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Good practice Imported

Smart Open Lisboa

Portugal · Lisbon · See the Portugal profile · See the Lisbon profile

Evidence: Descriptive / self-reported Top 1% 95/100 · Ask Evidence Copilot about this practice

Smart Open Lisboa (SOL) is a startup program focused on the validation and integration of innovative solutions meant to upgrade the citizens’ life by connecting startups, corporates and public institutions with the main goal of tackling smart cities’ challenges.

~750
Start-ups participating (2016-2022)
75
Pilot projects implemented in Lisbon (2016-2022)
222 from 46 countries
Applications received (2022)
7 leading companies, 5 experts, 15 startups
Energy transition vertical participants (2022)
~120
Alumni (2016-2021)
Smart Open Lisboa Smart Open Lisboa

Details

Maturity
Established
Promoter
Lisbon City Council, Made of Lisboa (now Lisboa Unicorn Capital), Beta-i
Period
2016-present
Region (NUTS)
PT17
Keywords
Vertical accelerators, tech, digital transition, housing, mobility, energy transition, green transition

Context

Smart Open Lisboa (SOL) is a startup programme, run since 2016 and managed by Beta-i, that connects startups with corporates and public institutions to validate innovative solutions to Lisbon's urban challenges. It targets entrepreneurs and companies with a working prototype or MVP, and is organised into verticals covering housing, mobility, green capital, energy transition, and a post-pandemic 'tomorrow' edition.

Objectives

The programme aims to address specific city challenges through its verticals, using real data and live pilots so startups can validate solutions directly with corporate and public partners such as Amazon Web Services, Turismo de Portugal, NOS, Brisa, Carris, Galp, EDP and Santander.

Activities

Each vertical cycle runs through applications and selection, an online pitch and selection round, a bootcamp and selection, preparation, experimentation, and a Demo Day, followed by an ongoing 'SOL Lab' phase. New verticals have been added over time - starting with housing and mobility, then green capital, post-pandemic recovery, and energy transition - to meet SDG and 2030-agenda goals.

Results

From 2016 to 2022 around 750 startups from around the world took part, producing 75 pilot projects implemented in the city. The 2022 cycle drew 222 applications from 46 countries, and that year's energy-transition vertical brought together 7 leading companies, 5 experts and 15 startups to work toward the city's carbon-neutrality goal for 2030.

Conclusions

Smart Open Lisboa describes itself as a platform for open innovation and public-private partnership, with the Lisbon municipality acting as mediator among universities, companies, government and citizens in collaborative innovation. It considers the vertical-challenge model replicable in other cities with local and international partners supporting pilot testing and implementation.

Implementation
Indicative cost
Medium (€50k–€500k) — Financed through a mix of public funds and private/public partner contributions per vertical cycle.
Time to results
Medium (1–3 years) — Each vertical cycle runs roughly 6-9 months from application to Demo Day, within an ongoing programme active since 2016.
Staffing & skills
Programme management team (Beta-i), Municipal innovation office staff (Lisbon City Council / Lisboa Unicorn Capital), Corporate mentors and pilot-partner liaisons

Conditions for success

  • Anchor corporate partners (e.g. AWS, NOS, EDP, Galp) willing to provide real data and pilot environments
  • Municipal mediation role connecting universities, companies, state and citizens
  • Sufficient international startup deal-flow per vertical
  • External selection body (Beta-i) managing applications and jury process

Common failure modes

  • Risk of one-off pilots that fail to progress beyond Demo Day without dedicated post-pilot support

Where it fits

Governance type
municipal, delivered via external accelerator operator
Scale
city
Income level
high-income

Commonly funded by

National / regional programmes ERDF — European Regional Development Fund

Indicative funding routes for practices of this type — always check each programme's current calls and eligibility rules.

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Data sources

Where this practice's information was retrieved from, and when.

Attachments

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