Pool-Net – Portuguese Tooling & Plastics Network

The Portuguese Engineering and Tooling Cluster, which incorporates the Moulding, Special Tools and Plastics industries (representing more than 500 Tooling Companies with 8.000 Jobs, and 1.250 Plastic Companies with 36.270 jobs), was officially recognised by the Portuguese Government in 2009, and is legally represented by the association Pool-Net – Portuguese Tooling Network (since 2008), whose comprises 85 members, being businesses (79%), Universities and R&D Centres (14%), Trade Associations (5%), Training Centres (1%), and Public Bodies (1%).

The main goal of Pool-Net is to manage and coordinate initiatives, projects and dynamise corporate cooperation, in view to implement the strategic plan established for the Cluster and place it in the top level recognition at worldwide. To carry out its mission, Pool-Net has key partners in specialised training, R&D +I&T and business development.

Pool-net provides a portfolio of support services for its members: such as access and inclusion in international innovation networks; access to relevant data and statistics (intelligence); promotion of the international campaign and collective brand “Engineering & Tooling from Portugal”; Promotion and access to events and meetings (knowledge dissemination); promotion of advanced tools and best practices in relevant areas; organization of business trip, trade fairs and exhibitions, B2B meeting, financing programmes, etc.