2. Selection and placement of young
graduates in key management
positions and strategic markets
with the aim of boosting business
opportunities for Portugal
Provide international careers
to qualified young graduates
Develop internationalization
competences in national
enterprises with high potential
Increase national companies’
competitiveness by providing them
with qualified HR
Portugal Strategic
Markets
HR qualification within multinational
enterprises with high potential
Portugal
Strategic
Markets
InovContacto
Platform
GlobalNetwork
3. Best Practices
• DG Business and Industry (EC) -2007
(DG Enterprises) / 2010 (Creative Industries)
• OECD -2008
• ESF -2013
“ Economic Structural measure aiming at the training of qualified
human resources to help Portuguese companies compete in the
global economy. Measure has a national scope.”
Supporting the internationalization of SME’s
GOOD PRACTICE
4. INOV Contact has inspired new ideas and suggested to provide a number of young
graduates who had practical training in several countries in addition to their university
degree to internationalized companies. Also to create and manage an informal
knowledge network of national graduates (independently of the country of residence),
that could consider their experience and skills got in internship, advise and disseminate
the benchmark-approach in SME’s internationalization.
• INOV Contacto – Since 1997 (Contacto@icep until 2005);
• 18 editions concluded,1 to launch;
• Almost 50.000 applications,1.000 entities,5.000 internships;
• 78 countries with a special focus in USA, Spain, Brazil, China, Mozambique, UK;
• More than 30% were offered a job position in the host companies / countries; Almost
65% accepts;
• 98% of the participants (interns and companies) refer:
• significant role in integrating the interns in the labour market;
• acquired skills and competence are strong benefits for the national business
competitiveness in a global scale;
• training provided and the resulting performance were valuable and appropriate.
Results expected or achieved
5. Characteristics
• Internships from 6 to 9 months;
• Markets of strategic interest to Portugal;
• Organizations of renowned interest and merit;
Supported by the European Union through QREN/POPH
Beneficiaries – entities and interns
• Young graduates pursuing an international career;
• Portuguese companies with a branch office abroad, multinational companies
and international organizations.
6. Selection criteria / Requirements for host Companies
• Strategic companies for Portugal - productivity / competitiveness;
• Physical structure abroad;
• Relevant presence in Portugal;
• Strong focus in the internationalization areas;
• Coherent internship plan / in line with the Program’s objectives;
• Full placement and integration of the intern in the company’s facilities, namely
providing a work station;
• Regular supervision and evaluation of the intern (Timesheet Reports, Mid-Term
Evaluation, Overall Assessment);
• Preference for those available to participate in some costs of the internship
(when/ if necessary);
• Formalization of the cooperation with aicep Portugal Global by signing an
internship protocol;
7. Requirements for Candidates
• Willingness to live abroad / start an international career;
• European Union citizenship or Legal Resident Permit in Portugal;
• 30 years old (or younger);
• Degree of Licentiate (High Degree Qualification);
• Good command of Portuguese and English;
• Other spoken and written languages command is a plus;
• Computer literate;
• Unemployed by the time the internship begins;
8. Phases of the Training Post
• Training Post in Portugal;
Course in International Practices;
Training in a real working environment – when local representation structure exists;
• Overseas Training Post;
• Closing seminar and follow up;
Support
Training, Training Post grant, subsidy / overseas accommodation, access to
Platform / social NetworkContacto;
9. Financed costs
In Portugal:
Monthly grant value 2X IAS – Social Support Index (about €840);
Personal accident insurance;
Overseas, as above plus:
Accommodation subsidy, according to the cost of living in the market- ONU Index;
Return flights between Portugal and the Training Post country;
Health insurance;
Other:
Insurance;
Accommodation for those living more than 50 km far of seminar localization, during
Initial training in Portugal;
Supported by the European Union through QREN/POPH
12. Interns’ host countries
606 601
501
343
320
254
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
EUA Espanha Brasil China Moçambique Reino Unido
USA Spain
Brasil
China
Mozambique
UK
13. Almost 1.000 employment offers from the host companies over the last 10 editions!
Invitations vs. Accepts
89 82 42
49 106
169 185 68
94 107
49 51 25
36 73 98 115 37
68 77
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 08/09 09/10 10/11 2012 2013 2014
15. About inov contacto (Testimonials)
Markus Friedlein
The Contacto Program is an enriching experience for our company. The two interns that we
have hosted so far helped us in many ways especially in preparation of several tools which
we will use in our future activities and in sourcing activities to extend our business in
Portugal. The level of knowledge and skills meet our expectations and they demonstrated
strong commitment to the assigned activities. I wish that this partnership between AICEP
and Grammer will continue in the future.
Commodity Manager
GRAMMER AG
Jerome Ah-Soon
I am greatly satisfied with Inov Contacto program who keeps on providing excellent service
and professionalism over the years. Candidates all have excellent background and great
motivation. Inov Contacto program is also very efficient in handling candidate selection and
travel arrangements.
Solution & Marketing Senior Manager
Alcatel-Lucent Apac
16. Social/digital network of internationalization:
informal | creative |entrepreneur | interactive
knowledge share and transference by and for companies / interns
key areas of competitiveness
market, sector, trends, tests, contacts, competitors…
…a valuable intangible asset extremely promising!
NetworkContacto, innovating beyond frontiers
17. NetworkContacto, innovating beyond frontiers
More Than 3.500 keep in CONTACTO online!!
Inactive
9%
Active- 90%
Social Networkcontacto Former Trainees
18. NetworkContacto, innovating beyond frontiers
We know the Professional Status of about 3 thousand former Trainees, 95% of
which are employed, 12% still in the internship entity!
28%
72%
Without
professional info
With
professional info
Employed 2.574
Entrepreneur/Managing Partner 104
Student 57
Self-Employed 58
Researcher 55
Trainee 26
Unemployed 140
19. NetworkContacto, innovating beyond frontiers
31
26
22 21
18 16 15 15 13 14 12 14 12 11 12 12 10 10 11 9
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
About one thousand are in the Destiny Entities which invariably prefer to contract
within this group!
Top 20- Entities emplying former trainees
