MRPR-2026-6 SICE – Productive Innovation – Low-Density Territories

New Portugal 2030 Application Notice

The following innovative operations, promoted by SMEs, are eligible for support, related to the following types of action:

1. Creation of a new establishment;

2. Increasing the capacity of an existing establishment;

3. Diversification of production of an establishment to products not previously produced in the establishment;

4. Fundamental change in the overall production process of an existing establishment.

MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM INVESTMENT

Projects must have a minimum eligible investment of €300,000 and a maximum of less than €25 million.

ELIGIBLE EXPENSES

Eligible investment covers tangible assets (machinery and equipment) and intangible assets (such as software and patents), as well as other investment expenses (engineering and architectural services, marketing plans).

In the case of the acquisition of machinery and equipment, provided that its operation does not use fossil fuels as an energy source.

Vehicles, vessels, or other vehicles may be eligible if they predominantly constitute the tourism activity to be developed within the scope of the project, provided that fossil fuels do not power them.

For investments in the tourism sector, construction expenses of up to 60% of the eligible investment may be eligible in the North, Lisbon, Central, and Alentejo regions. For the Algarve region, the limit is 70%.

NATURE OF THE INCENTIVE AND RATE

The incentive is non-refundable up to the following maximum limit:

• Low-Density Territories: 50% for micro and small enterprises and 40% for medium-sized enterprises. In the case of projects located in the Alto Alentejo and Beiras e Serra da Estrela sub-regions, this maximum limit is 50% for medium-sized enterprises and 60% for micro and small enterprises;

• Other territories: 30% for micro and small enterprises and 25% for medium-sized enterprises.

Please note that the maximum rate depends on the promoting company achieving specific increases, namely the implementation of investments related to climate transition, the creation of qualified jobs (minimum bachelor's degree), and the allocation of a majority percentage of equity capital to the eligible investment (equal to or greater than 50%).

For projects located outside the territories foreseen in the regional aid map, specifically in the Lisbon and Algarve regions, the maximum rate is 20% for micro or small enterprises and 10% for medium-sized enterprises.

The intensity of the aid is subject to evaluation of the project's results at the time of investment completion and in the benchmark year (for the tourism sector, up to the third full year after the investment's end). It may be reduced if the financial, economic, and climate transition objectives set out in the application are not achieved.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• The minimum equity capital to be allocated to the eligible investment is 20%;

• Projects must comply with a set of regulations, particularly regarding accessibility, energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, digitalisation, and others;

• The maximum timeframe for investment is 24 months;

• Investment may only begin after the application has been submitted, except for preliminary/preparatory studies such as architectural and engineering designs and feasibility studies;

• Projects must foresee the creation of qualified jobs, i.e., requiring at least a bachelor's degree;

• In cases where the operations foresee expenses for new construction, remodeling, and/or expansion works, and which are covered by a prior administrative control procedure or a prior information request procedure, the respective architectural project must be approved by the competent entities, when a licensing procedure is legally required, or a prior information request must be favorably granted, prepared in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 14 of Decree-Law No. 555/99 of December 16 (RJUE), as amended, and in all cases, must be duly accompanied by all legally required opinions.

Proof of this requirement must be provided by the date of the decision on the application.

APPLICATION PERIOD

The application period for the MPR-2026-6 SICE – Productive Innovation – Low-Density Territories is open until 5 PM on September 30, 2026.