Lisbon, May 8, 2026 (Lusa) - Portugal's economy ministry said on Friday that micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small-mid cap companies can now apply for industrial research and experimental development support.

The economy and territorial cohesion ministry announced a €10 million tender through Compete 2030 (a Portuguese public funding programme) and the Lisbon 2030 and Algarve 2030 regional programmes. The process will have three phases, with the first ending on 30 June 2026.

The support funds individual or joint projects that create new products or improve existing processes.

The ministry also aims to co-finance Portuguese entities in European research and development (R&D) projects, specifically those in the Eureka Network, an international cooperation platform for industrial innovation.

Companies and non-business research and innovation system (ENESII) entities, such as research centres, qualify.

 This includes organisations in the Azores and Madeira regions.

“Strengthening technology transfer and sharing, supporting projects with market potential and stimulating business innovation are central goals of a strategy that takes knowledge as the engine of economic development,” the economy minister, Manuel Castro Almeida, said.

He also said this is “an essential condition for a more competitive and sustainable economy at both national and European levels.”

The government said the funding covers costs including patent acquisitions and applications, the purchase of components needed to build pilot, experimental or demonstration facilities, prototype construction, and the acquisition of technical-scientific instruments, equipment and specialised software “proven necessary for carrying out the operation.”

Approved projects receive a funding rate of up to 80%. ENESII entities can receive up to 85%.

The rate for the Lisbon region is up to 40%.

PD/LYT // AYLS

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