MEASURE FACT SHEET

Supports the setting-up of enterprises with a technological basis (enterprises critically depending on advanced technologies/recently developed technologies), through an accreditation system (NEST enterprise status) that facilitates the participation of risk capital companies and the access to incentive schemes.

Goals

• Design, development and manufacturing of new products, services, processes or production systems, through the establishment, setting up, and starting up of technological support enterprises, and by ensuring the stimulation and the sustainability of those enterprises;
• Establishing or developing interrelations with entities belonging to the national scientific and technological system, or any other entities that may attain an acknowledged and high technology rank, at national or international level.

Beneficiaries

• Natural or legal persons intending to promote the establishment of new enterprises;
• Recently established technology support enterprises with no significant activity.

Eligibility Requirements

For the Promotor

• To prove having adequate technical and management capacities, suitable for the implementation of the application goals;
• To anticipate, in the application, the equity financing of its capital by a specialised risk capital entity, and the participation of the same entity in its management. The financing and the participation shall be coincident with those of the SME - IAPMEI Risk Capital Syndication Fund;
• To assume at least 5% of the capital stock of the enterprise.
  

NEST Enterprise Status

The NEST enterprise status (approved by a Ministerial Order from the Minister of Economic Activities and Labour and the Minister for Science and Higher Education) is accorded to the enterprises submitting applications that were deemed eligible.

Other Supports

A NEST enterprise may have automatic access to the following supports:

• Support for the recruitment of staff members with a high university degree (doctor, master…) by the enterprises and R&D institutions;
• Support from the Executives Programme;
• Financial support to directly productive investments, to R&TD and to Quality within SIPIE framework;
• Financial support within SIUPI framework;
• Support related to enterprises location in technology centres, science and technology parks, incubator or innovation centres.

Application Submission

Applications must be sent to the address programanest@adi.pt. The application form is available on the Agency for Innovation site, or on this site, in the menu Forms.

Body in Charge

Coordinating Body

AdI - Agency for Innovation

Geographical Area

Mainland Portugal and the Autonomous Regions.

Updated on May 2006.

This information does not dispense with consulting the legislation.