Santarém City Council acquires Escala 4 for business and tech hub

The Santarém City Council has finalized the purchase of the former Escala 4 shopping center in the city's historic center for 607,000 euros. The municipality intends to transform the building into an economic support hub, featuring a business incubator and structures dedicated to innovation and social associations.

The site is also slated to become the future headquarters for Campus Tejo, a science and technology park being developed in Santarém. This park will prioritize research in water, agricultural technology, and life sciences, drawing connections to the CNEMA, the Polytechnic University of Santarém's Higher School of Agriculture, and the National Zootechnical Station.

Mayor João Teixeira Leite stated that the acquisition is part of the ‘Centro Vivo’ program, aimed at the economic and urban revitalization of the historic center and the Ribeira area. The municipality is currently working on a recovery project for the property, with plans to apply for EU community funds by the end of the year.