SICE – Productive Innovation – Low-Density Territories and Other Territories
The call SICE – Productive Innovation – Low-Density Territories and Other Territories is now open, aimed at supporting innovative business investment projects carried out by SMEs.
• Application period: from June 15, 2026 to September 30, 2026
• Balcão 2030 reference: MPr-2026-6
• Beneficiary companies: Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), of any nature and under any legal form
• Type of funding: Non-repayable incentive — grant (ERDF)
• Eligible investment: between €300,000 and €25,000,000
• Maximum implementation period: 24 months
• Total allocation: €182,500,000
Objective
Support is intended for investments that enable the creation of new goods or services, significantly improve existing production, or implement new manufacturing, logistics, distribution, organisational or marketing processes. The aim is to strengthen SME competitiveness through innovation, knowledge transfer, digitalisation and productive modernisation.
Eligible projects
Eligible initial investment projects include:
• Creation of a new establishment;
• Increase in the capacity of an existing unit;
• Diversification into products or services that the company did not previously produce or provide;
• Substantial change in overall production or service delivery processes;
• Creation of a new establishment or diversification within the scope of a new economic activity.
The call prioritises projects with technological product or process innovation, marketing innovation and organisational innovation, including the upskilling of human resources and investment in training and professional development.
Eligible expenses
Eligible expenses may include, among others:
• Machinery, production equipment and related installation costs;
• IT equipment and the software required for its operation;
• Off-the-shelf software or custom-developed software;
• Patents, licences, technical know-how and technology transfer;
• Engineering services, studies, diagnostics, audits and technical reports;
• Costs for expenditure validation by certified accountants or statutory auditors;
• Construction of buildings, refurbishments and other works in the tourism and industry sectors, within the applicable limits.
Geographical area and support
The call covers the NUTS II regions North, Centre, Lisbon, Alentejo and Algarve. In low-density territories, support rates may reach 50% for medium-sized enterprises and 60% for micro and small enterprises in the NUTS II Alto Alentejo and Beiras and Serra da Estrela.
In the remaining territories, the base rate ranges between 25% and 30%, and may reach 35% for medium-sized enterprises and 45% for micro and small enterprises in Alto Alentejo and Beiras and Serra da Estrela. In low-density territories, additional uplifts may also apply, associated with the climate transition, the creation of qualified employment and SME capitalisation.
Project indicators
Supported projects must contribute to the introduction of innovations in the company, job creation — including qualified employment, increased turnover, improved value added per worker and, where applicable, strengthening export intensity.
For more information about support for projects in Alentejo Litoral, contact us via email.