Qualification of SMEs: Strengthen your business's competitiveness

What is the SI SME Qualification - Individual Operations?

The Incentive System for the Qualification of SMEs - Individual Operations is a form of support that aims to promote business capacity building by investing in the qualification and digitalization of business models and the production offer.

It supports the adoption of more advanced business strategies aimed at using intangible factors of competitiveness and increasing the capacity to integrate value chains at a global level.

Types of operation

Individual SME operations aimed at qualifying SMEs in immaterial areas with the aim of promoting SME competitiveness and responsiveness in the global market are eligible for support:

• Organizational Innovation, Management and Logistics;

• Digitalization and Digital Transformation, Cybersecurity and data protection;

• Capacity building for the development of products, services and processes;

• Quality and Certification;

• Creation of brands and design, except for periodic changes and other changes of a cyclical and seasonal nature;

• Protection of industrial property;

• Transfer of knowledge and technology;

• Sustainability and eco-innovation.

Who is the SI SME Qualification - Individual Operations aimed to?

The SI Qualification of SMEs - Individual Operations is intended to support individual operations by Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) of any nature and in any legal form, located in mainland Portugal and with regularized accounts.

Funding and Financing rates

The funding rate can be up to 50% for Portuguese regions, with the exception of Lisbon where the rate is 40%.
Projects with a minimum investment value of 200,000 euros are eligible.

Eligible costs

Eligible projects include expenditure on:

• Acquisition of software and equipment related to the project;

• Creating and/or adapting the business model by investing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) applications for forecasting trends or personalizing offers, in tools and techniques for collecting, processing and analysing large volumes of data, in Digital Transformation;

• Adoption of tools and practices capable of detecting, identifying and responding to cyber threats aimed at protecting company data and systems;

• Acquisition of specialized equipment and services;

• Consultancy in the various intangible areas;

• Incorporation of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles into the company;

• Costs of obtaining quality and other certifications;

• Hiring human resources for the project;

• Obtaining, validating and defending patents and other industrial property registration costs;

• Salary costs for hiring 2 human resources with a level of qualification equal to or greater than level 6 with a maximum salary base of 2250 euros during the project.

M&A Digital: The partner to strengthen the competitiveness of your business

With over 20 years' experience, M&A Digital has been a strategic partner in the development of complete and innovative technological solutions, playing a key role in the transition of businesses to the digital world.

We have specialized teams that develop the best solutions to boost the growth of your business and simplify work processes in order to boost performance and efficiency, to achieve better results and make your business more competitive.

SI SME Qualification - Applications open

Increasing business competitiveness is key to maintaining the survival and sustainable growth of all companies that aim to thrive in an increasingly dynamic and challenging business environment.

Applications for SME Qualification will be available on June 7, 2024. Don't miss out on the opportunity to make your business a success.