The University of
Beira Interior (UBI) is developing one of the largest studies on crowdfunding
in Portugal, as part of the research project "The role of microcredit in
promoting financial and social inclusion", funded by the Foundation for
Science and Technology (FCT).
The work is
coordinated by Ana Paula Matias Gama, from ubi's Department of Economics
Management, and Mário Augusto, from the Faculty of Economics of the University
of Coimbra, a partner entity.
The project aims to
analyze the impact of crowdlending on the Portuguese business fabric and help
understand the role and potential of instruments such as RAIZE – Portuguese
Crowdfunding Platform, SA and other platforms, as funding gateways in Portugal.
With RAIZE, a
protocol was recently signed within the study. "The established
partnership aims to study the impact of crowdfunding as a new source of
funding, both for companies that use this instrument to finance themselves, as
well as for investors who see this instrument as a new investment opportunity,"
says Ana Paula Matias Gama.
The research team
of "The role of microcredit in promoting financial and social inclusion" won the European
Microfinance Research Award
in 2020.
