Welcome to UTEN

The University Technology Enterprise Network (UTEN) program was created in 2007 between the Portuguese Government and The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) to provide a commercialization outlet for the science and technology (S&T) in-country investments. UTEN’s mission gradually evolved to build a professional, globally competitive and sustainable technology transfer and commercialization network in Portugal oriented toward international markets.


Opportunities

Value@nano – Value Creation from Emerging Knowledge
Technology commercialization workshop for nanoscientists
December 5-7, 2020 – Lisbon

Registration information and full program at valuenano.web.ua.pt


Spanish Financial Start-ups That Help Business Avoid Major Costs

Instead of using expensive software and technology infrastructures, applications provide a cost-effective method, are easily accessible, and can perform specific tasks within an enterprise. Very useful for small businesses with limited resources, there are now applications that can manage to account, invoicing, work organization, and many other business needs. Thanks to UTEN Portugal (University Technology Enterprise Network), now you can find applications that can turn even the most basic services into intelligent marketing tools.

Project Management

There are various project management start-up applications that work great for organizing small business tasks. An example is Asana. The application allows users to create to-do lists and assign due dates, relevant files, and detailed notes. Users can comment or add subtasks to lists, eliminating the need for uninterrupted emails. Similar start-up applications: Wunderlist, Todoist, Taiga.io, Workflowy, Wekan, Kanboard.

Remote control

For entrepreneurs who travel, work remotely, or spend too little time in the office, some applications allow them to access the files of remote company computers. For example, the LogMeIn application provides quick and easy access to your PC or Mac from your browser, desktop, or mobile, so that entrepreneurs can access files or applications from anywhere. Similar applications: TeamViewer, Chrome Remote Desktop, Remmina, TightVNC, UltraVNC, AnyDesk.

Financial management

Financial management is essential for growing a business. In applications like CashControl, all financial accounts can be compiled in one place to provide a quick overview for business owners. Each transaction can be classified so that entrepreneurs can track monthly expenses, revenue, and expenses with a simple visual chart. Gregory Allen, the Principal CEO of BadCreditCashASAP, says that these startup applications are an excellent opportunity for employees and employers may access easy financial aid and increase their financial literacy with just one click.

Similar start-up applications: Finance 1, Where’s My Money?, Pocket Expense, CashFlow Free, Budget Wiz.

Global Startup Program success story: Abyssal

Global Startup Program expands opportunities for 2013-2014 participant Abyssal

Abyssal logo

Abyssal (www.abyssal.eu) develops integrated Subsea Navigation Solutions for Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). The company’s software, Abyssal OS, was developed after years of working with ROV pilots, subsea contractors, and oil & gas companies. Abyssal OS features advanced 3D technology, augmented reality, and precise navigation. These features allow it to operate safely in the world’s harshest aquatic environments, at depths up to 6,000 meters, or about 4 miles, while superior visualization for the ROV pilot helps reduce “down time” (time underwater), and thus decrease operational expenses. Headquartered in Matosinhos, Portugal, the company is led by Manuel Parente and Rafael Simão.

In February this year, Abyssal entrepreneurs Manuel Parente and Rafael Simão made an accelerated tour of the US oil and gas industry – landing in New Orleans and proceeding through Houston and finishing in Austin. It wasn’t their first attempt at promoting Abyssal in the United States. “A year ago we visited these same places and tried to break into this market on our own, without success,” admits Parente.

“Interest would be expressed when we were in a meeting, but nothing would happen after that,” adds Simão.

While they hoped the UTEN program with UT Austin would prove helpful to entering the US market, their expectations had to be re-scaled. Max Green was UTEN mentor for the Abyssal team. “We had four meetings that first day in New Orleans,” he describes, “and at the end of the day I said: Guys, let’s talk.” That first-day discussion transformed the Abyssal business model from one pursuing a $500 million total addressable market, to a potential market of $850 million annually. This market potential could be shifted by making two strategic changes: 1) moving from a purchase-based model to a rental & service-based model (preferred by the oil and gas industry); and 2) by identifying a new performance level to their product offering (also preferred by the market) to enable realtime onshore monitoring of ROV data, in addition to their current offering of two product levels: one to serve the pilot and another to serve the client.

“When we started the UTEN program we expected the UTEN team to be hands on, but didn’t expect to get the results we have so quickly… We now have three potential partnerships to consider. Our expectations have been surpassed by a thousand fold.”

Abyssal OS display
Learn more about the Abyssal Operating System for ROVs