Portugal has launched Tech Foundry Portugal – Deep Tech Edition, a national acceleration program designed to help science and technology projects move from laboratory development to commercial application.
Secretary of State for the Economy João Rui Ferreira announced the initiative during the opening of the SIM Conference held in Porto on May 14 and 15, Lusa reports.
He described it as Portugal’s “largest” acceleration initiative dedicated exclusively to deep tech, emphasizing its role in bridging the gap between research environments and the market.
The program is developed by Startup Portugal in partnership with Hello Tomorrow, a leading European deep tech community.
Tech Foundry Portugal – Deep Tech Edition will run from September to December and will offer intensive acceleration, including access to a global network of investors and deep tech specialists. Participation is free of charge, and applications will open in June.
The program will select up to 40 early-stage teams or startups with technologies already demonstrated in laboratory or relevant experimental environments. It targets applicants with headquarters or R&D activity in the country seeking to further develop, validate, and industrialize their technologies.
Priority sectors include biotech and healthtech, advanced materials and nanotechnology, ocean and marine technologies, climate and clean technologies, advanced computing, robotics and autonomous systems, space and aeronautics, dual-use technologies, and GovTech.
Miguel Aguiar, executive director at Startup Portugal, said Portugal has strong scientific research capabilities but still lacks mechanisms to effectively translate research into market-ready companies.
He added that Tech Foundry Portugal is designed to address this gap by combining structured acceleration, access to a global investor network, and a direct link to funding instruments. “It is a complete journey, not just another program.”
The initiative is closely connected to the Financial Instrument for Innovation and Competitiveness (IFIC), managed by Banco Português de Fomento.
Teams selected under the IFIC Deep Tech line may access up to €750,000 in capital or quasi-capital investment, along with direct entry into the acceleration program.
The model integrates funding and acceleration into a single pathway aimed at supporting the development and validation of deep tech innovations grounded in frontier science and engineering.
The program will hold its in-person sessions in Porto, a move Aguiar says reinforces the city’s position as a growing European hub for technology-driven entrepreneurship and innovation.
Featured image (cropped from original): Photo courtesy of Startup Portugal
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