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CTI NETWORK

Technology and Innovation Centers (CTI) help companies identify market needs and apply innovative technologies through research to meet these challenges and increase efficiency.

The CTI’s work has been essential to the development of new solutions and knowledge that benefit companies and, consequently, Portugal’s economic growth.

NATIONAL CTI NETWORK – TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION CENTERS

FIND YOUR NEAREST CTI

Check out our search engine and find the CTI closest to you or that operates in your sector of activity or research.

CTI PORTAL ACCESS

If you are already a recognized entity, access the portal dedicated to CTIs, where you can find all the information and data you need.

ACCESS

Key Indicators of CTI

Check out the CTI Annual Report for the latest data.

Learn more about the Technology and Innovation Centers

Monitoring Process

With a view to strengthening strategies linked to Research and Innovation and the importance of intermediary organizations, the opportunity to expand and consolidate the Network of Interface Institutions was identified as one of the most important reforms, which involved reviewing and standardizing the legislative and regulatory framework for the entities that make up the Technological Interface System.

This opportunity is part of the Recovery and Resilience Program (PRR), specifically component C5 – Investment and Innovation, which proposes a new recognition of entities as Technology and Innovation Centers.

Under the terms of Decree-Law no. 126-B/2021Decree-Law no. 126-B/2021 of 31 December establishes the legal framework for technology and innovation centers (CTI), a designation that aims to consolidate these previously identified and supported organizations, recognizing their strategic value for the country, as well as establishing a series of assumptions such as recognition, monitoring and funding.

In addition to the aforementioned Decree-Law, Ministerial Order 53/2022 was issued on January 24, setting out the procedures and conditions for submitting applications for recognition as a Technology and Innovation Center (CTI).

Now that the legal and regulatory framework has been completed, it is important to launch a call for tenders for the recognition of entities as STIs, for the purposes of granting basic public funding in the future. The aim of this document is to clarify the essential elements of this application procedure.

The National Innovation Agency, S. A. (ANI, S. A.), therefore, made public, through the last application notice, that the tender procedure for recognition as a Technology and Innovation Center (CTI) was open.

1ST EVALUATION PROCESS

At the end of the first process of evaluating applications for the recognition of STIs, 31 entities were approved out of a total of 37 applications from a wide range of areas.

The first call was launched in February 2022 and the results were released in August of the same year.

Financing Process

The first call for STI funding was launched on September 1, 2022. Through this call, recognized STIs will be able to access a stable source of funding until 2026 to promote internal and external activities, fostering the country’s innovation capacity.

With an initial allocation of 80 million euros through the Interface Mission (provided for in the PRR), this measure implements a model equivalent to the best international examples.

The submission of Expressions of Interest ended on November 7, 2022.

DOCUMENTATION AND USEFUL INFORMATION

STRATEGIC PLANS

PRR – Recovery and Resilience Plan [PDF]

LEGISLATION

Decree-Law no. 126-B/2021 [PDF]
of December 31, establishes the legal framework for Technology and Innovation Centers and complements the legal framework for Collaborative Laboratories.

Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 186/2021 [PDF]
December 29 – Approves the public investment program in research and development for 2021-2030

Decree-Law No. 63/2019 [PDF]
May 16 – Establishes the legal framework for institutions dedicated to scientific research and development

Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and the Council [PDF]
February 12, 2021 – Establishes the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism

European Commission Communication 2021/C58/01 [PDF]
Technical guidelines on the application of the “do no significant harm” principle under the Regulation establishing a Recovery and Resilience Mechanism

Communication from the European Commission (2014/C198/01) [PDF]
of June 27, replaced by Commission Communication 2022/C 414/01 [PDF]of October 28 – Framework for state aid for research, development and innovation

Regulation (EU) 651/2014 of the Commission [PDF]
General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER)

C(2023) 1712 final ANNEX [PDF]
Annex to the Communication from the Commission approving the content of the draft Commission Regulation amending Regulation (EU) No 651/2014

PROCESS RECOGNITION

Order no. 53/2022 [PDF]
of January 24 – Establishes the procedures and conditions for submitting applications for recognition as a Technology and Innovation Center

Order no. 12688/2022 (Recognition of CTIs) [PDF]
of November 2 – Full list of entities recognized as Technology and Innovation Centres

Call for applications for recognition as an STI [PDF]

Application and Evaluation Support Guide [PDF]

FAQ [PDF]
Regarding the process of recognition as a CTI