Intelligent Internationalization is fundamental in the new economic agenda for Portugal and companies should be the ones to lead the process of affirming Portuguese competence in the global world. Very timely in this context is the initiative of PTPC – Portuguese Construction Technology Platform / AEC Cluster, within the scope of the DIGITALBuilt Consortium that it leads, to carry out a Working Mission to Brussels (European Parliament and NATO) with the aim of making direct contact with the Critical Investments that Europe has ahead. We will only be able to increase the reputation levels of our economy abroad if we know how to best honor our skills and the example of PTPC – Cluster AEC is clearly a reference on this agenda.
Intelligent Internationalization must be seen as the starting and ending point of a new dimension of competitiveness in Portugal. Once the strategic commitment to investing in innovation and knowledge has been made, and the collective idea of making value and creativity the key to the insertion of Portuguese companies, products and services in the global market has been stabilized, companies have the greater task of knowing how to play the simultaneous role of actor inducing change and aggregating trends. Companies will have to know how to use existing diplomatic networks, always on a basis of strategic collaborative sharing and based on the achievement of clear objectives that are appropriate to the country’s portfolio of skills. This initiative from one of the most dynamic clusters in our economy is a beautiful example of this strategy.
Companies must assume themselves as global actors, capable of transporting the unstoppable dynamics of knowledge into our social matrix and transforming it into a tradable asset that induces creation and wealth. To achieve this, the key to Intelligent Internationalization must be based on three major strategic instruments – attracting innovation investment, strengthening the export value portfolio and the superior projection of the Portugal Brand. Intelligent Internationalization is therefore a compromise between ambition and excellence, a true call to mobilize our best talents and skills.
The issue of Critical Investments in Smart Internationalization is decisive. In the area of Defense Economy, Mobility and Transport, Urban Spaces, among others, there are many opportunities facing our companies – their participation in integrated, collaborative projects on a global basis is a challenge that must be encouraged. The reconstruction of Ukraine also represents great opportunities and the challenge of building the best collaborative networks is at the forefront. PTPC / AEC has made innovation the driving force of its strategy, as its BUILT Colab has been able to execute so well and is one of the references in this international promotion agenda.
The ranks – and the companies that make up them – face a great challenge in the great project of Intelligent Internationalization. Because the ranks are a possible decisive path in our social matrix, the success with which they manage to take on this new challenge that lies ahead will also, to a large extent, be the success with which the country will be able to face the demanding commitments of globalization and knowledge. The ranks must assume a global dimension in terms of generating knowledge, value, but also imposing social and cultural standards. Therefore, this integrated construction sector initiative must clearly be an example to follow in the future.