Overview
This call for proposals aims to support innovative productive investment operations that contribute to the objectives of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). It focuses on the manufacturing of critical technologies and on the preservation and strengthening of their associated value chains, within the domains of clean and resource-efficient technologies, including carbon-neutral solutions.
Supported operations must lead to the production of tradable and internationalisable goods and services with high added value and a strong level of national incorporation. These investments are expected to contribute to reshaping the specialisation profile of the Portuguese economy and to strengthening its external competitiveness, in alignment with the STEP Regulation.
The indicative total budget for this call is €300 million.
Beneficiaries
Eligible beneficiaries include companies of any size, nature and legal form. Eligible operations must be located in mainland Portugal, within the NUTS II regions of Norte, Centro and Alentejo, with the location of the operation corresponding to the establishment where the investment is implemented.
Application Period
Applications are open until 30 April 2026.
Eligible Expenditure
A. Tangible assets, including machinery and equipment, costs directly attributable to their installation, and IT equipment, including software;
B. Intangible assets, including patents, licences, non-patented technical knowledge, and standard software or software developed specifically for the project;
C. Other investment-related costs (SMEs), including engineering services, studies, diagnostics, audits, marketing plans, architectural and engineering projects, as well as costs related to certified accountants or statutory auditors for the validation of expenditure.
In duly justified cases, the construction of buildings, refurbishment works and other construction activities may also be eligible, within the limits defined in the call for proposals.
Eligible Actions
Support may be granted to operations which, in line with the objectives of STEP, involve the manufacturing of:
− Final products within the scope of critical technologies;
- Specific components and machinery primarily used in the manufacturing of critical technologies;
- Critical raw materials relevant to the production of critical technologies;
- Associated services that are specific and essential to the manufacturing of final products.
Investments must qualify as an initial investment or an initial investment in favour of a new economic activity, and fall under one of the following categories:
- Creation of a new establishment;
- Diversification of the activity of an existing establishment, provided that the new activity is not the same as or similar to the activity previously carried out;
- Diversification of production into products or services not previously produced or provided by the establishment;
- Fundamental change in the overall production process or overall service provision of an existing establishment.
Nature, Form and Aid Intensity
Support is provided in the form of a non-repayable grant, calculated on the basis of eligible actual costs.
The base aid intensities are as follows:
- 30% for small mid-cap and large enterprises;
- 40% for medium-sized enterprises;
- 50% for micro and small enterprises.
The base aid intensities may be increased by up to 10 percentage points for operations located in the NUTS II
regions of Norte, Centro and Alentejo, up to the following maximum limits:
- 50% for small mid-cap and large enterprises;
- 60% for medium-sized enterprises;
- 70% for micro and small enterprises.
In all cases, the aid intensity shall not exceed the maximum rates expressed in Gross Grant Equivalent (GGE), as set out in the Regional Aid Map 2022–2027.
Applicable Legislation
Ministerial Order (Portaria) No. 429/2025/1, of 4 December, as currently in force.