The Alentejo region was the stage for an international decentralized cooperation mission, part of the European program International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC). Coordinated by the Regional Development Agency of Alentejo (ADRAL), the initiative included government, academic, and industrial representatives from the regions of Ostrobothnia (Finland), Yucatán (Mexico), and Magallanes (Chile). The main objective was to reinforce strategic partnerships in the areas of energy transition, industrial innovation, and the green hydrogen value chain.
The delegation began its tour in the municipality of Sines, where they were received at the Paços do Concelho. This was followed by technical visits to the infrastructure of the Port of Sines and the Industrial and Logistics Zone of Sines (ZILS). During their time on the Alentejo coast, projects for port decarbonization were presented, along with the strategy to position Sines as a national energy hub focused on the production, storage, and export of clean energy and sustainable fuels. The delegation also visited the facilities of the collaborative laboratory HyLab and Sines Tecnopolo, establishing direct contact with the local innovation and startup ecosystem.
The agenda continued in the city of Évora, with a working session focused on research, academia, and technological development, hosted by the University of Évora. At the Pólo da Mitra, the delegation attended presentations on regional research units and learned about the progress of the European project H2TALENT, which aims to consolidate the Green Hydrogen Valley of Alentejo throughout its entire value chain. The session also included pitches from the international delegations and a visit to the experimental infrastructure of the Renewable Energies Chair.
The highlight of the mission took place at the Fortaleza de Juromenha, with the official signing of the Letter of Cooperation between ADRAL, the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia, the Agency for Development of Yucatán, and the Regional Government of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica. This agreement formalizes a platform for continuous collaboration for the development of joint pilot projects, technology transfer, and investment promotion in strategic sectors aligned with the global energy transition.
