Continued from part two of this three-part series, the IPBN sat down with Luis Escudeiro of IPBN member company ACT Solutions to find out more about 2030 incentives and what this means for investment.

As Portugal 2030 continues to evolve, the country’s funding landscape is becoming increasingly sophisticated, strategic, and competitive.

What is the future of Portuguese incentives?

According to Luis Escudeiro, the future of incentives in Portugal will be defined less by opportunistic funding applications — and more by the ability to build coherent, high-impact projects aligned with broader European priorities.

“Programmes are no longer simply looking for investment volume,” Luis explains. “They are increasingly focused on impact: what the project changes, what value it creates, how it improves competitiveness, how it contributes to employment, and whether it aligns with policy priorities.”

This shift reflects wider EU priorities around sustainability, digital transition, innovation, energy efficiency, circular economy, qualified employment, regional development, and international competitiveness.

For businesses, this means funding strategies are also becoming more integrated.

“Companies will increasingly need to think beyond a single grant and consider how different mechanisms can work together,” Luis says, pointing to combinations involving hiring incentives, qualification support, R&D tax benefits, sustainability instruments, regional investment programmes, and internationalisation support.

Portugal remains highly competitive in this regard, particularly for SMEs, startups, innovation-driven companies, and projects located outside the major urban centres.

“One of the main advantages is the combination of different instruments,” Luis explains. “For certain projects, the combination of grant funding and tax incentives can be particularly powerful.”

What does the competition look like?

At the same time, competition for support is intensifying.

“Eligibility alone is not enough,” he notes. “A company may meet the basic requirements and still not be selected if the project is not sufficiently strong, coherent or well aligned with the programme’s priorities.”

This is why advisory and project structuring are becoming increasingly important. As programmes become more competitive and technically demanding, companies are increasingly relying on specialised support to align financial, legal, operational and funding considerations from the earliest stages of project development.

“The future of incentives in Portugal will be less about ‘finding a grant’ and more about building credible, well-structured projects that can demonstrate innovation, impact and long-term value.”

For international companies considering Portugal, Luis believes the country offers a compelling long-term proposition when viewed holistically — combining access to European markets, talent, quality of life, competitive operating conditions, and a funding framework capable of materially supporting growth.

“Portugal can be an excellent base for expansion,” he says. “But the project should be structured from the outset with funding, tax, legal, operational and commercial considerations working together.”

And ultimately, that strategic alignment may become the defining advantage for companies looking to grow successfully in Portugal over the coming years.

If you are interested in finding out more or need some help understanding how you can gain access to these funds, get in touch with Luis here!