Portugal is experiencing a moment of great transformation in its innovation ecosystem. Between strategic public investment and the growing strength of private capital, the country is building the foundations of a new economy driven by advanced technology, scientific research and entrepreneurial talent.
Banco Portuguese de Fomento (BPF), in partnership with the Recover Portugal Mission Structure, has launched a new investment program worth 15 million euros exclusively dedicated to deep technology companies (Deep Tech). Integrated in the Financial Instrument for Innovation and Competitiveness (IFIC) of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, the program aims to support up to twenty Portuguese startups that develop solutions in the areas of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, advanced materials and quantum technologies.
Each company will be able to receive up to 750 thousand euros in financing, as long as it guarantees the presence of a private co-investor with at least 30% of the total amount. Applications will be monitored by the National Innovation Agency (ANI) and supported by Startup Portugal, which will launch in parallel the Tech Foundry Portugal – Deep Tech Edition initiative, for mentoring and internationalization.
More than financial support, this measure represents a sign of strategic maturity. Portugal is building a cohesive ecosystem that connects research to industry, talent to innovation and investment to competitiveness. With the involvement of entities such as ANI, Portugal Ventures and Startup Portugal, the country takes a firm step towards consolidating a robust and globally relevant technological economy.
At the same time, the results of the study carried out by ISCTE for the Portuguese Association of Venture Capital (APCRI) show the growing impact of private investment on the national economy. Companies that have received venture capital funding generate 12.3 times more revenues and create 15.1 times more jobs than the national average. Almost half of its turnover comes from exports, evidencing the ability of these companies to scale internationally and strengthen Portugal's role in global trade.
In total, venture-backed companies account for €21.7 billion in turnover and employ 177,000 people. Each one pays an average of 2.2 million euros in corporate income tax and has an average EBITDA of 1.5 million euros, well above the 200 thousand euros of the national average. In the case of companies with private equity capital, the amount rises to five million, an indicator of the efficiency and competitiveness generated by this financing model.
In a context where Lisbon hosts international events such as the Web Summit and Atlantic Convergence, Portugal is increasingly emerging as a strategic hub for innovation, energy and technology. The combination of talent, stability and vision is positioning the country as a true digital axis of the Atlantic.
Portugal is no longer just an investment destination. It is a country that creates, transforms and exports innovation. And everything indicates that the next big technology companies in Europe may be born here, driven by science, trust and the ability to do things differently.
 
NEWS, Economy