Welcome to the Official page of the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic

At the end of the 20th century, a visionary foresaw the existence of new digital devices, tools that would accompany their holders everywhere they went, containing their personal and professional data and digitally processing the most diversified types of information, such as text, figures, voice, photographs, videos and so on.

It was then added that, in the near future, such devices would be made largely available and would allow our keeping in permanent contact with other systems and other persons.

A new world was being proclaimed, different to that which we knew until then. A wider world which was simultaneously much smaller. A universe with greater proximity between human beings throughout the planet.

This vision, nowadays fully materialized in our daily lives, was announced by Bill Gates more than ten years ago. Written into recent History, it is obviously an ambitious vision of the History of the Future.

Many centuries ago, another great visionary, a major figure in our literature, Father António Vieira also wrote a prophetic «History of the Future».

This is the transformation of Historic future that we are celebrating today in the inaugural act of the new headquarters of Microsoft Portugal.

The driving force that led to this investment represents the renewal of the company’s commitment to Portugal. A commitment that began, more than twenty years ago, with just three staff members.

Since then, Microsoft’s activity in our Country was marked by an unquestionable contribution towards the development of information technology, the modernization of our entrepreneurial fabric and of our Public Administration, in an outstanding incentive for the creation of companies and qualified jobs.

Equally fruitful has been the approach to schools, universities and research centres, whether through the production and availability of new teaching tools, contents and methods, or yet through the encouragement of Research and Development activities.

The result is thus thoroughly positive. But if this is a reason of pride for all those who work for Microsoft, it equally confers upon this company a role that contains new and increased responsibilities.

In the current context of our collective life, it is essential that we favour a culture of ambition, merit and exposure to risk, values that, when becoming intrinsic to entrepreneurial innovation, sustain the ambition towards the creation of a society that is more agile, cohesive and open to the universe.

I would like to underline the relevance of Microsoft’s investment in research and development activities in our Country, through their R&D language and natural interaction centre, the first in Europe with this specific objective. This initiative demonstrates the quality of our researchers and the merit of the relationship with the most qualified universities and national research centres.

Carrying out joint R&D projects has provided, within the scope of several agreements with the main Portuguese universities, the transfer and dissemination of knowledge and a greater technological stimulus of the productive fabric.

I equally want to outline the values of citizenship and social impact of the activities of companies such as Microsoft Portugal. I particularly underline this company’s commitment – and that of others with similar profiles – with employment and social inclusion.

Portugal faces an enormous challenge in the qualification of its labour force. Only with highly capable workers will it be possible for companies to become assertive in the competitive field of global markets and, as such, to contribute towards the national objectives of economic growth and creation of employment.

I thus recall the aims of the “Rise Portugal” Programme, which was presented to me by the President of Microsoft International: qualification for employment, productivity and competitiveness. This is an excellent initiative, developed in partnership with entrepreneurial institutions and associations, which must be the source of inspiration for other programmes aiming to fight unemployment.

The training of young people and teachers in the area of digital technologies is another great challenge for qualification on a national basis. For this reason I emphasize the company’s commitment to fight social and professional exclusion through the promotion of digital literacy.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Throughout the last decade, Microsoft was often considered the Best Company to Work For in Portugal. Always led by Portuguese nationals, the Portuguese branch was also considered the best in the whole world.

Such distinctions are, undoubtedly, a result of the quality of leadership, but equally of the work carried out by the professional staff that jointly elevates the name of the company to levels of excellence and topmost performance.

Due to all the above, Microsoft’s Portuguese branch is not just the subsidiary of a great multinational company. It is an organization that has autonomously built its reputation thanks to its professionalism and guidance towards results.

A company’s topmost performance is not just a matter of pride, but also rouses expectations and creates increased responsibilities for the future.

The investment in this new area that we are opening today is the placing of a stake on the Country’s potential, and is demonstrative that there are no reasons to fear the future.

This innovative location is the symbol of a breach with the traditional concepts of labour organizational methods, and will surely surprise and inspire all who will work there. The transparency, fluidity, elegance and efficiency of the architectural concepts favour the exposure of a vast set of information technologies, their testing and the apprehension of their potential. The future happens here, right in our sight.

I underline with great regard the company’s decision for the liberal use of this area to exhibit the art and creativity of national artisans and designers, allied to Portuguese traditional materials. The features of our culture will be projected in the modernism of a 21st century working area, and will surely result in global visibility.

I want, for this reason, to congratulate all who were involved in the concept and the building of this magnificent facility, with an architectural profile that will bring even greater value to this area of the city of Lisbon.

I end by extending a warm greeting to all those who will work in this building, wishing them the best of results.

Thank you very much.