This week on the roundup: business leaders, announcements, short films, urban-rural cooperation, commitments, neural networks, contributions, AI-driven personalization, updates, insights, global leaders, customers, investments, dinners, opportunities, organization, construction, the energy sector, tournaments, and more!

But first, here are some IPBN highlights of the week:

We signed a MoU with the Porto Business School this Wednesday, February 12 to formalize a partnership agreement between the IPBN and the school to bring students and business leaders to Porto. The agreement was signed in the presence of Luis Marques, Vice Dean of the PBS, and John Paul Prior, Chair of the IPBN Porto. Diogo Vieira da Siva, Impact Centres Officer at Porto Business School's Innovation X Hub, and Rita Marques, Invited Faculty Member and Program Director, and from the IPBN, Arnold Delville, General Manager.

We shared pictures of our recent networking MMM event in the Algarve at the Algarve TEC Campus on February 6.

We announced the last of our February networking MMM series to take place in Dublin on February 26 – You can find all the details here where you can register if not already done.

We shared a short film of the Awards produced by our Media Production Partner RXL Studio. Check it out below!

We launched the 6^th Edition of our Sustainability Conference for which registrations are open. Check the full program and join us on March 18 in Lisbon at the Martinhal Oriente Hotel to celebrate St. Patricks Day. The theme of the conference this year, “Connecting territories: the best of urban-rural cooperation,” will be debated in a series of captivating panel conversations with experts assembled from Portugal and Ireland to share their knowledge and experience!

And now...

IPBN Executive Partner Ivan Goor from Ardanis was excited to announce the creation of another 30 new jobs at Ardanis as part of their ongoing expansion and growth. "This investment underlines our continuing commitment to international growth and our development of cutting-edge software and AI solutions. We will be growing our team to better serve our global clients, with opportunities for experienced software engineers, scrum masters, software architects, DevOps engineers, software developers, and product owners."

Links to these jobs, as well as many others from the network, can be found on the IPBN's Job Board.

IPBN member Tom Murphy posted information about a meet up at the UALG TEC CAMPUS, Faro from 18h30 - 20h30 on Tue, Feb 18 on Artificial Intelligence Algarve. "In this talk, Tom will presume you know nothing about AI, specifically Neural Networks (the tech behind most AI today). Without delving into the maths or tech behind them, he will explain in simple English how AI works. By the end you should have a good understanding of Neural Networks and why they need so much power, data and how they are built, used and abused."

IPBN member TIRECHECK says sustainability is no longer optional - it’s essential for the future of transportation. "A smart and effective way to make fleets more eco-friendly. Here is how TPMS contributes to a more sustainable future."

IPBN member Monsoon Consulting invites you to "Join Bharat Sharma, CEO of Monsoon Consulting, and Wolfgang Strassburger, CEO of Onemedia Consulting GmbH and Adobe Marketo Champion, for an exclusive fireside chat next week on the top B2B marketing trends shaping 2025. From AI-driven personalisation and automation advancements to the future of data-driven strategies, this session will offer actionable insights to future-proof your marketing efforts." 18th of February | 3pm CET / 2pm Irish Time. It will take place online. Register now!

IPBN member BRIDGE IN says massive changes are in store for the 2025 Portuguese State Budget. "Join us on February 27 to know which updates affect your business. We will cover IRS Jovem, Lower IRC rates, IFICI, the new NHR, Meal allowance increase. Register now."

IPBN member Algarve Staff invites you to check out this insight on who they are at the interview link here.

IPBN member IPBN Board Member Mario Gago posted, "Portugal’s tech scene has come a long way—but are we truly seen as a global leader, or still just a low-cost alternative?"

IPBN member Cravo do Mato says, "It was a very tasty day at Lisbon Food Affair 2025! We met some customers again, learned about the latest trends in the industry, and established valuable new connections."

IPBN member Nessa Sheehy shared information about Portugal's Real Estate Outlook: 2024 Recap & 2025 Forecast. "According to CBRE Real Estate 2024 marked a period of adjustment and growth for Portugal's economy, with lower inflation, interest rate cuts, and positive economic performance in a challenging European landscape. Real estate investment began to recover. Looking ahead to 2025, the outlook is optimistic."

IPBN member Fiona Disegni said the next Tech Fado dinner is on Thursday, February 27th. If you are in Lisbon, don’t miss it.

IPBN member Claire Mason says most personal brands are forgettable. "If you're a founded or VC, that's more than a missed opportunity. Your reputation is your leverage. So ask yourself these questions about your online presence."

IPBN member Clear Strategy posted, "From Chaos to Clarity: Transform your Reference Data Management with Tempo. Reserve Your Spot Here! Join Clear Strategy on the 26th of February from 2:00 - 3:00 pm (GMT) and transform the way your organisation manages Reference Data with a live demo and Q&A session with our seasoned experts in the data field."

IPBN member Teresa Patricio & Associados shared information about Decree-Law 117/2024, which has entered into force, amending the Legal Regime of Territorial Management Instruments (RJIGT), to allow the simplified reclassification of rustic land into urban land, in order to enable construction on these lands, as long as it is intended for housing."

IPBN member Denise O’Connor at Enerview Solutions posted about a fantastic event that she had the privilege to speak about and discuss some of the sustainability challenges facing the renewable energy sector. "Many thanks to the organizers UHY Farrelly Dawe White Limited and Dundalk Chamber!"

IPBN member Lazer posted, "What a weekend on the Vilamoura Tennis & Padel Academy! The Lazer Tournament was an incredible success, bringing together passion, competition, and an amazing community of players!"