Opens at Lisbon’s Amoreiras Shopping Center
The immersive light installation “Rainlight”, by Dutch artist Irma de Vries from Studio Irma, is making its debut in Portugal at Amoreiras Shopping Center, offering a free and highly Instagrammable experience until May 21. The installation features thousands of suspended lights simulating raindrops, creating a sensory universe where light, color, and science unite to promote happiness and well-being. Visitors can experience this vibrant space every day from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM, with the installation evolving in color and providing an ideal setting for social media photography.
“Rainlight” draws inspiration from the natural phenomenon of rain and its positive effects on the human mind, such as increased calmness and happiness. The artwork embodies these sensations through its dynamic interplay of light, color, and movement, transforming the physical space into an ethereal and luminous environment. The project aims to invoke the subtle communication between nature and humans, evoking feelings of tranquility after rainfall.
Note that Irma de Vries has gained international recognition with her work featured at the Moco Museum in Amsterdam, Barcelona, and London, as well as exhibitions in Brussels and Romania. When asked to reflect on her artistic process, de Vries explained that this work was her attempt to capture the calming, uplifting effect of rain through her unique integration of light, color, and motion.
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10. Jazz em Agosto Presents 2025 Lineup
Jazz em Agosto, the annual festival at the Gulbenkian’s Open-Air Amphitheater in Lisbon, returns for its 41st edition from August 1 to 10, 2025. This year’s lineup features highlights such as Rafael Toral’s “Spectral Evolution”, celebrated for its unique sound, and the world premiere of a collaboration between MOPCUT, Moor Mother, and Dälek.
The opening performance on August 1 will be by Heart Trio, merging African and Eastern influences into spiritual jazz using traditional instruments and self-made objects. Meanwhile, Kris Davis will present Run the Gauntlet, an album honoring six influential women in jazz, while Mariam Rezaei will debut her experimental turntable-driven approach to jazz.
National talents include trumpet player Luís Vicente, who explores improvisation and structure with his trio, and João Próspero, whose album “Sopros” draws inspiration from the writer Haruki Murakami. The final days will see performances from Ahleuchatistas 3, Shane Parish, Thumbscrew, and Elias Stemeseder & Christian Lillinger, culminating in a closing performance by Patricia Brennan’s septet. Overall, the festival promises a diverse array of performances, mirroring the evolution of jazz across genres and styles.
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