In recent years, the Portuguese footwear industry specialized in quick response and small series, taking these features as key elements of its strategic development. The work done in partnership with the Portuguese Footwear Technological Centre (CTCP) and with a network of more than 50 partners, including universities, companies and organizations from the scientific and technological system, promoted the development of more than 100 new equipment "made in Portugal”, making the country an exporter of high technology for the worldwide footwear industry. With an aim to strengthen this position and consolidate its status as a developer of new technical solutions, technology and new materials, the Portuguese footwear industry will invest 50 million euros over the next five years in a wider innovation and modernisation program.

The "technological revolution" in the Portuguese footwear industry began in the mid-nineties. With FACAP (Future Footwear Factory) Portugal produced and developed some of the most modern technological solutions existing in the market, and initiated in the venture of being an exporter of high technology to international footwear companies, with clients located across the five continents.

In the recent past, with the Newalk project significant steps were taken in the investigation of new materials and products. According to Leandro de Melo, General Manager of the CTCP: "With the Newalk project, 21 companies of the whole chain of footwear and eight scientific and technological system entities mobilized and worked in coordination to implement a project for research and technological development, seeking to establish competitive advantages based on innovation".

New leathers, innovative components and chemicals, differentiated footwear concepts, software and technologies for agile production, robotic, or custom shoes were some of the results achieve by the project, recalled Leandro Melo.