EIT Community RIS Hub in Portugal

Portugal is at a pivotal moment in its innovation journey. With growing global recognition, an increasingly vibrant startup scene, and a new generation of entrepreneurs and researchers, the country has the potential to become a southern European gateway for innovation, creativity, and impact. The EIT Community RIS Hub Portugal plays a key role in this transformation — helping unlock local potential, strengthen connections across sectors and regions, and bring the power of Europe’s largest innovation network closer to those who are building the future.

Although still classified as a Moderate Innovator by the 2023 European Innovation Scoreboard, Portugal is rapidly rising. It ranks 12th in the Startup Genome Top 100 Emerging Ecosystems and 6th in the DEEP Ecosystems Startup Heatmap. Lisbon was named the European Capital of Innovation and is home to Web Summit, one of the world’s leading tech events — milestones that reinforce the country’s status as a dynamic startup nation.

The ecosystem includes over 4,000 startups, representing around 1% of national GDP. According to Informa D&B (2022), Portuguese startups generated over €2 billion in turnover, created 25,000 jobs, and contributed significantly to services exports. Six unicorns with Portuguese DNA operate globally, and the national scaleup ecosystem is growing twice as fast as the European average.

Portugal is also a strong performer in international talent metrics. It ranks 25th in the IMD World Talent Ranking, 9th in EF’s English Proficiency Index, and 13th in the OECD Talent Attractiveness Indicators. The country’s universities are playing an increasingly active role in R&D and entrepreneurship — offering high-quality academic programs, investing in patent development, and supporting idea-to-business journeys through top-ranked incubators and accelerators.

Private-sector R&D investment is also expanding, with large corporations collaborating more actively with startups and scaleups. On the public policy side, new measures in 2023 included:

• Startup and scaleup recognition status with tax benefits
• A revised stock option regime for startups
• Strengthened R&D tax incentives (SIFIDE)
• Dedicated public investment instruments for startups, foreign entrepreneurs, and innovation support infrastructure

Despite this momentum, challenges remain. Limited collaboration between academia and industry, early-stage and scaleup funding gaps, and the need to professionalize and internationalize ecosystem practices continue to hold back the country’s full potential.

The EIT Community RIS Hub Portugal aims to help address these gaps. By facilitating collaboration among stakeholders, promoting cross-KIC synergies, and connecting local talent with European education, innovation, and business creation opportunities, the Hub contributes to a more cohesive, empowered, and future-ready national ecosystem.

From researchers in the Azores exploring sustainable food solutions with EIT Food, to health entrepreneurs scaling their impact with EIT Health, the EIT Community is already helping Portuguese innovators grow, connect and lead on a European stage.