Business R&D&I - Co-promoted Operations

Eligible Actions

Productive investments must complement the supported R&D activities, aiming to incorporate their results into economic activity and introduce them to the market or make them available to potential users.

 // Eligible Actions in the R&D Scope

• Industrial research activities;
• Experimental development activities;
• Production of high or medium-high technological intensity goods or knowledge-intensive services;

 // Eligible Actions in the Productive Scope

• Creation of a new establishment;
• Expansion of an existing establishment’s capacity;
• Diversification of an establishment’s production into products not previously produced there;
• Fundamental change in the overall production process of an existing establishment.

Eligible Investments

The following investments are eligible for application submission, provided they align with at least one project objective.

 // In the Research and Development (R&D) Scope

• Human Resources Costs
  Salaries and expenses for technical staff dedicated to R&D, including remote work;
  Costs related to research fellows and seconded staff (covered by the beneficiary or regulated by agreement);
• Intellectual Property Acquisition
  Purchase or licensing of patents from external sources at market prices;
  Costs associated with patent applications, utility models, and designs (fees, legal costs, and related expenses);
• Materials and Equipment
  Raw materials and consumables;
  Components for prototype development and pilot/experimental installations;
  Acquisition of technical-scientific instruments, equipment, and necessary software;
• External Services and Consultancy
  Technical, scientific, and consultancy services;
  Use of open innovation and crowdsourcing platforms;
• Promotion and Dissemination
  Dissemination of project results to target companies (including participation in events abroad, excluding commercial expenses);
• Travel and Accommodation
  Travel directly related to the project (excluding commercial visits);
• Certification and Validation
  Certification of R&D management systems;
  Fees for Certified Accountants or Statutory Auditors for expense validation.

 // In the Productive Investment Scope

• Productive machinery and equipment;
• IT equipment, including standard software or custom-developed solutions;
• Technology transfer through the acquisition of patent rights and licenses;
• Engineering services, diagnostics, audits, marketing plans, architectural projects, and sustainability compliance studies (only for SMEs);

Budget Allocation and Maximum Support Rates

*For ENESII, the rate may reach up to 85%, except for PR LISBOA, where the maximum rate is 40%.

Minimum Investment (North, Centre, and Alentejo): €5,000,000

Funding Conditions 

 The support rate will be calculated individually for each project component. However, the granted funding cannot exceed the "Maximum Funding Rate" defined above. 

// R&D Component

    // Base Rate

• Up to 50% for industrial research;
• Up to 25% for experimental development.

    // Bonuses:

Bonuses are awarded based on the following criteria, up to a maximum support level of 80%:

• Company Size:
  Medium Enterprises: Up to 10%
  Micro and Small Enterprises: Up to 20%
• Effective Collaboration and/or Broad Dissemination of Results (*): Up to 15%
• Project Location (*):
  North, Centre, or Alentejo Region: Up to 15%
  “C)” Regions of the Regional Aid Map: 5%

(*) These bonuses are not cumulative.

// Productive Innovation Component

    // Base Rate

Application Deadlines

• Phase 1: From 31/01/2025 to 30/05/2025 (until 18:00)
• Phase 2: From 31/05/2025 to 30/10/2025 (until 18:00)

Who Can Apply

The following entities are eligible to apply: 

1. SMEs and Small Mid Caps;
2. Large Enterprises (non-Small Mid Caps) developing projects in co-promotion with SMEs;
3. For operations funded by the Innovation and Digital Transition Programme, ENESII entities, including from the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira, may be eligible if in co-promotion with entities listed in 1) and 2).

Support Specificities

Investment Objectives

Investments must aim to:

• Promote the production of goods or services that are tradable and internationally marketable, with high or medium-high technological intensity and strong knowledge components. These goods and services should have a high level of national incorporation, contributing to value chain completion and global value chain integration.
• Ensure projects align with priority areas of smart specialisation (RIS3) to strengthen the link between research and innovation.
• Ensure that investments qualify as an initial investment or an initial investment in favour of a new economic activity, as defined in Article 19(2) of the REITD.

General Considerations

• Ensure that the investment does not harm environmental objectives (DNSH Principle).
• Maximum duration: 36 months, except for justified exceptions.
• The project must include R&D and Innovation, with R&D investment being predominant, except for justified cases.
• It must align with priority areas of RIS3 (or EREI for Lisbon and Algarve).
• Focus on developing new products, processes, or services or significantly improving existing ones.