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A new €57 million fund has been announced under Portugal 2030 to support the international growth of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
The SICE - SME Internationalisation aims to strengthen the capacity of SMEs to integrate into global value chains through the adoption of more advanced business strategies.
The fund, co-financed by the European Union, is a collaborative effort between several programmes: Innovation and Digital Transition Programme (COMPETE 2030), Lisbon Regional Programme (Lisboa 2030), and Algarve Regional Programme (Algarve 2030).
Table of contents
1. What changed in SICE SME Internationalisation 2025?
2. Which companies are eligible for SICE Internationalisation 2025?
3. What types of projects are funded?
4. Financial allocation and incentive rates
5. Deadlines and application process
6. Merit analysis: how applications are evaluated
7. Do you need specialised support for your application?
This new notice represents a significant evolution compared to its 2024 predecessor, with more funds and broader access criteria. The global allocation has increased considerably, rising from €32 million in 2024 to €57 million in 2025.
The main change lies in eligibility. While the 2024 notice was exclusively intended for SMEs with an international turnover exceeding €200,000, the 2025 tender opens a new door for companies with less export experience.
A second phase specifically for SMEs with an international turnover of less than €200,000 has been created, encouraging their entry into global markets. To support these new exporters, the co-financing rate in Phase 2 of COMPETE 2030 has been increased to 50%, a value higher than the fixed 40% offered in the previous notice.
Maximum incentives have also been adjusted: the 2025 notice sets ceilings of €300,000 (Phase 1) and €150,000 (Phase 2), in contrast to the single limit of €315,000 in 2024.
“The allocation of the notice will be distributed between the two Phases. Any allocation that is not committed in Phase 1 transits to Phase 2. Should the allocation prove insufficient, it may be reinforced, in each of the Phases, depending on the registered demand.” Source: Opening Notice
“The allocation of the notice will be distributed between the two Phases. Any allocation that is not committed in Phase 1 transits to Phase 2. Should the allocation prove insufficient, it may be reinforced, in each of the Phases, depending on the registered demand.”
This notice is intended for Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) located in the NUTS II regions of Mainland Portugal, which include North, Centre, Lisbon, Alentejo, and Algarve.
The application process is divided into two distinct phases, based on the company's export volume in the pre-project year of 2024:
Phase 1: Open for applications to SMEs with an international turnover equal to or greater than €200,000.
Phase 2: Open to SMEs with an international turnover of less than €200,000.
Candidates must not have operations approved or under decision process under the previous year's notice.
The SME Internationalisation Incentive supports individual operations that empower SMEs for the international expansion of their business models. The supported actions fall into several key domains:
Market knowledge and presence: Participation in international fairs and exhibitions, as well as prospecting and attracting new customers.
International marketing: Promotional actions and the use of web tools and digital platforms.
Digital expansion: Development of online presence and e-commerce capabilities.
Branding: Creation and international promotion of brands.
Innovation and certification: Organisational innovation related to commercial practices and obtaining specific quality certifications for foreign markets.
Discover all expenses for this notice here.
The total indicative allocation for this notice is €57,000,000. This amount is distributed among the funding programmes as follows:
All projects must present an eligible investment plan exceeding €200,000 for an operation period of 24 months (2 years).
The incentive is granted in the form of a non-repayable grant, with maximum limits on the incentive:
• Phase 1: Maximum applicable rate of 40% on eligible expenditure up to a maximum of €300,000 per company.
• Phase 2: Maximum applicable rate of 50% on eligible expenditure up to a maximum of €150,000 per company.
The application schedule is structured in two phases:
Opening of applications: 30 September 2025.
Phase 1 Deadline: 30 December 2025, at 17:00.
Phase 2 Deadline: 31 March 2026, at 17:00.
Decisions on applications are expected within 60 working days after the closing date of each phase.
The selection of applications under the SICE Internationalisation 2025 notice (MPR-2025-16) is based on a merit evaluation that results in a final score, designated Project Merit (MP). This score determines not only the project's eligibility but also its ranking for funding purposes up to the limit of the available allocation.
The final score is calculated using a weighted formula that evaluates four main criteria, on a scale of 1 to 5:
MP = (0.2 x A) + (0.3 x B) + (0.1 x C) + (0.4 x D)
Where:
A: Adequacy to Strategy
B: Quality
C: Execution Capacity
D: Impact
For an operation to be considered eligible for funding, it must obtain a final MP score equal to or greater than 3.00, in addition to minimum scores of 3.00 in each of the four evaluation criteria.
Navigating the requirements of a tender like SICE Internationalisation and building a high-merit application requires time and specialised knowledge. To ensure your project has the maximum probability of success, many companies choose to turn to experienced partners.
Yunit is a consultancy specialised in financial consulting, sustainability, and management, which includes a project management team specialised in the preparation and submission of applications for European funds, such as Portugal 2030.
With a dedicated team, Yunit assists SMEs throughout the entire process: from the initial diagnosis and project framing, through the rigorous preparation of the application to optimise the score, to post-approval monitoring. If you are looking for a partner to turn your internationalisation plan into a winning application, this could be the solution.
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Source: Compete 2030: SICE - SME Internationalisation - Individual Operations
Last update: 1 October 2025
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