SACCCT - Proteção da propriedade intelectual e industrial

The main goal of this grant is to support the registration and valorization of industrial property, helping strengthen technological development. It targets higher education institutions, research centers, technological interface centers, and their researchers, promoting autonomy and encouraging the creation of start-ups. The opportunity focuses on tackling international challenges and trends, such as the circular economy, energy efficiency, and the digitalization of the economy. It covers all NUTS II regions of mainland Portugal: North, Center, Lisbon, Alentejo, and Algarve.

• Projects must align with the regional RIS3 strategies and contribute to the program's priorities.
• Applicants need to demonstrate a balanced economic and financial situation, as well as sources of financing.
• Projects must achieve at least 3.00 points in Adequacy to Strategy, Quality, and Impact, and a total Merit of the Project score of 3.50 or higher.
• Operations must have a structured set of expenses and a maximum duration of 36 months (unless justified).
• Applications must be submitted before filing industrial property requests.
• Projects must respect environmental principles and not harm environmental objectives.

Examples:

• A university research group applies for funding to patent a new energy-efficient battery technology, aligning with regional innovation priorities.
• A technological interface center seeks support to register an innovative recycling process, contributing to the circular economy.
• A start-up incubated at a research center applies for funds to protect a digital tool for smart agriculture, fitting the digitalization focus.

• Costs for national patent applications
• Costs for international patent applications (direct submission)
• Costs for European patent applications
• Costs for international patent applications (PCT) entering national phases
• Costs for community design/model applications
• Fees for obtaining and validating patents, utility models, and designs/models
• Legal and administrative fees directly related to the application process
• Translation costs required for applications
• Consultancy fees for preparing and submitting applications

Restrictions: Expenses for annuities or maintenance of industrial property rights after their grant, and costs for protection requests that are not submitted, are not eligible.

• Total budget of the grant: €3,700,000
• Co-financing rate: Up to 85% (40% for Lisbon region)
• Maximum per project: For Norte, Centro, and Alentejo regions, COMPETE 2030 supports investments over €75,000; regional programs support investments up to €75,000. No specific maximum for Lisbon and Algarve mentioned.
• Minimum per project: For Norte, Centro, and Alentejo, COMPETE 2030 funds projects over €75,000; regional programs fund those up to €75,000.
• Maximum project duration: 36 months
• Other financial details: Funding limits per application type: national patent/model/design: €3,500; foreign patent/model/design (direct): €6,000; European patent: €60,000; PCT national phase: €60,000; community design/model: €3,500. Payments are made as advances and reimbursements, with a maximum of 95% of the approved incentive paid before project completion. Only one application per beneficiary per program is allowed.

• Applicants must be higher education institutions, research centers, technological interface centers, or researchers linked to these entities.
• Applicants must have a financially balanced situation based on the most recent accounts (2023 or 2024).
• Applicants must demonstrate sources of funding for the project.
• Projects must align with the priorities of the relevant RIS3 strategy or regional RIS3 priorities.
• Projects must achieve at least 3.00 points in Adequacy to Strategy, Quality, and Impact, and a total Merit of Project score of at least 3.50.
• Applications must be submitted online through the Balcão dos Fundos platform, with complete and updated data.
• Only one application per beneficiary is allowed per program (COMPETE 2030, CENTRO 2030, Norte 2030, Lisboa 2030).
• Applications must be submitted before filing for industrial property rights.