APCOR OPENS APPLICATIONS OF THE CORK_EMPREENDE COMPETITION

Applications for the competition CORK_EMPREENDE are already opened. This is an APCOR’s initiative that focuses on the promotion of the entrepreneurial spirit, supporting innovative business ideas and with the aim of creating about 20 new companies and several jobs throughout the country.

The project has as main recipients the entrepreneurs with new business ideas and the new small and medium companies (formed less than two years ago) with the capacity to embody new business models. 

Participants, apart from having the possibility of competing for one of the 6 prizes of 5,000 euros, also benefit from coaching and mentoring sessions with consultants specialized in strategic topics in order to create a new business and / or company.

"During the project it will be designed the mapping of new opportunities for entrepreneurship in the cork industry as well as the training needs for a broad entrepreneurial program based on 3 sustainability axes: competitiveness, environment and social responsibility," says João Rui Ferreira, President of APCOR.

In addition to the cork industry, in the project are involved other strategic sectors such as Fashion, Design, Architecture, ICT, Construction, Agri-food and Furniture.

With this initiative, APCOR intends to develop a new strategy of promotion of the entrepreneurship, based on business models oriented to technological processes and the stimulation of new business initiatives oriented towards internationalization.

The initiative is integrated in a more comprehensive project of support to the  entrepreneurship which counts on with a total investment value of € 294,503, € 48, 85% financed by Compete 2020, Portugal 2020 and the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund.

Applications, which close at april 30, should be presented in the platform CORK_EMPREENDE, available here.

Founded in 1956, the Portuguese Cork Association (APCOR) has been in the market for 60 years and is today the only employer association of the sector in Portugal.

Located in the heart of the cork industry in the municipality of Santa Maria da Feira, APCOR currently represents 278 companies - responsible for 80% of the total business volume of the sector and 85% of Portuguese exports of Cork - and is chaired by João Rui Ferreira.

As a representative of one of the most important sectors of the Portuguese economy, the mission of APCOR is to promote and spread the industry in the country and in the world.

Cork. Communication of the cork in the world | http://www.apcor.pt/media-center/noticia/cork-comunicacao-da-cortica-no-mundo/