As the birthplace of nationality, Guimarães plays a central role in Portugal history. Guimarães nearly 160.000 inhabitants, spread over a 240.955 Km2. Guimarães is becoming a greener city and it was considered in 2017, the most sustainable city in Portugal combining economic development with greening policies. Guimarães is internationally recognized as an example of rehabilitation and preservation of its Historic Centre, distinguished in 2001 as Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. In 2012, Guimarães had the opportunity to show the world its history and culture, after being selected as European Capital of Culture. Today, Guimarães is one of the most enterprising, innovative and industrial cities in Portugal. Guimarães aims at changing the way industry produces innovation by putting it on the path to Industry 4.0. With the objective of creating an incubator for the industry, Guimarães aims to create a business development center for new entrepreneurs and industries wishing to develop innovative ideas, to work at the intersection between innovation and entrepreneurship by supporting industrial growth based on the added value of innovative ideas, to support technological startups and the industry, to work in the transformation of ideas into products and in the development of products and the scale-up phases.
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Head of office
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Contact person
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Regional Address
Largo Cónego José Maria Gomes
4804-534 Guimarães
Portugal
S3 Strategy
Guimarães has strong momentum for a digital & smart strategy. With a well defined digital vision and strategy in-place, city aims to organise and implement municipal policies in urban and public space, social and community intervention, education, environment, culture and sport, providing services to citizens. Guimarães created a set of digital initiatives, pointed towards transparency, simplicity and speed of access to the services provided by the municipality. This ecosystem values the proximity relationship with citizens, it has reinforced the added value brought by computer networks, which privilege the interactivity with people, granting them tools, to have remote access to the municipal services. Promoting channels of dialogue and communication between Guimarães inhabitants and the Municipal structure is thus a permanent goal in a society increasingly linked to information technologies. Guimarães innovation ecosystem key vectors rely on knowledge as the driver for development. Therefore, it is the municipality goal to improve the quality of life and urban environment, attractiveness, openness to innovation, fostering creativeness, quality of public services, security and safety of public realm, the intra-community dialogue as key success factors for the city. This can only be possible with an integrated approach supported by a solid strategy namely at the digital level.
Latest Updates
- By Astrid Hannes
Four years on: Celebrating Circular Cities and Regions Pilots’ achievements in driving circular change across Europe
Local and regional authorities across Europe are increasingly committed to the circular economy, yet many still ask the same question: what does implementation look like in practice? A new publication of the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) presents circular systemic solutions which were implemented by twelve Circular Pilot Cities and Regions from 2022-2025. Providing concrete answers and pathways for replication, the pilot solutions span different territorial contexts – from small municipalities to large regions – and cover a wide range of value chains, including construction and the built environment, circular resource management, bioeconomy and nutrient recovery, consumer goods, packaging and food systems.
- By Astrid Hannes
New report: Circular Cities and Regions Pilot Solutions: Insights, impacts, and replication paths
From 2023 until 2025, the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative has supported 12 European cities and regions to test what it really takes to turn circular economy ambition into practical, local and systemic solutions. Their examples in developing Circular Systemic Solutions (CSS) across various sectors and focus priorities form the foundation of this booklet. This compilation brings together the insights and solutions developed through the CCRI Pilot programme between January 2023 and October 2025. It highlights not only what the Pilots achieved, but how they did it: the partnerships they built, the barriers they faced, the tools they used and developed and the lessons that can help others accelerate their own transitions.
- By Astrid Hannes
Get inspired by success stories of the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative
During an online webinar on 11 December, 12 success stories of regions and cities that piloted circular systemic solutions in their territories with support of the Circular Cities and Regions initiatives were presented. We encourage ERRIN members to check the recordings of this webinar, as the lessons learned and experiences shared can inspire other local and regional authorities to launch new local and regional circular initiatives across Europe.
- By Maria Bostrom
ERRIN contributes to the only session clearly addressing the place-based dimension at the EU R&I Days 2025
On 17 September, ERRIN’s Director Pirita Lindholm moderated the Cities of Tomorrow session at the European Research and Innovation Days 2025, joined by representatives from ERRIN members' innovation ecosystems. Focusing on circularity as a strategy for resilience and competitiveness, they discussed how cities are driving the green transition in practice through place-based innovation and ecosystem collaboration.
- By Aija Konisevska Azadi
Coastour Open Call For Applications: Grants Scheme for Tourism Businesses
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- By Heidi Johansson
23 new Mission Cities awarded the Mission Label
During a dedicated session at the EU Research & Innovation Days, 23 new cities part of the EU Mission on 100 climate-neutral and smart cities were awarded the Mission Label for their plans to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. ERRIN is pleased to see that 15 cities are located in ERRIN member regions.