SIQRH - Formação-ação

The main goal of this opportunity is to support training and qualification of companies and their workers in less developed regions of mainland Portugal: Norte, Centro, and Alentejo. The focus is on innovative training methods that combine theoretical and practical learning to help organizations achieve goals like digitalization, modernization, energy efficiency, and decarbonization. It also aims to boost management skills, specific qualifications, and digital abilities (e-skills), while supporting upskilling, reskilling, and talent retention. Special attention is given to sustainable practices, ESG principles, and sector-specific needs in areas such as agriculture, tourism, and digitalization. Overall, the program seeks to increase employability, productivity, and competitiveness through classroom and on-the-job training.

• Projects must comply with all eligibility and verification requirements.
• The coordinating beneficiary and participating SMEs must register in the "Balcão dos Fundos" portal and provide required documents.
• Projects must involve SMEs that meet registration and operational criteria.
• Financial and operational plans must show balanced finances and justified investment estimates.
• Projects must achieve at least 70% compliance with required indicators for full payment.
• Projects cannot include costs for trainees not employed by participating SMEs or individual company-only costs.
• Projects must not involve entrepreneurs lacking meaningful turnover or with overdue salaries.
• Projects can be regional or multiregional, depending on sector and location.

Example Projects:

• A digital upskilling program for tourism SMEs in Norte, combining classroom learning and on-the-job coaching.
• An energy efficiency training initiative for agricultural businesses in Alentejo, with both theory sessions and practical workshops.
• A management improvement project for a network of manufacturing SMEs in Centro, using "formação-ação" to modernize business processes.

• Fees for external trainers for classroom training (up to €30/hour plus non-deductible VAT).
• Fees for external trainers-consultants for on-the-job training (up to €50/hour plus non-deductible VAT).
• Remuneration for internal trainers and consultants, if conditions are met.
• Operational costs (rents, leases, amortizations, preparation, monitoring, development, evaluation, and general operation), capped at €3/hour per trainee.
• Travel, accommodation, and meal expenses for external trainers and consultants.
• Funding based on simplified cost regime for projects under €200,000, using fixed amounts and detailed budgets.

• Total budget of the grant: €60,000,000
• Co-financing rate: Up to 70%
• Maximum per project: €3,000,000
• Minimum per project: €200,000
• Maximum project duration: 24 months 

• Applicants must be legally established SMEs located in Norte, Centro, or Alentejo regions of mainland Portugal.
• SMEs must be registered in the "Balcão dos Fundos" portal and provide all required documentation.
• SMEs must have electronic certification of SME status at the time of support allocation.
• SMEs must operate in eligible sectors (excluding financial, insurance, defense, and gambling).
• SMEs must have no overdue salaries and must be financially balanced with positive equity.
• Applicants must ensure all participating trainees are employed by the involved SMEs.
• For individuals, eligibility may depend on age, family status, sector/profession gender balance, or being part of an ethnic minority requiring training for employability.
• Applicants must comply with all verification and documentation requirements.