Porto hosts international conference to discuss the future of the footwear industry
On 18 and 19 November, Porto will host an international conference dedicated to the future of the footwear industry. Organized by APICCAPS and the Portuguese Footwear Technology Centre (CTCP), the event will bring together leading global experts to discuss the major challenges and opportunities facing the sector in a context of technological, economic, and environmental transformation.
The conference will also mark the public presentation of the FAIST project – Agile, Intelligent, Sustainable and Technological Factory, one of the largest investments ever made by the Portuguese footwear industry. Supported by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), the national cluster has invested more than 50 million euros in automation, robotics, and sustainability “with the goal of making the Portuguese sector one of the most modern and competitive in the world,” highlights APICCAPS President, Luís Onofre.
According to Luís Onofre, “it is time to seriously discuss Europe’s role in global footwear production.” He recalls that “around 24 billion pairs of shoes are produced every year, and 90% of that production is concentrated in Asia. This dependency is neither reasonable nor sustainable. Europe must take responsibility and embrace its potential as a benchmark for quality, innovation, and ethics in production.”
Luís Onofre argues that “Europe cannot be just a consumer market; it must also be a hub of intelligent, sustainable, and technologically advanced production.” For the APICCAPS President, “European competitiveness is not built on low costs, but on talent, knowledge, and added value.”
“Portugal is a clear example of this vision,” he adds. “We have shown that it is possible to produce excellent footwear while respecting the environment, valuing people, and investing in technology. We hope this debate will inspire other European countries to follow the same path.”
The conference, held in Porto and centered at the Palácio da Bolsa, will feature discussions on topics such as robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence. More than 20 journalists from five continents have already confirmed their presence.
On 18 and 19 November, Porto will host an international conference dedicated to the future of the footwear industry. Organized by APICCAPS and the Portuguese Footwear Technology Centre (CTCP), the event will bring together leading global experts to discuss the major challenges and opportunities facing the sector in a context of technological, economic, and environmental transformation.
The conference will also mark the public presentation of the FAIST project – Agile, Intelligent, Sustainable and Technological Factory, one of the largest investments ever made by the Portuguese footwear industry. Supported by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), the national cluster has invested more than 50 million euros in automation, robotics, and sustainability “with the goal of making the Portuguese sector one of the most modern and competitive in the world,” highlights APICCAPS President, Luís Onofre.
According to Luís Onofre, “it is time to seriously discuss Europe’s role in global footwear production.” He recalls that “around 24 billion pairs of shoes are produced every year, and 90% of that production is concentrated in Asia. This dependency is neither reasonable nor sustainable. Europe must take responsibility and embrace its potential as a benchmark for quality, innovation, and ethics in production.”
Luís Onofre argues that “Europe cannot be just a consumer market; it must also be a hub of intelligent, sustainable, and technologically advanced production.” For the APICCAPS President, “European competitiveness is not built on low costs, but on talent, knowledge, and added value.”
“Portugal is a clear example of this vision,” he adds. “We have shown that it is possible to produce excellent footwear while respecting the environment, valuing people, and investing in technology. We hope this debate will inspire other European countries to follow the same path.”
The conference, held in Porto and centered at the Palácio da Bolsa, will feature discussions on topics such as robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence. More than 20 journalists from five continents have already confirmed their presence.
