Lisbon receives Microsoft AI centre

Lisbon has been chosen by Microsoft to launch its new Artificial Intelligence Innovation Factory.

In partnership with Accenture, Avanade – a joint venture between the consultancy and the technology company — and Lisbon’s Unicorn Factory, Microsoft will create a AI Innovation Factory in the Alvalade area of Lisbon.
The project, which is still in the construction phase, should be completed towards the end of the year according to the news agency Lusa and Jornal Económico. The project was announced at the event Building the Future 2024 by Manuel Dias, CTO of Microsoft Portugal.
The creation of this factory aims to accelerate the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in public and private companies in Portugal and create an inter-link with the startups ecosystem.
“It is a platform for inspiration and ideation, with access to real case demonstrations, where industry and technology specialists will be facilitators in identifying opportunities and prioritisation of use cases, following best market practices, supported by proven design-thinking methodologies” states Microsoft.
In the future it will be set up in the AI hub at the Lisbon Unicorns Factory in a 200 m2 space, but until then the programme will be pursued at Microsoft’s offices in Parque das Nações of the offices of its partners with a programme comprising three verticals: Inspiring, Deep Diving, and Workshops and Immersive Experiences.