Location & Geography

Situated in north-western Portugal, Braga is a city and a municipality with more than 2,000 years of history. It is the oldest archdiocese and one of the country’s major cities, with an urban population of 109,470 (2001). Braga is also the centre of the Great Metropolitan Area of Minho, which as a population of 826,833 (2007), the third largest of Portugal.

Economy & Society

The city of Braga and surrounding region is a territory of huge entrepreneurial dynamics, characterised by the presence of clusters with international projection, both traditional industries such as textiles and clothes and agro-food, and technology intensive industries like ICTs, software and nanotechnologies. Recently there were created two competitiveness poles in the region: one linked to health and other to design and fashion.
The traditional sectors blend with emergent sectors, originating the creation and production of innovative and creative products and services.

Education & Research

Braga has a large concentration of knowledge centres: universities and training centres, R&D infra-structures and university-industry interface institutions.
The city is the headquarters and main campus for the Universidade do Minho (Minho University), a public university founded in 1973. In 1967, a branch of the oldest private university of Portugal, the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, was also established in the city.
Recently a major international research centre was founded in the city - the International Nanotechnology Laboratory.

Culture & Heritage

Braga is a place where the old blends with the new. Gifted with an amazing cultural and historical patrimony, Braga is also a young and lively city.
Braga’s long history can be seen in its monuments, churches and splendid houses, especially those from the 18th century. Other attractions include the religious and civil architecture and archaeological heritage, as well as new categories such as contemporary and military architecture as well as innovative urban spaces.
The great diversity of cultural initiatives throughout this lively city shows the dynamism of Braga. From music to theatre and dance, photography and cinema there is an array of venues and festivals that have become true traditions due to their richness and popularity.
Walking around the city streets, exploring the city’s downtown or the student area we discover also all the entertainment, the bars, cafes and nightclubs Braga has to offer.

Web-site: www.cm-braga.pt

CI Situation by Region – City of Braga (PT)

The city of Braga has several endogenous assets, such as its historical and cultural heritage and natural amenities. Moreover, it’s characterised by an open and vibrant life with the presence of diverse cultural venues and events related to music, theatre and dance, photography and cinema. The presence of a University of reference and of R&D and innovation centres promotes the concentration of young people in the city, both students and researchers.
These ingredients promote the attraction and retention of creative people and the development of creative industries in the city. The aim of the Municipality is not only the expansion of the creative sector, but also the integration of innovation and creativity in traditional products and services as well as the promotion of the interaction between the creative companies and talents and the software and digital technologies. It is also worth of notice that Braga has a long tradition in the design and production of handicraft and sacred art objects already known worldwide.
Braga is partner of at least two relevant projects linked with creativity. One of them is the “Cluster of Creative Industries in the Northern Portugal” where the city was identified as a potential creative hub mainly due to the presence of the university and the entrepreneurial spirit of its students. This initiative intends to transform the North in the first creative region of Portugal and is anchored in three axes: creative entrepreneurship; development of creative businesses; and creation of attractive creative places.
Other is the “Urban Network for Competitiveness and Innovation - Quadrilátero” which integrates the cities of Braga, Guimarães, Vila Nova de Famalicão and Barcelos and a few technological infra-structures of the region. The global objective of the initiative is the promotion of urban and entrepreneurial cooperation, based in knowledge and innovation. One of the activities of this network is the enhancement of cultural diffusion and the attraction and retention of creative people and artists.

PresentationBraga