Critical Software will invest 320 thousand euros in Viseu and intends to create around 200 more jobs in the future, the Mayor, João Azevedo, announced today.
At today’s public chamber meeting, a sublease contract between the municipality and the technology multinational was unanimously approved, unblocking a situation that, according to João Azevedo, had been dragging on “for months”.
João Azevedo, who was elected in the last local elections, explained to journalists that Critical Software intends to “solve infrastructural problems in the building” and create “conditions to have a significant number of new jobs”.
“We had to make this decision to contract the space, which was already being prepared in the past, but was not completed. When we realized the situation, we met with those responsible for Critical and realized that they were desperate to start the renovation work on the space”, he said.
The socialist mayor explained that Critical Software will carry out the works, with the value of these “deducted from the rents that will be charged”.
Founded in 1998, Critical Software is a technology multinational specializing in software solutions and engineering services to support critical systems oriented to the security, mission and business of companies.
It operates in high-security sectors, such as space, aeronautics, and defense, and employs more than 1,400 people in four countries (Portugal, United Kingdom, USA, Germany).
João Azevedo told journalists that, in addition to Critical Software’s investment, “there will be news regarding other business initiatives in the municipality of Viseu, in the coming weeks, which will add value to the territory”.
During the meeting, a 20% financial reinforcement (from 800 to 960 thousand euros) for the municipal Eixo Cultura program was also unanimously approved.
“Achieving cultural cohesion in the municipality of Viseu is a great satisfaction, because we will provide conditions for cultural structures so that they can have more financial comfort to develop their projects”, he highlighted.
For now, the Culture Axis standards defined by previous social-democratic executives have not been significantly changed, but the objective is, over the next year, to speak with the municipality’s cultural agents and create new standards in 2027.
João Azevedo also alluded to the meeting on the future layout of Main Itinerary (IP) 3 which, on Monday, brought together mayors, the Intermunicipal Communities (CIM) Viseu Dão Lafões and Coimbra Region, and the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz.
“Whether we should take advantage of the A13 connection and connect it to Penacova or whether we will focus on connecting the Souselas junction” are hypotheses on the table, said the minister, adding that, after the decision is taken, “the Government will move forward with execution projects to move towards the IP3 work, so that, by 2034, it will be 100% in a motorway profile”.
João Azevedo, who also presides over CIM Viseu Dão Lafões, argued that “it is necessary to reduce deadlines”, because, otherwise, “there will only be a complete connection between Viseu and Coimbra in 10, 15 or 20 years”.
“We will wait for the technical opinion and we will decide [até dia 15 de dezembro]. But we want IP3 to be implemented quickly”, in a highway profile and without tolls, he stressed.