The Algarve’s Hidden Revolution: A Rising Innovation Hub | António Guerreiro | TEDxPraça Gil Eanes
What if the next major breakthrough in innovation didn't come from Silicon Valley, but from a region best known for sunshine and tourism?António shares the under the radar story of how the Algarve, Portugal’s southernmost region, is quietly redefining itself as a rising innovation hub. Blending personal narrative with regional insight, he explores how a grassroots movement of entrepreneurs, educators, policymakers, and citizens is reshaping the future of work and economic development, without losing the soul of the region.You’ll learn how initiatives like Algarve Evolution are turning challenges like economic fragility and brain drain into opportunities for smart, sustainable growth. The talk presents four bold ideas: 1) mindset over geography, 2) lifestyle as a competitive edge, 3) co-created innovation with society, and 4) rewriting the innovation script, that are helping the Algarve become a model for how small regions can lead in global change.In a world where innovation is too often concentrated in big cities, this talk invites you to rethink where and how transformative ideas can thrive.Whether you're a founder, policymaker, educator, or digital nomad, this is a powerful call to build smarter, more human-centered futures from the ground up. António is a startup founder turned ecosystem builder, with a career that spans education in Portugal, entertainment in the U.S., hospitality in the U.K., and tech entrepreneurship in the Algarve. After seeing firsthand how vulnerable regional economies can be, especially during the pandemic, he became driven to help his home region, build something more resilient.Today, as Director of Algarve Evolution, António leads a movement of innovators, mentors, and changemakers who are transforming the Algarve from a seasonal destination into a year-round hub for talent and innovation. His mission is to make the Algarve a place not just to visit, but to build companies, careers, and communities. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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