19th Century Industrial Societies: Scientific and technological dissimination and encouragement of Entrepreneurial Activity

Similarly to what happening in Europe, many industrial societies and associations were established throughout the 19th century in Portugal, Acting as spaces of scientific, cultural and economic sociability, most of these institutions aimed primarily at promoting earning and disseminating the advances of science and technology in such a way as to make the most of the country’s natural resources and to meet the needs generated by the industrial progress. This paper will discuss the dissemination of science and technological knowledge carried out by the industrial societies through publications, reading rooms, exhibitions and museums and the programmes and action undertaken to the benefit of Portugal’s industrial progres