Internacionalização de I&D – Operações de I&D industrial à escala europeia

This funding call supports Portuguese companies and research entities participating in European industrial R&D projects, especially under the EUREKA network (Clusters, EUROSTARS, GlobalStars, Multilateral Calls). It provides national co-financing for operations that do not receive EU-level co-funding but have been approved or awarded a seal by European programs. The projects must involve industrial research and/or experimental development, aiming to create or significantly improve products, processes, or systems, and must be aligned with national or regional smart specialization strategies (RIS3).

Be part of a European R&D initiative, including one of the following:

• EUREKA Network Projects (including Clusters, GlobalStars, Multilateral Calls)
• EUROSTARS (Innovative SMEs partnership under EUREKA)

Involve Portuguese entities (companies or research institutions) as participants, and be awarded, approved, or positively evaluated by the respective European program.

• Cover activities of industrial research and/or experimental development, aiming at:
• Creating new products, processes, or systems

Introducing significant improvements to existing technologies or solutions

Examples of Admissible Projects

• A Portuguese SME participating in a EUROSTARS project developing a new AI-based diagnostic tool for hospitals.

• A consortium led by a Portuguese mid-cap working under a EUREKA Cluster to build green hydrogen systems for maritime transport.

• A co-promotion between a Portuguese research institute and a European startup to scale a bioplastic prototype, awarded funding in a GlobalStars call.

• A software company from Portugal joining a Multilateral EUREKA project to develop secure, interoperable blockchain infrastructure for cross-border logistics.

• Personnel Costs

  • Salaries of technical staff directly involved in R&D activities

  • Wages for newly hired researchers, including telework arrangements

  • Costs with research fellows and seconded personnel (including from partner institutions)

• Acquisition of R&D Services

  • Costs with subcontracting R&D work to third parties (non-consortium members)

• Consumables and Materials

  • Directly related to R&D project execution

• Tools and Equipment

  • Costs related to the acquisition or use of equipment specifically needed for R&D tasks

• Software and Licenses

  • If required for the research or development activities

• Travel and Subsistence

  • For personnel involved in the project, using unit cost methodology for simplification

  • Applies only to non-commercial travel (e.g. meetings, technical missions, collaboration)

• Promotion and Dissemination of Results

  • Includes participation in exhibitions, conferences, production of promotional or scientific material

  • Capped at 5% of total eligible investment or €70,000, whichever is lower

• Certification Costs

  • For obtaining R&D system certifications under standards like NP 4457:2021

• Audit and Financial Certification Costs

  • Certified accountant or auditor services related to project spending validation

• Indirect Costs

  • Covered via a fixed rate of 7% applied to eligible direct costs

Total budget for the grant: €13,300,000 (shared across multiple regional programs and COMPETE 2030)

Co-financing percentage: Up to 85%

Maximum Funding per Company: Up to 500,000€

• Be one of the following:

  • Companies (SMEs, Small Mid Caps, or large enterprises)

  • Non-business R&I entities (ENESII) such as universities, research institutes, or technology centers

• Be legally established in Portugal, with organized accounting and active operations

• Be in good standing with tax and social security obligations

• Demonstrate the financial and operational capacity to execute the project

• Submit a project that:

  • Has received a positive evaluation or formal award under a European R&D initiative (e.g. EUREKA, EUROSTARS, GlobalStars)

  • Is aligned with national/regional RIS3 (smart specialization strategies)

  • Includes only industrial research and/or experimental development activities