Making innovative strategies for outstanding future results

Incentive Systems are financial support tools aimed at business development, during their life cycle phases and in their areas of competitiveness considered fundamental to operating in global markets.

On the IAPMEI portal – Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation, incentive systems are available for various areas :

• Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship: this support aims to encourage investment in productive innovation, promote qualified entrepreneurship and support the expansion of activities with a strong technological character. It is divided into two types of systems:
• SI Qualified and Creative Entrepreneurship  – aimed at Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) less than 2 years old. 
• SI Productive Innovation  – companies of any nature and under any legal form are beneficiaries.

• Qualification and Internationalization of SMEs: in turn, this support aims to promote the competitiveness and increase the productivity of SMEs, as well as develop the effective presence of SMEs in the global market. It is also divided into two systems:
• SI Qualification – individual project – SMEs of any nature and under any legal form are beneficiaries of this measure.
• SI Qualification – joint project – the beneficiaries of this measure are non-profit entities, of an associative nature and with specific skills aimed at SMEs.

• Research and Technological Development: promoting relations between companies and scientific institutions and intensifying R&D (research and development) and knowledge creation efforts are the objectives of this support. You can choose between three support systems, since the recipients of this support are companies of any nature and under any legal form:
• SI R&D Companies 
• SI R&D Centers
• SI Industrial Property

Financial support vouchers for companies

The Portuguese State also provides Vouchers , which are a simplified incentive system, intended for projects that aim to support the acquisition of consultancy services in the areas of Innovation, Qualification and R&DT (Research and Technological Development) from previously accredited entities.

Investment support research

In order to strengthen productivity and national competitiveness, the Competitiveness portal aims to facilitate companies and entrepreneurs in researching investment support.

It provides information on financial support, allowing access to application notices under Portugal 2020 and other EU funding opportunities, including information on business reception infrastructures and technological infrastructures in Portugal, as well as national and international networks to support competitiveness.

Aimed particularly at SMEs, for the different phases of their activity and investment, there is the Financing Portal which provides various financing solutions with public support. 

The information is structured according to the needs of companies, their investment strategies (growth, expansion, export, capitalization, etc.), business size or sector of activity.

After simulating the most suitable financing for your company or project, a wide range of solutions is presented, such as Mutual Guarantee, Credit Insurance, Venture Capital, Business Angels, Co-Investment Funds, Real Estate Investment Funds, also covering tax incentives for investment and the capitalization of companies.

Management of support programs

The following are responsible for managing the financial support and project hosting programs: 

• IAPMEI – is one of the Intermediate Bodies of the Portugal 2020 Incentive Systems, namely in the Incentive System for Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship, in the Incentive System for Qualification and Internationalization of SMEs and in the Incentive System for Research and Technological Development.
• Turismo de Portugal – promotes innovation and entrepreneurship by monitoring and supporting tourism startups and supporting business initiatives through venture capital, real estate investment and mutual guarantee companies, in whose capital it participates.
• AICEP – Portuguese Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade – is the Agency responsible for receiving all foreign investment projects in Portugal and, if necessary, forwarding them to other entities depending on the profile of the project. It operates in accordance with the principle of selectivity towards projects that best contribute to the competitiveness and sustainability of the Portuguese economy, contributing to the objectives of increasing Gross Added Value, reducing the trade deficit and creating jobs.

Applications for public financial support programs

Applications for Compete2020 programs must be registered on the Simplified Access Platform (PAS) . 

The mission of Compete2020 is to ensure the appropriate conditions, in terms of skills, practices and institutional coordination, for a selection of applications aimed at creating and adding value to innovative products and services and promoting territorial cohesion and integration. This portal indicates who can participate depending on the type of competition/notice, and the recipients may vary depending on the Incentive System.

To apply for the incentives presented by the Financing Portal, companies must register and submit applications through Balcão2020 .

Companies applying for the Incentives must have an establishment (headquarters or other establishment) in national territory and in the NUTS II regions (North, Center, Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Alentejo, Algarve, Autonomous Region of the Azores and Autonomous Region of Madeira) considered eligible under the terms established in the Competition Notices.

Source: https://www2.gov.pt/cidadaos-europeus-viajar-viver-e-fazer-negocios-em-portugal/apoios-para-empresas-em-portugal