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STEP - Business R&D&I - Digital and Biotechnology
Incentives

STEP - Business R&D&I - Digital and Biotechnology

Opened Until 04-01-2027

Support for collaborative R&D&I projects in digital technologies and biotechnology with up to 80% non-repayable funding under the STEP initiative.

🏷️
 
Typology
STEP Business R&D&I (Digital & Biotechnology)
🏢
 
Beneficiaries
Companies of any size and R&I entities (ENESII) in co-promotion
📍
 
Geographical Area
NUTS II Norte, Centro, Alentejo and Algarve
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Support Rate
Up to 80% (85% for ENESII in R&D) Non-repayable Grant
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Budget Allocation
€76 Million (€75M COMPETE 2030 | €1M Algarve 2030)

 

General Incentive Objective

 

This call aims to support integrated business research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) operations under the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), promoting:

→The development and manufacture of critical digital technologies (including AI, semiconductors, quantum, and cybersecurity) and biotechnologies (including critical medicines).
→The preservation and reinforcement of strategic European value chains and the reduction of EU strategic dependencies.
→The economic valorisation of R&D outcomes at higher TRLs up to market roll-out and collaborative productive investment.

 

Supported Typologies

 
COMPETE 2030 (PITD)
Norte, Centro and Alentejo
Algarve 2030
Algarve Region
Eligible Activities
→Industrial research and experimental development (higher TRLs) in Digital Technologies and Biotechnology.
→Complementary productive investments in new establishments, diversification, or fundamental process improvements.
→Integrated proposals across establishments in Norte, Centro, and Alentejo with eligible costs between €5M and €25M.
Eligible Activities
→Integrated R&D&I projects in critical STEP technologies situated in the Algarve as an autonomous application.
→Investment in R&D and productive innovation exempted from the €5M minimum budget threshold.
→Productive component framed under the Regional State Aid Map or regional de minimis rules.

 

Eligible Expenses

 
Eligible Costs COMPETE 2030
PITD (Norte, Centro, Alentejo)
Eligible Costs Algarve 2030
Algarve Regional Programme
✓R&D technical personnel costs of the applicant and mandatory social security contributions (up to 14 salary periods/year).
✓Simplified indirect costs calculated at a flat rate of 7% on direct eligible R&D expenditures.
✓Scientific equipment, advanced software licences, and laboratory tools (depreciation costs or purchase for ENESII).
✓Critical raw materials, components for pilot/testing facilities and prototypes, and intellectual property registration.
✓Complementary productive assets: machinery, equipment, software (fossil-free only) and construction/refurbishment up to 20%.
✓Dedicated R&D staff costs and research fellows engaged in the execution of the regional project.
✓Flat-rate indirect costs calculated at 7% over direct eligible R&D expenditure.
✓Acquisition of IT hardware, specialised software packages, and external scientific consultancy services.
✓Building construction, refurbishment works, and site adaptations up to a higher ceiling of 40% of productive costs.
✓SME expenditures on marketing plans, engineering projects, and Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) compliance assessments.

 

Funding & Support Structure

 
COMPETE 2030 (PITD)
Allocation: €75,000,000.00 (ERDF)
Support RateUp to 80% (85% for ENESII)
Top-ups / Bonuses
+Base R&D rates: 50% for industrial research / 25% for experimental development.
+Size top-up: +10 p.p. for medium enterprises or +20 p.p. for micro and small enterprises.
+Location or wide collaborative dissemination bonus: up to +15 p.p. (non-cumulative).
+Productive component: aligned with STEP Regional Aid Map (up to 40% Large, 50% Medium, 60% Small).
+10% priority allocation for Phase 4 partnerships with US Universities (MIT, CMU, UT Austin).
Algarve 2030
Allocation: €1,000,000.00 (ERDF)
Support RateUp to 80% (85% for ENESII)
Top-ups / Bonuses
+Base R&D rate: up to 80% for enterprises (85% for ENESII non-economic activities).
+Productive component in 'c' zones: 20% to 40% under regional aid or up to 50% via de minimis.
+Rest of the Algarve outside the regional aid map: supported via de minimis or GBER Art. 17 (10% medium, 20% small).
+Non-repayable grants based on actual incurred expenditure and 7% flat-rate indirect costs.

 

Eligible Beneficiaries

 
COMPETE 2030 (PITD)
MPr-2026-9 (Norte, Centro, Alentejo)
Algarve 2030
MPr-2026-9 (Algarve)
✓Enterprises with operational establishments located in the Norte, Centro, and Alentejo regions.
✓Consortium led by an enterprise, ensuring enterprises hold the majority share of the total proposed investment.
✓Mandatory participation of technology takers across critical stages of the target value chain.
✓Enterprises and partners carrying out investments within facilities physically located in the Algarve region.
✓Obligation to submit a separate, autonomous application for investments based in the Algarve.
✓Active co-promotion with ENESIIs and full technical readiness for market deployment.

 

Call & Application Dates

 
Programa
COMPETE 2030 (PITD)
Programa
Algarve 2030
Period
From 30/09/2026 to 04/01/2027 (17:00)
Phases
Opening — 30/09/2026
Closing — 04/01/2027
Period
From 30/09/2026 to 04/01/2027 (17:00)
Phases
Opening — 30/09/2026
Closing — 04/01/2027

 

 
 
Financial Incentives

Does your company develop breakthrough technologies in Digital or Biotechnology?

Structure a collaborative consortium under the European STEP initiative with up to 80% non-repayable grant support with the expert advisors at Yunit Consulting.

 

Key Notice Rules

 
🤝
Complete Consortium Led by an Enterprise
The consortium is limited to a maximum of 10 beneficiaries, must be enterprise-led, and must include technology-taker partners capable of commercialising the project's outputs.
📝
Technical Annex in English (Max. 45 Pages)
Mandatory submission of an English Technical Annex strictly following the official template, capped at 45 pages, validating the critical nature of the STEP technologies.
💰
Minimum €5M Eligible Budget (PITD)
For the COMPETE 2030 programme, total eligible expenditure must be between €5,000,000 and €25,000,000 (threshold does not apply to Algarve 2030).
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Focus on High TRL in R&D
R&D activities must predominantly focus on higher Technology Readiness Levels (experimental development and pre-commercial piloting), coupled with productive investment.
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Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) Compliance
Compliance with EU Regulation 2020/852 is mandatory. Expenses with DNSH audit and alignment reports are eligible up to €15,000 (SMEs) or €25,000 (R&D).
🏛️
10% Priority Budget for US University Alliances
10% of the PITD budget allocation is prioritised for collaborative projects formalised under Phase 4 agreements with US Universities (MIT, CMU, and UT Austin).

 

📄 Notice Fact Sheet
Notice Reference MPr-2026-9 (CIC Deliberation No. 13/2026/PL)
Publication Date 30/09/2026
Programme Innovation and Digital Transition Thematic Programme (COMPETE 2030) & Algarve Regional Programme 2021-2027
Programme Priority 1C - Innovation and Competitiveness (STEP) - Compete; 1C - Critical Technologies - Algarve
Specific Objectives RSO1.6 - Support investments contributing to the objectives of STEP
Managing Authority Managing Authorities of COMPETE 2030 and Algarve 2030 (Intermediate Body: Agency for Research and Innovation - AI²)

Knowledge

Portugal's vision for 2030 for the Strategic Technologies Platform (STEP)
Blog

Portugal's vision for 2030 for the Strategic Technologies Platform (STEP)

06 01 2026

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