Strategic Businesses

Objective

Investment projects of strategic importance for sustainable economic development are eligible for support, provided they involve investments over €50,000 and aim to strengthen business productivity and competitiveness through integrated investment approaches, that operate in eligible economic activity classifications.

Beneficiaries

Commercial companies of any legal nature, complementary business groupings, and cooperatives.

Requirements

Among other conditions, promoters must:

• Have a minimum financial autonomy of 25% in the year prior to the project.

Among other conditions, projects must:

• Start after the application submission, except for land and building acquisition and studies directly related to the project;
• Have secured funding sources and be financed by the promoter with a minimum of 25% equity capital;
• Have a maximum execution period of three years, or two years for projects up to €200,000.

Support

Non-refundable incentive of 40% for the islands of São Miguel and Terceira, 45% for the islands of Faial and Pico and for the municipalities of Nordeste, Vila Franca do Campo, and Povoação on São Miguel Island, and 50% for the islands of Santa Maria, Graciosa, São Jorge, Flores, and Corvo.

A performance bonus may be granted to projects, consisting of an increase of up to 25% on the non-repayable incentive rate.
The maximum incentive amount per project is €7 million.

Know more here

Local Economic Base

Objective

There are eligible for support any investment project aimed at meeting local market needs and boosting the internal market, provided they involve investments over €50,000 and seek to strengthen business productivity and competitiveness through integrated investment approaches, in eligible economic activity classifications.

Beneficiaries

Sole proprietors, commercial companies of any legal nature, cooperatives, and complementary business groupings.

Requirements

Among other conditions, promoters must:

• Meet the criteria for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);
• Have a minimum financial autonomy of 20% in the year prior to the project.

Among other conditions, projects must:

• Start after the application submission, except for land and building acquisition and studies directly related to the project;
• Have secured funding sources and be financed by the promoter with a minimum of 20% equity capital;
• Have a maximum execution period of three years, or two years for projects up to €200,000.

Support

Non-refundable incentive of 35% for the islands of São Miguel and Terceira, 40% for the islands of Faial and Pico and for the municipalities of Nordeste, Vila Franca do Campo, and Povoação on São Miguel Island, and 45% for the islands of Santa Maria, Graciosa, São Jorge, Flores, and Corvo.

A performance bonus may be granted to projects, consisting of an increase of up to 20% on the non-repayable incentive rate.
The maximum incentive amount per project is €4 million.

Know more here

Young Investor

Objective

There are eligible for support any investment project with an amount equal to or greater than €15,000 and eligible investment equal to or less than €350,000, promoted by companies established for less than two years, in eligible economic activity classifications.

Beneficiaries

Sole proprietors and commercial companies of any legal nature, headquartered or with a permanent establishment in the Azores, whose share capital is majority-owned by young entrepreneurs, one of whom must hold a majority position compared to the cumulative participation of non-young partners.

Young entrepreneurs are defined as those who meet all the following conditions:

• Aged between 18 and 40 at the time of application submission;
• Create their own job and commit, under a declaration of responsibility, to managing the business, with full-time positions if the company is not exclusively owned by young entrepreneurs;
• Hold exclusive representation rights of the commercial company.

Requirements

Among other conditions, beneficiaries must:

• Meet the criteria for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);
• Not submit a new application for the same establishment.

Among other conditions, projects must:

• Start after the application submission, except for land and building acquisition and studies directly related to the project;
• Have a maximum execution period of two years.

Support

Non-repayable incentive of 45% for the islands of São Miguel and Terceira, 50% for the islands of Faial and Pico and for the municipalities of Nordeste, Vila Franca do Campo, and Povoação on São Miguel Island, and 55% for the islands of Santa Maria, Graciosa, São Jorge, Flores, and Corvo.

Additional 5% for projects promoted by companies incubated in the Azores Business Incubator Network that aim to establish operations outside incubators or projects developed within the Scientific or Technological System.

Additional 5% for projects promoted by companies whose share capital is 100% owned by young entrepreneurs.
A performance bonus may be granted, consisting of an increase of up to 20% on the non-repayable incentive rate.

Know more here

Small Businesses

Objective

There are eligible for support any investment project promoted by micro and small enterprises, with a total value equal to or greater than €5,000 and eligible costs equal to or less than €75,000, aimed at sectors of activity primarily focused on domestic demand and oriented toward meeting local market needs, in eligible economic activity classifications.

