STEP · R&D&I · Portugal 2030

STEP · R&D&I · Digital & Biotechnology

Integrated research, development and productive investment in digital, deep-tech and biotechnology, from technological development to commercial production, through a business-led consortium.

Assess project eligibility

Overview

The decisive question is how the project contributes to a critical European technology or its value chain. The technology must satisfy the call's innovation and economic-potential test or its strategic-dependency test. Merely buying digital equipment or reducing energy consumption does not establish STEP eligibility.

Investment

What this call can support.

01
Critical digital, deep-tech and biotechnology and their eligible value chains.
02
Specific components and machinery mainly used to develop and manufacture critical technologies; relevant critical raw materials and specialised critical services.
03
Industrial research and experimental development combined with productive investment that brings results to market. Both components are compulsory.
04
A complete consortium including companies able to take the technology to market.

Core eligibility

Which businesses and projects may qualify.

Location: Norte, Centro, Alentejo and Algarve.
Eligible expenditure: €5m to less than €25m*. Exceptions require justification under the call. Following appraisal, corrected eligible expenditure below €5m is not supported.
Business-led consortium, normally up to 10 beneficiaries. Companies must hold the majority of proposed investment, subject to accepted exceptions.
Normal duration: 36 months, except duly justified cases.
Investment in Algarve requires a separate application from Norte, Centro and Alentejo.

Critical considerations

What makes a strong application.

Evidence that the technology is critical, with at least two factors under the applicable STEP condition; market potential or reduced EU strategic dependencies.
Application before work starts, except permitted preparatory activities. Irreversible commitments must be reviewed before signing.
Mandatory technical annex in English: up to 45 pages, following the official template.
Consortium agreement, allocation of work, intellectual property, adoption of results and a predominantly R&D investment profile unless justified and accepted.

Eligible expenditure

Investment and funding conditions.

Up to 80% in business R&D. The 80% ceiling concerns the companies' R&D component; eligible research organisations may reach 85% under the call. Productive investment follows the regional aid map. R&D base rates are up to 50% for industrial research and 25% for experimental development, before eligible increases. Personnel, eligible equipment use and specialist services may qualify. Support takes the form of a grant. Each cost category and funding source requires individual assessment.

Read the full official call (Portuguese)

Illustrative project

From an idea to a project.

A company and research partners develop a critical biotechnological process and integrate the results into commercial production.

Illustrative example. Eligibility depends on a full assessment of the project and the conditions of the call.

The Fenix Capital view

Incentives should strengthen the investment’s financial strategy.

Formal eligibility is only the starting point. The application must connect investment to strategy, demonstrate delivery capacity and anticipate the financing required until the support is received.

Fenix Capital supports the initial assessment, application structuring, financial model and implementation monitoring, bringing together incentives, equity and financing.

Read the official guidance (Portuguese)

Compare all STEP calls

01 · INSIGHTS

STEP 2026: which call fits your investment?

Compare the four calls and distinguish productive innovation from R&D&I.

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Digital and Biotechnology: what makes a project eligible?

Critical technologies, value chains and the evidence behind a strong application.

Read the analysis →03 · INSIGHTS

STEP Energy: manufacturing the clean transition

Opportunities for technology producers and specialised suppliers.

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R&D&I: from consortium to a fundable project

Technology, industrialisation, collaboration and liquidity in one plan.

Read the analysis →

From opportunity to investment

Does your project fit STEP?

Share the technology, location, estimated investment and project stage. We can assess the relevant call and discuss the financial structure needed to deliver it.

A focused first conversation, confidential and without commitment. Include your company name and a contact number.

Request STEP assessment Book a conversation

The assessment button opens an email draft with the information to share. info@fenixcapital.pt