Centro 2030 provides 20 million euros to support companies focused on exports

The Centro Regional Program (Centro 2030) has opened a competition with an allocation of 20 million euros of European funds, to support companies and investment in low-density territories, with a focus on exports, it was announced today.

In a note sent to the Lusa news agency, the Central Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDRC) explained that the competition now launched “aims to support business investment of an innovative nature (micro, small and medium-sized companies), promoting the change in the specialization profile of the Portuguese economy and strengthening its external competitiveness, through differentiation, diversification and innovation”.

The statement explains that the funding is aimed at projects "that aim to produce tradable and internationalizable goods and services, prioritizing exports, within the framework of broader production lines and value chains that generate greater added value."

Quoted in the note, Isabel Damasceno, president of the CCDRC, states that the competition "embodies a commitment to the competitiveness of the regional economy and in particular of low-density territories", noting that these "need special attention, with more generous participation rates and fully non-refundable financing".

According to the CCDRC, the 20 million euros (ME) are intended to finance the creation of new establishments or the increase in the capacity of an existing establishment.

The financing also covers the diversification of an establishment's production to products not previously produced or services not previously provided or the change in the overall production process or provision of services.

The competition notice was published last Wednesday, July 30, and applications are open until March 31, 2026.

According to the coordination committee, in addition to this specific notice from Centro 2030, companies in the region “can also benefit from the 70 million put up for tender” by the Innovation and Digital Transition Program (COMPETE 2030).

Data from the CCDRC consulted by Lusa reveal that the Central region, for the purposes of applying community funds from Portugal 20230, corresponds to 100 municipalities, distributed across eight intermunicipal communities: Aveiro Region, Viseu Dão Lafões, Beiras and Serra da Estrela, Coimbra Region, Leiria Region, Beira Baixa, Médio Tejo and Oeste.

Of the 100 municipalities, around 60 are classified as low population density territories, and are mostly located in the interior.