Beneficiaries

Sole proprietors, commercial companies of any legal nature, cooperatives, and complementary business groupings.

Requirements

Among other conditions, beneficiaries must:

• Meet the criteria for micro or small enterprises;
• Not submit a new application for the same establishment unless the previous project is completed, with a maximum of two projects per establishment.

Among other conditions, projects must:

• Start after the application submission, except for land and building acquisition and studies directly related to the project;
• Have a maximum execution period of one year.

Support

Non-refundable incentive of 50% for the islands of São Miguel and Terceira, 55% for the islands of Faial and Pico and for the municipalities of Nordeste, Povoação, and Vila Franca do Campo on São Miguel Island, and 60% for the islands of Santa Maria, Graciosa, São Jorge, Flores, and Corvo.

A performance bonus may be granted, consisting of an increase of up to 10% on the non-repayable incentive rate.

Know more here

Enhancing human capital is a priority for the sustainable economic development of the Azores. Through the Regional Directorate for Vocational Training and Employment (DREQP), the region offers a set of programs and incentives that promote job creation, youth integration into the labor market, professional retraining, and continuous training.

These measures aim not only to meet the immediate needs of companies but also to prepare workers for the challenges of digital transformation and innovation, strengthening the region’s competitiveness and social cohesion.

For more information and a detailed overview of the support measures and incentives, please consult this page

Energy transition is one of the strategic pillars of the Azores, aligned with regional, national, and European decarbonization commitments. To support this goal, the region offers specific incentives for energy efficiency, the integration of renewable energy, and the modernization of production and consumption systems, both for businesses and individuals.

These incentives, promoted by the Regional Directorate for Energy (DREn) help reduce operating costs, increase competitiveness, and promote a sustainable development model, reinforcing the Azores role as an international benchmark in clean energy, particularly in geothermal, hydro, and wind power.

For information on applications to specific programs, please consult this page

Investing in Research and Development (R&D) is essential to strengthen the competitiveness of the Azorean economy and generate innovative solutions with global impact. Through the Regional Directorate for Science, Innovation and Development (DRCID) and the Regional Fund for Science and Technology (FRCT), the region offers a range of support measures that promote cooperation between universities, research centers, and companies, fostering knowledge transfer and the valorisation of endogenous resources.

The FRCT is the region’s main financial instrument for supporting scientific and technological projects, encouraging participation in national and European programs — such as Horizon Europe — and strengthening the internationalization of the Azorean scientific community.

These incentives, aligned with other national and European programs, drive initiatives in areas such as technological innovation, digitalization, environmental sustainability, and the development of new products and services, consolidating the Azores as a territory open to science, cooperation, and innovation.

For more information and a detailed overview of the support measures and incentives in force, please consult the following links:

Ciência, Inovação e Desenvolvimento - Direção Regional da Ciência, Inovação e Desenvolvimento Fundo Regional da Ciência e Tecnologia - Página Principal - Fundo Regional da Ciência e Tecnologia

Agriculture is a strategic sector for the Azores, with strong economic and social relevance, supported by a set of specific incentives managed by the Regional Directorate for Rural Development (DRDR). Through the PRORURAL+ program, co-financed by European funds, incentives are provided for agricultural investment, farm modernization, environmental sustainability, and the promotion of regional production.

These measures aim to strengthen the sector’s competitiveness, support technological innovation, encourage sustainable farming practices, and promote the quality of Azorean products, many of which hold PDO and PGI certifications. In this context, the Marca Açores plays an essential role in enhancing, promoting, and recognizing the authenticity and quality of regional agricultural production in national and international markets.

Thus, Azorean agriculture continues to assert itself as a driver of economic cohesion, value creation, and sustainable development.

For more information and a detailed overview of the support measures and incentives, please consult this page

Fisheries and aquaculture are sectors of great importance to the Azorean economy, ensuring employment, exports, and the preservation of maritime traditions. The Regional Directorate for Fisheries (DRP) provides support aimed at fleet modernization, product valorisation, quality certification, and the sustainability of marine resources, ensuring a balance between economic development and environmental conservation.

These incentives also include promoting sustainable aquaculture, identified as an area with high growth potential, and enhancing artisanal fishing, internationally recognized through the “Dolphin Safe” certification.

Through these mechanisms, the region fosters innovation, competitiveness, and sustainability, reinforcing the Azores’ role as a benchmark in the maritime sector.

For more information and a detailed overview of the support measures and incentives, please consult this page