TECHNOLOGICAL FREE ZONES
Technological Free Zones (ZLT) consist of geographically located physical environments, in real or near-real settings, used for testing and experimenting with technology-based innovative processes, with direct and continuous monitoring by national regulatory authorities and other competent entities.
They also aim to promote and accelerate the adoption of innovative solutions, actively contributing to the development and adaptation of the regulatory framework, supporting areas of legal uncertainty or those without specific legislation or regulation.
Main regulatory authorities and competent entities:
There are four Technological Free Zones established in Portugal:
ZLT INFANTE D. HENRIQUE
ZLT MATOSINHOS
ZLT MATOSINHOS
THE AVEIRO TFZ
THE VIANA DO CASTELO TFZ
The Viana do Castelo TFZ (ocean renewable energy): It is designed to test technologies related to renewable electricity generated in the ocean environment, as well as to produce knowledge about its interaction with the environment, biodiversity, and co-located economic activities.
THE VIANA DO CASTELO TFZ
Mais Informações
HOW TO CREATE A TECHNOLOGICAL FREE ZONE
SUBMISSION OF THE EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EI)
The process of creating a Technology Free Zone is currently under maintenance. Please contact us at zlt@ani.pt for more information.
SUBMISSION OF THE APPLICATION PROPOSAL
The process of creating a Technology Free Zone is currently under maintenance. Please contact us at zlt@ani.pt for more information.
LEGISLATION
Portugal has been developing and implementing a consistent and structured approach to investment in innovation and entrepreneurship, taking into account the positive impact that innovative services and products have on promoting social and economic progress and the transition to a sustainable economy. In this context, conditions have been established for Portugal to lead in regulating emerging technologies (autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence), allowing for the hosting of national and international projects focused on the development of products related to emerging technologies. Given the rapid pace of technological development, achieving this goal is only possible by testing and experimenting with new technologies, their applications, and the business models intended for adoption. Experimentation—especially in real-world settings—thus plays a central role in the research, development, and implementation of innovative services and products.
Therefore, it is essential to create a legal and regulatory framework that promotes and facilitates the testing of innovative technologies, services, products, and processes. Such a legal framework will contribute to accelerating research, demonstration, and testing processes, consequently enhancing the country’s competitiveness and attractiveness for foreign investment in research and innovation projects, as well as facilitating the transition of new products and services to the market and their proper regulation. In this context, several countries have advanced with the creation of “regulatory sandboxes,” “innovation spaces,” “experimentation spaces,” “living labs,” among others.
In Portugal, the Council of Ministers Resolution No. 29/2020, of April 21, was published, establishing the general principles for the creation and regulation of ZLT. Decree-Law No. 67/2021, of July 30, establishes the basic legal framework for the establishment of ZLTs in Portugal, as provided for in the aforementioned Council of Ministers Resolution. This decree-law does not immediately create ZLTs but sets out the conditions for their creation with the goal of establishing multiple ZLTs in Portugal, each specifically geared towards certain technologies or sectors, thereby contributing to the dynamism of Portugal’s regions by leveraging their specific characteristics.
Council of Ministers Resolution No. 29/2020 – General principles for the creation and regulation of Technological Free Zones
REGULATORY ENTITIES
