The COMPETE 2030 Programme has opened a call to promote the improvement of environmental performance and energy efficiency of SMEs, with a budget of €25 million and a maximum co-financing rate of 85%. The initiative targets business associations, chambers of commerce and industry, tourism promotion agencies, non-business entities in the R&D system (ENESII), higher education institutions, their institutes and R&D units, and private non-profit entities.
The aim is to foster an ecosystem favourable to stimulating the decarbonisation of economic activities, creating the necessary conditions to accelerate the business sector's orientation, particularly SMEs, towards a paradigm shift in resource utilisation. Special focus is placed on energy-intensive and more polluting sectors to drive the transition to a carbon-neutral economy through the adoption of low-carbon and more energy-efficient technologies and organisational processes.
Eligible operations include identifying and disseminating sustainable technological solutions and process changes, strengthening business capacity for environmental and energy performance improvement, encouraging the use of regional potential for clean energy production, and guiding and raising awareness among SMEs about energy transition. The goal is for target groups to achieve, on average, at least a 30% reduction in direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions.
The Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, Castro Almeida, stated that corporate decarbonisation is a strategic priority to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, making the Portuguese economy more competitive, autonomous, and sovereign. The deadline for applications is January 8, 2027.
