Ações Coletivas – Empreendedorismo Qualificado associado ao Conhecimento

This opportunity aims to support a wide range of companies in addressing common challenges and opportunities through a collective, inclusive, and non-discriminatory approach. It focuses on ensuring the results are widely shared, with actions that demonstrate and disseminate the outcomes effectively. A well-structured proposal is crucial, detailing the activities, their alignment with eligible action types, and the suitability of the technical team and resources allocated to achieve the objectives.

Be implemented physically in the Centro region (NUTS II)

Align with the region’s strategic objectives and public policy priorities

Be led by business associations, higher education institutions or their R&D units, or intermunicipal communities

Optionally include co-promoters such as public or private non-profit organizations with proven experience in entrepreneurship support

Ensure that core project tasks (coordination, management, and monitoring) are not outsourced to third parties

Be supported by organized accounting, financial viability, and sufficient internal resources

Examples of Admissible Projects

• Launch of a startup accelerator program targeting university-based innovations
• Creation of a regional entrepreneurship support network linking municipalities, incubators, and tech parks
• Development of a business validation lab to help early-stage entrepreneurs test and refine ideas
• Implementation of mentoring and training programs for young entrepreneurs and returning emigrants
• Establishment of an innovation hub focused on transitioning research outcomes into new ventures

Direct Eligible Costs

• Human resource expenses.

• Costs for creating, registering, and/or launching the brand/identity of the operation.

• Costs for promoting or publicizing the operation.

• Costs for studies, research, or diagnostics.

• Costs for renting spaces and/or equipment, including logistical support.

• Costs for specialized technical consultancy, including speaker fees.

• Costs for certified accountant or official auditor services.

• Costs related to the awarding of grants to entrepreneurs.

Indirect Eligible Costs

• Other operation-related costs for which it is difficult to accurately determine the direct allocation.

• These are covered using a simplified cost methodology, calculated as a fixed 7% rate on eligible direct costs.

Total budget for the grant: €2,000,000

Co-financing percentage: 85%

Maximum funding per company: 300,000€

• Be a business association, a higher education institution or its R&D unit, or an intermunicipal community operating in the Centro region (NUTS II).
• Be legally established in Portugal, with organized accounting and economic and financial capacity to execute the project.
• Have no overdue payments to the Tax Authority or Social Security.
• Ensure the project is implemented physically in the Centro region.
• Have sufficient technical, human, and financial resources to carry out the proposed activities.